Lace up your boots and set off along Portugal’s Rota Vicentina, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved coastal areas of Europe. This route has European certification for its trails and comprises approximately 750 kilometers of hiking trails along the Alentejo coast to the Algarve, more specifically from Santiago do Cacém to Lagos. You will be accompanied by the ocean between jagged cliffs, and, at times, you’ll be presented with seemingly endless fields of wildflowers. There isn’t a better suggestion for a walk!
This long hiking path in the southwest of Portugal features two main trails, the Historical Way and the Fishermen’s Trail, along with 24 circular routes, all offering wonderfully diverse landscapes to explore.
The Historical Way, at 263 kilometers, is the longest route and goes from Santiago do Cacém to the Cape of São Vicente. It’s a rural trail, with 13 stages through forest tracks and towns and villages with centuries of history. It can be done on foot or by bike.
The Fishermen’s Trail, in turn, hugs the coast for 226,5 kilometers between São Torpes and Cape of São Vicente, with paths that give access to beaches and fishing grounds. It’s an exclusively pedestrian trail that's physically more demanding and organized into 13 stages. Each stage covers no more than 22,5 kilometers and lasts a day.
If your time is limited or you have physical limitations, try one of the circular routes. These are shorter (never more than 16 kilometers), and they all start and end in the same place, so that you can walk them in half a day or even less.
You can follow the route sequentially over several days, staying in project-associated accommodations, with optional luggage transport for added convenience. You’ll be able to visit monuments and taste delicious regional cuisine: seafood, fresh fish, and the appetizing dishes of Alentejo and Algarve stand out, since the route crosses both regions.
Along the way, enjoy the landscape and nature's surprises, such as wildflowers, the aroma of herbs in the cool of the morning, and the colorful butterflies. With luck, you may spot rare wildlife, such as otters, which are rarely found in marine environments, or watch the storks that live on the coastal cliffs, as nowhere else in the world.
It’s worth taking a day or two to try surfing the strong Atlantic waves, explore a peaceful, perhaps deserted beach, or simply relax after the exertions of hiking. As an alternative to the sea, streams and rivers are also good places to get some relief from the heat on summer days.
Many of these trails were well known to pilgrims who would set off from the Cape of São Vicente towards Santiago de Compostela. Like them, you can arm yourself with comfortable shoes and clothing and be on your way — contributing to the preservation of this natural haven by leaving no trace of your passage. You will certainly have a memorable walk.
