14-day self-guided walking tour along the Fishermen's Trail

After arrival in the coastal town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, located on the banks of the River Mira, and having moving into the stylish Bed & Breakfast in the centre of town, you may wish to take the ferry to the sandy beach Praia das Furnas, visit Fort Sâo Clemente or do some lunch shopping for tomorrow in the old town centre.

After a short taxi transfer (included), you start in Porto Covo on the first leg of the Fishermen's Trail, which is part of the Rota Vicentina. Quite a challenging start since you have to cross several sandy beaches and the vast dunes of Ilha do Pessegueiro. The biodiversity of flora in the sand dunes in these areas is remarkable. Due to the sometimes strong, salty winds, pines, rosemary and sunflower are bent almost horizontally. After 16,5 km, you could order a taxi (not included) in Canal, if you want to skip the last 3 km.

Challenge: 4-5 hours, 16,5 - 19.5 km / 10 - 12 mi, 75 m ascent/descent

Start the day with a crossing of the estuary by taxi boat (not included) to Furnas beach where you can continue on the fishermen's trail. If the boat does not sail, you will have to cross the River Mira on foot (or taxi) via the 1km bridge with nice views over the reed beds further inland. The landscape today is varied, as some of the native coastal vegetation has been overgrown by ‘exotic’ Acacia trees, or has had to make way for agriculture. Remains of old quarries among the dunes show this coastline has been changing since time immemorial.

In Almograve, a taxi (included) will take you and your luggage to your hotel in Zambujeira.

Challenge: 3.5 to 4 hours, 12 - 15 km / 7 - 9 mi, 75 m ascent/descent

Villages along the way: none

This morning the taxi will take you back to Almograve  where today's 6-hour stage starts, another spectacular coastal walk, via Cavalheiro and the lighthouse at Cape Sardao, where you can stop for a drink or a meal. If you feel a bit tired, just ask the taxi driver to drop you off in Cavalheiro (9 km less)

Challenge: 6 / 3 hrs, 20 -11 km / 13 - 7 mi, 175 m ascent, 90 m descent

Villages along the way: Cavalheiro

Today you follow the Fishermen's Trail again along the coast- Rolling dunes alternate with rocky shores, where storks nest, and of course another set of beaches:  Alteirinhos, Carvalhal, Machados and Amália.

Treat yourself to lunch at the (fish) restaurant of the natural fishing port of Azenha do Mar, before continuing on to the Seixe River that separates the Alentejo from the Algarve. You stay overnight in a hotel in the upper part of the village of Odeceixe, made up of several typical houses.

Challenge: 5.5 - 6 hrs, 19 km / 12 mi, 220 m ascent, 230 m descent

Villages along the way: Azhena, Odeceixe

From the hotel's doorstep you start walking through farmed fields and an open landscape of heather and fragant shrubs, all very easy going along rural tracks and quiet tarmac lanes. After a coffee break at the best bakery shop in Rogil, you can chose between the coastal trail to Praia da Amoreira (taxi from Praia da Amoreira to Aljezur not included) or a shorter inland trail straight on to Aljezur. Your modern hotel in Aljezur has a small swimming pool and is conveniently close to one of the best restaurants in town.

Challenge: 5.5 - 6 hrs, 19 - 23 km / 12 - 14 mi,  150 m ascent/descent

 Villages along the way: Rogil and Aljezur

From your hotel in Aljezur you first walk uphill to the mediaeval fortress at the edge of the plateau overlooking the valley and coast. Then you cross the plateau to reach the beach of Monte Clerigo and turn south again towards Arrifana, inhabited already in eraly history by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. A unique feature of the Arrifana area is that there was a Ribat, an Islamic fortress-monastery, occupied by warlike monks. The monastery was founded in  the 12th centuryby Ibn Qasî, a Sufi, political leader and spiritual guide, and was, as far as we know, the only Ribat in Portugal. Now only a ruin remains, but in a beautiful place.

At the beach of Arrifana, a taxi will pick you up and return you to your hotel in Aljezur.

Challenge: 5 hrs, 17 km / 11 mi, 225 m ascent, 180 m descent

Villages along the way: Aljezur, Monte Clérigo and Arrifana

Today your route depends on the tides, as the Fishermen's Trail near Carrapateira can only be done at low tide as there is no escape route on some parts of the 100m-high cliffs when the tide comes in.  Inland is the alternative Rota Vicentina route, the so-called Caminho Histórico, which leads through a surprisingly beautiful rural setting alternating between maquís, pine forests and open meadows with old cork and holm oaks.Whatever you do, the day starts with  a short taxi ride to the fishing village of Arrifana (or even further south to Monte Novo, hence shortening the route) 

Challenge: 4.5 / 6 / 7 hrs, 16 - 19 - 23 km / 10 - 12 - 15 mi, 175 / 200 / 325 m ascent, 250 / 265 / 425 m descent

Villages along the way: Arrifana, Bordeira, Carrapateira

After a full week of hiking, the beautiful surroundings of Carrapateira invite you to enjoy a day of relative rest; on the enormous sandy beach of Bordeira or the surfer's paradise Praia do Amado. Or just enjoying a drink or a meal in the village of Carrapateira where tourists, surfers and fishermen peacefully coexist and enjoy what the sea has to offer in different ways.

If you want to walk, take a short circular walk along two beautiful sandy beaches or extend it to the completely restored village of Pedralva, with café-restaurant and pizzería

Challenge: 3 - 6.5 hrs, 10 - 22 km / 6 - 14 mi, 125 - 215 m ascent / descent

In the morning, you continue further south following the fisermen's trails on top of the cliffs and partly through the undulating inland, until suddenly the historic town of Vila do Bispo comes into sight. Especially at the start of the walk, you are very likely to encounter fishermen, balancing on protruding rocks.

Challenge: 6-7 hrs, 19 km / 12 mi, 400 m ascent , 350 m descent

Villages along the way: none, only the beach do Amado

A spectacular stage today as you round the south-western most point of Europe via barren lime stone cliffs. Visit the old fortress and light house at the windswept Cape São Vicente and then follow the coastline eastwards to the fortress of Sagres. In this beach town you will stay for two nights close to the beach and near the marina of Baleeira.

Challenge: 5-6 hrs, 20 km / 12 mi, 120 m ascent, 200 m descent

The section between Sagres and Salema is one of the most challenging stages of the Fishermen's Trail, as you constantly ascend and descend the cliffs following stony foot paths. But it is also one of the most beautiful stages: wind and water have formed the bizarre rock formations here, for which the Algarve is famous. You will be rewarded for all the effort with beautiful views and numerous opportunities to swim at the beaches of Martinhal, Barranco, Ingrina, Zavial, Furnas, Figueira or Salema. There were pottary factories on the plains in roman times and the remains of a 18-century fortress at Ponte de Fisga. 
If you find 20 km too much you can ask the taxi to pick you up in Figueiras (after 16 km) instead of Salema as you will return to the hotel in Sagres in the afternoon.

Challenge: 5 - 6.5 hrs,  16 - 20 km / 10 -12 mi, 260 or 345 m ascent, 230 or 370 m decent

Villages along the way: Martinhal, Figueira

A taxi takes you back to Salema  this morning, or a little bit further east to Burgeau, where you will begin the final hike along the Fishermen's Trail. Along the way, you can admire the famous natural caves and arches at Ponte do Piedade and Praia do Camilo beach. Along this coast, several forts were built by Romans, Arabs and Portuguese to protect the population from pirates. The route and journey ends in the historic town of Lagos, on the banks of the river Bensafrim.

Challenge: 5.5 -7 hrs, 17 - 23 km / 11 -14, 330 / 530 m ascent & descent

Villages along the way: Brugeau, Luz,  

After breakfast your arrangement ends.