Fishermen’s Trail, Portugal

As you travel south along the coast, you will weave in and out of cork forests and vine-covered glades, struck anew each time you take in the sparkling views of the dramatic seascape. 

Alternately called the Rota Vicentina or the Trilho dos Pescadores (“Fishermen’s Trail”), the seaside trail we’ll follow stretches for more than 125 gorgeous kilometers along the wild Alentejo coast. We’ll walk the heart of the trail – from Porto Covo to Odeceixe – along cliffs high above surf crashing into perfect beaches, past working fishing ports, and through villages dominated by the areas iconic white-and-blue-tiled buildings. You will have the chance to explore a sandy, empty beach or two every day, enjoy outstanding seafood fresh from the sea below you, and relax at small, local guesthouses at the end of the day.

Each hiking day ranges from ten to fourteen miles of coastal trekking along wild, uncrowded trails (with the option to cut those miles short if you would like more time in the village). From Porto Covo, you’ll hike along the beaches and cliffs, past a picture-perfect castle, before reaching Vila Nova de Milfontes, home to a lively old town and the stunning 16th-century ivy-clad Forte de Sao Clemente. The next morning, you’ll take the ferry across the wide Rio Mira River before beginning the shortest hiking day of the itinerary to quiet Longueira. 

From there, you’ll walk along the seaside cliffs on your way to Zambujeira do Mar, taking time to enjoy the stunning views and stork nests around the Cabo Sardao lighthouse. On your last day of hiking, you will wind your way past secret coves and ostrich farms, crossing over small bridge-covered streams into the town of Odeceixe. From Odeceixe, we will transport you back to Lisbon where you may choose to continue your adventures or head home.

WHAT WE’LL TAKE CARE OF

At the outset of the trip, we’ll arrange for a group transfer from Lisbon to Porto Covo. We will transfer your luggage from hotel to hotel on each hiking day so that you don’t have to worry about getting that wheeled suitcase up the hill. We will stay in small hotels and guest houses every night, each providing an authentic taste of local culture. While typical of many European hotels in offering smaller rooms than you might find in the U.S., each of the hotels we’ve chosen has clean, well-run facilities, and a full European-style breakfast. There is good wifi at each nightly location.

In addition to nightly wine and cheese receptions to talk about the day ahead, we have included two evening meals as a group so that you have the opportunity to get to know and share your experiences with your fellow travelers. The first is our welcome dinner in Porto Covo where we will eat at a cozy restaurant on the main square and toast with a welcoming glass of vinho tinto. And on the last night of the trip, we will celebrate in Odeceixe with a family-style meal together. 

We will provide your transfer from Lisbon to Porto Covo at the beginning of the trip and back from Odeceixe to Lisbon at the end. We will also provide a professional facilitator, detailed maps, and a detailed briefing on what you can expect from the day to come. And, to prepare you for your trip, we will provide you with pre-trip packing lists along with a recommended training schedule.

WHAT’S UP TO YOU

At Parallel, we value the community that we build within a group, but we equally value your independence and your ability to more easily integrate yourself into a culture when not part of a group. As such, we’ve designed our trips to give you ample opportunity to explore on your own, or with your fellow travelers. During our days of hiking, you are welcome to complete the day’s itinerary at your own pace – whether that means hiking with others in the group or not is up to you.

You will have plenty of opportunity for independence in your meals, too. Each of your hotels includes breakfast, to be enjoyed at your convenience. When it comes to lunch on the trail, we’ve learned that everyone picnics differently – and as such, you’ll have the opportunity to provision for lunch from local shops within easy walking distance of your hotel so that you can choose when, where, and how you have lunch during the day. To make it easier for you, we will provide a picnic kit with essentials along with a starter assortment of local edibles that you can either use for your picnics or take home as a gift. As noted above you will have the opportunity for three independent evening meals –in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve and Zambujeira. Each of these towns offers many different options from casual beachside bars to fine dining. We are happy to provide recommendations in each town.

You will book your own flights to and from Portugal – if coming from the US, we recommend you fly in and out of Lisbon. On the first day of the trip, we will provide transportation from Lisbon to Porto Covo where our itinerary begins. At the trip’s end, we will also provide transportation from Odeceixe back to Lisbon. We have designed the trip to allow you time to enjoy the weekend in Lisbon if you choose and are happy to provide recommendations for accommodations there. 

Regardless of where you are coming from or where you are headed, we are there to assist you in any way with your travel plans.