“Walking the wild south west coast of Portugal”
8 Day Walking Tour in the Vicentina Route of Portugal
Porto Covo Hotel, Rua Vitalina da Silva Lote 1, 7520-448 Porto Covo, Portugal
Portugal Walking Tour
This tour follows selected paths of the South West Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. Considered one of the finest stretches of preserved European coastlines, the Rota Vicentina begins in Santiago do Cacém and finishes at the once called the edge of the known world, the Cape of St. Vincent.
Meet the instructors
BeCool
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Highlights
- Selected paths of the South West Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
- Finest stretches of preserved European coastlines
- The first following ancient paths to hidden beaches and secret grounds
- Walk on unforgettable routes full of tradition
- Dramatic coastlines and unspoiled rural countryside
- Unique places that will shape this week
- Uniquely designed “opt-out system"
- 7 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
Skill level
- Intermediate
6 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
Airport transfer included:
Faro Airport
Accommodation
7 nights in a twin standard room
- 4 nights in Porto Covo
- 3 nights in Vale da Telha, Aljezur (local touristic tax included)
Extra nights are available on request.
Day 1: Porto Covo Hotel
Situated 500 meters from the center of the picturesque village of Porto Covo and 800 meters from the region's famous beaches, Porto Covo Hotel offers comfortable apartments and rooms, ensuring that you will have everything you need for a refreshing break in one of the most emblematic locations on the Alentejo Coast (Costa Vicentina).
Porto Covo is an eco-friendly hotel in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. It has an outdoor pool with a poolside bar and a hydromassage, and is a 10-minute walk from the beach.
Accommodations at the Porto Côvo Hotel Apartment have terracotta floors and simple wooden furnishings. They come equipped with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a kitchenette with a microwave. Some rooms have a fireplace or a balcony.
Hotel Apartment guests can relax on a sun lounger poolside, or enjoy a game of billiards in the games room. The hotel also has a bar that serves refreshing beverages, as well as a children’s playground. It also has a 24-hour front desk and offers free public parking on site.
Room options
- Shared ensuite room
- Single supplement available with a surcharge
Program
The Walking in the Vicentina route - from sea to land along the stunning South West Coast of Portugal - is an eight-day walking tour, centered in Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur, in the middle of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Considered to be one of the finest stretches of preserved European coastlines, the area is home to the famous Rota Vicentina, a 340km long-distance path that begins in Santiago do Cacém and finishes at the once called 'the edge of the known world' - the Cape of St. Vincent.
BeCool Travel's uniquely designed “opt-out system” will allow you to do the whole walk or just parts of it, so that you can spend more time sightseeing if you prefer to!
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival
- Arrival at Faro airport and transfer to Porto Covo at 15:00
- Meet and greet at the hotel on arrival at 18:00
If time allows, an introductory walk will be offered.
Day 2 - Porto Covo walk
Home to some of the wildest and unspoiled beaches in the country, the small fishing village of Porto Covo is a peaceful spot with crisp white houses lined with cobalt splashes. The rugged cliffs hide clear, transparent blue waters, as well as secluded beaches.
This walk will bring you through the gems of this part of the west coast, passing by the Fort of the Pessegueiro (built in the 16th century) towards Vila Nova de Milfontes.
- Ascent / descent: 90 / 100m
- Approximate km: 16 km
- Approximate time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Opt-out: At 7 km
Day 3 - Odemira walk
This is the lush section of the trail, where a different, green, and vibrant Alentejo will reveal itself before your eyes, with refreshing water streams and ponds. Much of the route follows the Ribeira do Torgal, where forests of valuable species such as ash, willow, and alder clothe the banks of the streams.
Birds and mammals are also abundant in the area. You may well find evidence of wild boars, a species quite common in that region. Amongst the undergrowth, there are many scented and medicinal plants, such as genista tridentata found during spring, oregano during summer, and wild asparagus during autumn.
- Ascent / descent: 170 / 275m
- Approximate km: 15 km
- Approximate time: 4 hours
- Opt-out: At 10 km
Day 4 - Odeceixe walk
This wonderful coastal walk passes many isolated beaches on the way to Azenha do Mar, a natural fishing harbor. There are outstanding vistas throughout the walk, particularly over Odeceixe Beach, considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
In Odeceixe, where the Fishermen’s Trail and the Historic way coincide, the trails pass through a maze of wetlands that provide essential habitat for wildlife, and then on towards the sea, where the waters from Monchique flood the Seixe River and spill abundantly into the ocean.
- Ascent / descent: 270 / 300m
- Approximate km: 14 km
- Approximate time: 4 hours
- Opt-out: At 10 km
Day 5 - Arrifana walk
The Fishermen’s Trail will bring you this day on a journey through time. The cliffs hide traces of prehistoric human life. This area was occupied by numerous peoples, from Phoenicians to the Arabs.
The Ponta da Atalaia is a mandatory stopping point. There, you will find the “Ribat of Arrifana,” an Islamic fortress-convent built in the 12th century by warrior monks, to be both a pillar of prayer and protection.
The rugged coast below, with its sharped edges beaten by the strong waves, is the home for goose barnacles, a local delicacy that is only accessible at the extremely low spring tides, and is harvested in very dangerous conditions.
- Ascent / descent: 100 / 100m
- Approximate km: 13 km
- Approximate time: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Opt-out: At 5 km
Day 6 - Carrapateira walk
The small village of Carrapateira is a unique place that has been attracting surfers, vacationers, walkers, fishermen, and birders alike. There, the life in the village is calm and days go by between the sound of the waves hitting the cliffs below and the chirping of the birds migrating south.
The walk will bring you along the dunes, where the exuberant display of vegetation collide with the vibrating sounds of the sea. Thyme, yellow shrubby everlasting, rosemary, lavender, and rockroses grow as the rocks turn to limestone.
- Ascent / descent: 80 / 80m
- Approximate km: 10 km
- Approximate time: 3 hours
- Opt out: At 7 km
Day 7 - Vila do Bispo walk
This day marks the final section of the Vicentina Route. This walk, starting from the small town of Vila de Bispo, was designed to provide you with the ultimate opportunity to witness the expansive open countryside, the dramatic cliffs, and a cape that was once believed to be the end of the world.
The Fisherman’s Trail finishes in the Cape of Saint Vincent, the most south westerly point of Europe. This famous geological headland was a central stage for the Portuguese explorer’s history, pirate stories, and nowadays, it's a famous hotspot for the observation of migratory bird species.
- Ascent / descent: 80 / 120m
- Approximate km: 14 km
- Approximate time: 4 hours
- Opt-out: At 10 km
Day 8 - Departure
- Transfer to Faro airport, departing the hotel at 09:00
Instructors
BeCool Guide 1
To be announced
Location
This Rota Vicentina is divided between the Fishermen’s Trail and the Historic Route, the first following ancient paths to hidden beaches and secret grounds, while the latter bringing participants inland, along the pastoral landscape and farming terrains that connect the small house clusters scattered in that vast area.
Both trails are a rewarding way of seeing the real Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal, as well as walking on unforgettable routes full of tradition.
Participants will start the walking week in Porto Covo, a small fishing village with colorful houses and a pleasant square, with small coved beaches. Not far from there, Vila Nova de Milfontes stands on the north margin of the Mira River, a region of vast sand beaches, dramatic coastlines, and unspoiled rural countryside.
In Odemira, where the luxuriant green valleys are, the streams shape the landscape. The smells are different, the flowers have vibrant colors, and the views over the hills are breathtaking.
Unique places will shape this week. In small villages like Carrapateira and Arrifana, the Atlantic Sea is king. They are a paradise for surfers, where goose barnacles are dangerously harvested by brave men on the cliffs, under the pounding fury of the waves.
And as you reach the end of the Vicentina Route and you look beyond the cliffs of São Vicente and the vastness of the sea in front, you will understand why this is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal.
Food
You will be provided with breakfast daily.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- All walks, visits, and transports as outlined in the program
- Dedicated driver and tour leader to make sure everything runs smoothly
- Airport transfer from Faro airport to hotel and from hotel to Faro airport
- Local touristic tax included
- Daily breakfast
- 7 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Flights
- Extra nights
- Additional transfers
- Personal expenses
- Other meals
How to get there
Recommended Airports
FAO
Faro Airport
117 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Faro Airport (FAO). Group transfers from and to this airport are included in the price. Transfer to Porto Covo will be at 15:00.
Airport: Faro Airport
Airport transfer included: Faro Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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