The Rota Vicentina is a network of hiking trails in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces in Southern Portugal. The network includes two long-distance routes the Fisherman’s Trail and the Historical Way, and many day circular routes. We’ve walked both multi-day routes of the Rota Vicentina as well as some of the day hikes. In this post, I describe different route options, cost, transportation, and accommodation on the Rota Vicentina.
Zambujeira do Mar, one of the towns on the coastal route of the Rota Vicentina
What is the Rota Vicentina?
The Rota Vicentina is a network of walking routes in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces, in the south-west of Portugal. It includes two long-distance trails the Fishermen’s Trail and the Historical Way and many circular day hikes. The coastal trails (Fishermen’s Trail and some day hikes) ranked as some of the most scenic routes in Europe. We’ve been living on the South Coast of Portugal for 4 years and spent a lot of time exploring the best hiking trails in the region.
How long is the route?
The distance of the Rota Vicentina varies it depends on the chosen route. The Fishermen’s Trail is 230 km/143 mi. It takes 12-13 days to complete. The Historical Way is 120 km/74 mi. You’ll need 6 days to complete it. Distances of day hikes are between 6 km/3,7 mi and 15 km/9,3 mi.
You can do any section of the Rota Vicentina as an independent hike. If you don’t have enough time to finish the entire trail you can choose a part of it.
Our YouTube video of the Rota Vicentina
Where does it start?
The Fishermen’s Trail of the Rota Vicentina starts at S.Torpes Beach, 10 km north of Porto Covo, Alentejo region, and finishes in Lagos, Algarve region.
The Historical Way starts in Santiago do Cacém, Alentejo, and finishes in Odeceixe, Algarve. From Odeceixe, you can continue walking following the Fishermen’s Trail.
Both trails can be walked in either direction: north to south or south to north.
Day hikes start in different locations throughout the region.
What is the best part of the Rota Vicentina?
In my opinion, the part of the Fishermen’s Trail from Sagres to Lagos and the walk from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo are some of the most beautiful parts of the Rota Vicentina. Overall the entire route is spectacular; pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, charming towns, and untouched nature.
The Historical Way has its charm. If you enjoy countryside, hills, and fields more than the coast and beaches then it’s the perfect route for you.
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Rota Vicentina guidebooks
The official Rota Vicentina guidebook is the best one to use. You can buy it online on the official website or at one of the information offices along the route. You can get one at Papelaria O Correiro, Vasco da Gama Street 7b in Porto Covo the start of the Fishermen’s Trail and at the tourist information office in Santiago do Cacém (the start of the Historical Way).
There is a Cicerone guidebook with a lot of information on the trail that you can buy on Amazon.
A map of the different routes of the Rota Vicentina; the Fishermen’s Trail – blue color, the Historical Way – green color, the circular day hikes – red color
Different routes of the Rota Vicentina
As I already mentioned there are two long-distance trails and many circuit routes. Most of the short routes can be incorporated into one of the multi-day trails.
The routes of the Rota Vicentina
| Name | The Historical Way | The Fishermen’s Trail | Day hikes (circular routes) |
| Starting point | Santiago do Cacém | S.Torpes Beach (Porto Covo) | Different points along the Vicentina Coast |
| Finishing point | Odeceixe | Lagos | Different points along the Vicentina Coast |
| Total distance | 120 km/74 mi | 230 km/143 mi | 265 km/164 mi (24 trails) |
| Number of days | 6 days | 11-13 days | 1 day |
Different hiking trails of the Rota Vicentina
The Historical Way
- Total distance – 120 km/74 mi
- Number of days – 6 days
- Starting point – Santiago do Cacém
- Finishing point – Odeceixe
- Route marking – red & white markers
A route marking on the Historical Way of the Rota Vicentina
The Historical Way has significantly fewer hikers than the coastal route. We saw between 2 and 5 hikers a day. Overall the area is not touristy compared to the coast which is just 20 km away. As a result, accommodation options are pretty limited. There are no hostels on the Historical Way. The only campsite and hostel on the route are in Odeceixe. Accommodation works out more expensive than on the Fishermen’s Trail. Most places don’t have a kitchen so you can’t really cook if you want a proper meal, not just a sandwich you have to eat in a restaurant or bar.
Eating out in this part of the Rota Vicentina is cheaper than along the coast restaurants cater to locals, not to tourists. You can get a set menu for 10 Euros, a dish for 6-7 Euros, a cup of coffee for 1 Euro, etc.
The scenery on the Historical Way is nice and peaceful. A lot of walking through the fields (if you walk it in April-May they will be covered in flowers), a bit of forest, and quite a lot of hills. It’s the route with many ascents and descents though nothing is very steep or long. Overall the Historical Way is a nice route to walk if you want to see the off-the-beaten-path part of southern Portugal.
If you’re planning to walk the Historical Way you can download our free PDF file with walking stages and places to stay on the route.
Wheat fields and hills – a typical scenery on the Historical Way of the Rota Vicentina
The Fishermen’s Trail
- Total distance – 230 km/143 mi
- Number of days – 11-13 days
- Starting point – S.Torpes Beach, Porto Covo
- Finishing point – Lagos
- Route marking – blue & green markers
A route marking of the Fishermen’s Trail of the Rota Vicentina
The Fishermen’s Trail (the coastal route) of the Rota Vicentina is a popular route with many day walkers and weekend groups. The trail goes through the touristy parts of the Alentejo and Algarve regions. Besides hikers in the season, there are many holidaymakers. If you walk this route during the summer months you’ll see many people. It’s highly recommended to book accommodation beforehand.
The Fishermen’s Trail has more accommodation options and campsites. It’s possible to find budget places to stay. Eating out on this trail is more expensive compared to the Historical Way. For a set meal in a restaurant (Menu do Dia), you pay 30 Euro for two people vs 20 Euro on the Historical Way. You can reduce your food expenses if you stay in places with a kitchen and cook. Every town on the trail has a supermarket or at least a grocery store.
The part of the Fishermen’s Trail from Odeceixe to Sagres is not as busy as the part from Corto Covo to Odeceixe and from Sagres to Lagos. Many people finish walking in Odeceixe or walk only the part from Cabo de S. Vicente (Sagres) to Lagos.
The scenery on this route is truly spectacular; rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, turquoise color water, picturesque bays, hidden caves, breathtaking lookout points, and cozy towns. If you ask me I’d definitely choose the Fishermen‘s Trail over the Historical Way.
If you’re planning to walk the Fishermen’s Trail you can download our free PDF file that includes walking stages and places to stay along the route.
The lighthouse at Cabo Sardão on the Fishermen’s Trail of the Rota Vicentina
Day hikes
There are 24 circular day hiking trails on the Rota Vicentina with a total distance of 265 km/164 mi. Distances of the day hikes vary from 6-kilometer trails to 16-kilometer routes. All hikes are circular routes. You don’t have to worry about getting back to your car or your hotel after finishing a hike. Many circular routes are partly included in one of the long trails.
We haven’t walked any of the 24 trails yet but now living in Lagos we’re planning to start hiking them in order to prepare for walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. The day hiking trails are indicated with red and yellow markers.
The circular routes offer a combination of a coastal and forest scenery. You can easily incorporate a couple of day hikes into a road trip or a beach holiday in southern Portugal.
Campbell with Summer on Bordeira Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Rota Vicentina
How to combine the routes?
You can walk the entire Fishermen’s Trail or the Historical Route separately, you can walk only parts of the routes, or combine them. The two long-distance routes merge in Odeceixe.
Option 1. Porto Covo – Odeceixe – Santiago do Cacém
You walk on the Fishermen’s Trail from Porto Covo to Odeceixe. From Odeceixe instead of continuing along the coast, follow the Historical Way and walk to Santiago do Cacém. This way you combine both country and seaside scenery and get to see different parts of the Alentejo region. The total distance of this route option is 196 km/121 mi. To complete it you need 10 days. The route can be walked either way starting in Porto Covo or in Santiago do Cacém.
Option 2. Santiago do Cacém – Odeceixe – Lagos
You walk the Historical Way from Santiago do Cacém to Odeceixe and from there continue on the Fishermen’s Trail through Cabo de S. Vicente to Lagos. The total distance of this route is 274 km/170 mi. You need 13-14 days to complete it. It can be walked either way. You can cut it shorter if you don’t have enough time.
Option 3. Walking a part of the trails
You can walk any stage of the two routes separately as a day hike or you can choose a couple of stages and do a 2 or 3-day hike.
There is a great option for those who want to combine two outdoor activities (hiking and surfing) and enjoy the sea as much as possible. You can start walking in Porto Covo and finish in Arrifana. Where you can stay in a surf hostel rent a board or take a couple of lessons. Days needed – 6, total distance – 118 km/73 mi.
Lush green forest on the Historical Way of the Rota Vicentina
The cost of walking the Rota Vicentina
The Algarve and Alentejo provinces are very popular summer holiday destinations which means in the peak season, between June and September the area gets very busy and accommodation prices increase significantly.
How much money you’ll spend walking Rota Vicentina depends on when you go and where you stay. Walking during the off-season, between November and March is the cheapest time. The border season, October, April, and May are more expensive. The summer months from June to September are the most expensive period. We walked the Rota Vicentina in May and did find accommodation prices quite high in touristy places.
On average you spend 40-45 Euro per person per day on the Rota Vicentina. It includes accommodation (a room for two people or a dorm bed in a hostel), food, and transport. If you’re going to use a luggage transfer service you have to add 15 Euro per day extra.
Accommodation
Accommodation is the main expense of the Rota Vicentina. Depending on the type of place you’ll pay between 10 Euro (camping) and 40 Euro (a room in a hotel) per person.
Camping is the cheapest option but not every town on the route has a campsite. Even if you like camping you’ll have to stay sometimes indoors. Prices for camping are between 10 and 12 Euro per person per day depending on the season. A drawback of camping is that you have to carry your camping gear (a tent, sleeping bag, pad, cooking stuff, etc.) which adds weight to your backpack.
Hostels are the cheapest indoor accommodation option on the Rota Vicentina. Just like with camping, not every town on the trail has one. A bed in a dormitory costs between 15 and 20 Euros per person depending on the season. In July, August, and September the prices are at their highest. The lowest prices are during the offseason; from November to March.
Hotels/guesthouses are the most popular accommodation type on the trail. Prices vary between 60 and 90 Euros for a double room. We had one or two places where we paid around 40 Euros for two people. During the off-season, you’ll find more places offering rooms in this price range.
Food
Eating out
Eating out on the Rota Vicentina is quite expensive. In the same area, there was a significant price difference between places located inland and beach towns. Prepare to pay 10 Euros for a dish, plus 2-4 Euros extra if you order drinks, bread, coffee, etc. Our average bill was about 50 Euros for two people when we went out for dinner. If you order a sandwich (Tosta Mista) and a coffee or a cool drink it’ll cost around 4-5 Euros.
Portugal has one of the cheapest coffee in Europe; Espresso costs 0,70 Euro, and coffee with milk (Galao) – 1,5-2 Euros. Read more about drinking coffee in Portugal.
The lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente in Portugal
Shopping
The cheapest food option is to buy stuff in a shop and cook. To be able to cook you have to stay in places with a kitchen otherwise, you’ll be limited to eating sandwiches. Food shopping for 3 meals will cost you 10-15 Euros per person. Big supermarkets (Lidl, InterMarche, Pingo Doce) have cafes or canteens where you can buy a well-priced meal, a sandwich, or a pastry.
Transport
Every town on the Rota Vicentina can be reached by public transport. A bus fromLisbon to one of the starting points (Porto Covo or Santiago do Cacém) costs between 15 and 20 Euros one way. Getting from Lagos or Odeceixe to Lisbon will cost you 15-20 Euros. On the RedeExpressos website, you can often find bus tickets to Lisbon for 7 or 10 euros. Buses between the towns on the route cost 3-7 Euros depending on the distance.
Based on all the expenses I suggest to budget 25-30 Euros per person per day if you’re planning to camp (when possible) and cook. 35-45 Euros per person if staying indoors (hostels and budget rooms) and cook. And 50+ Euros per person per day if staying in hotels and eating out at least once a day.
When is the best time for walking?
Summer in general (July and August in particular) is the busiest season in Southern Portugal with the most people and the highest prices. It gets very hot in the south of Portugal day temperatures go over 30°C. If you decide to walk the route in the summer months it’s recommended to start walking early in the morning in order to be finished before it gets too hot. Booking accommodation on the Rota Vicentina in advance is a must-do in the summer.
Border season (April-May and October) is a perfect time for walking the Rota Vicentina; there are significantly fewer people than in the summer. It’s warm but not too hot, accommodation is cheaper, and you don’t have to book it months in advance. We really like hiking in Portugal in the spring the scenery is very beautiful this time of the year.
Off-season (November-March) is great if you want to have a solitary and quiet walk with very few tourists. Weather-wise it doesn’t get really cold on the Vicentina Coast and in the Algarve. The average temperatures in winter are between 13°C and 16°C but it might rain quite a bit in November and December. The wind can be a problem as well. As for accommodation prices, they are at their lowest (excluding Christmas and New Year) so you can get a really nice place for not expensive.
Spectacular view of Mareta Beach in Sagres
Luggage transfer service
It’s possible to arrange a backpack delivery on the Rota Vicentina. If you don’t want to walk carrying a big backpack with all your stuff it can be transferred every day between your accommodation places. You can walk with a small day pack carrying only valuables, water, and snacks.
Vicentina Transfers is the company that provides luggage delivery service on the trails. The price is 15€ per 2 luggage pieces per stage, and each additional piece of luggage is 5 euros. The weight limit is 20 kg per luggage. It’s a door-to-door service your backpack is picked up in the morning (around 9 am) at the reception and delivered to the next place.
What is the accommodation like?
Every town on the Rota Vicentina has hotels and guesthouses. Some places have hostels. Most of the places can be booked online. Some areas have more accommodation options some less. On the Historical Way, there are not many places to stay. The route goes through not touristy areas of the Alentejo region.
On the Fishermen’s Trail, there are more accommodation options including hostels and campsites, especially in places like Sagres, Vilanova de Milsfontes, or Lagos. During the peak summer season, it’s highly recommended to book your accommodation a couple of months in advance.
If you want to cook it’s better to stay in hostels or rent apartments to have access to the kitchen. If you stay in hotels/guest houses you’ll have to buy ready-made food or eat at restaurants.
On the Fishermen’s Trail campsites can be found in Porto Covo, Zambujeira do Mar, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Sagres, Salema, and Lagos. All campsites are not far from the route.
On the Historical Way, there is only one campsite in Odeceixe. On the stretch between Santiago do Cacém and S.Teotónio there are no places to camp only indoor accommodation.
Camilo Beach in Lagos of one of the highlights of the Rota Vicentina
How to get to the Rota Vicentina?
Most towns on the Rota Vicentina have direct buses to/from Lisbon. It’s very easy to get from the capital to the trail and back.
Getting from Lisbon to Santiago do Cacém, the Historical Way
There are 8-10 daily buses from Lisbon (Sete Rios station) to Santiago do Cacém, the journey takes 2 hours, the price is 14 Euros. If you’re planning to start walking on the same day it’s better to take the earliest bus. You can buy tickets and confirm the departure time on the Rede Expressos website.
Getting from Lisbon to Porto Covo, the Fishermen’s Trail
As of April 2025, there are 8 daily buses from Lisbon to Porto Covo. 6 buses leave from Sete Rios Bus Station and 2 from Oriente Station. The journey takes between 2 and 3 hours. The price is 16,5 Euros.
Getting from Odeceixe and Lagos to Lisbon
There are direct buses from Odeceixe (the Historical Way) and Lagos (the Fisherman’s Trail) to Lisbon.
5 daily direct buses from Odeceixe to Lisbon (Sete Rios), the journey takes 3h30min., the price is 19 Euros.
There are many direct buses from Lagos to Lisbon (Sete Rios and Oriente). The standard price is 20 Euro. You can often get a ticket for 7 or 10 euros (on the website). The journey takes 4 hours. Check the itinerary and buy tickets.
There are trains from Lagos to Lisbon with one connection in Tunte. The connection is usually 5-10 minutes. You can check departure times and prices on the official website. Mind that the trains are often delayed for that reason we prefer buses.
Storks in the nest on the edge of the cliff on the coastal route
Rota Vicentina planning resources
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
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