The Fisherman’s Trail is a spectacular 230 km/143 mi walking route hugging the ocean in the south of Portugal. The trail is considered one of the most beautiful coastal routes in the world. This is a detailed packing list for the Fishermen´s trail hike. For long days of hiking it is important to keep your backpack as light as possible. We live on the trail and know what is essential to pack to have a successful hike.
Hiking the Fishermen´s trail with the Atlantic Ocean and spectacular cliffs of Lagos in the background. I am wearing a wide brim hat and long sleeve shirt for long days in the sun.
Important Packing Considerations
A part of the Rota Vicentina network, wild camping is not allowed in Portugal. Hikers do slackpacking staying hostels, guesthouses and hotels along the way. Carrying camping and cooking gear is not necessary. You will be staying in towns with shops where you should be able to buy most necessities on the way.
The season and weather is a very important consideration for the clothing and gear you are packing.
Are you planning to use a luggage transfer service? Many people do carry their own luggage all the way, but it is possible to use a transfer service and have your backpack waiting for you when you arrive. This way you walk only carrying a small day pack .
Fisherman’s Trail Planning
To help you with your planning we’ve created a downloadable PDF file with walking stages and places to stay on the Fisherman’s Trail.
In our Fishermen’s Trail walking itinerary post you can find complete information on each stage of the trail with distances, elevation profiles, times, and accommodation options.
Fishermen´s Trail packing checklist
Download our free Fishermen´s trail packing list PDF to ensure you don’t forget anything!
Backpack for the Fishermen´s Trail
Walking the Fishermen´s trail you will likely be carrying all your luggage for most of the day. A comfortable, light backpack is crucial to make your walk as enjoyable. A 30 to 40L backpack (this is the inside measurement of the pack) is a good size for hiking this trail. This is a fairly small sized pack, more or less the size of a large daypack. This seems very small, but small things become very heavy if you carry them all day!
My Osprey Kestrel 48 worked very well on the Fishermen´s trail. This is is a great, light bigger backpack if you need the space.
The best way to be sure a pack fits is by trying it on. Either buy in-store with the help of a professional or order through a store like Amazon where it is easy to return your purchase.
The Osprey Stratos 36 Hiking Backpack (36 L) is a fantastic backpack, with side and top access, rain cover and many nifty pockets, straps and zips. Good hiking packs usually open with a top flap design (like this one). The side zip vertical access into main compartment is fantastic, you do not have to unpack everything if you want to get something inside your backpack. The trampoline back makes for good ventilation and helps to minimize sweating while you walk. Zips on the hip belt is good for quick access to small items. The internal hydration sleeve and trekking pole attachments can be helpful if you use those.
Ladies model – Osprey Sirrus 36 L
The golden rule is as small as possible, but I sometimes have to use a bigger pack, the Osprey Kestrel 48, it is a great, light bigger backpack if you need the space.
If you have your luggage transferred and walk with a day pack, the Osprey Daylight Plus daypack is a great daypack. This is a very comfortable 20 L backpack, perfect for carrying a snack, water, raingear and whatever you might need for a day hike.
Choosing Shoes for the Walk
Shoes are a very important choice when planning to a through hike were you will be spending many hours walking. The wrong shoe choice can result in terrible blisters, tired feet, and other injuries that can even end your hike.
The walking surface on the Fishermen´s Trail is a mix of beach walking (sand), asphalt, footpaths and cobblestones. Boots, hiking shoes and trail runners are all popular on the fishermen’s trail. Our preferred choice of footwear for the Fishermen´s trail is hiking shoes.
Wearing Merrell Moab 3 hiking shoes and Darn Tough Vermont Light Hiker Micro Crew socks on the Fishermen´s Trail.
We have done plenty of hikes wearing boots, hiking shoes and trail runners in the Algarve and hiking shoes worked the best for us. The stiffer sole performs very well on the cobblestone surfaces commonly found in the Portugal. I am currently walking in Merrell Moab 3 (Merrell Moab 3 Ladies) shoes, a fantastic, stable shoe with good support and protection a wide toe box. The non-waterproof version is well ventilated and it drains and dries quickly.
The Algarve is a very dry area. December, the wettest month, only has an average of 11 rainy days and a maximum daytime temperature of 17°C. In the hot, dry weather I would not recommend waterproof shoes. Your feet are more likely to get wet from sweat that can not evaporate.
The hiking shoes did not take in too much sand, but hiking on the fishermen´s trail I preferred to take off my shoes on long sand walks and tried to clean my feet well before putting the shoes back on. Sometime I even went for a refreshing swim!
Trail runners are a very popular option for doing long hikes, they are light, comfortable and dry quick. Trail shoes are similar to road running shoes, but they are built more rugged to protect the shoes and your feet from objects like rocks, and sticks, so they are light and tough. The Hoka Speedgoat 5 (Speed Goat 5 Ladies) is a very popular trail runner that comes highly recommended. Hikers wearing Hoka´s always boast about ´walking on clouds!´
For more info on hiking shoes for long distance hikes see our detailed article on best shoes for the Camino de Santiago.
Best Socks for Hiking the Trail
Walking thousands of kilometers on 10 different Camino de Santiago routes, we have tested and compared many different kinds of socks. We found our feet to sweat more in all synthetic socks, even synthetic socks specifically designed for hiking and now only walk with Merino wool socks. They wick away sweat, even thicker socks stay more dry, with hardly any smell. With merino wool socks you can actually do more than one day with a pair of socks without washing them.
Some excellent merino wool socks we used for hiking the Fishermen´s trail. – Mid Weight Darn Tough, Light Weight Darn Tough, Injinji Mid Weight Merino Wool Toe Sock, Injinji Merino Wool Sock Liner, Danish Endurance Mid Weight light grey
I use Danish Endurance socks and have several pairs. It is a medium-weight sock (so it is fairly thick) with 38% merino wool content. Sometimes I feel like these socks are my secret weapon.
Campbell walked the Fishermen´s trail with a thinner sock on the hot days. The Darn Tough Vermont Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion (43% merino wool) is a great sock light weight sock with padding. The Darn Tough Socks are unconditionally guaranteed for life! If they get a hole in you can send them back. For an extensive discussion on socks see our Socks for the Camino de Santiago article.
Sock Tips to Prevent Chafing
- Carry a clean dry pair of socks on the top of your backpack, stop and put on fresh dry socks halfway during the day.
- Use different kinds of socks and alternate them to prevent rubbing and hot spots.
Women’s clothing for hiking the Fishermen´s Trail
- Quick dry, sport or hiking gear works well. To pack light only take two sets of hiking clothes that you wash frequently.
- Layering, to stay warm we do layering wearing several thin layers of clothing that you can add to or remove as needed.
Trekking pants
You can wear Quick dry hiking pants in all conditions on the trail. Alya prefers to walk in stretchy yoga pants (tights) that are very light and pack small. We prefer to always walk in long pants for sun protection. In summer many people walk in hiking shorts.
Hiking shirt
Thin, lightweight, breathable and quick dry hiking shirts are the most effective. The material should wick sweat away from your body. Cotton clothes are not good for hiking, the material gets wet from sweat and the wind makes it freezing cold in a wet shirt.
Alya usually packs two running T-shirts; one with long sleeves and one short-sleeve. The long sleeve is good for sun protection in the hot Algarve sun.
Fleece
A soft and warm fleece is a very comfortable item that we pack al year round. It is great on chilly mornings or in the evenings.
Alya hiking in a fleece and stretchy hiking pants, carrying a Osprey daypack.
Rain jacket
A rain jacket is an important item, even if it is unlikely that you will get rain in summer, a light wind/waterproof jacket is nice to wear if it is windy. In winter a light rain poncho that covers your backpack is nice to have. Check the weather forecast for the next 14 days and decide if you want to pack a rain poncho.
Underwear and changing clothing
For hiking sports bras are the most comfortable and Alya usually pack two pairs of running bras and three or four pairs of light, moisture wicking underwear. These soft, comfy no odor Merino Wool Bikini Briefs are good for long hikes. We wash underwear and socks every day, it doesn’t take long and it dries quickly.
Clothes for Sleeping
Alya packs a cotton T-shirt and shorts for sleeping and changing after a shower. In winter long sleeping pants are worth packing.
See the Stingy Nomads (that’s us) Fishermen’s trail t-shirt!)
Buy a Fishermen`s Trail T-shirt Here. Designed by Stingy Nomads, showing the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade near Lagos on the Fishermen’s Trail and the distance of the complete walking route.
Pack a pair of flip-flops to wear at your accommodation and around town, we often end up walking long stretches in our flip flops!
Swimming Costume
You will walk on the beach quite a lot. I went swimming a couple of time in the sea. The Atlantic Ocean is cold, but refreshing. I will definitely recommend packing a swimming costume!
Hiking the Fishermen´s trail wearing a Columbia hat, Polaroid sunglasses, rain jacket (for the wind), Columbia shirt, trekking pants, Osprey backpack, Darn Tough socks, and Merrell shoes.
Men’s clothing for the Fishermen´s Trail
Rain jacket
A rain jacket is essential when it rains (winter months) and is handy when the wind blows in summer months. Check the two week weather forecast and pack a rain poncho that will cover yourself and your pack if rain is predicted in winter.
Trekking pants
I like to hike in quick-dry light pants all year round. On hot days in summer it is nice to walk in shorts. A pair of convertible pants with zip-off legs are a great space saver in summer. There is no need for carrying short and long pants.
Hiking shirts
I like to walk in long sleeve Columbia hiking shirts all year round, they are quick drying and good for sun protection. Short sleeve running T-shirts are; light, comfortable, breathing, dry very quickly, and easy to wash.
Fleece jacket
I always pack a nice a soft fleece to wear in the hostel at night.
Underwear
Pack 2-3 pairs of underwear. These Premium Wicking No-Odor Merino Wool Classic Boxers are great. You can handwash them. If you prefer a tighter fitting boxer these quick-drying 100% merino wool underwear are great.
Clothes for sleeping
Pack a comfortable sleeping outfit like a pair of light cotton shorts and a Stingy Nomads Fishermen’s trail t-shirt
Wearing a Stingy Nomads Fishermen’s trail t-shirt.
Swimming Costume
You will walk on the beach quite a lot. I went swimming a couple of time in the sea. The Atlantic Ocean is cold, but refreshing. I will definitely recommend packing a swimming costume! On the Fishermen´s trail I packed running shorts with an inner. they are light, dry quick and work nice as an extra pair of underwear with trekking pants.
Important Gear
Light Quick Dry Towel
A towel is an essential thing to carry. I went swimming a couple of times hiking the fishermen’s trail. If you stay in hostels you might not get towels. Micro Fiber towels take almost no space, are light, and dry easily so that they won’t get moldy and start smelling. Light Quick Dry Micro Fiber Towel.
Trekking poles
Many hikers swear by trekking poles and will swop them for nothing (we do not use them on this type of terrain). Trekking poles are great if you have knee or hip problems, shin splint, etc. If you are flying in remember they are not allowed in hand luggage, so check them in or they might get confiscated by airport security!
Sun Protection
Good protection is important on long days in the strong Portuguese sun; long sleeves, legs, a hat, buff and sunglasses. Sun cream is off-course also fine, but long days in the sun and some very funny sun tan lines convinced us to wear protective clothing.
Cap/hat
A cap or a hat is a must-have item hiking on the coast of Portugal. I like to wear a wide brim Colombia hat for sun protection and Alya prefers to walk wearing a cap.
Sunglasses
Do not forget your sunglasses at home! Sunglasses are very important when hiking the Fishermen´s trail. We like the Polaroid sunglasses we are currently using. Polaroid Men’s Sunglasses and Polaroid Sunglasses for Ladies
Buff/Neck Gator
A neck gator or Buff is great to protect your neck and face from sun, wind and weather.
Water bottle or Hydration Bladder
Carrying enough water is very important. I prefer to use a water bottle, but many hikers use a hydration pack bladder instead. Tap water in Portugal is drinkable. We buy drinking water most of the time, but we usually don’t use filters if we fill up with tap water.
Some Extras to Pack
Since we always try to keep our backpacks light there is not much space for extras, but we usually do squeeze these in for long walks.
Neck bag
Having a neck bag is very handy to keep your documents, phone, money, and credit cards together. Easy to take everything with you when you leave your accommodation.
Tote Bag
We always carry a strong, light tote bag that takes little space. Works well to go shopping and walking around town.
Travel lock
We usually carry a small travel lock, this will be handy if you stay in a hostel with shared accommodation.
Kindle E-Reader
It is nice to carry a book with you for reading at night, I usually fall asleep after two or three pages. A Kindle Paperwhite is great for reading in the dark.
First aid kit
There are plenty of pharmacies on the way. We carry a very basic first aid kit. Here are some items that we pack.
Swiss Army Knife
- A very handy thing to pack for opening bottles, cans and to cut stuff, it has enough functions for us.
- Remember to put it in your check-in luggage before flights, I have lost a knife that I forgot in my hand luggage before boarding! Victorinox Swiss Army Spartan Pocket Knife
Headlamp
- If you are going to be walking early mornings in winter or staying backpackers hostels having a headlamp is always hand.
- The PETZL, ACTIK CORE Rechargeable Headlamp can use both USB charging and batteries.
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