The Fisherman’s Trail is a walking route in the south of Portugal. It’s a part of the Rota Vicentina network. The trail is considered one of the most beautiful coastal routes in the world. The scenery along the route is breathtaking; rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, stunning lookout points, charming towns, blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and diverse wildlife. We were so impressed by the beauty of the area that after completing the trail decided to move to the south of Portugal.
Navigate on the Fishermen´s Trail using Google Maps on your Phone.
The Fisherman’s Trail is one of the best hikes in the Algarve. It deserves to be on a bucket list of any hiker. Do you want to know how the Fishermen´s trail compare with the famous Camino de Santiago? Check our comparison of the Fishermen´s Trail vs The Portuguese Camino Coastal Routes.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Fisherman’s Trail PDF
To make your planning easier we’ve created a downloadable PDF file with walking stages and places to stay on the Fisherman’s Trail.
We have a detailed Fishermen’s Trail walking itinerary post where you can find complete information on each stage of the trail with distances, elevation profiles, times, and accommodation options.
GPX files of the Fisherman’s Trail
Want to know how to use a GPX file for phone navigation?
The trail overview
- Total distance – 230 km/143 mi
- Number of days – 11-13 days
- Starting point – S.Torpes Beach, 10 km before Porto Covo, Alentejo
- Finishing point – Lagos, Algarve
- Total ascent – 4418 m
- Total descent – 4414 m
- Route marking – wooden poles with blue & green stripes
- Average cost – 40-60 Euros per person per day
- Accommodation options – camping, hostels, hotels
Where is the Fisherman’s Trail?
The Fisherman’s Trail follows the southern coast of Portugal. It stretches between Porto Covo and Lagos. The starting point is near the town of Sines, 170 km/105 mi south of Lisbon. The route goes through two Portuguese provinces Alentejo and Algarve.
How long is the route?
The total distance of the Fisherman’s Trail is 230 km/143 mi. You need 11-13 days to complete it.
Travel insurance
World Nomads’ mission is to support and encourage travelers to explore their boundaries. They offer simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help you travel confidently.In which direction to walk?
You can walked the Fisherman’s Trail south to north or north to south. The route is marked both ways. Some people prefer walking it south to north so they don’t walk facing the sun. I suggest choosing the direction based on the time of the year. In spring it’s better to walk south to north, it gets warmer earlier in the south. In fall north to south might be better due to the weather conditions.
Where does the trail start and end?
The start and end of the Fisherman’s Trail depends on the chosen direction.
If you walk north to south then you start in S.Torpes Beach, 10 km north of Porto Covo and finish in Lagos. We started the walk in Porto Covo. I walked the 10 km from S.Torpes Beach to Porto Covo later and to be honest I didn’t feel we missed out on anything by skipping it.
If you walk south to north then you start in Lagos, a popular beach town and finish in Porto Covo/S.Torpes Beach.
The most popular route options
| Porto Covo – Odeceixe | Porto Covo – Sagres | Porto Covo – Lagos | Sagres – Lagos |
| 76 km/47 mi 4 days | 191 km/118 mi 9-10 days | 230 km/142 mi 11-13 days | 63,5 km/40 mi 2-3 days |
Walking the entire trail from Porto Covo (S.Torpes Beach) to Lagos. The full length of the route is 230 km/142 mi. It takes 11-13 days to complete.
Starting in Porto Covo and finishing in Odeceixe. It’s the original trail that later was extended to Cabo de Sao Vicente in Sagres and then to Lagos. The total distance is 76 km/47 mi. It takes 4 days to complete.
Starting in Porto Covo and finishing in Sagres. The extended version of the Fisherman’s Trail. The total distance is 181 km/112 mi. You need 9-10 days to complete it.
Walking the last part of the trail from Sagres to Lagos. This part of the route was added later. The distance is 63,5 km/40 mi. One needs 2-3 days. To be honest this is our favorite part of the route because we live in Lagos and can easily do any part of it as a day hike.
Is the route well-marked?
Yes, the Fisherman’s Trail is marked in both directions with small wooden poles with green and blue stipes. You can find these route markers everywhere along the route.
The Fisherman’s Trail itinerary
You can find a detailed trail itinerary in THIS POST
| Day 1. Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes 19 km/12 mi | Day 2. Vila Nova de Milfontes – Almograve 16 km/10 mi | Day 3. Almograve – Zambujeira do Mar 22,5 km/14 mi |
| Day 4. Zambujeira to Mar – Odeceixe 19 km/12 mi | Day 5. Odeceixe – Aljezur 23 km/14,2 mi | Day 6. Aljezur – Praia da Arrifana 19 km/12 mi |
| Day 7. Praia da Arrifana – Carrapateira 20 km/12,4 mi | Day 8. Carrapateira – Vila do Bispo 15 km/9 mi | Day 9. Vila do Bispo – Sagres 21 km/13 mi |
| Day 10. Sagres – Salema 20 km/12,4 mi | Day 11. Salema – Praia da Luz 12 km/7,4 mi | Day 12. Praia da Luz – Lagos 10,5 km/6,4 mi |
How difficult is the hike?
Like any multiday trail, the route is challenging. Some days you walk for many kilometers on the sand, and some days climb up and down the cliffs. Despite daily distances being relatively short don’t underestimate the trail it has its difficulties.
If you don’t have any previous hiking experience I would suggest doing a part of the Fisherman’s Trail or having rest days in between. Using a luggage transfer service will make your walking easier. You can carry a day pack and your main luggage will be delivered to your hotel every day.
In my opinion, the easiest stages are the Salema to Luz and Luz to Lagos. The two shortest stages with stunning views. Both can be walked as day hikes. Walking from Lagos to Luz is an excellent day hike if you stay in Lagos.
What is the best part of the route?
The scenery on the Fisherman’s Trail is spectacular from the start to the end. My favorite part of the route is between Sagres and Lagos. You get to see limestone cliffs, dramatic drops, charming towns, and amazing beaches. For the cliff views the part from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo is one of the best.
Best guidebooks for the Fisherman’s Trail
The official guidebook by the Rota Vicentina organization is the best one to use. You can buy it online or at one of the information offices along the route. In Proto Covo, you can purchase the guidebook and a route map at Papelaria O Correiro, Vasco da Gama Street 7b, (a block away from the church).
There is a Cicerone guidebook on the Rota Vicentina that has a lot of information on the trail that you can buy on Amazon.
Accommodation on the trail
Accommodation on the Fisherman’s Trail wasn’t a problem. We have a complete list of places to stay along the route.
Hostels, hotels, and guesthouses can be found in every town some places have more options some less. The campsites can be found in Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Sagres, and Salema.
The guesthouses/hostels on the route are quite small, they fill up quickly. If you’re planning to walk it between June and September I recommend booking accommodation. Even if you’re planning to camp at least contact campsites to find out how full they are.
When booking accommodation;
- check for the check-in time in most hotels it’s quite late, around 3 pm.
- make sure your hotel is in the town itself and not 5 km outside of it
- find your place on Google.maps beforehand
Luggage delivery
It’s possible to use a luggage transfer service on the Fisherman’s Trail. Vicentina Transfers is a company that provides luggage delivery services on the trail. They deliver your luggage door to door between any accommodation along the route including campsites. It’s between 15-20 Euros (depending on how many stages you book) per section for 1 piece of luggage.
The company provides only luggage transfer they don’t do accommodation booking for you. Before you arrange the delivery you have to book your accommodation.
Read our detailed packing list for the Fisherman’s Trail to make sure you pack the right gear.
The cost of walking the Fisherman’s Trail
The cost depends on where you stay and what you eat. It can anything between 30 euros to 100 euros per day.
If you’re planning to camp or stay in dormitories, cook or eat take away food budget 30 euros per person per day.
Staying in budget private rooms* and eating out once a day (not dinner) – budget 50-60 euros per person per day.
If you want to stay in upper class private rooms, eat in restaurants, and use luggage transfer then 100-150 euros per person per day is more or less what you’ll spend.
*Keep in mind that the cost of accommodation is higher if you’re a single traveler. A double/twin room split between two people work out cheaper per person than a single room.
Read our Fishermen’s trail Cost Guide were we walk you through how much you can expect to spend so you can plan your adventure with confidence.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary a lot depending on the season with winter months being the cheapest and the summer months between June and September the highest. In summer you might pay double of what you pay offseason.
Camping
It is the most budget option. Prices vary depending on the season with July and August being the most expensive months. The main drawback is that you have to carry camping gear with you (tent, mattress, sleeping bag, cooking stuff, etc.) which adds a lot of weight to your backpack. The price for camping is between 10 to 15 Euros per person per night. Wild camping is not allowed on the Fisherman’s Trail.
Hostels
A bed in a dormitory is another budget accommodation option on the Fisherman’s Trail. You don’t get hostels in every town but in most of them. The hostels are often fully booked in summer. To get a spot it’s advisable to book a bed in advance. The price for a dorm bed is around 20-25 Euros depending on the season.
Hotels
A private room is the most comfortable accommodation option and sometimes a double room with a shared bathroom costs the same as two beds in a dormitory. Prices for a budget double room are from between 60 and 70 Euros. If you walk off-season between November and March it will be more or less the standard price. During the peak summer months the prices are higher.
Food
There are grocery stores and shops in every town on the route. If you’re on a tight budget cooking is the best option. Try to book accommodation with a kitchen (most places we stayed had at least a microwave). Depending on what kind of stuff you buy shopping for 3 meals (lunch, dinner, and breakfast) costs between 10 and 12 Euros per person.
Restaurant prices are quite high in touristy areas. You can get cheaper meals at local restaurants. In most places on the trail you pay an average of 12 Euro for a dish, every time we went out for dinner we paid about 30 Euros pp. including drinks. Breakfast (toasted sandwich and coffee) you can get for 5-7 Euros.
If you want to know about Portuguese coffee culture read our post on How to order coffee in Portugal?
The best time for hiking
The Fisherman’s Trail is in the south of Portugal. It’s never really cold here (only at night in winter) which means the route can be walked all year round.
We’ve walked the Fisherman’s Trail, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and the Historical Way between April and May. For us it’s the best time of the year; not hot, not too busy, fields are covered in flowers, and prices are a lower than in the peak season.
Summer particularly July and August are the hottest and the busiest months in the Algarve. If you have a choice I’d suggest walking the route any other time. Accommodation prices go up, it’s busy, and very hot.
October and the first half of November are good months for walking; comfortable weather, lower prices, not crowded.
As for walking the route completely offseason between December and March it can be good or bad.
February is the rainiest month and March sometimes gets very wet too.
The 25/26 winter season was notorious for bad weather with pouring rain for weeks and stormy winds which resulted in floods and cause damage on the roads and trails. If you decide to hike the trail in winter you should be prepared to change your plans if necessary.
How to get to the Fisherman’s Trail?
There are direct buses from Lisbon to both Porto Covo and Lagos (wherever you decide to start). Rede Expressos buses leave throughout the day from Sete Rios and Oriente bus stations in Lisbon. When checking for buses make sure to choose Lisbon all stations (Lisboa todas as Estações).
The Lisbon to Porto Covo journey takes between 2 and 3 hours depending on the bus route. The standard price is 16,5 Euro. You can get tickets online for as little as 7 euros. There are 7-10 daily departures. You can check the up-to-date itinerary and buy tickets online.
If you’re planning to start at S.Torpes Beach which is 10 km north of Porto Covo you’ll have to get off the bus earlier. S.Torpes Beach is between Sines and Porto Covo. Ask a driver to stop at Praia de São Torpes.
The Lisbon to Lagos journey takes 3-4 hours on average. The price is 20 euros. You can buy tickets online for as little as 7-10 euros. There are more than 10 daily buses.
There are daily direct buses from Lisbon to Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Aljezur, Odeceixe, Zambujeira do Mar, Almograve, and Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Places to stay in Porto Covo
- Low-end | Ahoy Porto Covo | MUTE Hostel |
- Mid-range | Apartamentos Campos 1 |
- High-end | Hotel O Lugar |
Places to stay in Lagos
- Low-end | The 17 Hostel |
- Mid-range | Sensations Guesthouse |
- High-end | Hotel Marina Rio |
Questions or Comments?
Got any questions or comments? We would love to help! All questions and comments will be answered by us personally in Buy Me a Coffee. Click below and ask away.
Feel free to support our site by buying us a coffee!
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.
Russell
Sunday 19th of April 2026
Thanks for all this detailed guidance -- hugely helpful. We're planning to walk Lagos-da Luz/ da Luz-Salema/ Salema-Sagres. My question is: If we get weary on that third, longest day (we're in our 70s, though quite hale & hardy), are we over-committed to walking the rest of the way or can we summon a taxi or something? Is switching from walking to cycling on that third day an option? Thanks!
Stingy Nomads
Monday 20th of April 2026
Hello Russell. Thank you for the comment. The cycling route is on the road not on the walking trail so don't get to see that much of a coast. There are two small beaches with restaurants between Salema and Sagres at 10 km (Ingrina Beach) and 11 km (Zavial Beach). You might be able to get an Uber or ask to call a taxi at the restaurant. The stage between Salema and Sagres is quite tricky with a couple of steep ascents and descents I suggest you walk the first two stages from Lagos to Salema and after decide if you want to walk the Salema to Sagres stage. As an option you can take a bus/taxi to Sagres and walk along the cliffs to the Fortress and to Cabo de S.Vicente from there. It's a spectacular route on the top of the cliffs without any ascents. Safe travels!
Tina
Tuesday 14th of April 2026
Wonderful guide. Looking to plan for May/June and I am a bit short for days but would like to do all 230kms. What do you think about walking directly from Salema to Lagos? Kind regards Tina
Stingy Nomads
Wednesday 15th of April 2026
Hello Tina. Thank you for the comment. Yes, you can walk the part of the trail from Salema to Lagos in one day. Many people do it. Enjoy the walk!
John
Wednesday 24th of December 2025
Hello! Wonderful site and information - thank you. I am wondering if one can begin in Faro and head north from there, picking up the Fisherman's Trail proper in Lagos?
Best,
John
Stingy Nomads
Thursday 25th of December 2025
Hello John. Thank you for the comment. As far as I know there is no walking trail from Faro to Lagos. There are a couple of short trails near Carvoeiro e.g. Seven Hanging Valleys and Trail of the Headlands but they are not connected to the Fisherman's Trail. If you want to walk on a trail along the coast the best is to start in Lagos and walk to Porto Covo. There is another trail The Via Algarviana it connects to the Fisherman's Trail in Sagres but it's an inland route and it doesn't go through Faro or Lagos. You can fly to Faro then take a bus to Lagos and start walking the trail. Cheers
Dan M
Thursday 9th of October 2025
@Stingynomad
What a fantastic guide, thank you for creating this resource. Myself and my partner are looking at having a play on the trail mid-Nov. We were considering not booking accommodation (ideally hostels) so we have freedom to choose as we go. We would never consider this on season but is it a viable plan off season or should we commit by booking in advance?
Many thanks Dan
Stingy Nomads
Thursday 6th of November 2025
Hello Dan, thanks for reading. Outside the season you can book places as you go a day or two ahead just to make sure you’ll have a place to stay. Some towns have very limited accommodation options. Safe Travels!
nigel
Friday 15th of August 2025
Hi, Due to a time restraint I am having to do lose a day. I am looking to walk from Porto Covo but at Vila Nova Milfontes I will walk straight through Almograve and stay overnight at Cavaleiro. (I will use the ferry to shorten the walk) The next day I will look to walk Cavaleiro to Odeceixe. By my reckoning this leg is 19 miles. What are your thoughts on this please. I am reasonably fit and have walked muti days before but 19 miles in sand ?
Thanks Nigel
Stingy Nomads
Monday 18th of August 2025
Hello Nigel. Thank you for the comment. Do I understand right that you want to start in Porto Covo and finish in Odeceixe? If so I would suggest walking the first 3 stages from Porto Covo to Zambujeira instead of trying to push to Odeceixe. You are doing a part of the Fishermen's Trail anyway so if you do 1 stage less it won't make a big difference. Rather take your time to enjoy the walk, relax on the beaches, etc. There are direct buses from Zambujeira to Lisbon. Good luck.