The Fisherman's Trail, Portugal - a 2026 walking guide
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.
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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?
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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.
Looks fantastic. My wife and I are looking at doing the Fisherman's walk about mid November to mid December
Hello Norm. Thank you for the comment. The weather is usually good (not much rain) in December, the past December we had only one rainy day. It is usually sunny and warm during the day and gets chilly at night. I'm sure you'll enjoy the Fisherman's Trail, it's a fantastic route.
Cheers
Hello, thanks for the very useful information. I am planning to walk this trail in mid-March. I would like to ask where I can buy gas cartridges for the stove in Lagos and what type.
Thank you very much.
Tomas
Hello Tomas. Soma hardware shops in Lagos have gas cartridges e.g. Bricomarche but these are old-school ones that can't be screwed and unscrewed, once you pierce it you have to keep it attached to the stove.
Where in Portugal are you flying to? If Lisbon you can get camping gas canisters in Decathlon. There are a couple of them in the city. If you fly to Faro you can buy it in Decathlon in Faro.
Cheers
Love your website and guidance. I've been pouring over it. Hope you are h I am planning a walk for me and my 5 adult kids from Sept 27-Oct 1 I read a comment earlier where you sketched out a 5 day itinerary from Carrapateira to Lagos that sounded suitable for us with your suggestion to possibly taxi between Sagres to Salema...A few questions: do you ever help plan/book itineraries for a private group like mine? Will it be busy and hard for me to book accommodations for 6 persons/3 rooms at same place... that time of year? Will it be possible to get buses to Carrapateira from Lisboa pretty much any day? I tried as a test on the REDE Express site to book 6 tix for next week and it didn't seem to have any. Is there another better place to bus to nearby Carrpateira? Do you think we could store our extra non hike luggage in Lisbon at our hotel while we do the walk? Maybe I should hire a guide service? I walked the camino santiago solo without any help, but with a group in this Algarve tourist region I am not so sure it will be workable. Sorry for so many questions but your site is excellent and I want to support you! Thanks!!
Hello Susan. Thank you for the comment.
We usually don't plan personalized itineraries. As an option you can stay in Lagos and take a bus/taxi/Uber or arrange a private shuttle to get to the trail every day. There are public buses from Lagos to Luz, Salema, Sagres, and Vila do Bispo. Day 1. Lagos to Luz. Day 2. Luz to Salema. Day 3. Salema to Sagres. Day 4. Sagres to Vila do Bispo. Day 5. Vila do Bispo to Carrapateira. The walks are not long. You don't have to start very early. You'll have enough time to get to the trail and back to Lagos on the same day. In this case you don't need to store your luggage in Lisbon and don't have to check in and out every day. It's easier to find accommodation for 6 people in Lagos than in smaller towns on the trail as some guesthouses are very small and have just a couple of rooms.
We live in Lagos. and I walked the stages between Sagres and Lagos that way taking a bus in the morning and getting back by bus in the evening.
October is not the busiest time in the Algarve I don't think finding accommodation will be a problem but I'd suggest booking it in advance.
It's easier to get to back to Lisbon from Lagos than from other towns on the Fisherman's Trail. There are more than 10 daily buses. There is a luggage storage facility at Lagos bus station where you can store your extra luggage.
There are direct buses from Carrapateira to Lisbon but not every day. It'll be easier to get to Vila do Bispo and from there get a bus to Lisbon. There are several daily buses.
We have a PDF file with walking stages and places to stay for every day in the second paragraph of this post. You can use it to plan your walk.
The route is well-marked and easy to follow. If you decide on the guide or shuttle service let us know we can try to arrange something.
All the best!
@Stingy Nomads, Thanks for all this very helpful information!!
I am gonna figure out how to work the coffee tip jar on your site. You are amazing and I can't wait for the walk with my kids. I think we will go Carrepateira to Lagos. Cheers
Hello Susan. Thank you very much for your coffees. The Carrapateira to Lagos is one of our favorite parts of the Fisherman's Trail. I'm sure you and your children will enjoy the walk.
All the best
This is amazing!! But...I can't seem to download the GPX documents - do you happen to have them available as PDFs? Thank you!!
Hello Kristin a GPX file contains geographic information such as waypoints, tracks, and routes that you open with a GPS device (smart phones work). You can view the map and route on phone or computer and can use the file on your device to guide you on your way with turn by turn navigation (like driving with Google Maps). You can find clear instructions in this post on how to download and use the files on your phone (it is not too complicated) Enjoy the trail! https://stingynomads.com/gpx-phone-navigation-camino-de-santiago/
Hey, the link for the Fisherman trail accomodation returns a 404 error
Hello. Thank you for letting me know. It's fixed now.
Cheers
v well written n informative
Hi!
Love this article by the way! We will be in the Algarve region early May and in addition to doing some other activities would like to perhaps squeeze in a section of this hike. I saw you mention that Sagres to Salema is difficult, which section is easier and/or more scenic Salema to Luz or Luz to Lagos? We only have time to do one section unfortunately.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Cheers-Nadine
Hello Nadine. Thank you for the comment. I prefer the Luz to Lagos section of the Fisherman's Trail. You get great views from the top of the cliffs and you can decide how far you want to walk. You can finish at Porto do Mos Beach which is 4 km from Luz or continue walking to Ponta de Piedade and from there to Old Town past Camilo Beach and Dona Ana Beach then it's 10 km. That way you get to see some of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
You can find a detailed description of the stage in this post https://thealgarvefamily.com/praia-da-luz-lagos-walk/
Happy New Year
Walked north from lagos to aljezur. Excellent time. No sun in the eyes, better view of the lamdscape that way. And you cross many people so you can always ask whats up ahead. 😄. Def recommend walking south to north. Thanks stingy nomads for the excellent practical info on this website.
Hello Judith. Thank you for the comment. We're glad you liked the Fisherman's Trail.
Cheers
Hoping to do this trip in April. I see that the bus website is not allowing me to connect (Rede Expressos website). Is anyone else having a problem? I was hoping to go from Lagos to the Lisbon airport after the last day of hiking for an afternoon flight.
Hello Rodrigo. There are buses from Lagos to one of the Lisbon bus stations (no direct bus to the airport). I know for sure because we live in Lagos and go to Lisbon quite often. The best way is to get a bus from Lagos to Lisboa Oriente Bus Station and from there take a metro (3 stations to the airport). Rede Expressos doesn't sell bus tickets for local destinations months in advance. You have to check closer to your dates.
Cheers
HI. In 2 weeks I will be in Portugal and I would like to do some sections of the Fishermans Trail.
Porto Covo » Vila Nova de Milfontes
Almograve » Zambujeira do Mar
e Sagres » Salema
I travel alone and don't have a car. there are transport possibilities between the end of one section of the path and the beginning of the other. I would also like to do the path of the seven suspended valleys and there too I will have the same problem about getting around. I can't find information on the internet. Thank you
Hello Francesca. Thank you for the comment. There are buses between the towns but they are not very frequent. The easiest might be using Uber or taking taxis. As for the Seven Valleys trail you can find information on getting there in this post https://stingynomads.com/seven-hanging-valleys-trail/#How_to_get_to_the_Seven_Hanging_Valleys_Trail.
Good luck
Does it matter whether you go lagos to Odeixce or Odeixce to Lagos? And if one has only 4 days to do this stretch which 4 days do you recommend? We will have a car, as my wrist is broken so we plan to leave packs in car and only take what we need for the day and then use bus or uber or taxi to get back to car. Thank you.
Hello Ingrid. Thank you for the comment. I would suggest the stretch between Lagos and Vila do Bispo starting in Vila do Bispo. It's easy to get to and back by bus. In fact you don't have to drive at all you can stay in Lagos, in the morning take a bus from Lagos to Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Salema, Praia de Luz and then a bus back to Lagos. Logistically it might be easier than moving hotels every day. Buses leave from the bus station in Lagos.
Cheers
@Ingrid, Thank you so much!!If you are up for s coffee in Lagos, we’d live to meet you! Coffee in us!There from Oct 27-31.
Thanks again,
Ingrid
Hi. We're currently in Lagos. We'll be happy to meet up with you.
Cheers
Hi folks,
Thanks as always for such a helpful article.
I'm thinking of doing this at the start of November for about a week.
In terms of weather etc what section and what direction would be a reasonable bet for this time of year?
Cheers,
Phil
Hello Phil. Thank you for the comment. I'd say the southern part of the Fisherman's Trail will have better weather conditions. The section between Sagres and Lagos but it takes only 3 days to complete. The best would be to start in Lagos and see how far you get weather and time permitting. The trail is marked both ways.
Good luck
Hi guys, thanks for all the information it's very helpful!
I sadly only have 3 days where I can walk but need to end up in Lagos to meet family. I'm a fit person walking solo and happy to do walk longer days if needed to try and see as much of the trail as possible. I recently walked some of the Camino del norte and averaged 30km a day. Realistically where do you think the best place is for me to start to see as much as possible in 3 days and finish in Lagos?
Hello Ethan. Thank you for the comment. I'd suggest starting in Vila do Bispo. It's a 4-day route but the last 2 stages are short and can be walked in one day (22 km in total). This way you get to see Cape St.Vincent, Sagres, and many beautiful beaches.
Cheers
thanks for the overview!! I have been looking at June, but accommodation, is not nearly as affordable as described, am I too late probably to book
Hello James. Thank you for the comment. I checked for the next June and saw that many places don't accept booking that far in advance. I don't think you're too early. Keep in mind that June is the beginning of the season prices are higher than off-season. Expect to pay 20-25 euros for a bed in a dormitory and 40-50 euros for a private room.
Good luck
Hello! We are planning to walk 5/6 days on the fishermenstrail. We will walk from San Torpes to Odeceixe. After that we would like to do one more other etappe. What do you think is the nicest etappe and best place to end our trip? From aljezur to Arrifana or from arrifana to Carrapateira ? Thanks for your help !
Hello Kathleen. Thank you for the comment. I think the most logic is to continue from Odeceixe and walk to Aljezur. You can stop at Praia de Odeceixe, from there the trail goes along the cliffs offering spectacular views. It should be easy to find a bus from Aljezur back to Lisbon.
Cheers
Hi there
Which villages you pass from Carrapateira to Arrifana ( want to check out restaurants etc)
Hi. You can find a detail stage description with the stops along the route here https://stingynomads.com/fishermens-trail-rota-vicentina-itinerary/#Day_7_Arrifana_%E2%80%93_Carrapateira_20_km124_mi
Cheers
Hello!
Is it possible to divide the distance from Porto Covo to Milfontes and stay in a hotel? Maybe walk just half the total distance. Do you know of any place to stay in?
The same for the walk between Almoravid and. Zambujeira, any place you know of where to stay in the middle?
Thanks for a lot of information on your site.
Brgds
Anna.
Hello Anna. Thank you for the comment.
Between Porto Covo and Milfontes you can stop in Ribeira de Azenha. It's a small village with a couple of guesthouses. It's not on the trail you'll have to turn off at Aivados Beach and walk inland for about 3 km to get there. There is nothing right on the trail.
On the stage between Almograve and Zambujeira there is a small town at 10 km, Cavaleiro with a couple of guesthouses. You can stop there.
Both places are very small and have limited accommodation options I'd suggest booking in advance to make sure you have a place to stay.
Cheers
@Stingy Nomads,
Thanks for your answer.
Great information. Thanks!
If you wanted to add a rest day somewhere near the middle of the hike, what location would you recommend?
Hello Amy. Thank you for the comment. I really like Bordeira Beach near Carrapateira. It's a wide sandy beach surrounded by the cliffs and dunes with a great viewpoint. The town is small and usually quiet unless you're there in August. The town is about half way on the Fisherman's Trail.
Enjoy the walk
I would like to thank you very much for all information you provided, it's clear and simple.
Good luck
Hello Bader. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy the walk.
Hi there! We are thinking about doing the Fishermans route mid-September all the way to Lagos. I think the Original Fisherman's trail is more remote with smaller towns. I think we may find the southern portion to be too touristic? I did see suggestions to walk South to North this time of year due to winds? We are avid long distance hikers but usually in mountains so a coastal walk is new to us. Any other long distance trails you recommend in the area or nearby countries?
Hello Laura. Thank you for the comment. The part Sagres to Lagos definitely is more touristy and September is still the busy season in the Algarve. You see tourists in the towns, not on the trail through. I'm not sure about the wind direction. We live in Lagos and the wind often comes from inland.
As for other routes there are many routes of the Camino de Santiago in Spain and two in Portugal but it's less than a hike and more of a pilgrimage walk. Saying that I mean the routes go through cities and towns. There is the Historical route, a different route of the Rota Vicentina network that is far less popular. https://stingynomads.com/historical-way-rota-vicentina/ It's an inland route and in September it might be too hot to walk it. I think the Fisherman's Trail is a good choice, the scenery is spectacular. The first time we did it was after hiking in Nepal for two months and it was very nice to get to the sea and beaches.
Good luck
@Stingy Nomads,
We Just returned from completing the Manaslu circuit and Tsum Valley are 4th trek in Nepal! Funny. Yes we are thinking coast sounds good. Hike Peaks of the Balkans the highlight of many long distance treks. Do it before it blows up. Thanks we are planning on starting trek October 13 thru 24.
Well done Laura. We wanted to do the Manaslu Circuit in the past but I don't think we'll go back to Nepal in the nearest future we spent 8 months stuck there due to the pandemic and had enough of it.
Cheers
@Stingy Nomads,
One last question. Possible to buy hiking sticks in Porto Covo? Don't want to check any baggage.
Hello Laura. Porto Covo is a very small town I can't recall a shop where you could possibly buy walking sticks. There is a book shop, a grocery store, and a pharmacy. There are quite a few souvenir shops on the main street they might have walking sticks we just never looked for them specifically. I don't know where you're flying to. You can buy them in Lisbon at one of the Decathlon shops in the center. If you book a hotel in Porto Covo you can send them a message asking about it. People who live there might know better.
Cheers