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.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What is the Rota Vicentina?
The Rota Vicentina is a network of walking routes in the Alentejo and Algarve regions, 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 5 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 depending on the route. The Fishermen’s Trail is 230 km/143 mi. It takes 11-13 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.
Where does it start?
The Fishermen’s Trail of the Rota Vicentina can be walked in both directions. If you walk it north to south you start at S.Torpes Beach, 10 km north of Porto Covo and finish in Lagos. If you walk south to north you start in Lagos and finish at S.Torpes.
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. The route can be walked in both directions.
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.
Travel insurance for hiking
Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.Who are World Nomads?
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, destination guides and tips to help you plan your trip, and responsible travel insights to help you travel better
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Rota Vicentina guidebooks
The official Rota Vicentina guidebook is the best one to use. You can buy it online or at one of the information offices along the route. You can buy it 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.
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)/Lagos | Different points along the Vicentina Coast |
| Finishing point | Odeceixe | Lagos/S.Torpes Beach (Porto Covo) | 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 |
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
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.
Eating out in this part of the Rota Vicentina is cheaper than along the coast restaurants cater for locals, not tourists. You can get a set menu for 10 Euros, a dish for 6-7 Euros, a cup of coffee for 1-2 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. 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.
The Fishermen’s Trail
- Total distance – 230 km/143 mi
- Number of days – 11-13 days
- Starting point – S.Torpes Beach, Porto Covo/Lagos
- Finishing point – Lagos/S.Torpes Beach, Porto Covo
- Route marking – blue & green markers
The Fishermen’s Trail (the coastal route) of the Rota Vicentina is a popular route. 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 including 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 15 Euros pp. people vs 10 Euros on the Historical Way. Every town on the trail has a supermarket or at least a grocery store.
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.
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 are between 6 km/3.7 mi and 16 km/10 mi. All hikes are circular routes. Many circular routes are partly included in one of the long trails. The day hiking trails are indicated with red and yellow markers.
The circular routes offer a combination of a coastal and rural/forest scenery. You can easily incorporate a couple of day hikes into a road trip or a beach holiday in southern Portugal.
How to combine the routes?
You can walk the entire Fishermen’s Trail or the Historical Route separately, walk only parts of the routes, or combine them. The two long-distance routes merge in Odeceixe.
Option 1. Porto Covo – Odeceixe – Santiago do Cacem
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 Cacem – 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 trail
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.
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 April is cheaper. The border season, October and May is 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.
On average you spend 50-60 Euros 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 on the Rota Vicentina. Depending on the type of place you’ll pay between 10-15 Euros (camping), 25 Euros (a bed in a hostel), and 60-80 Euros (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 15 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 on the Rota Vicentina. Not every town on the trail has one. A bed in a dormitory costs between 20 and 25 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 on the trail. Prices vary between 60 and 100 Euros for a double room.
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 5-10 Euros extra if you order drinks, bread, coffee, etc. Our average bill was about 60 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 5-7 Euros.
Portugal has one of the cheapest coffee in Europe; Espresso costs 1 Euro, and coffee with milk (Galao) – 2 Euros. Read more about drinking coffee 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 from Lisbon 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/from 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 30 Euros per person per day if you’re planning to camp (when possible) and make food. 35-45 Euros per person staying in hostels and making food. And 60+ 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 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. Booking accommodation on the Rota Vicentina in advance is a must in summer.
Border season (April-May and October) is a perfect time for walking the Rota Vicentina; there are 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. The average day temperatures in winter are between 13°C and 16°C but it might rain quite a bit especially in February. The nights are chilly, between 5°C and 8°C. 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.
Luggage transfer service on the Rota Vicentina
It’s possible to arrange a luggage delivery on the Rota Vicentina. If you don’t want to walk carrying a big backpack it can be transferred every day between your hotels. You can walk with a small day pack carrying only valuables, water, and snacks.
Vicentina Transfers is the company that provides luggage transfer 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 by 4.10 pm to the next hotel/hostel.
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 fewer places to stay. The route goes through non-touristy areas of the Alentejo region.
On the Fishermen’s Trail, there are more accommodation options including hostels and campsites, especially in bigger towns. 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 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.
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 Portuguese 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 March 2026, there are 10 daily buses from Lisbon to Porto Covo. 6 buses leave from Sete Rios Bus Station, 3 from Oriente Station, and 1 from the airport. The journey takes between 2 and 3 hours. The price is between 8 and 18 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, Oriente, and the airport). The standard price is 20 Euro if you buy at the counter. You can get a ticket for 7 to 10 euros on the website. The journey takes 3-4 hours.
Check the itinerary and buy tickets online.
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.
Rota Vicentina planning resources
- Walk the coastal route of the Rota Vicentina | The Fishermen’s Trail walking itinerary |
- Another stunning coastal hike in the Algarve | Seven Hanging Valleys Trail |
- Learn more about the Rota Vicentina | Rota Vicentina the official website |
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!
LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT!
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.
Nakul
Tuesday 10th of March 2026
Hi Ayla and Campbell. I used your excellent Caminho guide to walk my Porto Caminho last December. I now want to walk the Rota Vincentina this winter up from Lagos and continue all the way to Lisboa. 1. your guide ends at Porto Covo. Any thoughts on resources for the remainder of the distance to Lisboa? 2. thoughts on the differences between the Caminho and the Rota Vincentina?
Nakul
Friday 13th of March 2026
@Stingy Nomads, thanks for the heads up. :( won't make my goal of walking the length of the Iberian peninsula on the Portuguese side. But better to know this than to 'waste' my time.
Stingy Nomads
Tuesday 10th of March 2026
Hello Nakul. Thank you for the kind comment. The Rota Vicentina (the Fishermen's Trail) ends at S.Torpes Beach, 10 km north of Porto Covo. The route doesn't go to Lisbon. In fact, I don't know of any established and marked route that connects Porto Covo with Lisbon. I've found some information on the Camino forum that you can see here https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/walking-porto-covo-to-lisbon.90874/. In my opinion it's not the most scenic part to walk. I'd rather spend more time hiking day trail in the Algarve (e.g. Seven Hanging Valleys, Trail of the Headlands) or doing a part of the Via Algarviana, an inland route across the region. Good luck!
Kennard
Tuesday 24th of February 2026
Is there any trail damage to either the Fisherman 's Way or the Historical Way. I am wondering if either has been damaged by the storms?
Stingy Nomads
Thursday 26th of February 2026
Hello Kennard. We haven't been to the northern part of the Fishermen's Trail but in the south we didn't spot any damage. There was some road damage near Aljezur but the route doesn't go there. Right now the weather in the Algarve is nice and sunny. Cheers
Kennard
Sunday 22nd of February 2026
Hey Now, I'm from USA, Vermont, hopping to hike Rota Vicentina, Lagos -> Santiago de Compostela, start late March. I've seen headlines about the storms and damage Portugal endured this winter. Is there any trail damage hikers need to know of on either RV versions??
Stingy Nomads
Sunday 22nd of February 2026
Hello Kennard. Thank you for the comment. There is no route from Lagos to Santiago de Compostela. The Rota Vicentina has 2 routes the Fishermen's Trail (coastal route) and Historical Way (inland route). First starts in Porto Covo and ends in Lagos (can be walked either way), second is from Santiago do Cacem to Odeceixe. Which route do you want to walk?
Mike
Thursday 2nd of October 2025
Hi
Thank you for all the really helpful information. I am thinking of walking the Fisherman's Trail in late January and early February 2026. However some accommodation is shut and I am struggling to find campsites that are open. Are there any campsites open and, if not, when do they tend to re-open?
Thanks Mike
Stingy Nomads
Thursday 6th of November 2025
Hello Mike, there are campsites on the Fishermen's trail that are open all year according to their websites - Parque de Campismo Porto Covo, Orbitur Sitava Milfontes, Salema Eco Camp. I know there are some campsites that open again in March. I would suggest you contact the campsites to check. If you decide to stay in hostels/hotels I would suggest to book a day or two ahead just to make sure you’ll have a place to stay. Some towns have very limited accommodation options. Happy hiking!
Robert
Saturday 10th of August 2024
Hi Alya Thank you so much for wonderful guide. We are planning to walk in October and we are still trying to decide whether to walk North to South, or South to North. I noticed in one of your replies to questions you recommended walking North to South, but you did not say why. Am i correct in thinking that you will be looking directly into the sun by walking South, and the sun will always be on your back if you walk North? What other reason did you have for suggesting a South to North option? Thanks again for really helpful guide. Te desejo bem!!
Stingy Nomads
Monday 12th of August 2024
Hello Robert. Thank you for the comment. Usually I recommend walking south to north for those who walk in spring so they start in the south where it's warmer and as they progress it gets warmer on the West Coast. If you walk in fall it's the opposite, you start in the north (where it gets cooler and rainier early) and walk to the south where it's usually warmer and sunnier. In southern Algarve it's usually warm and sunny in October. On the West Coast it might be windy and the swell gets bigger closer to winter. Cheers