Rota Vicentina
Rota Vicentina
5
About
Rota Vicentina is a network of walking and cycling trails in SW Portugal. Comprising the Historical Way, the Fishermen's Trail, and 24 Circular Routes, totals 750 km to walk, between the city of Santiago do Cacem and Lagos. The Cycling Trails are over than 1000km, distributed by 38 routes with different dificulty levels. Don't forget to experience some of the programs and activities also available in the regions, from surf lessons, to massages, or to meet the fisherman's family. A little bit of everything is possible!
Duration: More than 3 hours
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angela0809
Genoa, Italy2,917 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Our trek started from Porto Covo and took us, in a week, to the Sao Vicente Lighthouse which gives its name to the Rota. The succession of landscapes between cliffs, beaches and still uncontaminated places is beautiful. We leave our hearts behind and can't wait to return!
Written 12 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arne v
26 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We hiked from Santiago do Cacem to Zambujeira de Mar in six days. So three days inland and 3 days coast. We loved the combination. The three days in the inland were quiet and really beautiful. Fairytale landscape!
The three days along the coast are beautiful with incredible scenery. But we found it also crowded. We walked in the last week of April and there were hundreds of people om the path.
For long distance hiking its an easy hike. Of course there s sand but it also very flat. The lodging is great and cheap. It never difficult to buy food or drinks.
The three days along the coast are beautiful with incredible scenery. But we found it also crowded. We walked in the last week of April and there were hundreds of people om the path.
For long distance hiking its an easy hike. Of course there s sand but it also very flat. The lodging is great and cheap. It never difficult to buy food or drinks.
Written 3 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pieter L
Amsterdam, The Netherlands9 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We hiked the Rota Vicentina from Porto Covo down South to Odeceixe. This took four days. Ricardo from Vicentina Travel had booked the hotels for us along the route and took care of the luggage transfers. The scenery was beautiful and Ricardo’s service was outstanding.
Written 25 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat C
Paris, France13 contributions
Mar 2022
Fantastic trip, used Vicentina Travel.
We had a 10-day hike & bike tour from Santiago do Cacem to Salema through Vila Nova do Milfontes and Odeceixe, Cabo Vicentino etc, with superb views in the Alentejo over the ocean amid pristine nature and down to the Algarve beaches.
Ricardo at Vicentina Travel was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Wonderful exercize, great food & wine all along.
We had a 10-day hike & bike tour from Santiago do Cacem to Salema through Vila Nova do Milfontes and Odeceixe, Cabo Vicentino etc, with superb views in the Alentejo over the ocean amid pristine nature and down to the Algarve beaches.
Ricardo at Vicentina Travel was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Wonderful exercize, great food & wine all along.
Written 27 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark v
8 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We did the 4 day track from Porto Covo to Odeceixa. This is the part closed to the sea. It is an amazing coastal hike, with breathtaking views and secluded beaches to visit. Make sure you allow time for just sitting down and taking in the view or a nice (bit cold) swim. Don’t underestimate the track. It’s mainly flat but on parts very sandy. Especially the first day is almost 80% loose sands. You can easily arrange the hike yourself, book the overnight stays. The track is well marked at all times from N2S and S2N.
Written 2 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ponai S
5 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Magnificent place with wonderful nature. Excellently marked hiking routes, wide range of different landscapes so everyday you see something new. Beautiful towns and welcoming people will make your trip unforgettable.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your feedback and all kind words. Hope to see you again on our trails!
Written 8 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A Y
Pueblo29 contributions
Oct 2021
Absolutely loved the 4 days of hiking from south Porto Covo to Odeceixe. I hike a lot, and I will say that it's not the easiest to hike in sand with high temps and humidity. But it is absolutely worth it, both for the beauty and visits to small coastal towns. This is one journey I'd advise having a company transport your bags daily. We used Vincentina Travel, and I give them 5+ stars. Great meals and nice hotels each night. The scenery is so gorgeous, but one of the best parts of this trip was the ease of traveling in highly vaccinated Portugal! I felt very Covid- safe the whole time.
Written 19 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beverley W
Interlaken, Switzerland127 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Just back from a week long hike along the Rota Vicentina and it was wonderful. I was a lone woman hiking and had decided to book through one of the tour operators listed on the official Rota Vicentina website (normally I like to organise my own holidays but just didn't have time). I was provided with well marked individual maps for each days hike plus I downloaded each days walk profile off the official website. My bags were automatically transporated to the next destination each day and this system worked well. It was unseasonably warm for November and I had certainly expected it to be cooler. The evenings were chilly once the sun went down. Since the houses have stone/tiled floors and no heating the building can get extremely cold at night - flipflops or slippers are an advantage.
On arrival at Lisbon airport I took a taxi to the Sete Rios bus station and then the bus (4pm) to Porto Covo for my first overnight. The bus journey was 2.5 hours and very punctual. I pre booked my bus ticket on line but you can buy the tickets at the bus station. The bus station is pretty basic but I checked my case for a few hours and walked around the area.
Being November and off-season, a lot of hotels and restaurants were closed along the way but this was never a problem I always found somewhere to eat and often the hosts would recommend somewhere. The first place I stayed was hotel Porto Covo and just a short walk from the bus stop and main village street. The hotel had nice rooms located around a swimming pool, friendly receptionist and good breakfast from 7am,
As described on the main website, the first day is tough going and although I didn't find the sand too bad, the last thrid of the day did me in. Talking to another hiker later in the week we didn't know why so much emphasis is put on the first day being so tough since we found aspects of every day hard and there is sand most of the way every day. It's like walking in deep snow and never getting any where. You don't need bootcamp.
The 2nd night I stayed in the Blue Guide Guesthouse in Vila Nova de Milfontes, It is located in the old part of the town and right next to the town hall. At first I found it hard to find as there is/was no sign but my bag was parked in the office below and the girls called the owner on the phone. I was a little irritated at first as I wasn't expecting to be staying in a B&B, however, it turned out I was the only one staying and had the place to myself. The owner was a very pleasant man and gave me a great tip where to have dinner and also asked what time I would like breakfast? That evening I went to "Patio Alenejano" which is a poplular place that the locals go to. On advice of the B&B owner I only ordered half portions which were still huge. Great food. The next morning the B&B owner came and prepared a lovely breakfast and we ended up sitting for ages talking about everything. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this place if it were full.
The second days hike to Almograve was uneventful but just as tiring as the day before despite taking the 9am boat over the river (I was too lazy to walk the extra 3 km around the river). I stayed in the Hotel Natura Maris which is on the edge of the village on the road to the beach. It has a little pool at the back and the owner is incredibly nice. Breakfast was served in a cafe 200meter along the road and was really nice and available from 6.30am on. Dinner the night before was at the restaurant at the roundabout in the centre of the village and again great.
The third days hike was again a long one of 22km to Zambujeira. I really enjoyed it though and despite being tough as with every other day you will most likely find somewhere to to eventually stop for a drink or snack. I was staying at Rosa dos Ventos which I initially liked on arrival due to it's lovely courtyard but was let down by the room I had which was ridiculously small. The breakfast is pre packed items in a frdige in the room and the owner bringing fresh rolls at 8am in the morning. So, I actually felt as though I was in a cellblock especially after seeing the room next door which was twice the size of mine. You can take your breakfast out to the courtyard and eat there but I was happy to get a proper coffee enroute that morning. Ate dinner at I Cervajeira which was mostly locals and good food.
The fourth days walk to Odeceixe was again a great walk with incredible scenery and the town was a highlight with it's location on a hill and windmill at the top. Here I stayed at Hospedes Celeste which was a delightful little hotel in the middle of the town owned and run by the lovely Celeste who only speaks Portuguese and is lovely. Dinner was at Restaurante Chapparo and again great. I had Esparda which I'd had before on Madeira.
The next two days were to take me on the Historical route with a 9am pickup with my bag to Arrifana then 24km walk to Carrapateira but due to major blisters I took the taxi all the way. Once at Carrapateira I did the 10km walk around the headland which turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The secenery again was unbeatable and a lunch at Sitio do Forno was wonderful. The overnight was at Pensao das Dunas, owned and run by a Portuguese/Dutch couple. What a lovely place that is run with a lot of love and genuine interest in the area. Breakfast was the best along the route with an amazing selection of local produce and fruits. I wish I could have extended my stay here.
The 22km onward walk went inland to Vila do Bispo and again a lovely little town located on a hill with a beautiful church. It was a long day and without the sea breeze quite hot. Here I stayed in Pure Fior de Esteva which is a lovely big house that has been turned in to a B&B. The owners don't live on site and you have free run of the kitchen. I loved the room but you heard everything in the house which wasn't helped by other people staying there cooking at 10pm and crashing around in the kitchen till after 11pm at night. Breakfast was good and could be taken out on to the terrace overlooking the surrounding coutnryside. Dinner was at the locally recommended Tasca do Careca and was brilliant. Don't miss the little market hall when exiting the town.
The final days hike an easy 13km back on to the coast and to the Cabo Sao Vicente and the end of the hike. You can still hike the 7km in to the town of Sagres but I opted to get a taxi that the hotel organised for me. Here I stayed at Casa Azul Sagres which has nice sized rooms with everything you need but is let down by it's limited breakfast and not avail till 8.30am! I had dinner at Gigi's on the main street and was the worst food I had in 12 nights. My own fault as I was hungry early and couldnt wait for anything to open at 7pm.
The next day I took the local but to Lagos where you connect to the bus back to Lisbon. Total of Euro 23.90 and as on all public trans in Portugal great value for money.
I then stayed 3 nights in Lisbon in the centrally located Gat Rossio which is a great location and decent priced place. Friendly reception, simple but adequate breakfast and a great taxi service doot to door for Euro 17 bookable at reception. I was in Lisbon from Wednesday to Saturday and you could visibly see the numbers of tourist swell Friday night since a lot of Europeans like to fly in for the weekend so was glad to leave the next day. I was in Portugal last year in November and it is a very popular destination these days and is great value for money, wonderful scenery, super trans system, friendly locals, amazing fresh seafood.
If I were to do the hike again, I would look at organising it myself, try walking south to north (good for fotos) and would love to visit in April or May for the flowers. I would book the overnights directly and not go through a booking site (make the effort to find websites). I also found a card for a company called Vicentina Transfers that organises your luggage but you can ask each place you stay to organise a taxi too.
I normally hike with poles but didn't take them on this trip and did not need them. I used a combination of low and high top hiking boots.
On arrival at Lisbon airport I took a taxi to the Sete Rios bus station and then the bus (4pm) to Porto Covo for my first overnight. The bus journey was 2.5 hours and very punctual. I pre booked my bus ticket on line but you can buy the tickets at the bus station. The bus station is pretty basic but I checked my case for a few hours and walked around the area.
Being November and off-season, a lot of hotels and restaurants were closed along the way but this was never a problem I always found somewhere to eat and often the hosts would recommend somewhere. The first place I stayed was hotel Porto Covo and just a short walk from the bus stop and main village street. The hotel had nice rooms located around a swimming pool, friendly receptionist and good breakfast from 7am,
As described on the main website, the first day is tough going and although I didn't find the sand too bad, the last thrid of the day did me in. Talking to another hiker later in the week we didn't know why so much emphasis is put on the first day being so tough since we found aspects of every day hard and there is sand most of the way every day. It's like walking in deep snow and never getting any where. You don't need bootcamp.
The 2nd night I stayed in the Blue Guide Guesthouse in Vila Nova de Milfontes, It is located in the old part of the town and right next to the town hall. At first I found it hard to find as there is/was no sign but my bag was parked in the office below and the girls called the owner on the phone. I was a little irritated at first as I wasn't expecting to be staying in a B&B, however, it turned out I was the only one staying and had the place to myself. The owner was a very pleasant man and gave me a great tip where to have dinner and also asked what time I would like breakfast? That evening I went to "Patio Alenejano" which is a poplular place that the locals go to. On advice of the B&B owner I only ordered half portions which were still huge. Great food. The next morning the B&B owner came and prepared a lovely breakfast and we ended up sitting for ages talking about everything. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this place if it were full.
The second days hike to Almograve was uneventful but just as tiring as the day before despite taking the 9am boat over the river (I was too lazy to walk the extra 3 km around the river). I stayed in the Hotel Natura Maris which is on the edge of the village on the road to the beach. It has a little pool at the back and the owner is incredibly nice. Breakfast was served in a cafe 200meter along the road and was really nice and available from 6.30am on. Dinner the night before was at the restaurant at the roundabout in the centre of the village and again great.
The third days hike was again a long one of 22km to Zambujeira. I really enjoyed it though and despite being tough as with every other day you will most likely find somewhere to to eventually stop for a drink or snack. I was staying at Rosa dos Ventos which I initially liked on arrival due to it's lovely courtyard but was let down by the room I had which was ridiculously small. The breakfast is pre packed items in a frdige in the room and the owner bringing fresh rolls at 8am in the morning. So, I actually felt as though I was in a cellblock especially after seeing the room next door which was twice the size of mine. You can take your breakfast out to the courtyard and eat there but I was happy to get a proper coffee enroute that morning. Ate dinner at I Cervajeira which was mostly locals and good food.
The fourth days walk to Odeceixe was again a great walk with incredible scenery and the town was a highlight with it's location on a hill and windmill at the top. Here I stayed at Hospedes Celeste which was a delightful little hotel in the middle of the town owned and run by the lovely Celeste who only speaks Portuguese and is lovely. Dinner was at Restaurante Chapparo and again great. I had Esparda which I'd had before on Madeira.
The next two days were to take me on the Historical route with a 9am pickup with my bag to Arrifana then 24km walk to Carrapateira but due to major blisters I took the taxi all the way. Once at Carrapateira I did the 10km walk around the headland which turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The secenery again was unbeatable and a lunch at Sitio do Forno was wonderful. The overnight was at Pensao das Dunas, owned and run by a Portuguese/Dutch couple. What a lovely place that is run with a lot of love and genuine interest in the area. Breakfast was the best along the route with an amazing selection of local produce and fruits. I wish I could have extended my stay here.
The 22km onward walk went inland to Vila do Bispo and again a lovely little town located on a hill with a beautiful church. It was a long day and without the sea breeze quite hot. Here I stayed in Pure Fior de Esteva which is a lovely big house that has been turned in to a B&B. The owners don't live on site and you have free run of the kitchen. I loved the room but you heard everything in the house which wasn't helped by other people staying there cooking at 10pm and crashing around in the kitchen till after 11pm at night. Breakfast was good and could be taken out on to the terrace overlooking the surrounding coutnryside. Dinner was at the locally recommended Tasca do Careca and was brilliant. Don't miss the little market hall when exiting the town.
The final days hike an easy 13km back on to the coast and to the Cabo Sao Vicente and the end of the hike. You can still hike the 7km in to the town of Sagres but I opted to get a taxi that the hotel organised for me. Here I stayed at Casa Azul Sagres which has nice sized rooms with everything you need but is let down by it's limited breakfast and not avail till 8.30am! I had dinner at Gigi's on the main street and was the worst food I had in 12 nights. My own fault as I was hungry early and couldnt wait for anything to open at 7pm.
The next day I took the local but to Lagos where you connect to the bus back to Lisbon. Total of Euro 23.90 and as on all public trans in Portugal great value for money.
I then stayed 3 nights in Lisbon in the centrally located Gat Rossio which is a great location and decent priced place. Friendly reception, simple but adequate breakfast and a great taxi service doot to door for Euro 17 bookable at reception. I was in Lisbon from Wednesday to Saturday and you could visibly see the numbers of tourist swell Friday night since a lot of Europeans like to fly in for the weekend so was glad to leave the next day. I was in Portugal last year in November and it is a very popular destination these days and is great value for money, wonderful scenery, super trans system, friendly locals, amazing fresh seafood.
If I were to do the hike again, I would look at organising it myself, try walking south to north (good for fotos) and would love to visit in April or May for the flowers. I would book the overnights directly and not go through a booking site (make the effort to find websites). I also found a card for a company called Vicentina Transfers that organises your luggage but you can ask each place you stay to organise a taxi too.
I normally hike with poles but didn't take them on this trip and did not need them. I used a combination of low and high top hiking boots.
Written 19 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mistravel
Nevada169 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
In 2015 we hiked England's famous Coast to Coast hike. It was so much fun, we just had to go an try another long distance hike. We are all over 65, but blessed with good health, so this year we chose the Rota Vicentina in south Portugal.
It was a great decision!
We walked in April which also turned out to be a great choice. No crowds, good weather with comfortable walking temperatures and the most gorgeous wildflower displays! Don't even think about July or August as it would be much to hot to enjoy!
The Rota can be done as inland hike on Historical trail or coastal walk on cliffs called Fisherman's trail. We did a nice mixture which was arranged and booked for us by Ricardo from Vicentina Travel. He booked all our lodging and arranged luggage transport. It was seamless and Ricardo was great to work with.
We ask him to get us an inexpensive cell phone with local SIM card and pre- program it for our use on the hike. As it turned out, we had emergency at home and needed the phone numerous times during the walk. It was so convenient and he was very helpful to us during the stressful times. We paid 40 Euros for the phone and it was worth it!
We flew into Lisbon and spent one night. Took the bus from Lisbon to Santiago do Cacem,, which took about 2 hours, and was a pleasant and inexpensive ride.
We hiked two days inland then headed west to coast and hike 4 days along the Fisherman's trail before going inland again. At Aljezur we alternated inland and coastal loops until reached the end of trail 252 km later. Most days averaged 13 miles. Sandy terrain was little tiring but very doable.
I notice one person on internet found the trail too repetitive, but we would disagree.
Everyday had different flora and terrain and weather. It was beautiful and never boring.
The lodging was variable. We ask for best available and had everything from basic hotels to luxury retreats and classy apartments. We were given very helpful recommendations on dining options for every night of the trip.
Booking the accomodations yourself could be tricky, as the address my indicate it is close to trail, but reality is you may walk significant km out of your way to reach the lodging or is lodging is by trail, dinner options are not handy....
We think it is worth the extra money to have a local book for you.
I worried about cliff hikes as I have major problem with vertigo and it is clearly posted the Fisherman's Trail is not for people who suffer from this, but I did it without any issues.
It is easy enough to get away from edges if you need to and the scenery is so distracting it was easy to forget any fears. No real panic attacks in 14 days of walking!
Coming out of one town I did the trail down the hill on my bottom. Worked well and I left the rocks polished for people following behind.
I also worried about footwear. Boots seems to be overkill and too hot. Trail runners and sand didn't seem good idea. We all took a pair of each. Our well worn waterproof boots from England hike proved to be unnecessary and too hot! Trail runners we comfy and served us well.
I didn't need to dump sand out of them at any time, but very light shoes with mesh could be a problem. Compeed bandaids are available in every town but pricey.
We all used them on this trip.
Food is excellent and inexpensive. The fresh fish options are amazing and really good wine is 3-12 dollars a bottle with dinners. You can not beat Portugal for food and drink prices.
We took 2 rest days which was a good decision and again Ricardo picked those for us in the towns with most interest and with options to keep us entertained.
Most people do own laundry nightly, but once in while a laundromat materialized or
lodging would do it for free or very small fee. Worth asking when you are tired on washing clothes. Soaks tended to stay wet after washing due to humidity. Quick drying socks would be good idea!
When you finish the walk you can call a cab to take you to Sagres. Worth it to avoid walking a busy tarmac!
This a stunning walk that I highly recommend. It is well marked and you can do it without maps. Do it before it gets discovered!
We are already planning next year's long distance hike!
It was a great decision!
We walked in April which also turned out to be a great choice. No crowds, good weather with comfortable walking temperatures and the most gorgeous wildflower displays! Don't even think about July or August as it would be much to hot to enjoy!
The Rota can be done as inland hike on Historical trail or coastal walk on cliffs called Fisherman's trail. We did a nice mixture which was arranged and booked for us by Ricardo from Vicentina Travel. He booked all our lodging and arranged luggage transport. It was seamless and Ricardo was great to work with.
We ask him to get us an inexpensive cell phone with local SIM card and pre- program it for our use on the hike. As it turned out, we had emergency at home and needed the phone numerous times during the walk. It was so convenient and he was very helpful to us during the stressful times. We paid 40 Euros for the phone and it was worth it!
We flew into Lisbon and spent one night. Took the bus from Lisbon to Santiago do Cacem,, which took about 2 hours, and was a pleasant and inexpensive ride.
We hiked two days inland then headed west to coast and hike 4 days along the Fisherman's trail before going inland again. At Aljezur we alternated inland and coastal loops until reached the end of trail 252 km later. Most days averaged 13 miles. Sandy terrain was little tiring but very doable.
I notice one person on internet found the trail too repetitive, but we would disagree.
Everyday had different flora and terrain and weather. It was beautiful and never boring.
The lodging was variable. We ask for best available and had everything from basic hotels to luxury retreats and classy apartments. We were given very helpful recommendations on dining options for every night of the trip.
Booking the accomodations yourself could be tricky, as the address my indicate it is close to trail, but reality is you may walk significant km out of your way to reach the lodging or is lodging is by trail, dinner options are not handy....
We think it is worth the extra money to have a local book for you.
I worried about cliff hikes as I have major problem with vertigo and it is clearly posted the Fisherman's Trail is not for people who suffer from this, but I did it without any issues.
It is easy enough to get away from edges if you need to and the scenery is so distracting it was easy to forget any fears. No real panic attacks in 14 days of walking!
Coming out of one town I did the trail down the hill on my bottom. Worked well and I left the rocks polished for people following behind.
I also worried about footwear. Boots seems to be overkill and too hot. Trail runners and sand didn't seem good idea. We all took a pair of each. Our well worn waterproof boots from England hike proved to be unnecessary and too hot! Trail runners we comfy and served us well.
I didn't need to dump sand out of them at any time, but very light shoes with mesh could be a problem. Compeed bandaids are available in every town but pricey.
We all used them on this trip.
Food is excellent and inexpensive. The fresh fish options are amazing and really good wine is 3-12 dollars a bottle with dinners. You can not beat Portugal for food and drink prices.
We took 2 rest days which was a good decision and again Ricardo picked those for us in the towns with most interest and with options to keep us entertained.
Most people do own laundry nightly, but once in while a laundromat materialized or
lodging would do it for free or very small fee. Worth asking when you are tired on washing clothes. Soaks tended to stay wet after washing due to humidity. Quick drying socks would be good idea!
When you finish the walk you can call a cab to take you to Sagres. Worth it to avoid walking a busy tarmac!
This a stunning walk that I highly recommend. It is well marked and you can do it without maps. Do it before it gets discovered!
We are already planning next year's long distance hike!
Written 24 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
qsmamo
Redding, CA299 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
We have just returned from our hike with Ricardo and AventurActiva on the Rota Vicentina. To put this review in perspective, we are seasoned national park managers ranging in age from 63 to 76. We have hiked and worked in the outdoors most of our lives. We have been on several other trips similar to this (in Ireland and France, as well as a number in the United States) and have even put together a similar self-guided hike in France, which was quite a bit of work, but tremendously fun.
Quite simply, this is the best hike we have been on. The level of coordination with Ricardo and Luis and attention to detail is outstanding. I was rather concerned and had sent a number of questions to Ricardo since he does not necessarily have the extremely polished websites of many of the UK, etc, sites. What these sites do is simply “sub-contract” your vacation to Ricardo, charging you the extra cost for their profit. Dealing with Ricardo and AventurActiva you are dealing with the company and individual who will be responsible for your hike. As a side, several years ago, we booked with UTracks, an Australian company for a hike in Bordeaux who sub-contracted us to a Canadian company, who sub-contracted to a local French company. I didn’t want that to happen again with this hike and I was extremely pleased to have found the local company and individual. I expect many of you many be in the same position and uncertain as to whether you should deal with a site where you can enter all your information/payment, etc….don’t you will save money and have a much more pleasant experience by dealing directly with Ricardo.
The Rota Vicentina is about two years old…these are historic trails which have been well marked and developed as a through hike. Following the trail is EASY. You won’t get lost…keep the coast on your right (assuming you hike north to south). The scenery is spectacular and there are opportunities to shorten some of the longer days. And great suggestions for doing so.
We found all our accommodations very clean and in charming towns (Sao Teotonia was our least favorite and Odeixe our favorite). Ricardo includes great suggestions for dining, pay attention, they are worth it. There are also some other options within the towns that we found using Trip Advisor and Yelp. Don’t miss the restaurant in Odeixe…the three of us worked and lived in Alaska and the salmon we had there was the best we have ever had, bar none! From the website I was concerned about the use of the term “hostel”…we are simply too old for that travel option. Don’t worry, all the lodging is small hotels, well located.
My advice would be not to wait until the Rota Vincentina is “discovered” which we all concluded would happen within a few years.
Bottom line, we whole-heartedly recommend Ricardo and AventurActiva and the Rota Vicentina. It was an OUTSTANDING experience
Quite simply, this is the best hike we have been on. The level of coordination with Ricardo and Luis and attention to detail is outstanding. I was rather concerned and had sent a number of questions to Ricardo since he does not necessarily have the extremely polished websites of many of the UK, etc, sites. What these sites do is simply “sub-contract” your vacation to Ricardo, charging you the extra cost for their profit. Dealing with Ricardo and AventurActiva you are dealing with the company and individual who will be responsible for your hike. As a side, several years ago, we booked with UTracks, an Australian company for a hike in Bordeaux who sub-contracted us to a Canadian company, who sub-contracted to a local French company. I didn’t want that to happen again with this hike and I was extremely pleased to have found the local company and individual. I expect many of you many be in the same position and uncertain as to whether you should deal with a site where you can enter all your information/payment, etc….don’t you will save money and have a much more pleasant experience by dealing directly with Ricardo.
The Rota Vicentina is about two years old…these are historic trails which have been well marked and developed as a through hike. Following the trail is EASY. You won’t get lost…keep the coast on your right (assuming you hike north to south). The scenery is spectacular and there are opportunities to shorten some of the longer days. And great suggestions for doing so.
We found all our accommodations very clean and in charming towns (Sao Teotonia was our least favorite and Odeixe our favorite). Ricardo includes great suggestions for dining, pay attention, they are worth it. There are also some other options within the towns that we found using Trip Advisor and Yelp. Don’t miss the restaurant in Odeixe…the three of us worked and lived in Alaska and the salmon we had there was the best we have ever had, bar none! From the website I was concerned about the use of the term “hostel”…we are simply too old for that travel option. Don’t worry, all the lodging is small hotels, well located.
My advice would be not to wait until the Rota Vincentina is “discovered” which we all concluded would happen within a few years.
Bottom line, we whole-heartedly recommend Ricardo and AventurActiva and the Rota Vicentina. It was an OUTSTANDING experience
Written 11 October 2014
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ciao volevo fare il trekking verso la fine di settembre. i pernottamenti sono da prenotare? vorrei cercare di condensare qualche tappa/ allungare qualcuna x riuscire a arrivare da porto covo al cabo ma non so se ci riesco. no prenotare mi darebbe la flessibilita di gestire le vari giornate quando sono li. grazie
Written 19 April 2024
I'm considering doing the fisherman's trail the first week of June. I've read a few reviews saying that it can be hot and crowded in the summer - would we escape the heat and the crowds that first week of June or will it already have begun?
Written 29 March 2024
Piccolo M
Milan, Italy
Ciao a tutti! A fine marzo farò il cammino. Non vedo l'ora. Ho però un dubbio...che scarpe sono consigliate? Leggendo tra i blog si parla di scarpe da trail in goretex. Ho paura che l'impermeabilità non faccia traspirare ed essendo marzo/aprile non mi aspetto né freddo né grandi acquazzoni.
Attendo consigli dagli esperti! Grazie 😊
Written 4 February 2024
Hello! I am planning to hike the Fishermen's Trail and I wonder if the first half of October is a suitable time of the year considering the weather. How is it usually in this time of the year with rain, temperature in the day and night and temperature of the sea please? I would really love to pick the best possible part of the year to hike this trail since this is genuinely my dream. ♥️ Thank you very much for your help! Best regards, Michaela.
Written 8 August 2022
Hi, hoping to spend 2/3 days walking this route in April. Flying in and out of Lisbon (staying there for a few days). should we get the bus down to odeseixe and make our way up? or base ourselves there and do daily walks from there? thankyou
Written 12 February 2022
Ciao sono Italo. Vorrei intraprendere il cammino dal 15 Novembre. So c'è un clima oceanico ma non so quantificare le temperature che troverei e se in quel periodo il vento è più forte e freddo. Il desiderio sarebbe il cammino dei pescatori lungo l'oceano.
Grazie tante
Written 23 October 2021
Has anyone tried it in sports sandals, like Teva's...? I tend to get blisters in hiking boots, so hiking three days in a row would be a problem.
I plan to hike from Vilanova de Milfontes to Odeceixe first week of september, with only a day pack (using luggage transfers).
Written 1 August 2021
Hola! I would like to know if i can get this book in lisbon or santiago do cacem somewhere? the shippping to the balearic island is very expensive and i would prefer to buy it in place...
Written 26 October 2020
Hola! You can find our Guide Booki and Walking Trails Map in some specialized bookstores and also in the tourism offices of the region. In Santiago do Cacém you will find maps and books at the tourism office, in Praça do Mercado Municipal.
Written 2 July 2021
What kind of shoes do you recommend on the sandy portions of fisherman trail in April ? Do you need hiking boots for the trails?
Written 14 February 2020
Hi! Whenever you walk, choose to bring light and comfortable clothing and a small backpack for a day of hiking. Always put on well-worn (sport) shoes or hiking boots which are already adjusted to your feet to prevent blisters and joint pain. We do not advise you to wear slippers or sandals that are not suitable for walking, as they do not provide any support to the ankle or protection of rocks, vegetation or sand.
Written 2 July 2021
Ciao, in maggio vorrei fare il cammino dei pescatori, ma soffro di vertigini, chi l’ha fatto cosa consiglia?grazie!
Written 22 January 2020
Hi, Fishermen's Trial it is not recommended to people with vertigo or fear of heights.
You can still chose to go for Historical Way and some Circular Routes (not coincident with Fishermen's Trail). Check our website and go for Walking option
Written 11 February 2020
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