Walking and cycling the Rota Vicentina

It is recommended to travel without haste and with your eyes wide open. Walking or cycling along the Rota Vicentina, along paths with history, appreciate the stunning wild nature of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.

The setting is unique. It's about 110 kilometres of wild coastline, from São Torpes to Burgau. With a landscape marked by rugged cliffs and small hidden beaches, in a two-kilometre-wide maritime strip, which includes passing through beautiful towns and villages such as Odemira, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Porto Covo or Aljezur.

Embark on an exploration of the Rota Vicentina, where nature's monuments are the most majestic. To start your expedition in style, venture onto the Fishermen's Trail. Some say it's probably one of the best coastal trails in the world. It is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights due to the challenging cliffside routes.

You won't find cyclists or other forms of transport here, as the only way to travel this path is on foot. In total, there are 13 stages, each with a maximum of around 22.5 kilometres, which cross routes used by locals to access beaches and fishing spots.

Find an alternative way to explore this almost wild nature through various less demanding paths. The Rota Vicentina offers 24 circular routes, each with a maximum of 16 kilometres. Discover, at your own pace, the pleasure of walking in the southwest of Portugal.

The Praia do Sissal circular route, for example, is a good alternative. It allows less adventurous walkers a taste of the magnificent Trilho dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Trail). This short walk, 4.4 kilometres long, starts in Porto Covo, at the Largo do Mercado, and takes just over an hour, with Pessegueiro Island always in the background. For mountain biking enthusiasts, there are also exciting suggestions. While the Caminho Histórico (Historic Way) already offered some cycling routes, the Rota Vicentina now has a network of 38 trails, mostly circular, dedicated exclusively to those who enjoy cycling.

A melhor época para percorrer estes trilhos, seja a pé, a cavalo ou de bicicleta, é entre setembro e junho, quando as altas temperaturas do verão já suavizaram. Os meses de outono são geralmente mais amenos, com agradáveis temperaturas no mar e muito menos vento. Também os dias solarengos, com as cores e os aromas da primavera, fazem desta altura uma das melhores para visitar a região.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]