12 - 26 km
100 - 400 m
15 Days & 14 Nights
2.125 EUR
Historical villages, national heritage, and archeological sites
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PARTNERS, CREDENTIALS AND MORE
Rota Vicentina Historical Way
Southern heritage through the mythic old trails.
Discover picturesque villages, historical heritage, the local lifestyle, and delicious fresh local products from the south of Portugal. The historical trails will fascinate you in the most pleasant way! Unveil the Arabic heritage, the religious and popular architecture, and the coastal defense buildings. There are plenty of sites for you to discover. Come and conquer this route by foot, one of the best in Europe! With each scenery, a bit of Portugal's history will be a part of you forever.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Tour Information
SELF-GUIDED 2023 PRICES
Low Season2.125 EUR
Single Room+ 1.090 EUR
04 Jan - 28 Mar
29 Oct - 15 Dec
Medium Season2.400 EUR
Single Room+ 1.300 EUR
29 Mar - 02 Apr
10 Apr - 26 May
27 Sep - 28 Oct
High Season2.600 EUR
Single Room+ 1.400 EUR
03 Apr - 09 Apr
27 May - 26 Jun
Special Season2.900 EUR
Single Room+ 1.700 EUR
27 Jun - 26 Sep
Price Notes
• prices per person for a minimum of 2 people in double/twin room
• solo traveler supplement on request
Included and Optional Services
Itinerary
Transfer from Lisbon or Faro to Santiago do Cacém
Welcome to Portugal!
Our guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to Santiago do Cacém. An emblematic town that has stood here since 1186 and is the birthplace of great Portuguese poets, musicians, painters, and scientists that departed to discover more of the world. Enjoy your stay and explore the surroundings!
Hike from Santiago do Cacém to Vale das Éguas
Ready to start your first day of adventure?
Santiago do Cacém holds a strong connection with the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. It will be the starting point for our trip to the Rota Vicentina. Choose between a shorter or longer hike. If you pick the shorter way, our guide will transfer you a few kilometers ahead. The path is mainly rural, with beautiful trails that take you through cork and oak forests. Enjoy the golden path and the infinite landscape and play with the horizon's perspectives. At the end of the day, enjoy a delicious meal while recharging your batteries for tomorrow.
Hike from Vale das Éguas to Cercal do Alentejo
Today, you will continue the delightful countryside route that will take you through small agricultural properties.
Soon, the dam of Campilhas will be visible as you make your way. The dam has supported a diverse ecosystem of fish, mammals, birds, and insects since 1954. You will also find a great contrast between the green fields and the blue water. The guesthouse of Matinha is a unique and charming place. Enjoy this little retreat and take some time to look at the dark night sky dotted with stars.
Hike from Cercal do Alentejo to São Luis
Make sure to take a powerful breakfast today.
You will be hiking on one of the hilliest sections of the tour, with long ascent segments and harsh irregular terrain. Halfway through the route, you will find Rocha de Água d'Alte. A beautiful and unexpected waterfall is located at the highest point of Alentejo. You will also have some breathtaking views over the infinite plains. Listen to the silence and let your imagination flow as a celebration of this beautiful landscape.
Hike from São Luís to Odemira
A different and vibrant Alentejo will reveal itself before your eyes.
Start by choosing whether you’d like a shorter or longer hike. Refreshing water streams and ponds along the way will make for an interesting sight, and if you wish to take a dip, Pego das Pias will be the perfect place! Ribeira do Torgal is one of the main protagonists in Portugal in terms of valuable species. Later, when you arrive in Odemira, one of the most coveted towns in Portuguese history, you might admire examples and features of architecture and gastronomy that will make you surrender to the simple pleasures of life.
Hike from Odemira to São Teotónio
Get close to the riverside where, if you are lucky, you might see an otter!
Similar to yesterday, today you have two options for your hike: a short or a long one. Choose which one you’d like to take, and our guide will transfer you to the hike starting point accordingly. If you’re feeling extra energetic, skip the transfers and hike for 27km. Odemira is located in the hydrographical basin of the Mira River that follows the valley until the Atlantic. While in the forest area, find strawberries and typical trees, such as the Medronheiro (Arbutus Urnedo), famous for the strong spirit that is made from it, known as água ardente (firewater). You must try it! You will find some in the next village right before your resting place for today at São Teotónio.
Hike from São Teotónio do Odeceixe
A memorable hike along the inhospitable trails, covered with well-preserved native vegetation and the sound of the crashing waves.
If you’re still resting from yesterday, you will recover on the way to Odeceixe. Enjoy the astonishing view over the ocean while you let your senses be swept away by the scents of aromatic herbs. You will cross the Seixe River, a significant moment considering the fact that it separates the Alentejo and Algarve regions. Your accommodation for the night will be in the wonderful village of Odeceixe. Walk around the village center and meet the local people!
Hike Odeceixe to Rogil
Start your walk side by side with the Seixe River and its wetlands until you get to the Odeceixe beach.
The trail over the ocean will let you wander and offer superb views of the beach. Close to the end, you will cross inland towards João Roupeiro Hamlet. All adventures need good food, and the most famous sweet potato in the world comes from here! There is also a great choice of tasty main dishes and regional pastries.
Hike from Rogil to Aljezur
Today, you will cross several agricultural fields of the famous sweet potato!
Follow a coastal route that will take you by the mythical Ponta da Atalaia, a fantastic promontory where many ruins of ancient Moorish fortresses lay. The trail after this point will lead you to the top of the cliffs, home to a specific type of coastal ecosystem. It's a sort of Mediterranean bushland filled with aromatic plants that grow on the coastal dunes. Touch nature step by step and then have a great rest in the beautiful village of Arrifana.
Hike from Aljezur to Arrifana
This day will take you to one of the most beautiful beaches in the south.
Follow the coastline that will pass by the mythical Ponta da Atalaia, a fantastic promontory where we can see many ruins of an ancient Moorish fortress. The trail after this point carries on along the top of the cliffs, where you will be surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs, aromatic plants, and coastal dunes. Touch nature step by step and then have a great rest at the beautiful village of Arrifana.
Hike from Arrifana to Carrapateira
Feel the power of the sea breaking over the ancient cliffs and discover the quiet sandy beaches.
Be sure to take your camera today because you will need it when you witness the beauty of Pedra da Agulha in Canal Beach. A gorgeous boulder, sitting in the ocean. After, as you hike through a succession of hills and valleys, you will pass over the most aggressive and inaccessible side of this coastal area. End up at the whitewashed village of Carrapateira, where history speaks through the fortress built for defensive purposes back in the era of the discoveries.
Hike from Carrapateira to Pedralva
On this day, as you hike between land and ocean, the rural atmosphere will conquer your heart.
On the steepest slopes, you can admire the natural vegetation virtually untouched by man, with dense undergrowth arbutus and dozens of local plants and herbs. Soon, you will arrive at one of the most interesting places and accommodations. Pedralva is a little village that was nearly deserted a few years ago. However, it has been recently revived as a charming guest house hamlet, which kept the original design together and brought back life to the village of Pedralva.
Hike from Pedralva to Vila do Bispo
After a great breakfast, the day will start with some smooth crossing over the forest and open land areas.
Later, as you pass by the beaches of Barriga, Cordoama, and Castelejo, notice the surrounding biodiversity, including reptiles, birds, mammals, and amphibians! As your hike comes to an end, you will arrive at Vila do Bispo. A town with traditional architecture, religious structures, and an absolutely unique location. Local products, such as fruit and fresh fish, are on sale daily at the municipal market. Take a look and get some goodies for your next trip.
Hike from Vila do Bispo to Sagres
The landscape is flat, and the vegetation is low. Today, you will be walking towards the southwesternmost point of Continental Europe.
When you arrive, you will see the small yet excellent Museum of Faróis, showcasing Sagres's role in Portugal's maritime history! This is a historical location where one can almost hear the echoes of the voices of sailors and pilgrims. Beyond here, only the immense Atlantic Ocean remains, a point of passage, arrival, and encounters.
Transfer from Sagres to Lisbon or Faro
Enjoy your last breakfast with a gorgeous ocean view as your splendid trip comes to an end.
We hope the memories and experiences we created and shared stay with you forever. Come back soon to discover some more of Portugal's Nature Trails!