Hiking Portugal's Rota Vicentina: The Fishermen's Trail and a summary of the Historical Way

Follow Portugal's Rota Vicentina along a wild stretch of Atlantic coastline, where towering cliffs, golden beaches and whitewashed fishing villages line the route from Porto Covo to Lagos.Known as the Fishermen's Trail, this 212km coastal path threads through the Alentejo and the Algarve, crossing the protected dunes and cliffs of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina before reaching Cabo de São Vicente, mainland Europe's south-western tip. This guidebook describes the 12-day Fishermen's Trail in full, stage by stage, and includes a summary of the parallel Historical Way for walkers seeking a quieter, inland alternative.Both routes can be combined, shortened or walked as a series of day trips using the region's reliable bus network, keeping travel low-carbon to the trailhead at Porto Covo. Easy to moderate for the most part, the Rota Vicentina suits walkers of all abilities who can manage around 20km a day, with well-served villages, welcoming hostels and boutique