Trekking Portugal's Rota Vicentina - The Historical Way and - Cicerone Press

This guidebook follows the Rota Vicentina, a 220km walking route along the marvellous Atlantic coastline in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. The 12-stage trek combines two well-marked routes, the Caminho Histórico (the Historical Way) and the Trilho dos Pescadores (the Fishermen's Trail), to create a hike starting in Santiago do Cacém and ending at Cabo de São Vicente. The guide also describes an alternative circular route for those who would prefer an 11-stage loop, moving inland from Odeceixe and back up to Santiago de Cacém.

Whichever route is chosen, the Rota Vicentina is ideal for a two-week holiday in spring or late summer to autumn, offering walkers a remarkable range of landscapes from coastal fishing villages to wooded river valleys. The guidebook includes advice about accommodation options along the route, information about the surrounding area, and a glossary of Portuguese terms to aid with reading signs and maps.

Along the Rota Vicentina are many delights for walkers. This stunning coastal region is home to a variety of rare birdlife, including white storks that nest precariously on sea stacks. Another treat is the mouth-watering Portuguese cuisine, whether the famous custard tarts or less well-known goose barnacles. With its vibrant cultural traditions and rich history displayed in Arab-era castles and 15th-century Age of Discovery sites, this route offers pleasant surprises at every stage along the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

The Rota Vicentina
Stage 1 Santiago do Cacém to Moinhos do Paneiro
Stage 2 Moinhos do Paneiro to Cercal do Alentejo
Stage 3 Cercal do Alentejo to Porto Covo
Stage 4 Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes
Stage 5 Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve
Stage 6 Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar
Stage 7 Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe
Stage 8 Odeceixe to Aljezur
Stage 9 Aljezur to Arrifana
Stage 10 Arrifana to Carrapateira
Stage 11 Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo
Stage 12 Vila di Bispo to Cabo de São Vicente

Inland route
Stage 1IR Odeceixe to São Teotónio
Stage 2IR São Teotónio to Odemira
Stage 3IR Odemira to São Luis
Stage 4IR São Luis to Cercal do Alentejo