The Fisherman’s Path, Portugal – a 2023 information

The Fisherman’s Path is a strolling route within the south of Portugal. It’s a part of the Rota Vicentina community. The path is taken into account one of the vital stunning coastal routes on the earth. The surroundings alongside the route is breathtaking; rugged cliffs, sandy seashores, beautiful lookouts, charming cities, clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and various wildlife. We have been so impressed by the great thing about the realm that after finishing the path we determined to maneuver to the south of Portugal the place we dwell now.

Fisherman’s Path downloadable PDF file

To make your planning simpler we’ve created a downloadable PDF file with strolling phases and locations to remain on the Fisherman’s Path.

We’ve got an in depth Fishermen’s Path strolling itinerary publish the place you could find full data on every stage of the path with distances, elevation profiles, instances, and lodging choices.

Fisherman’s Path GPX

The route overview

• Whole distance – 230 km/143 mi
• Variety of days – 11-13 days
• Start line – S.Torpes Seaside, 10 km earlier than Porto Covo, Alentejo
• Ending level – Lagos, Algarve
• Route marking – wood poles with blue & inexperienced stripes
• Common price – 40 Euros per particular person per day
• Lodging choices – tenting, hostels, motels

The place is the Fisherman’s Path in Portugal?

The path follows the southern coast of Portugal, between Porto Covo and Lagos. The start line is close to Sines, 170 km south of Lisbon. The Fisherman’s Path goes via two Portuguese provinces Alentejo and Algarve.

How lengthy is the Fisherman’s Path?

The overall distance of the Fisherman’s Path is 230 km/143 mi. One wants 11-13 days to finish it.

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The place does the route begin?

The path begins at S.Torpes Seaside, 10 km earlier than Porto Covo, and finishes in Lagos. We began strolling in Porto Covo skipping the primary 10 km as a result of logistically it labored out higher for us. We arrived a bit later to begin strolling and wished to remain for a day in Porto Covo. The final a part of the Fisherman’s Path from Sagres to Lagos was added to the route later. Initially the top of the path was in Sagres.

A beauty of the path is that you just don’t should stroll your complete route you’ll be able to stroll solely a piece of it relying on how a lot time you’ve gotten and the way far you wish to stroll. In actual fact, any a part of the Fisherman’s Path will be walked as a day hike. You’ll be able to mix strolling the path with a seaside vacation.

The most well-liked route choices of the Fisherman’s Path

Strolling the Fisherman’s Path from Porto Covo to Odeceixe. It’s the unique 4-day path that later was prolonged to Cabo de Sao Vicente (Sagres) after which all the way in which to Lagos. The half Odeceixe to Sagres was part of the Historic Route of the Rota Vicentina. Now the Historic Route begins in Santiago do Cacém and finishes in Odeceixe. The overall distance is 76 km/47 mi.

Beginning in Porto Covo or São Torpes Seaside and ending in Sagres is the way in which we walked the path (the Sagres – Lagos extension was added later). The overall distance is 181 km/112 mi or 191 km/118 mi for those who begin in St.Torpes Seaside. More often than not the route goes alongside the coast. You’ll want 9-10 days to finish it.

If you wish to full your complete Fisherman’s Path from São Torpes Seaside to Lagos you’ll want 12-13 days. The overall distance of the route is 230 km/142 mi.

It’s attainable to mix the Fisherman’s Path with the Historic Approach. You can begin in São Torpes Seaside or Porto Covo stroll alongside the coast to Odeceixe and from there proceed on the Historic (inland) path to Santiago do Cacém. The overall distance of this route is 196 km/121 mi. You’ll want 10 days to finish it.

Is the Fisherman’s Path arduous?

Like all multiday path, the route is kind of arduous particularly the primary a part of it from Porto Covo attributable to strolling on the seaside and over the dunes. If you happen to don’t have any earlier climbing expertise I’d counsel doing part of the Fisherman’s Path or having relaxation days in between. Utilizing a baggage switch service will make your strolling simpler. You’ll be able to carry a day pack and your most important baggage might be delivered to your lodge each day.

What’s the greatest a part of the path?

The surroundings on the Fisherman’s Path is spectacular from the begin to the top. My favourite a part of the path is between Sagres and Lagos. Possibly as a result of we dwell in Lagos and we’ve finished that half a number of instances. For the cliff views the half from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo (alongside the coast) is among the greatest.

Greatest guidebooks for the Fisherman’s Path

The official guidebook by the Rota Vicentina group is the most effective one to make use of. You should purchase it on-line or at one of many data workplaces alongside the route. In Proto Covo, you should purchase a guidebook and a map at Papelaria O Correiro, Vasco da Gama Road 7b, (a block away from the church).

There’s a Cicerone guidebook on the Rota Vicentina that has a variety of data on the path you could purchase on Amazon.

What’s the lodging like on the Fisherman’s Path?

Lodging on the trek was our most important concern however ultimately, it wasn’t an issue. Since we couldn’t discover a checklist of lodging choices alongside the route we tried our greatest to make a whole checklist of hostels, motels, and campsites alongside the way in which.

Hostels, motels, and guesthouses will be present in each city alongside the route some locations have extra choices some much less. The campsites will be present in Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, and Sagres.

We don’t like reserving lodging upfront and normally don’t do it, however for this route, we did e-book all of the locations a few days earlier than we began. Each place we stayed in was full primarily as a result of a lot of the hostels and guesthouses are very small; two or three non-public rooms or 8 to 10 beds so that they refill rapidly. We walked the path at first of Could which isn’t the busiest season for those who’re planning to stroll it between June and August we strongly suggest reserving lodging beforehand even for those who’re planning to camp a minimum of contact campsites to learn the way full they’re.

When reserving lodging;

• test for the check-in time in most motels it’s fairly late, round 3 pm.
• make certain your lodge is within the city itself and never 5 km outdoors of it
• discover your house on Google.maps beforehand as generally following the route you may stroll previous it on the way in which to the middle of the city
• test for those who pay for lodging when making a reserving or on arrival, most locations cost beforehand.

Obtain our PDF spreadsheet that may make it easier to to systematize your bookings The Fishermen’s Path Rota Vicentina reserving spreadsheet.

Baggage supply on the route

It’s attainable to make use of a baggage switch service on the Fisherman’s Path for those who don’t wish to stroll with a giant backpack or have an excessive amount of baggage to hold with you each day. Vicentina Transfers is an organization that gives baggage supply companies on the path. They’ll ship your baggage door to door between any sort of lodging alongside the route together with campsites. It’s 15 Euro per part for 1 piece of bags.

The corporate offers solely baggage supply they don’t do lodging reserving for you. Earlier than you prepare the baggage service you need to e-book your lodging. The price of baggage supply on the Rota Vicentina is kind of excessive in comparison with for instance 6-7 Euro that you just pay on the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino.

The price of strolling the Fisherman’s Path

The price of the path relies upon rather a lot on the kind of lodging you determine to remain in; tenting, dormitories, or non-public rooms, and on the season. If you happen to’re planning to camp, make your personal meals and never exit for drinks each evening funds 25-30 Euro per particular person per day. To remain in dormitories and make your personal meals 30 Euro pp. per day. Staying in non-public and consuming out now and again is 35-40 euros. If you wish to keep in non-public, eat out a minimum of as soon as a day, and exit for drinks I’d counsel budgeting 45+ Euro per day per particular person.

Lodging

Needless to say lodging costs differ rather a lot relying on the season with winter months being the most affordable and the summer time months between Could and September the very best. In summer time you may pay double for a similar.

Tenting is probably the most funds possibility right here, costs nonetheless differ relying on the season with August being the costliest month. The primary disadvantage right here is that you need to carry tenting gear with you (tent, mattress, sleeping bag, cooking stuff, and many others.) which provides a variety of weight to your backpack. The worth for tenting is between 10 to fifteen Euros per particular person per evening.

A mattress in a dormitory is one other funds lodging possibility on the Fisherman’s Path. There should not many hostels on the route and they’re normally absolutely booked as the realm is a very talked-about vacation vacation spot. As a way to get a spot within the season, it’s advisable to e-book your lodging upfront. The worth for a dorm mattress is round 20 Euros relying on the season.

A personal room is probably the most snug lodging possibility and generally a double room with a shared lavatory price the identical as two beds in a dormitory. So for those who’re two folks it’s a a lot better deal. There are a number of motels that supply triple and household rooms for those who’re a bunch of individuals climbing you’ll be able to share an even bigger room. Costs for a funds double room are between 30 and 40 Euros. We had one or two locations the place we paid 25 Euros for a double room with a non-public lavatory. If you happen to stroll utterly low season between November and March it is likely to be kind of a regular value.

Meals

There are grocery shops and mini-markets in each city on the route for those who’re on a good funds making your personal meals is the best choice. At all times ensure you e-book lodging with a kitchen (most locations we stayed had a minimum of a microwave). Relying on what sort of stuff you purchase procuring for 3 meals (lunch, dinner, and breakfast) prices between 10 and 12 Euros per particular person. Many supermarkets have cafes the place you may get a meal, a sandwich, or a pastry for comparatively low-cost in comparison with the restaurant costs.

Consuming out is kind of costly on the route the Costa Vicentina and the Algarve are well-liked vacationer locations costs in native eating places are greater than common in Portugal. Only a few eating places alongside the Fishermen’s Path supply Menu do Dia – a set lunch that normally features a starter, most important dish, drinks (beer, wine, cool drink), bread, espresso, or dessert. We had these menus all over the place on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. In most locations on the path you pay a mean of 10 Euro for a dish, each time we went out for dinner we paid about 15 Euro pp. together with drinks. Breakfast (toasted sandwich and low) you may get for 3 Euro.

We all the time cease rather a lot for espresso and Portugal is an actual paradise for espresso lovers, the espresso right here is nice and low-cost; for a cup of Espresso, you pay about 0,7 euros, and for espresso with milk (Galao) – 1,5 Euros. If you happen to order Americano it’ll price you extra, about 1,2 Euros, for cappuccino you’ll pay between 2 and three Euros.

Our funds breakdown (2 folks, 11 days)

We didn’t camp on the path. We stayed in non-public rooms and dormitories and went out each different day however more often than not we made meals and stopped a minimum of as soon as a day for espresso. We didn’t use a baggage switch service. If you happen to do add to our funds 15 Euro per particular person per day.

• Lodging – 422 Euro
• Procuring (meals, toiletries) – 116 Euro
• Consuming out – 151 Euro
• Transport – 70 Euro, 15 Euro per particular person bus Lisbon – Porto Covo, 20 Euro per particular person bus Lagos – Lisbon
• Espresso+pastry – 35 Euro

Whole: 794 Euro or 36 Euro per particular person per day.

When is the most effective time to stroll the Fisherman’s Path?

The Fisherman’s Path is within the south of Portugal. It’s by no means actually chilly right here which suggests the route will be walked all yr spherical. We’ve finished a number of multi-day walks in Portugal and actually like climbing in spring, between April and Could. For us it’s the most effective time of the yr; not chilly however not scorching but, many flowers and timber blossoming, and costs are a bit decrease than in peak season. We’ve finished a number of coastal walks in Portugal in April and Could together with the well-known Seven Hanging Valleys Path. Lately because of the rising reputation of the stroll, the path will get fairly busy throughout these months.

Summer season significantly July and August are the most popular and the busiest months right here if in case you have a selection I’d counsel strolling the route another time even in Could. Over the weekends there have been many individuals on the route doing day hikes, I can think about in peak season there might be tons of of individuals. Costs for lodging go up in summer time fairly a bit so that you get extra folks, very popular climate, and better costs. October and the start of November are most likely the greatest months for strolling; snug climate and never too many individuals.

As for strolling the route utterly offseason; December – March it’s a superb time, as many motels and hostels are open all yr spherical. It is likely to be very quiet like in another seaside vacation space low season. So for those who’re searching for a solitary and tranquil strolling vacation it’s the precise time of the yr to return right here. As for the climate, it’s sunny within the south of Portugal even within the winter however it does get chilly and wet, particularly on the West Coast.

The way to get to the path?

There are direct buses from Lisbon to Porto Covo/São Torpes Seaside. Rede Expressos buses depart all through the day from Sete Rios Bus station in Lisbon. As of March 2022, there are morning buses at 7.30 am and 9.30 am solely on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The journey takes 2h10min. The ticket prices 16,5 Euro. Tickets will be purchased on the bus terminal or on-line. Within the peak summer time season, I’d suggest buying tickets beforehand. You’ll be able to test the up-to-date itinerary and purchase tickets on-line.

If you happen to’re planning to begin strolling at S.Torpes Seaside which is 10 km north of Porto Covo you’ll should get off the bus earlier. S.Torpes Seaside is between Sines and Porto Covo. Ask a driver to cease at Praia de São Torpes.

There are direct buses to Lisbon from Odeceixe, Sagres, Lagos, and Santiago do Cacém. Wherever you determine to complete the Fisherman’s Path you’ll have the ability to get again to Lisbon by bus. From smaller cities, there are one or two each day buses to Lisbon. From larger locations e.g. Santiago do Cacém or Lagos there are various each day departures. You may get a direct bus to Lisbon from nearly each city on the route. You should purchase tickets and test the present itinerary on the Rede Expressos web site.

If you happen to’re coming from Lisbon and wish to spend a few days there listed here are our suggestions for locations to remain within the metropolis.

Locations to remain in Lisbon

Excursions and actions in Lisbon

Lisbon is a tremendous place with many vacationer points of interest and issues to do. In case you have a while in Lisbon earlier than or after the Fisherman’s Path listed here are some advisable actions;

What to pack for the hike?

If you happen to’re planning to remain in motels or hostels you don’t want a lot stuff to hold which is nice you’ll be able to pack actually mild for the hike and benefit from the path strolling with a day pack.

Backpack – a 30l backpack might be sufficient to pack climbing garments for 4 days and a few toiletries.

Comfy sneakers for strolling, is likely to be a pair of sunshine climbing sneakers (a males’s mannequin) or a pair of trainers (a males’s mannequin).

GoPro HERO11 – on the Fishermen’s Path as a substitute of carrying our huge DSLR digital camera we packed a brand new GoPro. The standard of the footage and photographs is nice, the digital camera may be very mild and small, it could get moist, and you may swim and dive with it.

Garmin Fenix 5 GPS watch – our new climbing companion, we used it to get the elevation profiles and the maps for this publish.

Kindle – we all the time take our Kindles Paperwhite with us when touring. If you happen to’re an proprietor of Kindle by becoming a member of Kindle Limitless program by Amazon you’ll get entry to hundreds of e-books and audiobooks.

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The beautiful half of Stingy Nomads, liable for all our land adventures (climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a baby, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack relatively than to do a ten 000 km highway journey (truly any highway journey). Alya is a giant fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.