Dates: March 1-8, 2026

Portugal: Rota Vicentina, Lisbon,
8-day Immersive Walking Tour

Portugal’s Costa Vicentina: Zambujeira, Odeceixe, Carrapateira – Coastal Cliff Walks · Boutique Stays · Seafood & Wine
Lisbon: Historic City Stay – Local Dining · Cultural Exploration · Boutique Hotel with Spa

$2,949 / $3,949

Per Person
(Shared Room / Private Room)

Away from the crowded beaches of the southern Algarve, the significantly quieter Costa Vicentina is a breath of (salty) fresh air, with typical Portuguese villages and a famous long-distance path to follow. The Fishermen’s Trail of the Rota Vicentina winds to a spectacular and protected coastal landscape, past craggy rocky outcrops, sand dunes, and imposing beaches with huge waves to the Cabo São Vicente; the most south-westerly tip of Europe and a useful landmark among sailors for centuries. Overnight stays in family-run hotels and dinner with plain fresh fish, fine wines, and tasty pastries: this is how Portugal is meant to be. At the end, indulge yourself in a luxury stay at a boutique hotel with a spa before you spend your last night in Lisbon.

On a scale of 5 we have defined this tour as level 2,5, as it includes a moderate day of 4-6 hours per day (excluding breaks).

Tentative Itinerary

With hand-picked boutique stays, scenic coastal hikes, and immersive cultural moments, this is more than a walking tour—it’s a soulful journey through Portugal’s untamed beauty and timeless charm.

Day 1: Lisbon to Zambujeira | March 1, Sunday

ITINERARY:
Meet our driver in the afternoon at Lisbon airport and drive in about 2.5 hours to our rural boutique hotel near Zambujeira, an old farm converted into boutique hotel with cottage like rooms around facing the swimming pool or ecological vegetable garden. Some even have partial views of the Atlantic coast. A perfect place to recover from jetlag and hectic urban life-style. Dinner (inc.) at the hotel restaurant “Touril & Celso”.

Quote:
Our menu is not a menu, it’s an invitation to discover new flavours and others that we only find in memories of our grandparents’ lunches at home.

Hotel in Zambujeira: Herdade do Touril

Day 2: Almograve to Zambujeira | March 2, Monday

ITINERARY:
Start off with a 15 min taxi transfer to the village of Almograve. In your bag, pack a lunch with local snacks and fruits to keep you motivated. Your first walk along the way-marked foot path “Rota Vicentina” takes you along the coast, via the tine village of Cavalheiro and the lighthouse at Cape Sardao, enjoying spectacular views from the cliffs on the way back to your hotel. Time to eat your packed lunch while enjoying a drink at the terrace of the village bar in Cavalheiro. Dinner at the hotel (inc.)

Challenge: 4,5-5 hrs, 16 km / 10 mi, 175 m ascent and descent.

Day 3: Zambujeria to Odeceixe | March 3, Tuesday

The second stage along the Rota Vicentina alternates sandy footpaths through rolling dunes, stony footpaths across rocky shores where storks nest and dirt roads though an area with intensive horticulture. The famous Fado singer Amalia Rodrigues used to spend her summer in this area, in a villa with ocean view. Halfway the walk enjoy a salad-and-seafood lunch at Azenha do Mar. Todays’ walks ends in the typical whitewashed village of Odeceixe, on the border of the provinces Alentejo and Algarve. Enjoy a drink or two on the village square before you walk the last 1,5 km to your accommodation in the outskirts of the town, but mind that its steeply uphill (hence, careful with the wine!).

The residence for the next two nights is a hotel composed of several old fishermen’s houses on both sides of a cobbled road in the shadow of an old windmill. The main building has a bar-lounge and an outdoor swimming pool. For dinner, we make a table reservation in a restaurant, Altinho, across the street, but you will order (and pay for) your own dinner (not inc.).

Challenge: 5.5 – 6 hrs, 18.5 km / 11,5 mi, 220 m ascent, 230 m descent

Hotel in Odeceixe: Casas do Moihno

Day 4: Loop walk Odeceixe | March 4, Wednesday

ITINERARY:
Today we take a small break from coastal walking with a circular walk in the region around Odeceixe. The walk begins by heading inland through local farmland and then onto open landscape filled with heather and fragrant shrubbery. You will then loop back round to the coast, following the old ‘Fisherman’s Path’ until you reach the beach at Odeceixe where we will have lunch (not inc). From here you have the choice of either spending the rest of the afternoon on the beach or heading back to your accommodation to make the most of their beautiful outdoor area. For dinner (not inc.) we suggest restaurant Naperon, another high rated restaurant, famous for their surprise menu of 7 local dishes.

Challenge: 4-4,5 hrs, 14 km / 8.7 mi, 325 m ascent & descent

Day 5: Arrifana to Praia do Canal Nature retreat | March 5, Thursday

ITINERARY:
After a drive to Aljezur, where we’ll visit the castle and do some basic shopping for lunch, we will be dropped off on top of the cliffs near Arrifana from where we descent in less than an hour to the Praia de Canal. Depending on the tides we either continue along the beach or take a higher track uphill; but whatever we’ll do we’ll end at the doorstep of our hidden Nature Retreat Praia do Canal, and indulge ourselves into a SPA treatment, Hamman Steam Room, Sauna or just a relaxed afternoon at the swimming pool. Dinner at the hotel, but you will choose (and pay!) from 3 different restaurants that share their love for local food culture and sustainable production.

Challenge: 3-3,5 hrs, 9.7 km/ 6 mi, 280 m in ascent, 225 in decent

Hotel in Rogil: Praia do Canal Nature Retreat

Day 6: Praia do Canal to Carrapateira Beach | March 6, Friday

ITINERARY:
In the morning we continue our exploration of the Costa Vicentina with a walk to the surfers’ beach Bordeira, close to the charming fishermen’s village of Carrapateira. We will stop for lunch at the village bar Cantinho da Bordeira (not inc.) before heading to the most white and sandy beach of the entire route. Don’t forget to take your swimming wear with you! Before we return to the hotel by taxi, you might want to visit the ethnographic museum of Carrapateira to learn more about the land and the people living it. Dinner at the hotel (not inc.).

Challenge: 4-4,5 hrs, 14 km / 8.7 mi, 150 m in ascent & 250 m in descent

Day 7: From Vila do Obispo to Cabo Sâo Vicente -> Lisbon | March 7, Saturday

ITINERARY:
Our last day of walking takes us to the most south-western corner of Europe, The Cape San Vicente. After a 30min drive we start walking in Vila do Obispo to a totally different landscape, very flat and cultivated at first and surprisingly wild and rugged with karstic limestone rocks near to the end. At windy Cape Sao Vicente we enjoy for the last time the 180ª sweeping views of the ocean before getting on the bus to Lisbon; a 3,5 hr drive back to urban culture.

Challenge: 4 – 4.5 hrs, 14 km / 8,5 mi, 150 m ascent, 200 m descent.

Hotel Mundial or similar in Lisbon: www.hotel-mundial.pt

Day 8: End of the Program OR Post Tour Extra Nights in Lisbon | March 8, Sunday

ITINERARY:
Your arrangement comes to an end after breakfast.