Rich Brame
Join a group of NOLS grads, friends and instructors for 8 days of spectacular hiking along Portugal’s dramatic southwest coast as we walk between fishing villages to the one of the southern tips of the European continent.
Photo Credit: Hillary Murnighan
Portugal’s Fisherman's Trail stretches from Sao Torpes’ western-facing beaches to Lagos on the southern coast. The trail’s name is no coincidence. It stitches together informal fishing trails, beach and surf access, Roman roads, country lanes, sandy 4WD paths and farm tracks. The trail wanders through Southwest Alentejo and the Vicenti Coast Natural Park and is continually expanding, with new legs added in the spring of 2019—it’s now recognized as one of the great trails of Europe.
Photo Credit: Sydney Ramgolan
To start the trip we’ll convene in Lisbon with an evening orientation complete with intros, gear chat, and route plan. The next morning, we’ll tour the city’s oldest sector with the help of a local guide. After admiring the architecture and rich history of Portugal’s capital, we’ll catch a ride to the quaint town of Porto Covo distinct for its seaside location and bright white and blue building facades.
Photo Credit: Sydney Ramgolan
From Porto Covo, we will head to the “field”, mostly relying on our feet to travel along the sea. The coastal trail will lead us to dramatic cliffs, sea stacks, pounding surf and seemingly endless golden beaches around every corner.
This section of coastline is striking. With a chilly sea renowned for its ocean swell; surfers travel from across the globe to challenge the Algarve’s epic waves.
Photo Credit: Sydney Ramgolan
Small fishing villages and hamlets will serve as our waypoints along our route giving us the opportunity to experience traditional Portuguese food, culture, and history. The sea, more than anything, defines life here while fishing and agriculture have long been this region’s economic pillars. The Portuguese are also known for their hospitality, recently embracing tourism to share their home and seaside way of life with visitors.
We’ll lodge in comfortable inns and small hotels along the way which allows us to pack just the essentials. For extra comfort, we’ve incorporated a gear shuttle to transport luggage to each nightly destination. With just daypacks to manage, we’ll be able to walk further each day and spend more time admiring the vistas and dipping our toes in the ocean.
Photo Credit: Hillary Murnighan
Photo Credit: Rich Brame
The well-marked, sandy trail typically traverses cliffs and ridges above the beach, but occasional side drainages cut through our trail to take us down to the water’s edge. Shrubs, small pine forests, bamboo, cork trees, and astonishingly-colored Ice Plants frame the trail.
Mileage will average 11 miles daily with relatively little elevation change. We have found that the mileage fits well into our plans without feeling rushed by extraordinary long hikes or bored by short jaunts. Each day we’ll carry plenty of water to fend off dehydration as days can be sunny and hot.
Towards the end of the trip, we’ll visit the Sao Vicente lighthouse, one of the most southern points of Europe.
Photo Credit: Hillary Murnighan
We will conclude our time together back in Lisbon with a traditional Portuguese meal before traveling home or continuing on to other adventures.
Overall Difficulty*:
*Long days on the trail are rewarded by comfortable inn lodging, great food, inviting culture and dramatic coastal scenery.
