Rota Vicentina hike report October 2014

Old Feb 19th, 2014, 07:09 PM
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Rota Vicentina hike report October 2014

Historical Way and Fisherman's Trail

General notes:
Great info on the web site. http://www.rotavicentina.com

The views on the fisherman's trail were spectacular.

Take fly spray the flies were really bad towards the final stages
Not much road walking
Trail Extremely well marked.
We carried our backpacks and found the fisherman's trail quite tough but extremely enjoyable.

Most people we met along the trail were with organized tour company’s who booked their accommodation and transferred their bags they were only hiking part of the trail.

Do this hike before the toilet paper brigade take over.

First half of our journey was in full sun with very little shade.

10/3/2013

London to Lisbon - stayed hotel Acores Lisbon euros 67.45 w/ breakfast. Good value

5 minute walk from Sete Rios bus station.

10/4/2013

Bus to Santiago do Cacem 2-1/2 hours euros 14.00

Stayed Hotel Dom Numo euros 74.00 w/breakfast 3 stars rather dated but OK - if you visit the starting point prior to starting you can pick up the trail from the back of the hotel.

Santiago do Cacem well worth spending a few hours discovering the town.

October 5th Santiago do Cacem to Vale Seco

First 1-1/2 hours uphill, great views of the coastal plain (shame about the grids)
If wet could be very muddy.
Pleasant walk through the cork trees.
Temps mid 70's to 80

Vale Seco has one bar and lots of flys, we only lasted 5 minutes.
Walked 4km from Vale Seco to stay at Monte Xisto Rural Hotel - expensive 120.00 e per night, 35 each for dinner, 7 courses excellent food, not enough time between courses. Trail runs very close to the property. Saves the hassle of organizing a taxi.

Options -  other travelers: one prearranged a taxi to take them to Cercal do Alentejo missing the hike to Vale Seco, another had a taxi take him back to Santiago do Cacem and bring him back in the AM. Taxi fare back to Santiago do Cacem approx 16e each way.

There is a village approx 2km from Monte Xisto with 2 cafés as an option for food.

October 6
Vale Seco to Cercal do Alentejo
Easier hike than first day,
Casazul M&B 3 stars 45e clean and what you would expect for the money.

All the restaurants were closed Sunday evening, lucky for us the Spar was open until 8, bread, cheese and wine supper.

October 7
Cercal do Alentejo to Porto Covo
Hiked through forest's, small farms and tracks to beach. Just before the beach where you cross the main road you walk down a track a little way along the markers want you on the other side of a fence stay on the track as you join the trail a little further on.

Lunch at Forte da Ilha over looking the sea (the first place you come to overlooking the sea)
E 56.00 with breakfast
Hotel Apartamento Porto Covo
Rua Vitalina da Silva Lote 1
7520-404 Porto Côve
[email protected]
A little better than last night.

Restaurante Miramar - Apt for 1night are available at restaurant over looking the Harbour . We had decent grilled fish at the restaurant.

Tourist village very quite out of season

October 8
Porto Cove - Vila Nova de Milfontes
For us a difficult trail, 2/3 of the trail is soft sand in the dunes, temps in the mid 80's and no shade. Spectacular views all the way as the trail follows the coast path. Take plenty of water.  We decided to send our backpacks via taxi and were extremely pleased with our decision.

Stayed at Casa do Adro 75.00 e
Idália José
Rua Diário de Noticias, 10 e 10A
7645-257 Vila Nova de Milfontes
www.casadoadro.com.pt
Great place, cake and juice on arrival, beer, wine and refreshments all included and the best breakfast.  Room OK bed not very comfortable.

October 9th
We decided to take a rest day and Casa do Adro was fully booked so we stayed at
mil Reis 50e for a brilliant suite own balcony. great views of the ocean from the top balcony. Very average breakfast.

Tourist village very quite out of season

October 10th   Vila Nova de Milfontes- Almograve
Monte Novo da Longueira - 1 mile off trail 70.00 e with breakfast, a little expensive but a good breakfast
Longueira - Almograve
[email protected]
Telefone/Fax: 283 647 052
Telemóvel: 968 135 779
http://www.montenovolongueira.com/

A better choice may have been Duna which is right on the trail or there is a hostel in Almograve

Short day


October 11th - Almograve - Zambujeira do Mar
ROSA DOS VENTOS 40.00e with breakfast in room, very good value for money
José Carlos Pacheco de Jesus
Rua Nossa Senhora do Mar - Zambujeira do Mar
Tel: 283 961 391
http://www.rosadosventoszambujeira.com/index.html
[email protected]

The first half of the day was brilliant, hiking in the dunes and along the cliffs with wonderful views.  After lunching at --- the terrain changed and you were hiking on a trail close to the oceans but no views.  Very steep decent into Zambujeira do Mar and the final few km were along the road.


October 12th  Zambujeira do Mar - Odeceixe
CASA HOSPEDES CELESTE
RUA NOVA Nº9
8670-320 ODECEIXE - PORTUGAL
PHONE +351. 282 947 150
First place with no wifi.
Extremely small shower
Steep and rocky descents and assents in and out of the fishing harbors.  Beautiful views  along the cliffs
Once you hit the river inlet it was a long hike to the bridge to cross into town. They recommend taking a taxi for this part but unless your Portuguese is good we don't know how you would explain where you are as you are the wrong side of the river.

Rural village
Supper at chaparro - good food at a reasonable price

October 13th Odeceixe - Aljezur
Steep climb out of the village, flat along the canal
Town for lunch
Vicentina Aparthotel
Av. General Humberto Delgado
8670-001 Aljezur - Portugal

Great space, full kitchen, modern furniture but lacking in TLC.  Closing December to remodel rooms.  Restaurant closed. Wifi signal not great in the room.
Eat at two local restaurants.
Pont a Pe and A Lareira good food and service at both

October 14th

Taxi to Prair do Mte Clerigo (10e) walked the fisherman's trail to Arrifana about 6 miles taxi back to Aljezur.
Decent lunch at the restaurant above the beach.

October 15
Took taxi to the beginning of hike.(10e)
Very demanding hike lots of up and down hill on rocky and stony paths. The hardest day
for us. Where the trail crosses the road you can catch a bus to Carrapateira which is cuts the distance in half.
Stayed two nights, not in the center of town. 90e average breakfast, felt nickeled and dime.

Casa Fajara
CX 121P Vale de Carrapateira
8670-230 Bordeira
(Algarve) Portugal
http://www.casafajara.com/#!rates/c10b6
Email: [email protected]


At the beginning  of town take a right towards the beach place called Bamboo has rooms that looked ok

Eat at cabrita good fish and service, we preferred this over Sitio do Rio food Ok but service not good.

October 16

 Did the Carrapateira circuit - don't miss it.  Very fragile cliffs. One of the best beaches at Carrapateira. If you want lunch overlooking the beach walk North to South.

Really enjoyed the small village nice feel.

October 17
Carrapateira - Vila do Bispo

Very enjoyable hike in the hills only a couple of steep climbs. The last 3 miles are on a flat sandy track. Very hot again

Lunch on the way was expensive - pack a lunch and just stock up on water.


Hotel Mira Sagres  65 euros
Modern new hotel great swimming pool.

October. 18

Vila de Bispo - Cabo de S Vicente - Sagres
Walked historic then the fisherman's trail to Cabo deS Vincente then we took the road Ito Sagres.  The final few miles on that trail were a little challenging.

Caught the bus to Lagos 3.80e 1hour

Lagos

Hotel Dom Manuel 1

Restaurant No Patio - very good and not expensive

Casa do Pintor excellent tasting menu expensive but worth the money.

Brilliant trail and would hike it again in a heart beat.
msb1932 is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 11:50 PM
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Thanks for trip report. Do you hike regularly? Would you recommend it for people of average fitness? Did you need to pre-book your accommodation? Was it easy to organise yourselves (e.g. route maps, directions, advice on distances)?
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Old Feb 20th, 2014, 05:59 PM
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Yes we hike often we are 72 and 62 years old with above average fitness. What we found difficult was hiking in the sand dunes in 80's with full sun - anyone with average fitness would enjoy this hike. We found it very easy to organize ourselves and the web site has all the information regarding distances etc.
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Old Jan 19th, 2017, 06:25 AM
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Hello sounds a good walk , i wild camp always and need to get water and food on the way is it possible . Thanks to you both good health to you
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