Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - Monday, April 20, 2026
Portugal,
International,
Portugal
Join us as we hike on The Rota Vicentina, a long-distance footpath that opened in 2013 in a relatively untouched region of Portugal. The trail is mainly in the Alentejo region which covers a third of Portugal's land mass but has just 4% of its population. Quiet villages and small well-kept towns add color and interest to each day as we walk through several centuries of history. We will follow the Fishermen's Trail along the coast and the Historical Way which is more inland, walking the best of both trails. We complete our hike at the majestic Cape de St. Vincente, the extreme southwest corner of mainland Portugal. On this two-week trip, we will walk along a wild, unspoiled coast with dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches and visit attractive villages. Our journey starts in Lisbon, the beautiful capital of Portugal. Most flights arrive in the morning so you will have some free time to explore the historic neighborhoods and the imposing São Jorge Castle, with a view that encompasses the old city's pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary, and the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. The next day we will transfer about two hours south to explore some Roman ruins, a 200-year-old windmill, and a 12th-century castle before we start the hiking portion of the trip. We will hike for nine of the next eleven days, at times from hotel to hotel, and at times supported by local transportation. We will stay at local hotels every night, and our luggage will be transported between them. Excluding breaks, on the eleven hiking days we will usually hike from five to six hours per day, between nine and fourteen miles, and with a daily average elevation gain of about 800 feet. We will hike at a moderate pace, permitting time for photos and rest breaks. Participants should be in excellent shape and be able to hike for most of the day several days in a row. We will spend thirteen nights in a mixture of two and three-star hotels and guesthouses, all with private rooms and usually private bathrooms. We will be joined throughout the trip by an experienced guide.
