Fishermen's Trail (Rota Vicentina) Map Poster

The Fishermen's Trail is the coastal route of Portugal's Rota Vicentina, 226 km (141 mi) along the Atlantic cliffs of the Alentejo and the Algarve, from São Torpes near Sines to Lagos. It follows the paths local fishermen used, past whitewashed Porto Covo and Vila Nova de Milfontes, the storks at Cabo Sardão, the surf beaches of Arrifana and Amado, and Cabo de São Vicente, where the coast turns east toward the golden arches of Ponta da Piedade.

It is walked north to south in 13 stages, each ending in a village or town with guesthouses, since wild camping is not allowed in the natural park that covers most of the route. The climbing adds up to about 2,650 m (8,700 ft), but the real work is the sand: soft dune paths and beaches make up most of the trail, between short, steep drops to the coves. Many people walk only the original four stages, Porto Covo to Odeceixe.

The trail opened in 2012 with those four stages and has since grown south to the cape and on to Lagos. Fishermen still stand on the rock ledges with long rods, and the white storks of Cabo Sardão are the only ones in the world that nest on sea cliffs. Two weeks of sand in your boots, and not a grain of it on the Fishermen's Trail map poster.