Portugal hiking vacation, highlights of Rota Vicentina

Environment

We advise all of our clients to stay to the marked paths. This is to maintain the environment as they pass so that it remains pristine for walkers using the pathways in the future. It is also important in order to keep some distance from the local wildlife. We also advise that they take all of their rubbish with them until the end of the day and recycle or dispose of it as is appropriate.

As much as is possible on this trek we have tried to ensure that the walking is done from hotel to hotel, meaning that there is no need to be transported from or to a hotel each day and reduces the need for transportation journeys and their effect on the environment. When the luggage needs to be transferred we use the hotels or local companies to ensure that the driving required is kept to a minimum.

Our transfers between Lisbon City and the first/last hotels are operated by shared busses & trains to minimise the environmental impact.

Community

Most of the hotels we use along the Rota Vicentina are small and family run enabling these establishments to continue into the future. They are the establishments which are most in need of the tourism income and their ability to continue their success is important to this area. We also arrange for our clients to eat either at the hotels or at small local restaurants, again keeping the income in the small towns and villages where they stay overnight. We also use either the hotel, local companies or local taxi companies for the luggage and people transfers necessary for this trek. This also keeps the environmental impact to a minimum.

We have carefully selected what we feel highlights the very best of this picturesque route that you can complete within just one week. Our combination of the Historical Way (inland route) and the Fishermen’s Trail (coastal route) offers a unique experience to discover the two worlds between an authentic rural culture and a surprisingly wild coastline within the Alentejo Natural Park. Treat yourself to the excellent Portuguese cuisine (and wine!). In particular this area of Alentejo highlights their exceptional seasonal produce and demonstrates diversity across such short distances in the same region. Fresh seafood cooked in a traditional Portuguese style, combined with their precious grapes used to create their world famous wines is difficult to surpass.