New walking and cycling routes for the Algarve

Rota Vicentina, a network of walking and cycling trails along the most beautiful and best-preserved coastline of the Algarve, is set to launch new routes in May 2019.

The new routes will increase Rota Vicentina’s pedestrian trails up from 450km to 740km in total, including the Fisherman’s trail, the Historical Way, and 24 additional circular routes, and are sure to attract even more holidaymakers to the region, which is one of the timeshare industry’s European hotspots.

As part of the expansion, the new sections of the routes are currently being traced and fully marked in both directions. New updated maps, leaflets, itineraries and brochures on the new routes are also being prepared and will be ready to be handed over to visitors at launch.

The expansion to Rota Vicentina will introduce several changes to existing routes:

The Fisherman’s Trail coastal hiking route will be extended from its current ending point at Cabo St Vicente to the town of Lagos. This will allow hikers to discover more of the southern coast of the Algarve and to explore additional towns such as Sagres and Luz on their way.

The path is only accessible to hikers due to its rugged terrain and runs on top of stunning rugged cliffs along the ancestral paths that locals took when going fishing. It is divided into several sections and complementary circuits, allowing visitors to vary the length and difficulty of their journey as they wish.

The Historical Way is a 230km path fully accessible to both cyclists and hikers, which takes visitors through the main towns and villages of the Algarvian countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the coast. Its 12 sections offer a wide variety of landscapes, such as stretches of cork tree forests, mountain ranges, valleys, rivers and creeks.

Lighthouse at Cabo St Vicente

Along the way visitors can explore towns such as Aljezur and Bordeira before ending their course in beautiful Cabo St Vicente, the southernmost point in Europe.

Sixteen circular routes will also be added to Rota Vicentina, bringing the total number to 24. These routes are located in various part of the Algarve and are much shorter that the Fisherman’s Trail and Historical Way, making them ideal for visitors looking to complete them in less than a day.

These new routes include a path to explore the area around Vila do Bispo alongside existing routes such as Bordeira to the Sea, which takes visitors from the historical village of Bordeira to the coastline through the pine forest of Bordalete.

To help visitors plan their trip, the Algarve Tourism Bureau has developed a website dedicated to walking and cycling in the Algarve, detailing trails in the region, including the sights and landscapes that can be enjoyed along the way.

For more information on cycling and pedestrian routes in the Algarve, or to book a guided tour, click here.

For more information on Rota Vicentina visit www.en.rotavicentina.com