Planning your Fisherman's Trail: Logistics and Essentials

Getting there and getting out

During a road trip through Portugal, we hiked this section of the Fisherman’s Trail. We rented a car in Porto and parked it for free in Porto Covo. Upon reaching Odeceixe, we ordered an Uber for 40 euros to take us back to Porto Covo. Ordering an Uber was very easy and convenient. The ride back took about an hour.

Although it is possible to take buses to Porto Covo and Odeceixe, the bus schedules are not convenient. Therefore, it’s best to check online beforehand.  

Itinerary

Day 1: 

Porto – Covo  –> Vila Nova de Milfontes

+- 20 km

Overnight stay: Campsite Milfontes

Day 2: 

Villa Nova de Milfontes –> Almograve

+- 15 km

Overnight stay: Wildcamp in bushes next to Almograve

Day 3: 

Almograve –> Zambujeira do Mar 

+- 22 km

Overnight Stay: Campsite Zambujeira do Mar

Day 4: 

Zambujeira do Mar –> Odeceixe

+- 19 km

Water Supply

You will find water available every day, but it’s important to bring enough with you at the start of each day. Portugal can get really hot, and walking through loose sand will require drinking lots and lots of water.

Navigation

The Fisherman’s Trail is completely signposted with blue and green signs, so there’s no need to bring a paper map. However, it’s advisable to have the route on your phone. There are some parts where you can save time by taking a shortcut if you’d like. We recommend using the CalTopo app for this.

 

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Food

It’s not necessary to bring food along the Fisherman’s Trail. The stages always end in villages where you’ll find supermarkets and restaurants. However, don’t expect too much from these supermarkets; they only offer the essentials. There aren’t really options for buying specialized outdoor meals like Turmat. It’s wise to bring pots for cooking, as jetboils won’t suffice. Otherwise, you’ll need to carry food for the entire trail, which isn’t a real problem.

Camping

There are campsites in every village you pass except for Almograve. You can make a reservation for a hotel or Airbnb there. However, we decided to set up camp in one of the bushes behind this small town. It’s illegal, but possible of course.