Rota Vicentina - Fishermen's Trail - stage Porto Covo ➔ Vila Nova de Milfontes This is the stretch where the coast reveals itself in all its generosity. Over roughly 20 kilometres, those walking between Porto Covo and Vila Nova de Milfontes traverse some of the southwest Alentejo’s most extensive and iconic beaches. Ilha do Pessegueiro, Aivados, Malhão: names that promise encounters with the sea, but also hidden, almost secret coves, seemingly waiting for those who discover them on foot. It is a demanding route, indeed. The challenge lies in the loose sand and the long kilometres that stretch ahead. Yet the fatigue is quickly offset by the variety of landscapes that unfold at every turn. There are beaches embraced by dark, ancient cliffs, where the rocks stand the test of time like sentinels. Local fishermen call them palheirões: small islets slowly carved by erosion. There are pebble beaches, like Aivados, where the ocean’s endless patience has shaped the stones. And there are fossil dunes that descend to the surf, sculpted by the wind into almost lace-like forms, as seen at Praia do Faquir and Praia do Farol. Then there is Malhão, where the sand stretches smoothly from the dunes to the water. And finally, the freshwater springs that bubble up on the beach, coming from the mountains through underground paths, a phenomenon that gives Milfontes its name and still amazes those who pass by today. Between March and June, the dunes dress in biodiversity. The landscape fills with colors, scents, and unexpected shapes. The plants here have learned to survive in extreme conditions, poor soil, long months of drought, and wind loaded with salt. Even pine, rosemary, and esteva take on new forms here, lower and more resilient. Some species are so rare that they exist only along this narrow stretch of coast.
Start: Porto Covo - From the market square (Largo do Mercado) End: Vila Nova de Milfontes - At the tourist office in the village (Rua António Mantas). Recommended season: September to June. Elevation gain: +200 m, -180 m Elevation: min. 0 m, max. 50 m
Type: Long-Distance Trail (GR) Point-to-point
Distance: 20
Difficulty: Difficult (level 4)
GPS Coordinates: 37°51'06.7"N 8°47'27.7"W