In 16,5 km from Burgau to Lagos
I knew I had a short last day, but for some reason I raced through it. From the moment I left Burgau I joined other walkers, some walking their dog, others going out for a run or a stroll. It seemed like I was walking through the outskirts of Lagos, with the ocean on my right and a steady row of buildings on my left. After walking through quiet areas in Alentejo and the West of the Algarve, this was a stark contrast and it was exactly what I imagine when I think of the Algarve. It wasn’t even that busy at this time of the year, but I already felt like it was too much after all those peaceful kilometers.
Luz is the typical holiday town. There is a boulevard with benches under actual palm trees. The cafés were pretty busy this morning, even though the beach was still quiet. In Luz I found my last proper climb. At first I followed a narrow road past some incredibly big houses with high fences for protection. Then I stumbled upon a group of German tourists, all ready with poles and a guide. They were just starting to climb up the natural trail that led to the top of the hill. The guide continued walking while she explained: “In this time of the year we also have many dragonflies.” I picked up my pace and passed them. On the top was a view point on a wider road. Walkers and cyclists alike had come up to enjoy the view over the coastline towards Salema and Sagres. You could see the whole town of Luz and rocky coastline behind it. It was spectacular!
From here the trail was easy. A wide road led me into Lagos, past the luxury holiday resorts on Lagos’ Eastern edge. I entered the cliffs again shortly before Ponta da Piedade, Lagos’ main attraction. There were lots of wooden walkways to view points, but of course they weren’t so impressive after so many days of walking along the rough coastline without any barriers. That’s not to say it wasn’t a spectacular area, but I enjoyed it much more when I saw it from the water the next day. Even the walk into town was pleasant because I stayed close to the coast where I could.
I found a nice hill with a view of a beach where I sat down for lunch. I had walked nearly 300 kilometers to get here and I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment. This was my last sandwich on the trail. The last time I put down my bag beside me, sat on a rock and enjoyed the freedom of the Fishermen’s trail. I loved the feeling the trail gave me. The only thing to focus on is walking. There was no rush, no stress, for the most part no COVID and absolutely no obligations. It was a bittersweet feeling to finish my way.
If you’re interested in walking (part of) the Fishermen’s trail, please check out my overview post 14 days on the Rota Vicentina and Fishermen’s trail. The part from Luz to Lagos would actually be a great day walk from Lagos. You can take a bus from Lagos to the town of Luz, enjoy the town and the beach, before hiking back to Lagos over the viewpoint.
1 comment