The Camino Portuguese from Lisbon to Coimbra: tips and itinerary
An 8,5 day itinerary on the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon to Coimbra Not many people start the camino in Lisbon. It may have something to do with the distance of 630 km to reach Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It takes a while… I made the spontaneous decision to start…
My final steps on the Fishermen’s trail
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…
From wild coast to tourist towns
Following the coast from Sagres to Burgau “Difficult” says the rating of today’s walk on the Rota Vicentina website. Great. I hadn’t slept well at all because of a terrible stomach pain. I decided to just get out of bed, take a painkiller and get the day started. I was…
The most South Western point of Europe: Cape St. Vincent
On the fishermen’s trail from Vila do Bispo to Sagres I was walking on a dirt road and noticed an extraordinary number of snails surrounding me. They were everywhere; on the plants, on poles of power lines, on fences and rocks. Occasionally a car drove by, slowing down so they…
My favorite day on the Fishermen’s trail
The Fishermen’s trail from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo Well… I always say I want to be healthier. In practice this doesn’t really happen. But at least I’ve got the exercise covered, especially the day I walked from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo. Somehow I managed to turn 16 km…
Hiking along the Algarve’s West coast
The two days from Aljezur to Carrapateira via Arrifana are a great mix of coastal trail and country life. This part of the Fishermen’s trail is quiet, but comes through small tourist towns where surfing seems to be the number one activity. But these beautiful beaches also create the perfect…
A lot of steps for 30 minutes on the beach
The Fishermen’s trail: Odeceixe to Aljezur In Odeceixe I saw a familiar face in my hostel. Remember the Belgian guy I met on my second day on the Rota Vicentina? I’d taken 2 rest days now and he’d caught up with me again. So from all the people at the…
Up and down, sand and ostriches
The Fishermen’s trail: Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe The road from Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe is one of ups and downs, not just physically, but mentally. I was surprised by the clouds in the morning, but optimistically I put on my sunscreen and started walking. I noticed that a…
Finding inner peace on the Fishermen’s trail
The Fishermen’s trail: Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar It was busy when I left Almograve. There were a lot of people out and about, especially with cars and motorhomes. It was no surprise since the road I followed had some beautiful views. When the path turned into a walking trail,…
The home of the knights Templar in Tomar
My walk on the camino led me through the town Tomar, about 140 km North of Lisbon. It’s a pretty small city, but one of the bigger ones during my trip. There is also enough to see and do for a day, so I planned an extra day here. Things…