I walked the most beautiful coastal path in Portugal, this is how it was day 1

Fisherman Portugal Trail Day 1 It started with a sun, views of the ocean and that feeling of starting something new. We start our walk along the broken Vicentina, and it has already been an incredible day. This is how it was:

3 good things that happened today

• I walked barefoot along the Portuguese sandy coast under the sun
• I tried the clue neck perclabes (perceive!) For the first time, and loved them
• A rainy and windy day ended with a hot shower, pasta and the best company

Reach the path

Orion and I wore my VW Caddy truck from Spain to Portugal for two days, traveling along the road along the countryside and soaking the spring sun. When we arrive at BrowseI was able to leave the truck staked at the hotel, where we will stay at the end of the walk. They did not load more and even gave us a small hidden parking place that felt hidden and safe, a great relief when it leaves its vehicle for two weeks.

From there, we catch the Red Express Network North a Porto CovoA 2.5 -hour trip that costs only € 9 for both of us. The bus was hot (AC was not super efficient), but it gave us the opportunity to get a preview of some of the trail cities for which we would be walking reverse: Aljezur, Almograve and others. Meanwhile, our friends Sandra and OliverWho we met at the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023, flew from Zurich and captured a Lisbon bus to meet with us in Porto Covo. This is a meeting that we have been waiting for for months!

P.S. If you wonder what attracted me to the path of the fishermen, I wrote everything about it here!

Arrival to Porto Covo

We arrive at the city around 6:30 pm and walk to our accommodation to Pink apartmentsA clean and comfortable place near the path. That night, we met with Sandra and Oliver and took dinner together in a restaurant by the sea.

We shared a bottle of white wine, we order octopus and saw a local table eating something that we did not recognize. We asked about it and we knew it was barnacleAlso known as swan neck perclabes, a local delicacy that is famous (and dangerous) to harvest. They grow in wave stained rocks and are collected by hand, often during the conditions of the rough sea. Naturally, we had to try them, and they were delicious. Salty, Briny and, unlike anything he eaten before. One of those most prominent aspects of unexpected trips!

After dinner, we walk back to our apartment, buzzing with emotion to start the path the next morning.

For our first night in the broken Vicentina, we stayed in Pink Apartments in Porto Covo. Clean, comfortable and right in the city, a small place to start!

Beginning Day

We had a slow beginning the next morning: pack, gather for breakfast in a local bakery and soak up in that sense of emotion before a great trip. I asked for a gallona coffee with Portuguese style milk, and some cakes, including a cream cake. It would not be a trip to Portugal without one! The galão was pleasant, but quite milky; A prize, I will try something closer to a flat target for a stronger kick.

The first breakfast on the road did not disappoint! I went with a galão (a classic coffee with Portuguese milk) and some cakes, including, of course, a cream cake. You have to have one of these cakes in Portugal!

We arrive at the Vicentina Trail Rota signal just after 9:30 am, we take some starting line photos and officially start our walk.

We were dizzy. There is something so special in establishing a path of several days, especially with good friends by his side and the ocean just a few steps.

New path, the same incredible energy. Starting the broken vicentina with these PCT friends: Portugal is not ready for us!

Not far from the beginning of the path, I saw a Camino de Santiago Sign—The central route stage 6 crosses Porto Covo to Sines. I did not realize how interconnected these trail networks are throughout Europe, and I loved that the Energy road appeared here too.

Super fun that Vicentina’s broken crosses with the Camino de Santiago Portugués! I loved the energy of the path that crosses this first city: pilgrims, hikers and many good vibrations

Observations of the Rota Vicentina so far

Only from day 1 walking with the broken Vicentina along the path of fishermen, here are some things that I have already noticed:

• He Tap water is safe to drinkBut the taste is not great. I am very happy to have packed electrolytes and Spike powder To improve the taste and make hydration more pleasant.
• I have seen many hikers buying plastic water bottles, which honestly takes me out. One of the main reasons why I excite is to reduce my footprint, and it feels bad to contribute to the waste of a single use along the way. I carry a reusable bottle and keep things low in waste.
• I will experiment with different coffee styles while here. Galão is tasty, but a bit too milky for me. Tomorrow I am in search of something closer to a Milk or flat white.
• Learning Portuguese is very useful. Most people speak something of English, but making the effort to learn some basic phrases have already made a big difference in connection with the locals. Some that I have collected:

• «Thank you» – Thank you

• «Thank you so much – Thank you so much

• «A gallon, please» – A coffee with milk, please

• «Hello» – Hello

• «Good day» – Good day

I strongly recommend collecting some essential elements: add depth to cultural experience and feels like a respectful way of traveling.

Learning small phrases like «Muito Obrigada» (thank you very much!) It is such a sweet part of traveling. That, and stop every five minutes to admire wild flowers

Highlights of trails: Porto Covo A Vila Nova de Milfontes

The path was more busy than expected, with many other hikers enjoying coastal views. The path is almost completely sandy, which means that his legs are working harder than they would do it on a full land path. We pass through the bright green bushes, wild flowers in flower, irregular cliffs and constant views of the ocean to our right. Biodiversity here is incredible, especially between March and June. Some of the plants are endemic to this exact coastal section and nowhere else in the world. Finally, we fall to the beach, and I took off my shoes to walk barefoot on the cold and humid sand. That moment only made it worth it all day.

The dramatic coast is not just about the views of the ocean, it is also full of wild geological formations. These black cliffs and wave -shaped rocks were very great to explore. Resistant, raw and beautiful.

We stopped for lunch in a small cove to take refuge from the wind and ate the simple sandwiches that we had made the day before in Sagres. After lunch, we follow the Blue and Green Vicentina markers He returns to the cliffs and continued walking along the coast. The views were amazing: horizons without gases, dramatic rock formations and the type of color palette that would like to be bottled forever.

The path is very well marked so far! Simply follow these blue and green stripes: blue represents the ocean and heaven, and green represents the earth and vegetation. Simple and beautiful

The last hour of hiking was intense. The wind rose sharply and the sand blew so strong that they chopped my face. He had never been sandy before. I put on my wind breaker and got up to cover my mouth and nose, but it was still rough. My eyes were laughing and my jacket felt like a candle. And then, just for fun, the rain united.

I was wet, windy and wild. We soak but laugh. There is something to be in the elements that remove everything, you just keep walking.

Sanded, rain and completely whipped by the wind … but how can you get angry when the views look like this? Coastal hiking at its maximum expression!

The push + final arrival at Vila Nova de Milfontes

We arrive at Vila Nova de Milfontes Cold, wet, and so ready to be inside. The lobby in Hotel M&S Milfontes It was full of hikers, all arriving at the same time, so we had to wait a bit to register. But when we arrived at our apartment, it was a total luxury of Trail,Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. We take hot showers, dry and finally settle.

Soaked to the rain nucleus, but still all the smiles of these three legends: Orion, Oliver and Sandra! Grateful for the cozy hotels and the good company

Oliver went to the groceries and picked up ingredients for a homemade dinner. We cook Pasta with musselsHe opened a bottle of wine and ate around the table like a small family of trails. It was one of those meals that only blows After a full day outside.

Despite the wind and rain, the day was all that I expected to be. Starting this walk with friends, along the ocean, under big skies, it already feels like something special.

Let the party begin! With chef Oliver and Sue-Chef Orion

I can’t wait to see what brings tomorrow!

Happy paths from Portugal!