Portugal Hike: The Algarve Limestone Cliffs

Lagos, Portugal Hiking & Trekking

Active Adventure

Tour Highlights

1. Sagres - the southwestern-most town of Continental Europe
2. Cape S. Vicente - the birds and the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean
3. The amazing cliffs in Ponta da Piedade
4. Beautiful sceneries and wild nature
5. Quiet trails overlooking the blue ocean
6. Salema - a picturesque traditional small town
7. Paradise-like beaches and the beautiful coast of Algarve
8. Nature surrounds you and fills your senses
9. Traditional food and fresh fish from the Atlantic Coast
10. Lagos - the cosmopolitan and oldest town in the Algarve


Summary

This is a quiet hiking program along the most beautiful golden cliffs in the Algarve coast where you can admire the natural beauty of the limestone cliffs carved by the sea and the wind.

This tour starts in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos which is one of the oldest cities in the Algarve. You can still see evidence of the wall surrounding the town for protection. You follow an amazing coast line to Ponta da Piedade where you will find fantastic sceneries of cliffs, caves and rocks with an amazing mixture of colors! From above the sea you will see the small town of Luz where there is a beautiful beach of fine and golden sand!

On your second day walking you will find some small fishing villages and some abandoned fortresses which remind us of the time when this coast was ravaged by pirates! In Salema you can enjoy the beach and the tasty local gastronomy based on fresh fish from the ocean. Here you can rest on the third day or you can opt for a walking tour inland discovering typical small towns and a fantastic stone pine wood.

The fourth day is the most spectacular in natural beauty! Deserted secret beaches with lagoons and a coast line almost untouched by Man, a landscape of rare beauty which is discovered while you walk along trails on the cliffs. Finally you get to beautiful Baleeira Bay, with an amazing beach of fine sand and five small islands which give this place a unique charm! This is where you will stay the last two nights of your program.

On the last walking day you will walk along the high cliffs of Sagres and to Cape S. Vicente - the place where the land ends and the sea begins! Sagres is the south-westernmost point in continental Europe and the place from where our brave forefathers sailed on their caravels seeking new peoples and continents five centuries ago!

Typical Day

Programme:

Day 1: Arrival - Welcome at FARO (or LISBON) airport. 1.00 hour drive to Lagos (3.00 hours from Lisbon). Depending on arriving time, walk around the oldest town in the Algarve. Briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with swimming-pool, that epitomises the Algarve culture, with blue and white corridors which link the rooms, patios, restaurants and bar.

Day 2: Ponta da Piedade - 11km (7mi), level 2 ( Beach). Walking along the coast from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade. You will see stunning rocks, coves and caves that have been relentlessly carved and shaped by the pounding waves. Arriving at Luz from a cliff top, with beautiful views over the town, the beach and the blue ocean! Lodging in a 4* Hotel with a swimming pool at Luz beach.

Day 3: Charming Coastal Villages - 12km (8mi), level 2 ( Beach). Hiking along an undulating coastal path over the cliff-tops and around the limestone headland. Discovering the pretty fishing village of Burgau; along the cliff to the old ruin of Almadena Fort. Arriving at the picturesque village of Salema where you will stay 2 nights. Lodging in a modest 3* hotel at the cozy village of Salema and beach.

Day 4: Typical inland villages - 8km (5mi), level 1 or 17km (11mi) level 3 ( Beach). This is your rest day in Salema! Or not; you have the possibility to discover some typical inland villages and an amazing stone pine wood.

Day 5: The Wild Coast - 10km (6mi), level 2 ( Beach). After a quick transfer walking starts at the amazing Zavial beach! Today your hike is more exigent but worthwhile for the incredible views over the cliffs and the amazing blue emerald ocean. Crossing some stunning wild and desert beaches where you can see some naturist. Arriving at beautiful Baleeira Bay with beach. Lodging in a 4* new hotel with swimming-pool.

Day 6: Cape S. Vicente - 12km (8mi), level 2 ( Beach). Walking along the cliffs and discovering the stunning Cape S.Vicente: the place where the land ends and the sea begins - the south-westernmost point of Continental Europe. 10min Transfer back to Sagres. Lodging in the same 4* new hotel with swimming-pool.

Day 7: Departure - Farewell at FARO/LISBON airport. 1.30h drive to FARO airport. (3.30h to LISBON).

Age range, type of group

Technical Data:

Type: Hiking Tour
Class: NATURE TOUR
Version: Guided or Self-Guided
Region of Portugal: Algarve
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 5 days hiking (or 4 days hiking and 1 day resting)
Begin: Lagos (Algarve)
End: Sagres (Algarve)
Difficulty level (1‐5): 2 Easy
Distance: 45km (28mi)
Average: 9km/day (5.5mi/day)

Sleeping and meals

The price includes:

- 7-day Hiking Tour with a Guide (*)
- Transfers from and to FARO Airport
- Accommodations (4 four* hotels and 2 three* hotels)
- 6 Breakfasts
- 5 nourishing and energetic picnics (*)
- 6 Dinners (including our famous wines, our amazing cheeses and lovely desserts) (*)
- Daily fruits, cookies and water (*)
- Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel
- Car connections at some stages (when necessary)
- Documentation about PortugalHike Tour
- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Techno-Mechanical Assistance
- First-Aid assistance on location

(*) Not included in Self-Guided Tours

Rates

Dates and Prices for 2012:

Lagos, Portugal Hiking & Trekking

Lagos, Portugal Hiking & Trekking

Cristina Henriques (View My Profile)
Being a Portuguese-owned Company, we know our country better than anybody else and we want to expose people to places and curiosities about Portugal that only a Portuguese knows! Our goal is that you visit Portugal …riding a bicycle!

On PortugalBike Tours you have the opportunity to visit our historical, cultural and landscape heritage in our National Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner. You can taste our famous wines, amazing cheeses and lovely desserts, and sample typical dishes of each region of Portugal.

Travelling with PortugalBike will connect you deeply with the country, becoming part of its everyday life, observing details that typical tourists miss and enjoying spontaneous encounters along the way. You will rest in cosy and charming accommodations. We always choose 4-star quality hotels whenever possible in each region or Bed & Breakfast units. Our accommodations are always the best offer of each region.

PortugalBike Tours are designed so that we begin at a certain point and we end elsewhere. You do not start and end at the same place. We think that is the best way to discover Portugal ...riding a bicycle! Read the specific information about each ride to learn more details.

PortugalBike Tours have a maximum of 16 participants, and a minimum of two. Larger groups are also possible upon request and according to our availability. Our Bike Tours are prepared for one week (7 days / Sunday to Saturday).

The dates of PortugalBike Tours are according to our calendar, or on request, according to our availability. The prices below are for the scheduled PortugalBike Tours. If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.

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