Arrival in Lisbon
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Lisbon
Arrival in Lisbon and check-in at the hotel.
If you have free time, take the opportunity to explore the city's historic center.
Duration: 60 minutes
Transfer to Santiago do Cacém / Santiago do Cacém - Millfontes (35km - 400m elevation difference - 50% asphalt / 50% gravel)
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Santiago do Cacem
Away from the coast, today's stage allows us to delve into the rural and relaxed interior of Alentejo. Horse breeding farms and cork producers make up the landscape. The famous black pig enjoys the acorns and shade of the vast Alentejo cork forests.
Duration: 8 hours
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Vila Nova de Milfontes
Halfway through this stage, we arrive at the coast again, next to the picturesque blue and white coastal village of Porto Covo. With the coast to our right, we continued straight ahead for another 15km, passing sandy roads south along the coast. We passed the small Pessegueiro Island and finally arrived at Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Milfontes - Odeceixe (65km - 850m elevation difference - 60/40 asphalt and dirt road)
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Odeceixe
Asphalted roads take us through large berry and vegetable farms to the solitary lighthouse of Cabo Sardão. Huge cliffs and beautiful beaches: the panoramic sand road to Zambujeira do Mar, the beaches of Zambujeira, Carvalhal and Azenhas do Mar are famous on the Costa Vicentina! Along the watercourses we cross fields for a few kilometers, always with the option of following the asphalt road if you don't feel comfortable along the watercourses. A somewhat bumpy road takes us to the Seixe River valley. We finally cross the bridge that marks the border with the Algarve region.
Duration: 5 hours
Odeceixe - Aljezur/Arrifana (39km - 600m elevation difference - 50/50 asphalt and gravel)
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Arrifana
Our start in Sintra allows us to reach the beach during the first hour. Upon our arrival at the beach, the charming coastal villages of Azenhas do Mar and Praia das Macas invite you for a short break, before starting on the coastal trails.
38km - Elevation gain of 700m 11km of asphalt, 16km of sand or gravel road, 11km singletrail.
Duration: 4 hours
Aljezur/Arrifana - Sagres (52km - 670m elevation difference - 50/50 asphalt and gravel)
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Sagres
The last stage of the Costa Vicentina awaits us with some highlights: after a long descent through typical hills, we return to the coast at Carrapateira. The circular path on top of the cliffs and the peaceful valley behind is one of the most spectacular views of this trip. One last steep climb and we arrive at Vila do Bispo, where just a few kilometers of thin, windy bush separate us from the end of the old world: for centuries Cabo de São Vicente was the last and first promontory seen by any explorer. If the wind is in our favor, 20 minutes later we will be in Sagres. If the wind is against us, there will still be a bit of a fight!
Duration: 0 minutes
Sagres - Lagos (40km - 800m elevation difference - mostly on asphalt)
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Lagos
In Sagres, in the far west of the Algarve, wind is an important factor. Depending on the wind direction, this can be an easy step or a difficult challenge. A few hundred meters on the main road and we enter the old road to Vila do Bispo, parallel to the national road. Small climbs and descents define the landscape. Vila do Bispo, 10km from Sagres, has a much more local feel than tourist hot spot Sagres and may invite you to stop off before reaching the next Algarve hills. The next 20 km to Lagos will have numerous ups and downs. Many views and beautiful beaches are worth this effort. West of Lagos, the famous rock formations of Ponta da Piedade are the icing on the cake before reaching the historic center of Lagos.
Duration: 0 minutes
Farewell day
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Lagos
After check-out, you can take a train to Faro airport, or you can request a private transfer from Lagos to Faro airport, at an additional cost.
Duration: 0 minutes
