Biking the Rota Vicentina

The tour is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active holiday, spending much of the day in the saddle and experiencing a region and discovering its variety over longer daily distances. You'll explore both the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. This is a varied ride on both coastal and inland trails through Portugal's magnificent wild Natural Park, rewarding you with exceptional coastal views and delicious Portuguese food and wine. Stay in boutique casa-style guesthouses and hotels, all of which offer a warm Portuguese hospitality.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Foodie, Wine, National Parks, Off the Beaten Track, E-Bike

The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years

This cycling tour is graded as moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. 

There is approx. 60% paved (Asphalt or cobblestones) and 40% unpaved (hard-packed gravel paths with some short shady stretches).

The terrain is rolling, with some longer ascents and descents on quiet country roads, forest tracks and coastal trails, with the occasional short stretch on busier roads as you approach towns. The terrain on this tour is mainly off-road on gravel tracks, with small sections of rugged path as you go inland, or sandy tracks by the coast, though the hired are robust with fabulous suspension, providing a comfortable ride.

Please note that during wet weather, the tracks can become muddy with puddles in places, and extra care must be taken here.

It's suitable for relatively fit and regular cyclists, seeking an active holiday. You'll spend much of the day in the saddle, experiencing two regions of Portugal. You'll cycle a total of approx 280km / 175miles (excluding the optional 32km/20mile loop ride at Odeceixe, where we have built in a rest day). Daily distance range from approx 32-70km/20-43miles. The daily total elevation ranges from approx 200-400m / 650-1300ft.

E-bikes are available on this tour should you decide to have battery powered assistance on this tour, allowing more time to relax at the accommodation and cool down by the pool after your day's ride. 

Stay in boutique hotels and casa-style guesthouses, all of which are a 3 or 4-star level. All are either equipped with a swimming pool or located near a beach, allowing you the opportunity to cool down after a days ride. These accommodations are subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. 

This trip is not suitable for solo travellers.

Meals

Breakfasts are included each day. Lunch (or a packed lunch) can be bought locally from markets or cafes. Dinners can either be purchased at your accommodation, or in towns/nearby villages, with many restaurants serving delicious local cuisine.

You'll be following the official Rota Vicentina waymarking for a lot of the way. 

Navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure App which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone.

We offer this tour September to June. The most pleasant months tend to be March through June and September through November. July and August bring extremely high temperatures so we are not offering the tour in these months.

In spring, you can expect mild weather and inland landscapes blanketed with wildflowers. Autumn (September to November) is similarly gentle, with ideal cycling conditions. For birdwatchers, late August to mid-November marks the autumn migration, offering excellent opportunities to spot seabirds. If you’re hoping to see nesting species such as the Alpine Swift, spring is the best time to visit. Winter brings wetter conditions, which can make certain off-road sections muddy and require extra care. If you’re not comfortable cycling in wet terrain, we recommend planning your trip for the drier months.

Most accommodations include swimming pools or are close to the beach, giving you plenty of ways to relax and cool off after your ride. You can also take a refreshing dip in the sea at one of the spectacular beaches along the route. Some pools may not be open in the winter months.

By Air: Setubal is easily reached from Lisbon Airport, which is 7km from the city centre. From Lisbon Airport, take the Aerobus into the city centre (approx. 5 Euros), and then another bus to Setubal (journey time approx. 45 min). This second bus is operated by www.rede-expressos.pt and costs approx. 6 Euros. Lisbon's Metro rail service also also links you up to and from the city centre and the airport. Taxis from the airport to the city centre cost approx. 25 Euros.

Train: There is also a train station in Setubal, with a direct train leaving from Lisbon, taking approx. 1 hour.

Taxi: An Uber from Lisbon to Setubal costs approximately 30-40 Euros.

By Air: The closest airport to Sagres is Faro Airport. To get to the airport from Sagres, you can take a taxi or bus to Lagos, then a train from there to the centre of Faro. From the centre of Faro, shuttle buses operate to the airport (15 min). 

For those travelling further afield and who need to return to Lisbon Airport, you would first need to make your way from Sagres to Lagos by taxi or bus, from where you can catch another bus to Lisbon (journey time approx. 4 hours, operated by www.rede-expressos.pt). 

Private Transfers: We can arrange a private transfer to take you from your hotel in Sagres back to Faro or Lisbon Airport, at an additional cost.

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.