Highlights of Rota Vicentina Cycling Tour

A private transfer will greet you at the airport and take you to your first accommodations in Odeceixe, situated in the region of Alentejo on the beautiful Seixe River.

Your stay in one of the historic village’s authentic houses (converted into a hotel) will give you your first taste of authentic Portuguese culture, no doubt leaving you charmed.

Today’s pleasant route will afford you plenty of time to explore the area as you cycle a gorgeous route past the beaches of Odeceixe, Carvalhal, and Zambujeira. A lovely plateau dotted with greenhouses and pastoral fields will also grace the trail, making for a wonderfully scenic introduction to the area.

Enjoy lunch in Zambujeira, a small fishing village known for its delicious fish (surprise, surprise!).

Your first ride inland takes you on gravel tracks along the scenic banks of the Odeceixe River, alongside lovely farms and holm oak woods.

The route unfolds along quiet tarmac roads through a peaceful rural area as you pedal through the villages of Maria Vinagre and Rogil, bound for the coast.

A sandy track will then lead you on a descent to Amoreira beach, a perfect place to stop for lunch, before continuing the final leg of today’s journey to Aljezur.

Today, there are two route options to choose from for the first section of the ride.

Option 1:
Enjoy an exhilarating steep ascent to the Aljezur Castle, continuing a circular route via the beaches of Monte Clérigo and Arrifana.

Option 2:
Enjoy an exhilarating ascent to the Aljezur castle, continuing through shady pine forests to the village of Carrapateira.

Both routes lead to a clifftop lookout, where views of the Costa Vicentina will take your breath away. A descent then guides you through the dunes of Bordeira, to Carrapateira, where you’ll find a myriad of neat shops and restaurants to peruse.

A final 10 kilometres in the saddle will take you through a tranquil rural valley from Vilarinho to Pedralva, your welcoming home base for the next three nights.

A lovely route has you descending through charming rural scenery as you cycle to the village of Carrapateira. Loved by tourists, surfers, and fishers, Carrapateira is home to many interesting sights, like the Museo do Mar e da Terra, a fascinating ethnographic museum.

Carrapateira is also home to a spectacular stretch of coast, and you’ll trace it, visiting two pristine beaches along the way. Sandy tracks pave your way through the hills as you then return to Pedralva.

With your gaze fixed on today’s destination of Cape Sap Vicente, Portugal’s southernmost tip, you’ll ascend through fragrant pine and eucalyptus forests, whizzing past a modern windfarm on the way to Vila do Bispo.

A flat and pleasant ride then takes you across the plain toward the cape, where you can enjoy refreshments at the cool café nestled below the lighthouse.

Spectacular cliffs accompany you the rest of the ride as you cycle to Sagres, where you will return your bike and take a private transfer back to Pedralva.

After breakfast, your cycling tour will come to an end. Pack up, check out, and head back to the airport to depart, taking with you a week’s worth of unforgettable memories on the bike. Tchau!