Holiday in Costa Vicentina

About Costa Vicentina

The Costa Vicentina at the southwestern tip of Portugal is one of the last untouched coastal stretches in Europe. The Parque Natural do Sudeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina protects over 100 kilometers of dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, and wind-swept plateaus between Alentejo and the western Algarve. Here, there are no hotel complexes, no promenades — just the raw power of the Atlantic and a nature that has preserved its wild character. The Rota Vicentina, a network of hiking trails, is the best way to experience this coastline. The Fishermen’s Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores) runs directly along the cliff edge, past stork nests on rocks (the only stork colony in the world that breeds on cliffs), hidden sandy coves, and through maquis landscapes that smell of rosemary and lavender in spring. Surfers can find top-notch waves in Arrifana, Amado, and Carrapateira that can compete with the best in Europe. The small fishing villages like Zambujeira do Mar and Odeceixe have retained their sleepy charm and offer simple restaurants with freshly caught fish at prices that are long gone in the Algarve. In August, Zambujeira transforms into an open-air stage during the Sudeste Festival. The Costa Vicentina is ideal for nature lovers, hikers, and surfers seeking the wild, authentic Portugal.