The Rota Vicentina and The Algarve Self-Guided

Hybrid Bike | Self-Guided | Landscape

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SW Alentejo and Rota Vicentina Natural Park extend itself along the Portuguese coast and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. This SW landscape is 300 million years old and it is one of the most preserved landscapes all over Europe; human intervention has been less visible throughout its history. Once submerged (about 2 million years ago), this is a vast area with many different coastal habitats and countless beaches and cliffs.

The overall difficulty level of The Rota Vicentina and The Algarve bike tour is 3, Intermediate (more precisely, level 2.7 between 1~5). It is recommended for “bikers” and “cyclists”. It is supposed that you are in good shape.

Our daily bicycle tours include going to the wonderful beaches of Rota Vicentina Natural Park and taking a swim in the clear, blue sea. Cliffs are steep, almost 100m high and right above the ocean. Countless rocks and isolated islets complete this beautiful and unique scenery. This area boasts a diversity of rare botanical species, with very interesting flora and a variety of maritime birds that nest here.

Biking in Portugal along the trails of these cliffs that belong to this Natural Park, admiring the unique views of the blue ocean and feel the fresh wind in your face is one of the most fantastic feelings that any person can have. In the extreme south point of this bicycle tour you will find Cape S. Vicente. This is the south-westernmost point in continental Europe and a passing area for thousands of birds of prey.

This bicycle tour in Portugal also goes to Sagres, which is the place from where our brave forefathers sailed on their caravels seeking new peoples and continents. Finally, you will visit some of the beaches of our famous Algarve including the cosmopolitan city of Lagos. This is one of the oldest towns in Algarve. We can still see evidence of the wall surrounding the town for protection. Lagos also has an old fort and its former Slave Market is now an art gallery.

From

Euro 1650

Self-Guided

Tour

7

Days

Level 3 (2.7)

Intermediate

Distance

238km/148mi
48km/30mi day

Hotels

Signature, Explorer

Trails

82% asphalt+18% dirt-roads

Start | End

Sines | Lagos

Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

15 to 31 October, 2023

Available

Euro 1910

25 to 31 October, 2023

Confirmed

Euro 1910

01 to 05 November, 2023

Available

Euro 1630

April, 2024

Available

Euro 1920

May, 2024

Available

Euro 2100

01 to 15 June, 2024

Available

Euro 2160

15 to 30 September, 2024

Available

Euro 2120

01 to 12 October, 2024

Available

Euro 2070

13 to 31 October, 2024

Available

Euro 1920

01 to 10 November, 2024

Available

Euro 1650

Available: You can sign up any date for a self-guided bike tour, but you must wait for our confirmation.

Confirmed: This date is already confirmed and you can also sign up.

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(Your booking will be confirmed when our specialist contacts you.)

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Minimum number of people: 2

Location: Algarve, Alentejo

Price per person:

Single room supplement:

WHAT’S INCLUDED

7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling

Support Level

Initial briefing providing all the necessary details
A GPS device on your handlebar with all bike tracks preloaded
Our comfortable transfer vehicle van with air conditioning
All transportation from airport pick-up to drop-off
All baggage transportation by taxi
Documentation booklet about PortugalBike Tour
Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance

Accommodations

One 4* Design Hotel front to the sea
One 4* charming Hotel near the sea
One 4* cozy Hotel with pool
Three B&B/Rural Tourism with pool

Meals

6 Breakfasts

Gear

Superior quality hybrid bicycles with disc brakes and 30 speeds, tailored to your height and specifications
PortugalBike cycling jersey to keep
PortugalBike water bottles to keep
Specialized helmets (optional)

Please note:

Prices are based on a double bedroom occupancy (hotels may be different depending on availability) | Self-Guided version: We require a minimum of 2 people to confirm a Self-Guided departure | Groups: Discount for Groups of 4 or more people | E-Bike rental: + Euro 300 | On Self-Guided tours we can offer you any date, depending on our availability. If the tour starts and ends in different months/fortnight the price will be adjusted accordingly, depending on how many days in each month/fortnight. The price on festivity dates will be adjusted accordingly.

DAY BY DAY

Day

1

Arrival

Welcome at Lisbon airport. Transfer to Sines (2-hour drive), briefing about the tour. Lodging in a 4* Boutique Hotel faced to the Atlantic ocean. Lodging in Casa do Médico de São Rafael.

Day

2

The typical houses in Alentejo Coast

41km (25mi), 320m total climbing (1050ft), level 2 (2.0).
After breakfast you ride into the SW Alentejo Natural Park, one of the most well preserved coasts in Europe. You visit the fishing village of Porto Covo and you can admire the wonderful beaches until you get to Vila Nova Milfontes. Lodging in a small town classified as a Touristic Paradise, near the beach. Lodging in Quinta do Moinho de Vento.

Day

3

The vast fields of vegetable crops

61km (38mi), 690m total climbing (2260ft), level 3 (3.3).
After breakfast you ride towards Cape Sardão, a paradisiacal spot perfect for meditation. You visit Zambujeira do Mar and you end in Odeceixe, another village near the sea. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with a refreshing swimming-pool. Lodging in Casas do Moinho.

Day

4

The beautiful beaches at Vicentine Coast

49km (30mi), 600m total climbing (1970ft), level 3 (2.9).
After breakfast you ride towards Aljezur with its castle on the top dated from the 10th century. You continue riding southwards, you cross the woods, hills and valleys until you get to Carrapateira, always full of surfers. Lodging in a small house in the most typical village near the west coast of the Algarve, very calm and very quiet. Lodging in Aldeia da Pedralva.

Day

5

Cape S. Vincent – the south-westernmost point in Europe

38km (24mi), 370m total climbing (1210ft), level 2 (2.0).
The west coast and the vicentine coast are ending. After breakfast you go to the westernmost point in Europe and you stay in Sagres. Lodging in a 4* new hotel with swimming-pool, surrounded by stunning deserted beaches and the wild nature of an unforgettable beauty. Lodging in Memmo Baleeira Hotel.

Day

6

The coast of the Algarve

49km (30mi), 790m total climbing (2590ft), level 3 (3.2).
After breakfast you ride along the south coast of the Algarve and you can see the difference when the Natural Park ends and the touristic Algarve starts. Before getting to Lagos you visit Ponta da Piedade where the sea and the wind have shaped beautiful rocks creating an amazing view. Lodging in a 4* hotel with swimming-pool, that epitomizes the Algarve culture, with blue and white corridors which link the rooms, patios, restaurants and bar. Lodging in Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort.

Day

7

Departure

After breakfast transfer to Lisbon airport (3-hour drive to the airport).

Total distance 238km (148mi) | Average 48km/day (30mi/day) | 82% asphalt + 18% dirt-roads

SEE CLIMBING PROFILE

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this tour include Signature Hotels (the best charming Hotel of the region, usually stylish 4-star hotels or 5-star properties), as well as Explorer Hotels (boutique hotels and family owned, full of character B&B that make the most of their location)

the beautiful rota vicentina portugal bike tours accommodations

“Would go with this company again. Their attention to detail and customer service is top notch. From our first day pick up in Lisbon and drive to Sines and orientation by Luis who filled us in on Portugal history and nature as well as bike info, to our final pick up in Lagos and drop off in Lisbon by company owner Cristina, we felt well tended to even though on our own. My daughter and I did a 7 day self guided hybrid bike tour using a pre-programmed GPS. We picked the perfect time of year in mid May weather wise. Every day was filled with delightful discoveries between the views and varied mix of roads, excellent accommodations, and fresh seafood. Wont soon forget the flowers in bloom, incredible beaches, smell of eucalyptus trees, and nesting storks.”

Roberta Nobile, 58 – South Burlington, Vermont, United States

“We did the “Beautiful Alentejo Beaches” trip as a self guided tour. It was a blast. (…) All aspects of the trip were well organized and we were provided with good equipment; love those disc brakes! The GPS guided us through beautiful countryside with spectacular ocean views; we enjoyed finding a spot with views of the cliffs, beaches and pounding waves for our lunches and we kept saying “This will be the picture of the day” to send to our family and friends. We enjoyed the accommodation in the villages as well as the larger centres and there was lots of good food at all the stops. We will definitely consider another trip with Portugal Bike.”

Joan Quade, 58 – Calgary, Canada

“We took a self guided cycling tour of this magnificent area the first July, 2015. The weather was very comfortable considering the heat wave in central Europe at that time. It was the first time we had used GPS for a self guided tour… I was quite pleased with the outcome. Some nice routes off the beaten path along with spectacular coastal views and lots of places to make a pit stop for water, beer, wine, etc. Hotels were above average. Very nice hybrid bikes for a relaxing ride. Awesomely fresh seafood.”

Tom Trottier, 58 – Toronto, Canada

“My compliments to the Portugal Bike team; we really had a terrific week! Everything was perfect: the organization, the warm hospitality, and the wonderful food! The route was very well thought out and planned: I was particularly pleased with the great GPS navigator you supplied us with; it is virtually impossible for you to get lost! The scenery was truly breathtaking and the weather marvellous; we really enjoyed every single moment; even some of the steeper hills! Thank you once again for organizing such a memorable event!”

Marco Degidi, 54 – Bologna, Italy

See detailed reviews

TOUR GEAR

On this tour you can ride with one of these bicycles

SCOTT SPORTSTER

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Sporster 20 Solution emphasises comfort and convenience for touring and transportation. Equipped with a lockout fork and Syncros components, the Sportster is set up perfectly for your excursions with a more vertical and comfortable position.

portugal bike tours electric bicycle Bosch

BOSCH SYSTEM

E-BIKE

Now you don’t have any excuse for not participating on a Portugal Bike Tour! Don’t be afraid of not being able to keep up with the group. Now you can ride an e-bike without feeling too exhausted! The system works as if someone is pushing at your back! The more you pedal, the more electric assistance you have.