Arrifana – Carrapateira – Vila do Bispo
May 16, 2026
I left the hostel in Arrifana bright and early after a wonderful breakfast. Today’s journey to Carrapateira would take us along back roads, trails along the cliff’s edge, and miles of more dirt roads. From the sea to fields full of yellow flowers, the views were non-stop. Oh yes, and more trails of deep, soft sand. There’s less of it each day, but it’s still a daily obstacle.
As we got closer to Carrapateira, the trail split. In good weather, you could take the traditional Fisherman’s Trail on the beach along the water, but in inclement weather, you should take the alternate going inland along the Historical route. Other nearby hikers were all going inland, so I took to the beach!
It was probably a good half-mile walk along the sandy beach. Had I known I would eventually have to wade across an inlet, I would have taken off my shoes earlier. I had to cross the inlet at the end of the beach to reach the trail on the other side, which then led inland and eventually into the town of Carrapateira. I saw Debbie eating outside a cafe in the town square and joined her for a cold drink before checking into my hostel
Where I stayed:
In Carrapateira, I stayed at Hostel do Mar. It was a smaller family-run hostel with dorm rooms and private rooms. The bunk beds even had curtains! The upstairs had a well-appointed lounge area and kitchen and a large outdoor patio. It was a great place to stay for my last hostel night on this trail. I booked the hostel on Booking.com and paid $27 for my bunk.
Day 8: To Vila do Bispo
May 17, 2026
I ate my breakfast at the hostel before heading out for another day of walking. Today’s walk would be similar to yesterday in that it included miles of walking along dirt roads. One of the first sights upon reaching the shore was the ruins of an old Islamic Seasonal Fishermen’s village from the 12th-13th centuries. It sat perched on the cliff’s edge above the ocean, but now only the foundations remain. The site is well-preserved and has boardwalks around it for great views.
The farther south we get, the more surfing beaches we pass. Each would have a small cafe and a boardwalk out to the beach. I walked past the one today early in the morning, so it was fairly deserted. We were now officially in the Algarve region of Portugal, and the number of beaches and people steadily increased.
The trail included several steep climbs and descents today, along with the required soft sand. As I walked into Vila do Bispo, I realized I still had a couple of hours before I could check in to my room. I couldn’t find a cafe, so I found a park, sat at a picnic table, and made my lunch. There is a supermarket next to my accommodation, so I spent way too much time there buying supplies for dinner and lunch the next day. I found the apartment where I was staying and was able to check in a little early.
Where I stayed:
This night I stayed at Lila’s Private Accommodation in Vila do Bispo. This is a shared apartment with 3 bedrooms. I had my own room and bathroom. After showering, I washed my clothes in the washing machine and made my dinner. There wasn’t a clothesline on the balcony, so I was able to justify bringing my own clothesline and rigged it up between a couple of chairs. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. I booked my room on Booking.com and paid $88.