Portugals four corners I: The southwest

Southwest Corner: Saboia - Odemira - Odeceixe - Aljezur - Sagres - Lagos






We start our tour far away from Lisbon and it´s city rush this time: next to Odemira, at the southern Alentejo. From the beginning on the ways are roads are quiet and within a few hours we reach some of the most spectacular beaches and cliffs of Portugal at Cabo Sardao. Well known as one of Europes surfing hot spots, Costa Vicentina is also for cyclists a real pearl. 

Even if there are no longer ups and downs along the coast also mountainbikers can find some fun & action on this tour. This time we are prepaired for touring and remain mainly on the road. Just from Cabo Sardao to the south we hit the unpaved road along the cliffs. It´s simply to spectacular to miss! High, rocky and gray cliffs are always nearby. Storks and seagulls cross the huge bays. After only one smoove cycling day we reach Odeceixe, a beautiful village and a breathtaking cliff beach, which marks the regional boarder to the Algarve, Portugals most southern region. Here, where the cliffs start to turn into smoover sandstone, we leave the dirt road and return to the main road. This road during the peak season can be quite crowded, now in October it´s a calm local connection road.
We continue the road down to the south, cross the historic village of Aljezur, where beaches as Arifana and Amoreira invite for a swim. But we want to go forward and decide to go ahead. Half a day later we stop at the cliffs of another incredible cost: Carrapateira. A little off the direct way to Vila do Bispo and Sagres, but it´s worth all the way. The road is less transited, the landscape is vibrant and changing all year long and especially round-way on dirt roads from the village to the cliffs is unique!
A last uphill and an extended downhill later it´s time: We reach Vila do Bispo. In normal conditions the tough part of the way down to Portugals south-end is done now, but you always have to count with the wind around here. Today the wind is on our side so that the last 10 km to Sagres become a self-fire success and we are in Sagres for dinner in time.
Specially the view over the cost in the north of Sagres are awesome, but the wind is freezy and the Atlantic cold as ice. After a good dinner with friends and a recovery breakfast there is nothing else to do for us and we head off, now eastwards to Lagos.
 
Now, obviously, we have to pay for our fortune with the wind the day before. The flat 10 km from Sagres to Vila do Bispo can become one of the toughest on the entire way to the south. And even from Vila do Bispo to Lagos is still quite windy. After 40 km against the wind we are happy to climb down to a little hidden beach around Lagos and enjoy the late summer sun for a calm afternoon on the beach.


The way from Lisbon to Sagres I probably made about 10 or 15 times already. But I don't get tired. Beautiful scenery and Portugals warmest beaches and best weather. Combined with uncountable number of trails and roads; always a pleasure to ride here. Specially in the offseason many beaches are empty and roads are more calm.




be aware of the baggage restrictions in the trains!