It feels like a warm-up. Your legs don’t yet know what’s in store, and neither does your head. That’s fine, because this first day asks very little of you. It’s flat: a few metres up, a few metres down, and the highest point stays close to sea level.
From Tavira you walk east through the Algarve. Trancoso is still a long way off, so don’t think about it today. You’ll be walking for a good four hours, and you’ll only feel those hours in your feet if you set off too fast. So let it come gently. Altura is a coastal village, a lovely place to arrive after a day outdoors. Start slowly, and the rest will follow naturally.