You leave Altura without any rush. The sea stays behind you, the first few kilometres pass easily and the landscape opens up and grows quieter. A day to ease yourself in.
The route is light. You climb and descend about the same amount, and the highest point stays below a hundred metres. So it’s mostly a matter of finding a steady rhythm. Shade can’t be taken for granted in this part of the Algarve, so the sun decides how the day feels. Almada de Ouro is a small village, and you arrive without any fuss. At a little over five hours of walking, you can set off at a leisurely pace and still be in by the afternoon, even with a long coffee stop along the way.