Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department)
Hospital do Litoral Alentejano
- 24/7 emergency
- Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Monte do Gilbardinho, 7540-230 Santiago do Cacém
Fishermen's Trail · Checked October 2026
Fishermen's Trail emergency & health guide: hospitals, 112 and SNS 24
The nearest hospital with 24-hour emergency care for each of the 13 stages, local health centres, rescue numbers for Portugal, the Natural Park rules, and pharmacies, ATMs and bus stops along the trail.
In an emergency call 112. It works on any phone, English is usually spoken, and it sends the ambulance (INEM), the GNR police, the fire brigade and sea rescue. Say which stage you are on, the nearest beach, village or landmark and, if you can, your GPS coordinates. If it is not an emergency, call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24 first: a nurse will tell you where to go.
Rescue numbers
| Number | What it is |
|---|---|
| 112 | European emergency number, answered 24/7: ambulance (INEM), GNR police, fire brigade, civil protection and sea rescue. The first call for any emergency on the route. |
| 808 24 24 24 | SNS 24, the national health line: 24-hour advice from a nurse when it is not an emergency, and referral to a health centre or hospital |
| 808 200 520 | GNR environment line (SEPNA): damage to nature, pollution, illegal camping; for a fire you can see, call 112 |
| +351 269 632 275 | Capitania do Porto de Sines, the maritime authority for the Alentejo coast |
Before each stage, check the forecast and the heat and wildfire warnings from IPMA, the Portuguese weather service. Wind and sea swell are strong on this coast, and in summer there is almost no shade.
Rules to know
- The trail runs through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. Wild camping, sleeping outside, bonfires, leaving rubbish and collecting firewood are all forbidden. Sleep in a campsite or a room in the villages.
- Stay on the marked path: walking off existing paths is not allowed in the park. The trail is for walkers only (no bikes, and Rota Vicentina asks people not to run it), vehicles are banned on the dunes, and groups are limited to 15 people.
- The cliffs are always eroding. Keep well back from the edge, never climb down to the rocks, and keep children close. The trail is not recommended for people with vertigo.
- White storks, peregrine falcons and other birds nest on the cliffs and sea stacks, especially around Cabo Sardão. Watch them from the path and do not go near the nests.
- Most of the trail (60 to 70%) is sand, often deep. Plan short days, carry at least 1.5 litres of water, and avoid July and August: it is very hot and there is almost no shade. The recommended season is September to June.
- On beach crossings (Bordeira, Amado, Murração and Boca do Rio) take the signed inland alternative if the sea is rough or the tide is high. Since September 2025 the Zambujeira – Odeceixe stage follows a new route over a wooden bridge at the Ribeira das Cobras; follow the waymarks.
- Dogs should be on a lead at all times, because of wildlife, cattle and shepherd dogs. Check for ticks every evening from spring to late autumn.
- EU, EEA, Swiss and UK visitors get public health care with an EHIC or GHIC card; private hospitals and clinics charge, so travel insurance is a good idea.
Nearest hospital for each stage
| # | Stage | Hospital (24/7 emergency) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Torpes → Porto Covo | Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department) |
| 2 | Porto Covo → Vila Nova de Milfontes | Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department) |
| 3 | Vila Nova de Milfontes → Almograve | Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department) |
| 4 | Almograve → Zambujeira do Mar | Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department) |
| 5 | Zambujeira do Mar → Odeceixe | Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém (emergency department) |
| 6 | Odeceixe → Aljezur | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 7 | Aljezur → Arrifana | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 8 | Arrifana → Carrapateira | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 9 | Carrapateira → Vila do Bispo | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 10 | Vila do Bispo → Sagres | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 11 | Sagres → Salema | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 12 | Salema → Luz | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
| 13 | Luz → Lagos | Hospital de Portimão (emergency department) |
Hospitals
Hospital de Portimão (emergency department)
ULS do Algarve – Hospital de Portimão
- 24/7 emergency
- Stages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Sítio do Poço Seco, 8500-338 Portimão
Hospital Terras do Infante, Lagos – basic emergency service (SUB)
Hospital Terras do Infante – Serviço de Urgência Básica
- 24/7 emergency
- Stages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Avenida Dom Sebastião, 8600-502 Lagos
Hospital CUF Alvor (private, 24-hour care)
Hospital CUF Alvor (formerly Hospital Particular do Algarve)
- 24/7 emergency
- Stages 11, 12, 13
Estrada de Alvor, Sítio Cruz da Bota, 8500-322 Alvor – Portimão
Clinics and doctors
These public health centres and private clinics treat minor injuries and illness during opening hours, often only on some weekdays. They are not emergency departments. The exception is the basic emergency service (SUB) in the Odemira health centre, which is open 24 hours.
Clínica CUF Vila Nova de Milfontes (private clinic)
Clínica CUF Vila Nova de Milfontes
- Opening hours only
- Stages 2, 3
Rua Custódio Brás Pacheco 247, 7645-223 Vila Nova de Milfontes
Odemira health centre – basic emergency service (SUB)
Serviço de Urgência Básica de Odemira (Centro de Saúde de Odemira)
- Opening hours only
- Stages 3, 4, 5, 6
EN 120, 7630-143 Odemira
Almograve health post (Extensão de Saúde)
Extensão de Saúde de Almograve
- Opening hours only
- Stages 3, 4
Almograve, 7630 Odemira
Aljezur health centre
Centro de Saúde de Aljezur
- Opening hours only
- Stages 6, 7, 8
Aljezur
Sagres health post (UCSP Vila do Bispo – Sagres)
UCSP Vila do Bispo – Polo Sagres
- Opening hours only
- Stages 9, 10, 11
Sagres, 8650 Vila do Bispo
Pharmacies, cash and supplies
- Pharmacies: Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Salema, Luz, Lagos
- ATMs: Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Carrapateira, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Salema, Luz, Lagos
- Shops: Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Carrapateira, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Salema, Luz, Lagos
- Bus stops: São Torpes, Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Arrifana, Carrapateira, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Salema, Luz, Lagos
There are pharmacies in Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar, Odeceixe, Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Luz and Lagos, but none in Almograve, Arrifana, Carrapateira or Salema. At night and on Sundays a duty pharmacy (farmácia de serviço) covers each area: the rota is on the door of every pharmacy and on farmaciasdeservico.net. Carry water, a hat and a blister kit: some stages have no shop or café at all.
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
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