In the eastern Algarve, there is a very unusual way to enter Portugal.
Across the Guadiana River from Alcoutim is the small Spanish village of Sanlúcar de Guadiana. Since 2013, the two sides have been connected by the world's first cross border zipline.
The experience starts in Spain.
From Sanlúcar, you travel 720 metres across the Guadiana, reaching speeds of around 70 to 80 km/h, before landing in Alcoutim, Portugal. The crossing takes less than a minute.
Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal, so when you land in Alcoutim you have technically gained one hour.
If you are staying on the Portuguese side, you can leave your car in Alcoutim, cross to Sanlúcar by ferry and then return to Portugal on the zipline. The ferry ticket is separate from the zipline ticket.
I would also leave some time to explore Alcoutim itself. It is a quiet riverside town in the northeast Algarve, with its castle overlooking the Guadiana and Sanlúcar directly across the water. The river has shaped centuries of life here, including fishing, trade, smuggling and the history of the Portuguese Spanish border.
📍 Alcoutim, Algarve
🇪🇸 Zipline starts in Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Spain
🇵🇹 Finishes in Alcoutim, Portugal
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