Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is one of the most beautiful day treks on the Algarve Coast and among the best hikes in Portugal.
Stretching from Carvoeiro in the west to Praia da Marinha in the east, the hike offers breathtaking views along golden sun-kissed cliffs towering above the deep blue Atlantic Ocean below.
The coast is full of hidden beaches and caves, and the hike gives you the opportunity to walk down to several incredible natural wonders.
With the sun shining more than 300 days a year, there is no reason not to put this walk on your itinerary when visiting the Algarve.
If you don’t want to walk the whole distance, there are a few places where you can divert from the trail. However, bear in mind that Praia da Marinha is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and not without a reason!
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HIKING SPECS
- Type of hike: Linear return
- Length: 11.05 km return
- Time: 6 hours return
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation: 340 meters
- Start/End: Carvoeiro/Praia da Marinha
How to get there
You can start the Seven Hanging Valleys Trek from Carvoeiro or Praia da Marinha. It’s a one-way trek, so you either have to walk back the same way or take a taxi on the way back, unless you try to hitchhike.
How to get to Carvoeiro
The best way to get to Carvoeiro by public transport is to take a bus from Lagoa bus terminal. It only takes 10 minutes. There are several bus transfers to and from other cities from Lagoa, but none that go directly to Carvoeiro.
If you have a car, that is, without a doubt, the easiest way to travel to Carvoeiro. There is parking along the road, though it can be difficult to find a spot in high season. I recommend getting there early if you want to drive. This way you also get there in the morning, which is the most pleasant time on the trail with fewer people and before the heat hits too hard.
How to get to Praia da Marinha
The easiest way to get to Praia da Marinha is by car. Once there, you will find a large dirt parking area where you can leave your car. There are also buses going from Lagoa which only take 15 minutes. If you travel from other nearby cities you have to change buses at Lagoa bus terminal.
The best time to hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail Algarve
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail in Algarve can be hiked all year round, but the summer months, especially mid-June to mid-September can get scorching hot under the unforgiving sun.
While there are places to go swimming along the way, they’re far apart for a hot day. In case you go in summer, I recommend that you head out early from Carvoeiro and spend the day at Marinha beach to walk back in the evening when the sun is a little lower.
The best times of year to walk Seven Hanging Valleys Trail are spring and autumn, as it’s warm but not too hot and it’s not too cold to go swimming. Especially September to mid-November is usually a great time to go.
The winter months are also great because the temperatures are pleasant to walk in. You might nee long pants and jacket, especially if it’s windy. But don’t under-estimate Algarve in winter! On a good day, you might be hot in shorts and t-shirt too.
Another plus side of doing the Seven Hanging Valleys walk in winter, is that you find easier parking than in high season.
No matter what time of the year you choose to walk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, I do recommend that you avoid rainy days. It gets extremely slippery and there’s a bigger chance of rock sliding and collapsing along the coastline.
What to bring on your Seven Hanging Valleys Trek
Algarve is usually warm and sunny year-round, so even in the winter months, there are a few things to consider to make sure your hike is pleasant.
There is not much shade on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail so make sure you are prepared for the sun exposure.
Though it’s not a challenging trek, I recommend wearing good walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Some parts of the trail are a bit sketchier than others, so you will not be comfortable in flip-flops (I speak of experience). Not only is it uncomfortable in flip-flops, it can even be dangerous in places.
Here is a list of essential things to bring on your hike:
- Hat/cap
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera with an extra battery
- Swimwear (you might want to go for a swim at one of the beaches)
- Towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Snacks (fruit and nuts)
- Lunch
- Cash (in case you want to buy a cold drink)
- Waterproof bag if you want to kayak in Benagil
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How to hike Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is linear, so you can either walk both ways, which takes approximately 6 hours, or you can hire a taxi or a lift back to the starting point.
In my experience, a perfect day trip includes swimming along the way when the water is warm enough (read: spring, summer, or autumn).
The trail is marked the whole way, so it is easy to follow, except from Benagil Beach, where you have to walk up to the road for a bit before reaching the trail again.
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Carvoeiro to Alfanzina Lighthouse
I recommend starting your hike in Carvoeiro as Praia da Marinha is an incredible beach and makes a perfect stop for a swim and lunch before you head back. There are places to buy cold drinks and ice cream before you descend the stairs to the beach. There is also a restaurant at the bottom.
Starting in Carvoeiro, the pathway is a short, easy boardwalk along the cliff-side, until you reach Algar Seco. It is worth taking the little sidewalk off the boardwalk, down the stairs, and through the narrow tunnels in the cliff.
Once you get to Algar Seco, make sure you walk down the steps to your right before the path continues. Here you can have a swim in the natural pool created by the seawater coming through a cave. Be aware of strong surges when the waves hit. It’s normally calmer in the morning than later in the evening.
You can also enter a cave with two natural windows giving an incredible view of the cliffs outside.
From Algar Seco, continue past Vale Covo Beach and Vale de Centeanes Beach. Once you reach the Alfanzina Lighthouse, you are about halfway there.
Alfanzina Lighthouse to Praia da Marinha
Just after the lighthouse, you will walk above the beautiful Vale Espinhaco Beach.
Farther along, when you get to Benagil Beach, you need to walk down in order to reach the beach, which is one of the best ones for water sport activities. This is a perfect opportunity for a swim and even a Benagil Cave tour, which is one of the most amazing things to do in Algarve. Afterward, walk up the road for a bit until you find the path again by the parking lot.
The rest of the hike towards Praia da Marinha offers incredible round holes in the cliff where you can hear the waves splashing into the cave walls beneath you. This is also where you can witness the famous Benagil cave from above. You will also walk past the natural arches which are impossible to miss.
Once you reach Praia da Marinha you will be mesmerized by the cluster of tall cliffs, standing like lone columns rising upwards from the gleaming blue ocean. When you reach the viewpoint, continue down the steps to enjoy this splendid beach from below.
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Hiking Seven Hanging Valleys Trail in a responsible way
To ensure that you hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail in a responsible way, I have put together a list of things you should be aware of both for your own safety and to minimize your environmental footprint.
Stick to the trail and Don’t go near cliff edges
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail goes along steep and dangerous cliffs, so rule number one: don’t walk on the cliff edges. The rock is not safe, so it is easy to slip if you step on loose parts. Make sure you always stay a secure distance from the edges, especially on windy days.
There are marked trails for a reason – stay on them.
Respect barriers
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is full of holes in the cliff that look down onto small hidden beaches. The most famous of these is Benagil Cave. These holes are all surrounded by barriers so people don’t walk near the edge. Respect these barriers. The rock can break along the edges and it is easy to lose footing.
These holes are several meters deep, and seawater splashes into them making dangerous streams and strong current. Falling into one of these holes can be fatal.
Don’t swim to Benagil Cave
The distance from Benagil beach to Benagil Cave might seem innocently short, but truth is, the sea can get pretty aggressive with underwater current. Each year, tourists loose their lives trying to swim to the caves. Don’t let that be you!
It’s only about 15 Euros to rent a kayak or a SUP. Trust me, it’s worth it. And so much fun.
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Don’t leave rubbish behind
While hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail you will pass a few places with rubbish bins. Make sure you carry your waste until you get to these places and throw it all in the actual bins. The problem we are facing with waste around the world is growing every day, so it is so important that we all do our part. This hike is on the top of the cliffs, so any abandoned trash is nearly guaranteed to end up in the ocean.
Bring your own reusable water bottle
Bringing a reusable water bottle is a great way to minimize single-use plastic on your hike. There are a few places you can stop along the way to refill it, so you should be set for the entire day.
I use a LifeStraw Go filtered water bottle. It is a great way to avoid single-use plastic, and to secure clean drinking water. The company LifeStraw also works on a lot of projects to secure clean drinking water in communities that normally don’t have easy access to it. When you buy a LifeStraw product you also support one of their projects.
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What a beautiful place!! I may need to add Portugal to my list of places to visit.
Hi Paul! You definitely should. Portugal is full of beauty! 🙂