Everything You Need to Know to Hike Portugal’s Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

The Seven Hanging Valleys trail hike (Sete Vales Suspensos in Portuguese) is one of the Algarve’s (and Portugal’s) most-hiked trails. The roughly 12km roundtrip trail winds along some of the Algarve’s most stunning coastline, showcasing hidden beaches, rock formations, and the famous Benagil Cave. 

The coastal cliff hike was one of my two must-dos during my trip to Portugal (the other was the Douro Valley), and it lived up to the hype. Every turn, I kept waiting for the awe to wear off. For the landscapes to get boring, you know? How many times can you see a rocky cliff, a hidden beach, that turquoise water, before it gets old? Turns out, I still don’t have an answer, so let me know if you do. 

I chose to hike one way, from the Tivoli Carvoeira hotel to Praia da Marinha. I got on the trail around 10am, and finished in around 5 hours because I stopped several times. My actual hike time showed just over 3 hours, and about 9 km. Others I met on the trail had varying distances, so your mileage total will likely depend on how much you wander off trail and whether you do the roundtrip. 

Seven Hanging Valleys Trail Stats

Distance: 11.4 km roundtrip, or 5.6km each way

Time Needed: 2 to 4 hours each way

Elevation Gain: 1300 feet roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Starting Point: either Praia da Marinha or Praia do Vale de Centeanes

View on Alltrails

What to Know Before Hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

Best Time to Hike

The Seven Hanging Valleys trail is popular; probably the most popular hike in the Algarve. The trail gets incredibly crowded in summer, and the sun gets HOT. Start early if you can, or go in the evening for great sunset views. Winter is far quieter, and you’ll be comfortable in a t-shirt. In winter the sun sets around 5pm, so if you’re doing this roundtrip you’ll want to start by 9am or so. 

Difficulty and Conditions

The hike is rated as moderate, largely for the terrain and the almost 12km roundtrip distance. While not difficult, expect rocky footing and a decent amount of light rock scrambling, particularly if you end up off trail. You’ll be completely exposed to the elements, and will be walking into the sun no matter which direction you go. And, it can get windy up on the cliffs. 

What to Wear

• A good pair of trail runners; boots would be fine too, but you want grip and protection from the rocks underfoot

• Sunglasses, a hat, and sun protection (either a sun shirt or heavy sunscreen)

• Good quality hiking clothes: I wear merino wool for its breathability in all seasons

What to Bring

• Plenty of water! 

• Poles might be helpful, especially if you have knee issues 

• Quick dry towel if you fancy a quick dip

• Snacks and maybe a beer or soda for mid-hike energy dips

Before You Go

• Download the Alltrails trail map for offline use. You likely won’t need it once you get started, but it’s helpful to have. 

• Check the weather. If there’s any hint of rain or storms, save it for another day. Once you’re on the trail there’s very little opportunity for shelter.

• Let your hotel know you’re hiking the trail, and roughly when you expect to be back. 

• Make sure your eSim is turned on, and you have your hotel’s phone number saved in WhatsApp in the unlikely event you need help. 

• Have a good way to hang on to your phone or camera - the last thing you want is to drop your phone over the cliff. Consider a strap, lanyard, or a case with a grip. I use a LoveHandle on mine.

• Make sure you have a good travel insurance policy that covers hiking. Most do, but it's worth checking! I use RoamRight, but World Nomads is another popular choice.

Hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

Start at Praia do Vale Centeanes or Tivoli Carvoeiro

You can start the Seven Hanging Valleys at either Praia da Marinha or Paia do Vale de Centeanes. Both are reachable by Uber, and have plenty of parking if you have a car. In my opinion, starting at Praia do Vale is the way to go - this segment can get a little monotonous in places, and leaving Benagil Cave towards the end gives you something to look forward to. 

Or, if you’re staying at the Tivoli like I did, follow the trail behind the pool up and over the cliffs (this will add about 1 km to your distance). The trail is a little hard to follow, but just keep going along the cliffs and you’ll find your way. Look for a cute little bistro table once you climb the ridge; it’s a great photo stop. 

You’ll pick up the official trail at Praia do Vale if you’ve started from Tivoli. Look for the O Stop Restaurant and Bar, then take the stairs up to the left, and look for the red and yellow markers. They’ll be your guideposts for the hike. From what I understand, the actual trail strays pretty far from the cliff face in places. Most people (including me) were making their own trail; in my case, it was entirely unintentional, and I don’t think I saw the markers until the very end. As long as you hug the cliffs, you’re going the right direction. 

One of the beautiful things about this hike is that everyone’s experience has the potential to be a little different. If you’re daring, hug the edge. If you’re not, your views will still be incredible. 

Praia do Vale de Centeanes to Cabo Carvoeiro

About 2 km in (or 3km if you started at Tivoli), you’ll see the lighthouse. Look for a cave, and take a few minutes to listen to the waves crashing. 

Along the trail there are maps and markers telling you about the landscapes and wildlife. Shortly before Cabo Carvoeiro, where the lighthouse is, you’ll pass a secluded picnic area off to your left. It’s a nice spot to get out of the sun for a bit. 

Praia do Carvalho

Halfway through you’ll come to Praia do Carvalho, the hidden beach. The trail dumps you out on the road; you can continue up the hill, or just down to the left is a small stone staircase. Follow the steps down to access the beach.

This was my favorite beach in all of Carvoeiro, but I imagine it gets pretty crowded in summer (as they all do). There are no amenities, so bring your own if you plan to spend time here. 

Benagil Beach & Benagil Cave

Continuing on you’ll wrap around to Benagil Beach. Right off the trail is Benagil Beach Club - the beers are expensive but cold, and the views are pretty nice. Down at the beach, you can rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard and explore Benagil Cave. If you do this, the waves can be pretty strong; I’d recommend a kayak for all but the most seasoned paddleboarders. I’d have loved to do this, but in December the water was a little too chilly for me!

From the beach, follow the road around to the right and look for a small stone staircase just past the restaurant O Algar. It’s just a few minutes to Benagil Cave. The cave is blocked off, but it’s easy to get a good view from behind the railings. Looking down on the cave gives you a unique vantage point; the only way to access the cave itself is from the water (either on a boat tour or by kayak). Benagil Cave has gotten Instagram famous, but it’s still beautiful, and a nice treat on your hike. 

End at Praia da Marinha

The section from Benagil to Praia da Marinha is generally more crowded than the rest of the hike, as it’s shortest and has some of the more recognizable rock formations. If you did the boat tour already (which you should have!) this is the section where you’ll see the crocodile rock and the elephant rock. End your Seven Hanging Valleys Trail hike at Praia da Marinha; take some time to explore the beach before catching an Uber or hiking back the way you came. 

And if you reach an answer to that question - the one about at what point do the views get old? I’d love to hear it! 

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