The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail: Complete Guide

The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos) is the Algarve’s most famous hike. It follows the clifftops past sea arches, hidden coves and the Benagil cave, with views at every step. Here’s everything you need to know.

Quick answer: the trail is about 5.7km one way, from Praia da Marinha to Praia de Vale Centeanes near Carvoeiro. It takes about 2 to 3 hours one way at an easy pace. It’s well marked and mostly easy, with a few ups and downs and no shade. Walk one way and take a taxi back, or return on foot. Start early in summer. See guided hikes.

Why go

This short walk packs in the best of the central Algarve coast: golden limestone cliffs, sea stacks, arches, sinkholes and turquoise water. The “hanging valleys” are small dry valleys that end suddenly at the cliff edge, where the sea has cut back the coast faster than the valleys could erode. You need no special fitness, and you can stop for a swim or a coffee along the way.

Its popularity is also its main drawback. In summer the path can feel crowded, and in July 2026 local guides and businesses warned about litter, parking chaos and people taking risks near the cliff edges. Go early, keep to the marked path and take your rubbish with you.

The trail at a glance

• Official name: LGA PR1, Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos, in the municipality of Lagoa.
• Distance: about 5.7km one way, or 11.4km there and back.
• Time: about 2 to 3 hours one way, or 4 to 5 hours return with stops.
• Difficulty: easy to moderate. The path stays below about 50 metres, but dips in and out of each valley, with some steps and loose ground.
• Waymarking: wooden posts and signs mark the route in both directions.
• Facilities: there are no toilets on the path itself. Use the beach cafés and restaurants at Marinha, Benagil and Vale Centeanes.

The route

1. Praia da Marinha: start at the car park above the beach. Take a look from the clifftop at the famous double arch before you set off. See Praia da Marinha.
2. Benagil: pass above the famous cave, with a view down through its skylight from the clifftop (stay behind the barriers). The village beach has cafés and is a good halfway stop.
3. Praia do Carvalho: a hidden cove reached through a tunnel in the rock.
4. Alfanzina lighthouse: the cliffs open up to wide ocean views.
5. Vale Centeanes: finish at a beach with a café.

You can walk the trail in either direction. Starting at Marinha means you finish near Carvoeiro, where it’s easier to find food and a taxi. From Vale Centeanes, a coastal path and boardwalk continue west past the Algar Seco rock formations into Carvoeiro.

Several side paths lead off towards the cliff edge or down to small beaches. Not all of them are safe, so stick to the waymarked route unless steps or a clear path lead down.

Getting there

• Car: Praia da Marinha is about 15 minutes’ drive from Lagoa and Carvoeiro, and about 30 minutes from Albufeira or Portimão. Park at the clifftop car park, which fills up early in summer.
• Taxi: the easiest way to do the walk one way. Get dropped at Marinha and picked up at Vale Centeanes or Carvoeiro.
• Bus: local buses serve Carvoeiro and Benagil, but services are limited, especially outside summer. Check current timetables before relying on them.

Practical tips

• Start early: parking at Marinha fills fast, and the clifftops are very hot by midday.
• Water and sun protection: there’s almost no shade.
• Shoes: trainers or light hiking shoes. The paths are sandy and rocky.
• Swim: bring a swimsuit for a dip at Benagil beach or Carvalho. Swimming into the Benagil cave itself has been banned since 2024, and you can’t land on the cave beach.
• Food: there are cafés and restaurants at Marinha, Benagil and Vale Centeanes, though some close in winter.
• Getting back: taxis and Uber can collect you at Vale Centeanes or Carvoeiro.
• Cliff edges: stay back, as the edges are unstable and overhanging. Take extra care in strong wind or after rain.

When to go

Spring and autumn are perfect. In summer, start at sunrise. Winter walks are lovely on clear days. The late afternoon light on the cliffs is beautiful too, but leave enough time to finish before dark. See the Algarve in winter.

A suggested day

Park at Marinha by about 8am and walk west. Stop at Benagil for a coffee, take the steps down to Carvalho for a swim, and reach Vale Centeanes for lunch. Walk on to Carvoeiro for an afternoon on the beach, then taxi back to your car.

See it from the sea too

Combine the hike with a boat or kayak trip into the caves. Under the 2024 rules, kayaks in the cave area must go with a guide, so book a tour rather than hiring one alone. See the Benagil cave and kayak tours.

FAQ

How long is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail?

About 5.7km one way between Praia da Marinha and Praia de Vale Centeanes, or 11.4km if you walk back. Most people take 2 to 3 hours each way with stops.

Is the trail suitable for children?

Older children who are used to walking usually manage it well. The path runs close to unfenced, crumbling cliff edges in places, so keep young children close and consider walking only one section, such as Marinha to Benagil.

Can you see the Benagil cave from the trail?

Yes, you can look down through the hole in the cave roof from the clifftop, behind the barriers. To see inside, you need a boat trip or a guided kayak tour, as swimming in is not allowed.

Where should you park?

Most walkers park at Praia da Marinha and get a taxi back from Vale Centeanes or Carvoeiro. Arrive early in summer, as the car park fills by mid-morning.

More: the best hikes in the Algarve and hiking in Portugal.

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