Pedro DominguesIf you add the beautiful beach of Carvoeiro and the caves of Algar Seco to the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail of Lagoa in Algarve (LGA PR1), then boom: you have the best hiking trail in Portugal, or to be less aggressive, one of the best!
- This trail has some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, for example, Marinha beach.
- There are many caves to see by land and sea: have you heard of the Benagil cave?
- There are remarkable rock formations that nature has carved over time.
- There are breathtaking viewpoints, observable from the top of cliffs.
- And you’ll find plenty of birds to watch as you walk along the coastline.
In my opinion, doing the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is one of the best ways to discover Algarve, in Portugal. Of course, you should also go on a boat trip, enjoy the beaches and kayak through the caves, but don’t forget to give this trail a chance. I will describe it in detail below.
MORE ARTICLES FROM ALENTEJO AND ALGARVE: - Best Costa da Caparica beaches - Best beaches in Setúbal - Best Beaches in Sesimbra - Visit Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach - Best beaches in Tróia, Comporta and Melides - Best Beaches in Alentejo and Vicentine Coast - Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes - Things to do in Marvão - Things to do in Elvas - Things to do in Estremoz - Things to do in Vila Viçosa - Things to do in Monsaraz & Alqueva Lake - Things to do in Porto Covo and Sines - Things to do in Arraiolos - Best Things to do in Évora and surroundings - Things to do in Mértola and Guadiana Valley - Things to do in Beja - Algarve Road Trip Itinerary - Best Beaches in Algarve - Things to do in Sagres - Things to do in Lagos - Best Beaches in Lagos - Things to do in Portimão - Things to do in Armação de Pêra and Silves - Best Beaches in Carvoeiro - Best Beaches in Albufeira - Things to do in Vilamoura and Quarteira - Things to do in Faro - Things to do in Tavira - Things to do in Olhão - Things to do in Monte Gordo
Video with my visit to Lagoa
To begin with, a small drone video, only one minute long, but which I believe will make you want to go hiking on those cliffs. 😉 Be sure to watch: this is a video I made of my own visit!
Where is Lagoa located, in Algarve?
Lagoa is located in the western Algarve, and for me it is the region in Algarve with the most spectacular cliffs. It borders Silves and Portimão.
When to do the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail?
Although summer is the best time for a swim in the sea, hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail at this time of year can be very tiring. The route has a lot of sun exposure, so in the summer it will certainly be more difficult.
My recommendation is that you do this in late spring or late summer. Try to avoid, if possible, the hottest months, namely July and August.
Where to sleep when visiting Lagoa?
| Alojamento | Pontuação | Localização |
|---|---|---|
| Tivoli Carvoeiro | 8.8 | Vale Covo Beach |
| Lagoa Hotel | 8.5 | Centro de Lagoa |
| Castelo Guest House | 9.1 | Carvoeiro Beach |
| Rocha Brava | 8.5 | Cabo Carvoeiro |
| Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza | 8.6 | Carvoeiro Beach |
| Monte Santo Resort | 8.7 | Carvoeiro |
| Hello Villas | 8.8 | Carvoeiro |
| Placid Village | 9.1 | Carvoeiro |
| Villa Welwitshia | 8.8 | Carvoeiro Beach |
| Pestana Palm Gardens | 8.4 | Vale de Centeanes |
| Algar Seco Parque | 9.3 | Algar Seco |
| Vila Alba Resort | 8.8 | Albandeira Beach |
| Vilalara Thalassa Resort | 9.3 | Senhora da Rocha |
Other tips to visit Lagoa, in Algarve
- Check possible flights with Skyscanner
- Think about renting a car.
- Travel Insurance with World Nomads.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail from Carvoeiro
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail goes from Vale de Centeanes Beach to Marinha beach, or vice versa. I decided to add a few more km to this route, so I started at Carvoeiro Beach instead of Vale de Centeanes beach.
- The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail on wikiloc: Carvoeiro to Marinha Beach.
- Total Distance: ~10km, one way.
- Very well marked trail, with protections along the cliffs and warnings where they may be more unstable. The trail is marked from Vale de Centeanes, as it is the official starting point.
- Difficulty: I found the Seven Hanging Valleys trail to be easy, but you need to take comfortable shoes, no beach flip-flops, and plenty of water.
- Time Needed: full day, with stops at all accessible beaches to relax and swim a bit.
- Taxi back to Carvoeiro Beach: 12€.
The Best Beaches on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
As a description of the Seven Hanging Valleys trail, I will start by writing about the best beaches in Lagoa that you can visit while walking along it. 😉
1. Carvoeiro beach
My starting point, Carvoeiro beach, was beautiful in the morning. I parked somewhere on a road near the beach and went exploring. As soon as I was satisfied, I started to climb the slope to the viewpoint of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, from where I started to get an idea of what awaited me that day: brutal landscapes.
Carvoeiro beach is located in Vila do Carvoeiro, in the municipality of Lagoa, and was once a fishing village, notable for its white painted houses. Carvoeiro has been the scene of naval battles in the past, the most famous being the one fought there in 1544, when D. Pedro da Cunha and his squadron defeated the Turkish corsair Xarramet.
The good thing about this beach is that close by is the path to Algar Seco, with walkways created so that you can walk safely over the cliffs: a perfect walk, as the rock formations that are found there are some of the best in the Algarve.
2. Vale Covo Beach
Vale Covo beach is right next to Algar Seco and “Boneca” Viewpoint. Special mention should be made of the gigantic cave that can be seen from the top of the cliffs, and which marks the entire landscape. It was possible to see many seagulls flying around the cave, and boats passing by with tourists on a specific guided tour.
As you pass by the beach, you will notice a resort hotel, in this case Tivoli Carvoeiro, which I recommended in the accommodation section to visit Lagoa and walk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
3. Vale de Centeanes Beach
Vale de Centeanes beach marks the official start of the Seven Hanging Valleys trail. However, whoever starts the trail on this beach will miss what for me is the best viewpoint for it, where a table and two chairs were strategically installed. Why not have a late breakfast there, while enjoying the scenery?
This was one of the best places to walk on the cliffs, as the sand below is very narrow and the cliffs are very high, a bombastic combination when you add a greenish sea and scattered umbrellas of various colors.
4. Vale Espinhaço Beach
Vale Espinhaço is a small beach, with no access by land. It is right next to the Alfanzina lighthouse, and the surrounding area is interesting on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail because there are some picnic tables nearby, inviting you to stop.
Esta é uma zona interessante do trilho dos 7 vales suspensos porque existe por perto um parque de merendas a convidar a uma paragem.
5. Carvalho beach
Access to Carvalho beach is via a staircase and a tunnel dug in the rocks, which on the day I visited was particularly slippery. Be careful, because I saw a lot of people almost falling there, and the same thing happened to me.
6. Benagil Beach
Benagil beach was one of the busiest beaches I found along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, being one of the access points for boat trips through the caves, and for renting kayaks for a more personal experience at sea. The Benagil Cave, in particular, is right next to this beach, and is considered one of the jewels of the entire Algarve region, so you should stop to see it up close.
7. Corredoura Beach
Corredoura beach is a deserted or almost deserted beach, as it is only accessible by sea. For those renting kayaks, this beach is easily reached, as it is right next to the Benagil Cave. Are you looking for a beach just for you? 😉
Para quem for alugar uma canoa, esta praia passa a ser de fácil acesso, pois fica logo após o Algar de Benagil. Se remaste até lá, são só mais umas remadelas. 😀 Se aqui conseguires chegar, terás uma praia só para ti e para os aventureiros que se atreveram ao mesmo que tu.
8. Rabid Dog Beach
Rabid Dog beach is what remains of an ancient cave that collapsed in the past, but which was probably as fantastic as the Benagil cave. It is only accessible by sea.
On the boat trip I took from Benagil beach, I was told that going there is dangerous due to the frequent landslides. I really recommend taking a boat trip to see it and many other sights, but don’t go there in person in a kayak, for example.
9. Marinha beach
There are those who separate the beaches of Buraco, Mesquita, Pau and Marinha, but not me. I think they are all part of the grandiose Marinha beach, which is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Algarve region. In fact, it was once considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, making it an mandatory stop for any visitor to the south of Portugal.
Next to the beach, there’s a rock formation that looks like different things from different perspectives: an elephant’s trunk, the letter M or even a heart. It was the best possible place to end a full day hiking.
Caves on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
Another great highlight of the Seven Hanging Valleys trail are its caves, more precisely the sinkholes, like the one in Benagil.
1. What are Sinkholes?
Sinkholes are cavities (natural wells) that form in limestone regions and connect the surface to the underground galleries typical of these places. Limestone rocks, because they are very fissured, allow the easy infiltration of acidic rainwater, which in turn causes the dissolution of the limestone, and ends up further increasing the cracks and crevices in the rocks, originating underground caves. When walking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail I found an explanatory poster that I believe has some very enlightening images of the phenomenon.
2. The famous Benagil Cave
I passed by many sinkholes along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, the most famous and spectacular being the Benagil Cave. From the top of the cliff you can’t see much, as there are wooden protections to preserve it and ensure your own safety.
From the sea, in turn, it is possible to access its interior, and even land on its beach by kayak. If you do it by boat, you can only access the entrance to the cave, observing its fabulous interior from there. You can buy several different boat trips, with different durations and different prices.
I recommend a boat trip to anyone who has little time available or doesn’t do well with the other ways to visit the Benagil cave. You can make all your reservations directly on the beach, however, if you want to book it in advance, check out the four possibilities below with Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide.
1- Boat trip to the Benagil Caves from Carvoeiro 2- Benagil Caves Kayaking Experience 3- Benagil Long Boat tour (From Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha) 4- Kayaking in Secret Algarve Benagil Caves
At the end of this article I will share even more suggestions for tours to do in Algarve. There are still those who don’t spend money on the Benagil Cave, and decide to go swimming there, but of course this won’t be for everyone. Not for me, at least! 😀
3. Algar Seco Cliff Walk and Boneca Viewpoint
Algar Seco is not part of the official Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, as it is located on the aforementioned section that goes from Carvoeiro to Vale de Centeanes beach. If you start in Carvoeiro you can walk along the walkways and enjoy the beautiful rock formations on top of the cliffs, or go down to the caves and rock galleries, for a more authentic experience.
At Algar Seco there is also a real window to the ocean, called “Boneca” in Portuguese, or “doll” in English. Next to this place I saw a lot of people throwing themselves from the rock formations into the ocean. If you like more extreme activities, this seems to be a good spot.
Other sights on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
There are still other places along the Seven Hanging Valleys trail that I cannot fail to mention in this article. After all, this is rich hiking route in tourist attractions.
1. Alfanzina Lighthouse
The Alfanzina lighthouse is one of the places that stays in your memory when doing the trail. It is a lighthouse dating from the year 1920, having been expanded later. It’s on the Alfanzina tip of Cabo Carvoeiro, and has a giant cave right next to it. Interestingly, it is possible to visit it on Wednesday afternoons, free of charge.
2. Cape Carvoeiro Peninsula
Cape Carvoeiro Peninsula appears right after passing the Alfanzina lighthouse, for those walking from Carvoeiro to Marinha Beach. Its cave stands out in the landscape, which is a crossing point for many boat tours in the region. In my opinion, it looks like something out of a pirate movie.
3. Simply the cliffs…
The cliffs are the most extraordinary thing about the trail, without a doubt. 😀
Extras to the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
As an extra for the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, I recommend other cool beaches, and also a very interesting theme park in Lagoa. For those who like to walk, I believe it is quite possible to add the following beaches to the trail, ending only in Nossa Senhora da Rocha. 😉 I’m sure that along the way you’ll discover more landscapes and spectacular cliffs in the Algarve, but be prepared for a few more kms on your legs to achieve this.
1. Beach and Arch of Albandeira
There is a good access road to Albandeira beach, so don’t trust your GPS if it recommends shitty ones. The road is narrow, in many places only one car can pass, but it is good and drivable.
I visited Albandeira at the end of the day and there was practically no one on the beach. On the way out, however, I saw many vans arriving there, which led me to believe it’s a popular place to stay overnight, perhaps because it’s relatively remote.
On the beach there are fantastic rock formations, and I’m not just talking about the incredible Arch of Albandeira. The arch is not visible from Albandeira beach, but there is an access tunnel to Estaquinha beach, from where you can have a frontal view of it. You can also walk on top of it, directly on the cliffs.
2. Chapel and beach of Nossa Senhora da Rocha
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha is located on top of a narrow cliff, between Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach and New Beach. The viewpoint over the ocean and over the two beaches is superb. With a drone, I even managed to capture distant images of Cova Redonda beach, where I didn’t go.
Use the first image as a reference to guide you:
- On the left, New Beach.
- Then, the cliff and Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, followed by the beach with the same name.
- Ponta da Adega beach comes next, and also Escaleiras beach, which unfortunately is not very visible in the picture.
- And before the immense sandy beach of Cova Redonda, you have also Horses beach.
3. Sand City – Sand Sculptures
Sand City presents itself as the largest sand sculpture theme park in the world, and intends to be the true “City of Sand”.
What led me to visit the park was the fact that I thought it was going to be something completely out of the box, and I was not disappointed. I had never seen so many sand sculptures of such absurd quality and size before. A mandatory visit in Lagoa after hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
Can you identify some of the characters in the sculptures above? I guarantee that they are just a small sample of what you will see there.
In this theme park you will visit the sand sculptures on a journey through different continents and different cultures, passing through several classics of literature, cinema or even music. It has all kinds of sculptures including Cristiano Ronaldo, the Pope and even the former Queen of England. I think the expensive ticket was worth it: you can check the prices on the Sand City website, and schedule your visit.
Guided Tours in Algarve
As promised, below are examples of possible guided tours in Algarve with Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide. Some are from Lagoa, or at least with Lagoa as the destination. If you do your own research, you will find even more alternatives on these websites. 😉
Guided Tours with Get Your Guide: 1 - Tavira Tuk Tuk City Tour 2 - Albufeira: Benagil Caves & Dolphin Watching Speed Boat Tour 3 - Portimão: Benagil Caves Speed Boat Tour with Sunset Option 4 - From Lagos: Boat Cruise to Ponta da Piedade 5 - From Faro: 4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour 6 - Benagil Caves and Secret Spots Guided Kayaking Tour 7 - 1-Hour Carrapateira Horseback Riding Tour 8 - From Albufeira: Half-Day Algarve Jeep Safari 9 - From Lagos: Kayaking and Boat Cave Explorer Tour 10 - Loulé: TechSalt’s Rock-Salt Mine Tour 11 - Portimão: Pirate Ship Cave Cruise 12 - Albufeira: Single, Double or Triple Parasailing Tour
Guided Tours with Viator: 1 - Dolphins and Benagil Caves from Albufeira 2 - Boat trip to the caves of Benagil (from Lagos) 3 - Benagil Caves Tour from Portimao 4 - Benagil Cave tour from Faro 5 - Benagil Long Boat tour (From Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha) 6 - Boat Tour to Benagil Caves from Armacao de Pera 7 - Kayaking in Secret Algarve Benagil Caves 8 - Benagil Area Kayak and SUP (from Albufeira) 9 - Kayak Trip in Lagos and Ponta da Piedade 10 - Parasailing from Albufeira Marina by Boat 11 - Coasteering and Cliff Jumping Near Lagos 12 - 2 hour Off-Road Buggy Adventure Tour from Albufeira 13 - Jeep Safari in the Algarve Mountains (Albufeira) 14 - Sunset Tour on a Luxury Sailing Yacht from Vilamoura 15 - Ria Formosa Natural Park and Islands Boat Cruise from Faro 16 - Boat trip to the 3 Islands of Ria Formosa (Olhão) 17 - Classic Food Tour in Lagos 18 - Wine Tasting Tour from Albufeira 19 - Tandem Skydiving in Algarve 20 - 2 Hour Surf Lesson at the Algarvian West Coast
Guided Tours with Civitatis: 1 - Tuk Tuk Tour in Tavira 2 - Benagil Caves Speed Boat Ride from Portimão 3 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Lagos 4 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Boat Trip from Lagos 5 - Albufeira Half Day Safari Tour 6 - Faro Walking Tour 7 - Parasailing in Albufeira 8 - Ria Formosa Eco Boat Trip from Faro 9 - Benagil Caves Boat Tour from Carvoeiro 10 - Deserta and Farol Islands Cruise from Faro 11 - Lagos Dolphin Watching or Dolphin Watching in Albufeira 12 - Sagres Coast Sunset Jeep Tour from Lagos
Things to do in Lagoa surroundings
On the outskirts of Lagoa, you can head to Albufeira, which has equally fabulous beaches, or head to Portimão or Silves. 😉 Have a good trip walking the Seven Hanging Valleys trail! 😉 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
MORE ARTICLES FROM ALENTEJO AND ALGARVE: - Best Costa da Caparica beaches - Best beaches in Setúbal - Best Beaches in Sesimbra - Visit Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach - Best beaches in Tróia, Comporta and Melides - Best Beaches in Alentejo and Vicentine Coast - Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes - Things to do in Marvão - Things to do in Elvas - Things to do in Estremoz - Things to do in Vila Viçosa - Things to do in Monsaraz & Alqueva Lake - Things to do in Porto Covo and Sines - Things to do in Arraiolos - Best Things to do in Évora and surroundings - Things to do in Mértola and Guadiana Valley - Things to do in Beja - Algarve Road Trip Itinerary - Best Beaches in Algarve - Things to do in Sagres - Things to do in Lagos - Best Beaches in Lagos - Things to do in Portimão - Things to do in Armação de Pêra and Silves - Best Beaches in Carvoeiro - Best Beaches in Albufeira - Things to do in Vilamoura and Quarteira - Things to do in Faro - Things to do in Tavira - Things to do in Olhão - Things to do in Monte Gordo
