This Moment Will Last Forever: Discovering the Beauty of the Seven Hidden Valleys Trail

A girl with a lens and determination – that is how this day started. Where can I catch a train in Lisbon, so I can hike the Seven Hidden Valleys Trail? I got conflicting information – one person told me to use the Oriente train station, another said Santa Apoolonia, and on and on. 

 

I grab my phone, and start to google. It went something like this: How quickly can I get to Seven Hidden Valleys Trail? What is the closest train station to Seven Hidden Valleys Trail? How can I get from the closest station to Seven Hidden Valleys Trail? What is the train schedule from Lisbon to Seven Hidden Valleys trail and back? Okay, I will stop repeating Seven Hidden Valleys trail. 

 

 

…but, but, but, I just wanted to get there.

 

 

Over the last 3 months, I’ve been having an amazing time hiking with hiking groups every weekend. One day out of the blue, I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be fun to hike in another country? 

 

I’d heard many great things about Portugal, so I picked Portugal as my first solo trip. I booked my flight, joined a Portugal travel Facebook group for tips and got to work searching for answers on how to have an amazing trip in Portugal. See my Portugal itinerary here.

 

Alright, let’s get back to how I found my way from Lisbon to Seven Hidden Valleys trail. I know, I know, I said it again, you will soon understand my excitement. I finally found out that Oriente station in Lisbon to Tunes station is what I was looking for. 

 

 

• Oriente station is 25 mins from my hotel – check. 
• Tunes station is only about 26 minutes drive to the start of the trail at Praia de Marinha – check. 

 

I also learned something new from a Portugese Bolt driver the evening before my escapade to the trail. Praia De Marinha simply means Marinha Beach. I downloaded an app called Comboios De Portugal and got to work.

 

 

A train from Oriente at 8:23am, getting to Tunes at 10:52am? Check.

 

The morning of

I grab my mini hiking backpack, which already has a protein bar in there. As a seasoned hiker, pretty new hiker, I always have a protein bar in my backpack. I throw in my sunglasses, my camera, grab two bottles of water from the hotel dining room, order a Bolt ride and bolt out the door. 

 

Since this was my first time in Portugal I wanted to get to the train station at least 30 minutes before the train took off. I arrived at the train station at 7:40am, read a few messages on the many screens at the train station and found my track. 

 

 

After waiting on the track for about 35 minutes on a pretty cold morning, the train arrived. 2 hours 35 minutes later, I found myself in Tunes. A nice gentleman across the street pointed me to the taxi stand. Five minutes later, I am on my way to – can you guess? Seven Hidden Valleys Trail to start my hike at Praia de Marinha.

 

 

At the Trail

I couldn’t get out of the taxi fast enough when the driver said, “we are here”. What I see next is short of a miracle. Nature, nature and more nature. Breathtaking scenery, a gorgeous beach, and landscape like no other. 

 

There are rocks, cliffs, caves, more rocks. I am stunned, I start to walk, I start taking pictures, I stop, I cannot believe I am here. I ask a tourist to take a picture of me at the beginning of the trail. I continue to walk. 

 

 

How did I get so lucky to be here?

 

 

There are people everywhere – families, solo travelers, kids, dogs, everyone was in awe. I spend about 40 minutes at one spot on the trail, because I could not leave the breathe of fresh air behind, the picture perfect turquoise water, the stunning view of the water, the sound of the water hitting the rocks, and the happy feeling that just engulfed me.

 

I climb up some rocks, stop to take the view in, exchange a few pleasantries with others, then continue hiking while thinking to myself, “how did I get so lucky to experience this?” After about an hour and half, I turn back around towards my starting point. 

 

At one point, I throw my backpack down (sorry backpack) so my hands are free to scale the rocks. Anyway, the backpack made it home safe and sound.

 

 

A Moment in Time

Have you ever been captivated by a view? That is what happened to me on my way down. As I’m walking back, about 3 minutes to my starting point, I catch a glimpse of the water, the sun is glistening its beautiful rays my way. I am captivated by the beauty of the moment, and I say to myself, “this is the moment that is going to last a lifetime”. 

 

 

I stood still for a bit to capture the moment in my mind’s memory, then I grabbed my camera and took a few shots. Believe me when I say that the camera memory is not as breathtaking as my mind’s memory.

 

 

After a few minutes, I walk back to the parking lot where the taxi driver is waiting to give me a ride to the train station. Again I ask myself, how did I get so lucky to experience such breathtaking and gorgeous views on my hike?

 

 

If you ever get the chance to visit Portugal, without hesitation, make your way to Praia de Marinha and experience the Seven Hidden Valleys trail. Don’t forget to share your amazing pictures with me.

 

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I hope you always choose open roads to a new adventure.

 

~Eliza

Tip
We all want to be safe right? Always, always, do your research before visiting any new place. Let a friend or two know where you are at all times or go with a friend or two, and best of all, have fun. I found this blog post about hiking the Seven Hidden Valleys trail very useful. It provides you with information on all you need to hike the trail.