Percurso dos Sete Vales (Monchique Valley Walks)

The Percurso dos Sete Vales walking network runs through the wooded valleys of the Serra de Monchique around Caldas de Monchique, an 18th-century thermal spa hamlet reached by a short signposted turn off the N266 between Portimão and Monchique, with free parking at the village entrance. No permit is needed; the trails are local council waymarked routes covering around 8km in total, with 200m of elevation gain spread across several interconnecting loops rather than one continuous climb. The surface is packed earth and forest track, running beside the Rio Odelouca and its tributary streams, under a canopy of chestnut, eucalyptus and cork oak that gives near-continuous shade — a notable contrast to the exposed coastal trails elsewhere in the Algarve. Landmarks include the thermal spring buildings and gardens at the centre of Caldas de Monchique, several stream crossings on wooden footbridges, and viewpoints over the Rio Odelouca valley; walkers can shorten the outing by turning back at the first valley loop rather than completing the full circuit. There are no refuges on the trail, but the village itself has cafés, a spa and drinking-water fountains, making it easy to top up supplies partway round.