Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Biking & Other Activities
Several companies specialise in outdoor activities in the park, including
Adriventura
(
www.adriventura.com
)
, which organises groups for biking, rock climbing, hiking and more.
The Vodafone Bike Park around Torre (half/full day €15/20) has three runs, available once
the snow has melted. SkiParque, east of Manteigas, offers many activities, including sum-
mertime 'dry skiing', paragliding, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking.
Sleeping
While Seia, Gouveia, Manteigas, Covilhã and Guarda all provide useful bases with com-
fortable accommodation options, those wanting a true mountain experience should opt for
Manteigas, because the others - situated as they are on the Serra's outer slopes - feel as if
they are more a part of the surrounding plains.
Whereas camping grounds drop their rates or close in winter, many hotels,
pensões
and
residenciais
actually increase their rates, typically from late December to March.
There are hostels at Penhas da Saúde and Guarda, and at least eight camping grounds
near the centre of the park. Turismo Habitação properties can be booked through local
tur-
ismo
s.
Information
There are park offices at Manteigas (headquarters), Seia, Gouveia and Guarda; local
tur-
ismo
s can also provide park information.
By far the most reliable place for maps and walking info is Seia's Centro de Inter-
pretaçaõ da Serra da Estrela. The best available map for the central
planalto
(plateau) is
the 1:30,000 one that comes within a Portuguese booklet called
Rotas e Percursos da
Serra da Estrela
(€10). It describes some walking routes but is worth it for the map alone.
Other maps available are the military 1:50,000 ones, on sale at €7.50.
Getting There & Around
Express buses run daily from Coimbra to Seia, Guarda and Covilhã, and from Aveiro,
Porto and Lisbon to Guarda and Covilhã. There are daily IC trains from Lisbon and Coim-
bra to Guarda (plus IR services calling at Gouveia) and from Lisbon to Covilhã (with IR
services on to Guarda).
There are regular, though infrequent, bus services around the edges of the park but none
directly across it.
