Penhas da Saúde – Ecotourism

Penhas da Saúde is a mountain village located in the municipality of Covilhã, in the heart of Serra da Estrela in Portugal. It is a place known for its winter and its skiing and snowboarding activities. Penhas da Saúde has mountainous terrain and is at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. An interesting fact is that, in addition to winter activities, it attracts a lot of attention from people with respiratory illnesses, due to the pure air that comes from the mountains.

When to visit Penhas da Saúde?

To enjoy the cold and winter activities, the best time to visit Penhas da Saúde is during the first 3 months of the year. Between April and October is when the weather there is most pleasant. Even so, during the nights during this period, the wind is very cold in Penhas da Saúde. The best thing to do is to always take precautions by taking warm and windproof clothes.

How to get to Penhas da Saúde in Serra da Estrela?

To get to Penhas da Saúde there are a few options, such as renting a car in Lisbon, a journey of 288 km for approximately 3 hours. Bus is also a great and safer option, lasting around 4 hours and costing between 20 and 30 euros. Furthermore, trains to Covilhã are also viable, taking 3 hours and 40 minutes and costing around 40 euros. Upon arriving in Covilhã, you can take a taxi to Penhas da Saúde for another 15 minutes. These taxis are generally for up to groups of 8 people and there is a considerable supply.

Where to stay in the Penhas da Saúde region?

Penhas da Saúde doesn’t differ much from other villages in Serra da Estrela. It offers a variety of accommodation options, including luxurious and non-luxurious hotels, inns and chalets with a good location and a hospitable climate. As they are close to local nature, there are plenty of ecotourism activity options in the surrounding area.

Ecotourism in Penhas da Saúde: What to do?

As it is a place with beautiful natural landscapes, the search for so-called nature tourism is inevitable. Therefore, we have listed some options on how to make the most of Penhas da Saúde and this region of Serra da Estrela:

• Hiking and trails in the mountains.
• Bathing in cold waters, such as Valhelhas, Sameiro and Unhais da Terra.
• Climb the Tower, the highest point in Portugal.

Because Penhas da Saúde is located close to Serra da Estrela, activities are divided into many locations. Surrounded by incredible fauna and flora, and full of gastronomic riches, Penhas da Saúde offers a lot for those who want to get closer to the nature, culture and history of the region.