Top Manteigas Car Tours: A Review of Portugal’s Finest Drives

If you’re someone who enjoys hitting the road and exploring, Manteigas in Portugal offers some stunning driving experiences; the region, cradled within the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, is, that’s true, a true jewel with roads that wind through dramatic landscapes and present photo opportunities around basically every turn, it’s like your camera won’t get a break. Getting a look at these routes in a motorcar means you can experience the natural beauty in a pretty special way; we have taken a look at what’s available and put together a list of, just so you know, the top five auto outings, to let you find something cool for you, your other half, or the whole relatives.

1. The Heart of Serra da Estrela Tour

This outing seriously gets you proper into the mountains and provides sights you aren’t likely to see somewhere else; first up on our list is a scenic drive that snakes through the center of the Serra da Estrela. Serra da Estrela is the biggest mountain range in Portugal, providing dramatic heights and unbelievable landscape.

Expect beautiful valleys and jagged peaks; this course generally takes you to the park’s maximum point, a super favored point from that you may be witness an outstanding wide-spread landscape, the high altitudes here actually, typically offer spectacular wide ranging panoramas. So this isn’t just any ride, but that truly gets you familiar with the landscape, it helps you connect with nature.

Highlights:

Torre: Visit Portugal’s highest point, delivering you, obviously, scenic landscapes.
Lagoa Comprida: Check out this pretty huge mountain lake that’s cool for picturesque stops.
Penhas da Saúde: So enjoy the gorgeous mountain views.

For all of the twists and turns the trip commonly takes roughly four to five hours, not counting breaks for pics or something to eat. That’s, maybe, important, in case you are going to plan your day out.

Read our full review: Serra da Estrela Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Serra da Estrela Tour)

2. Manteigas to Poço do Inferno Waterfall Drive

Another excellent outing to consider is to go to the properly known Poço do Inferno, the appropriately named “Well of Hell,” which shows how nature can be so very strong and exquisite all rolled into one; just so you know, a drive to Poço do Inferno gives an extra near-up experience with nature, this fall comes about as a consequence of a waterfall dropping off the face of a stony peak. It is rather like taking a trip to somewhere else completely when you are there seeing and listening to the sound of it crashing into the lake beneath; it’s very much nature’s soundtrack.

The roads to it sort of wiggle up via hills, the paths often move through green valleys; it often becomes particularly appealing throughout the wetter months whilst the flow is basically at its most, typically ensuring a amazing showing of nature’s strength and might. The paths may well get rather slick. That’s very proper if there had been some downpour.

Highlights:

Poço do Inferno: A super stunning waterfall giving you opportunities for photo moments.
Landscape perspectives: Amazing perspectives of the valley.
Mountain trails: Opportunity to stroll on the area trails.

In widespread, that is to say, the trip takes 2 to three hours, permitting sufficient time to, like, get pleasure from the environment at Poço do Inferno.

Read our full review: Poco do Inferno Drive Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Poço do Inferno Drive)

3. The Zêzere Valley Scenic Route

Next up is the long and snaking Zêzere Valley Route, supplying beautiful looks down in the valley and plenty of charming Portuguese hamlets to have a look at, simply to give you an alternative route; this path leads you thru Portugal’s biggest glacier valley.

The turns offer you spectacular looks over the valley and the Zêzere River down beneath, generally it involves touring thru conventional cities along with Manteigas wherein that you can basically enjoy nearby Portuguese culture and food; don’t be afraid to test out the local cafés and stores for an extremely authentic time.

Highlights:

Unbelievable views: Beautiful valley perspectives ideal for panoramic shots.
Local tradition: Trip historical villages and taste area food and drink.
Zêzere River: Scenic perspectives alongside Portugal’s 2d longest river.

Schedule for about 5 to 6 hours, so as, typically, to, like, absolutely explore and basically benefit from what’s on offer, permitting for stops within the villages and by using the river.

Read our full review: Zezere Valley Route Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Zêzere Valley Route)

4. Manteigas to Covilhã via Serra Roads

A brilliant outing could basically be heading from Manteigas up into Covilhã up at the pinnacle of the Serra da Estrela hills, for example, there’s a scenic tour up above to Covilhã this is going beyond the ordinary city visit.

This route is one in which the winding hill roads gift exciting drives in particular; expect often hard however rewarding roads as that you switch and twist your way up, once in Covilhã, usually remember taking within the urban scene plus having a bit walk through its ancient community as the metropolis has a wealthy history going lower back to Roman instances, frequently seen through its structures and layout.

Highlights:

Covilhã historical Centre: Learn all about Covilhã at the interesting historical spots, it is that old, seriously.
Serra da Estrela views: Beautiful looks over the park.
Local food: It could be so nice to experience what the city has got on provide at restaurants.

Set aside approximately 3 to 4 hours for this day out allowing ample time at each stop, actually. The drive provides difficult, typically lovely landscapes.

Read our full review: Manteigas to Covilhã Drive Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Manteigas to Covilhã Drive)

5. Circular Route Through Loriga and Alvoco da Serra

Take the loop passing through the villages of Loriga and Alvoco da Serra, both generally quaint and culturally tremendous; to look another thing; a superb alternative is, truly, to make the loop that begins in Manteigas and brings you through both Loriga as well as Alvoco da Serra.

The road sections pass thru some pretty and rural pieces of land that showcase local culture plus the area splendor. Loriga became properly known for its glacial valley; its a beauty to simply kick back next to, and in Alvoco da Serra which still holds loads of its typical buildings often made from stone, its basically time travelling in building form.

Highlights:

Loriga: Tour a picturesque village within a glacier valley
Alvoco da Serra: Find real architecture of traditional villages.
Regional Cuisine: Opportunity to appreciate traditional flavors.

The round outing typically will run for approximately four to five hours, giving heaps of leeway to seriously enjoy the attractions and something neighborhood.

Read our full review: Loriga and Alvoco da Serra Route Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Circular Route)

So, in case you are, like, seeking to enjoy Manteigas via auto there’s lots of exquisite paths available, each and every imparting its specific looks and thrills, it is so great! Whether you go to the pinnacle of Serra da Estrela, to basically watch falls or whether you check out adorable Portuguese villages there’s generally anything to basically excite each driver; its good times.

Takeaways:

Serra da Estrela: Go to Torre the largest point in Portugal with super landscapes, I’d bet!
Waterfalls: Take a ride towards Poco do Inferno waterfall, that might simply offer one-of-a-kind sights.
Valleys: Push via Zêzere Valley’s winding courses plus old school villages for, like, cultural time.
Hill Drives: You will possibly feel a thrill pushing upward into Covilhã with difficult mountain perspectives, awesome.
Circular Routes: In most cases, find what culture’s like near Loriga, plus find history in Alvoco da Serra; seriously!