Activities

Casas da Lapa Activities

In the village of Lapa dos Dinheiros, time follows the rhythm of nature. Here, each trail is an invitation to listen to silence, to feel the mountain breeze, and to walk among stones, woods and fresh water. Casas da Lapa opens the way to a living landscape – made of pathways, viewpoints, river beaches and mountain stories.

Walks with time

Lapa dos Dinheiros is located within the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in one of its most preserved corners. Setting off on foot from here is to immerse yourself in the essence of the mountain.

  • Caniça Route
  • Garganta de Loriga Route
  • Grand Route of the Historical Villages
Cachoeira cercada por vegetação densa e rochas cobertas de musgo, um cenário natural exuberante.
Vista panorâmica de montanhas e florestas sob um céu claro, com casas ao longe.

Small village trails

You don’t always need to go far to find beauty.

  • To the Lapa dos Dinheiros river beach – 40 minutes (round trip) | Difficulty: very low
  • To Senhora da Saúde – 90 minutes (round trip) | Difficulty: low

The mountain by bike

Cycling trails, whether on MTB routes or along the village’s gentle curves, offer a different way of embracing the landscape. With the rhythm of the pedals, nature reveals itself in detail.

Ciclistas pedalando em uma trilha de neve nas montanhas, equipados com bicicletas de pneus largos.
Pedras empilhadas na beira de um lago em um dia ensolarado.

Crystal waters

Water runs freely through the valleys surrounding Casas da Lapa, forming river beaches with a purity that is hard to find. Among trees and rocks, they are cool refuges for long summer days.

  • Lapa dos Dinheiros River Beach – 15 min walk
  • Loriga River Beach – 10 min drive
  • Vila Cova à Coelheira River Beach – 10 min drive
  • Vale do Rossim River Beach – 30 min drive (the highest in Portugal)

Mountain heritage

Serra da Estrela pioneered electricity production from water power. Even today, it is possible to visit dams, channels and stone-built hydroelectric plants that remain almost intact — silent witnesses of the ancient relationship between community and mountain.

Places to visit nearby:

  • Lagoa Comprida, Vale do Rossim, Covão dos Conchos and Lagoacho dams
  • Hydroelectric waterfall channels of Serra da Estrela
  • Senhora do Desterro and Ponte Jugais plants
Barragem de concreto com água fluindo, cercada por vegetação e céu azul.
Cúpula de radar em estrutura verde contra céu azul e nuvens brancas.

To know is to understand

The mountains hold stories, knowledge and traditions worth listening to. These interpretation centres and museums help us look differently at what surrounds us:

  • Serra da Estrela Interpretation Centre – Seia
  • Torre Interpretation Centre
  • Interpretative Centre of the Zêzere Glacier Valley – Manteigas
  • Electricity Museum – Senhora do Desterro
  • Bread Museum – Seia