Navigating the Douro Valley in direct contact with the landscape, the people and the local gastronomy!
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At this beautiful marina, a 20-minute drive from Porto city center (transfer included), we begin our breathtaking journey through the Douro Valley!
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Barragem de Crestuma-Lever
As soon as we started our journey, we saw the imposing Crestuma Dam, one of five on the Douro. We are just upstream of the dam and after a brief explanation of its construction we continue our journey.
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The "Inha River" was given this name as early as the Middle Ages. It is one of the tributaries on the left bank of the River Douro. Its waters are calm and the surrounding landscape is worthy of a natural park. We stop here for an aperitif and on sunny days it's possible to take a dip and swim, or try our stand up paddle and explore the banks.
Duration: 15 minutes
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Praia da Lomba is an idyllic place, the quality of the water distinguishes it as a golden beach! The vegetation that surrounds it makes it look like an island. In the summer it is highly frequented by locals and remains a well-kept secret far away from tourists and foreigners.
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At the mouth of the River Arda you can see the railway bridge built in the last century to transport the coal that was mined nearby and then carried across the river to the city of Porto. The mouth of the "River Arda" is a place of great natural and landscape value, excellent for fishing and for interpreting biodiversity, especially birdlife.
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The name of this small, typically Portuguese town comes from the meeting of two important rivers, the Douro and the Tâmega. The landscape is breathtaking. But what you'll enjoy most here is your lunch, in a typical restaurant that has been open for over 85 years! The stoves are still fired with wood, which gives the already traditional food an authentic and ancestral flavor!
Duration: 2 hours
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This beautiful island is full of legends and fairy tales, but what is true and real is its unparalleled beauty. Here, another important river meets the Douro, the Paiva River. On this small but magical island there was a small castle centuries ago, of which a few ruins have survived. On a sunny day, swimming in these calm waters is a must.
Duration: 15 minutes
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Barragem do Carrapatelo
Get ready for one of the highlights of the day. Inaugurated in 1972, this dam is the largest of the five on the River Douro and one of the largest in Europe. It's 57 meters high and you're about to climb it while recording the moment on video and photography. Once at the top, it's the ideal moment to taste one of our selected wines on board, or if you prefer, cool off with one of our champagnes.
Duration: 20 minutes
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At the confluence of the "Bestança" and "Douro" rivers, “Porto Antigo” appears in the landscape like an oil painting. Overlooking “Porto Manso”, an ancient Portuguese village with the emblematic “Ponte de Mosteirô”.
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Caldas de Aregos
We ended our first day in this typically Portuguese village, inevitably linked to the culture of the Douro Valley. Famous for its miraculous thermal waters, it is the setting for beautiful restaurants and wine-producing farms. Here you will be well accommodated in a hotel or farmhouse with a high level of comfort and service, 4 stars or higher.
Duration: 16 hours
Ever closer to the world-famous Douro vineyards!
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After a good breakfast, we return to our yacht to start sailing on this second dream day. Now, we're going to sail along the world-famous historic railway line, the “Tua Line”. Get ready because the views are breathtaking.
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This majestic bridge over the Douro connects the municipalities of "Baião" and "Resende". The bridge deck is 430 meters long and 72 meters above the average level of the Douro River.
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Here you'll find one of the Douro's most famous river beaches with stunning scenery. The Douro railway line passes right in front of it and then hides in a tunnel dug into the mountain. Very popular with locals during their summer vacations, this pier is an obligatory stop for a glass of Port wine!
Duration: 15 minutes
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Get ready to navigate one of the most famous straits along the entire length of the River Douro. “Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem” (Our Lady of Good Voyage) is the name of the strait that requires the crew to communicate, as two boats cannot cross this stretch. The landscape is snaked by sudden rocks that cluster on the bank. In the early hours of the day it is common to see animals such as foxes drinking.
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Not far from our destination, the first farms begin to appear, with the world-famous landscape of terraces filled with the vineyards that give rise to this precious nectar. A World Heritage Site, this landscape is worth appreciating without haste or anxiety.
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The Régua Railway Bridge is one of the best-known sights in the Douro Valley. It was built in 1932 and connects two important cities, Peso da Régua and Lamego. Not far away is the Douro's third dam, the Bagaúste Dam. The surrounding landscape is made up of vineyards and terraces, making it the capital of the Douro wine region.
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Around 3pm, we've finally reached our destination, and this could also be the start of your next trip! In this region, you can continue exploring the north of Portugal and the Douro. We can even organize your next visit to a wine farm with a wine tasting included. Our journey and adventure is over, but our desire to accompany you and advise you on your stay in Portugal is not. After disembarking, you will have 2 hours on your own, free to explore. At the end of these two hours, and if you don't want any other visits not included in this program, our private car transfer will comfortably take you back to your hotel in the city of Porto. The return journey by car will take less than two hours.
Duration: 2 hours
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In a privileged location on the south bank of the Douro River, between the city of Régua and the town of Pinhão, Quinta do Seixo, with its 100 hectares, is one of the most imposing and traditional wine producers in the Douro Wine Region.
Offering a breathtaking view over the valley, Quinta do Seixo has become Sandeman's calling card in the Douro, with the image of Sandeman Don, the mysterious figure with the Portuguese schoolboy cap and the Jerez sombrero, created by Scotsman George Massiot Brown in 1928, taking center stage.
On a stroll through the estate's centuries-old vineyards or while enjoying a glass of Port by the fireplace, enjoy the unique view that Quinta do Seixo has to offer over one of the most beautiful landscapes in Portugal and the world.
Duration: 2 hours
