Portugal: Kayaking and Culture on… (trip)
Portugal: Kayaking and Culture on the Douro River
- Oporto Airport, Portugal near Porto, Portugal
- Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
| from $4,490* per person | 9 Days | September |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Explorers' Corner | 12 people max | |
We’ve spent nearly a decade refining this joyful journey with our Portuguese friends who have long-term relationships with wine-farming families along the Douro River. This trip is a rare opportunity for us to share our warm personal connections with these special people, offering an inside encounter with contemporary rural life in Portugal – not to mention fantastic local food and wine!
This trip combines fun and exercise between stays in one fabulous wine farm (quinta) after another. There are also plenty of opportunities for long hikes in addition to low-key paddling. The vistas from the high hills, with the sun glinting gold on the river and the vineyards rolling down like a green blanket to the water’s edge, are absolutely glorious.
The local port, wine and superb Portuguese meals are the perfect complement to our physical activities. However, the heart of this adventure is the hospitality of the Portuguese families who warmly receive us in their quintas. We are regaled with stories of their craft and deep ancestral roots, steeped in the “Old World tradition” that still lingers along the banks of the Douro River.
There’s no better way to enjoy this mellow, scenic region than from the comfortable seat of a kayak, paddling quietly downstream, or walking through the verdant hillsides and vineyards above. Just imagine picking juicy Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela or Touriga Nacional grapes off the vine from the seat of your kayak as you float down a glassy river. Life doesn’t get much better than this.
Our adventure begins on a charming train that travels up the river valley from Oporto. We arrive at the end of the line at the medieval town of Moncorvo. Here, we overnight at a family farm (called a quinta), whose buildings date to the late 18th century. In the evening we wind down and sample traditional regional cuisine as prepared by the family, delicacies such as saffron duck rice, sheep cheese and homemade honey, accompanied by a few bottles of wine from our host’s private stock.
The next days on the Douro River are spent paddling leisurely, passing through a gorge where ancient, unused terraces and walls indicate the toil of forgotten times. We may encounter an occasional shepherd, and, if we’re lucky, a pair of fish eagles who favor the solitude of this place. There will be plenty of opportunities for day hikes (offered as an option for those who want more exercise) along the river or in the hilly vineyard terrain of the surrounding mountains.
Our route takes us downriver from Bruco to Barca D’Alva to Senhora Ribeira and then on to the towns of Tua and Pinhão. Each evening we will enjoy the fine wine and delicious food prepared by our hosts at the hospitable quintas. At the lavish 18th-century manor house of Casal de Loivos, each of our bedrooms opens onto a grand terrace with the full glory of the Douro spread out below. A private tour of this beautiful quinta with our host is a prelude to a special wine tasting. Leaving Casal de Loivos, we paddle to Pinhão to our final take-out and a leisurely drive back to Oporto. That evening, we will celebrate the fabulous memories we’ve made during our farewell dinner at the excellent Hotel Infante de Sagres, dining together one last time on savory Portuguese fare as we reflect on the Old European wonders we’ve experienced.
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Locations visited/nearby
Portugal, Europe
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oporto, PortugalOur trip begins in Oporto, Portugal’s second-largest city and cultural capital of the beguiling north. Scenic Oporto sits amid granite cliffs and fruit orchards at the mouth of the Douro River and has long been a cosmopolitan trading center. For those who arrive early, opt for an afternoon walk through this historic city to see some of the outstanding sights. Oporto is rich in architectural gems from Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassic and Renaissance eras. Late afternoon we take a tour (with tasting) of one of the port wine lodges across the River in Vila Nova de Gaia, the perfect start to a magical week! We gather for a Welcome Dinner and orientation in an old traditional restaurant at the Ribeira Pier, followed by a Port wine nightcap for those who wish.
D... Hotel Infante De Sagres
Day 2: Casa de Santa Cruz
We travel via local train to Pocinho, continuing to Felgar where we spend a leisurely afternoon and evening at Casa de Santa Cruz. This historic farm located near the main village square has been beautifully restored by our hosts, Anna and Jorge. Before sunset we’ll take a hike with our hosts down to the banks of the upper Rio Sabor, learning about life in this bucolic region as we go.
B, L, D... Casa de Santa Cruz
Day 3: Casa de Santa Cruz
We greet the morning with anticipation: it’s time to meet the river! After breakfast we drive down to the put-in at Lagoaça, then paddle 3-4 hours to Congida. This is the international section of the river, with Portugal on one side and Spain on the other. A picnic lunch among the grapevines is served along the way. Anna and Jorge will also give us a tour of Casa de Santa Cruz, sharing their passion for restoration and their commitment to this sleepy village.
B, L, D... Casa de Santa Cruz
Day 4: Quinta do Barracão da Vilariça
A pleasant day is in store, with 3-4 hours of leisurely kayaking down the Douro River from Barca D’Alva to Barragem do Pocinho, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch. We then leave our kayaks and head to Quinta do Barracão, an organic wine, cheese, and sheep farm with stunning views... not to mention delicious food! This quinta boasts olive trees more than 400 years old, and the olive oil they produce is simply the best. Maria and Tadeo, our hosts, lead us on a walking tour of the farm before dinner, or after breakfast in the morning.
B, L, D... Quinta do Barracão da Vilariça
Day 5: Nossa Senhora da Ribeira
In the morning we guide our kayaks down the Rio Sabor, a tributary of the Douro, to Vale de Coelho for another delightful lunch before heading to Senhora da Ribeira, our take-out point. Then we hike through the vineyards and take a farm tour to see some of the newer technologies employed in making port wine. This evening we will enjoy a traditional Portuguese dinner.
B, L, D.... Nossa Senhora da Ribeira
Day 6: Casal de Loívos, Pinhão
Today is a fabulous day of paddling, beginning with the Valeira Gorge, a narrow granite canyon that the Douro courses through. We enjoy a special lunch in Tua before continuing on to Pinhão and a spectacular drive up and over the hill to Casal de Loívos, an 18th-century manor house situated high above the Douro Valley. The BBC gave this country hotel the accolade of having one of the six best views in the world -- we heartily concur as we survey the panorama below us, with the winding blue ribbon of river wending its way between vine-covered slopes and rows of rolling mountains dotted with red tile roofs of centuries-old farmhouses. Before dinner we’ll enjoy a tour of this historic house.
B, L, D... Casal de Loívos
Day 7: Casal de Loívos
At Tua we rejoin our kayaks and paddle to Pinhão, where we lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, there’s a chance to work off some of the rich repasts we’ve been enjoying with an optional hike back up the steep hill to Casal de Loívos, or a walk around the little town with magnificent views of the river below.
B, L, D... Casal de Loívos
Day 8: Hotel Infante de Sagres / Oporto
We take to our kayaks wistfully this morning for one last sublime day on the river, paddling 4-5 hours from Pinhão to Regua. After lunch we drive back to Oporto for some last-minute shopping and a festive farewell dinner.
B, L, D... Hotel Infante de Sagres
Day 9: Fly Home
Unless you have a very early departure, there will be time for breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for your departing flight.
B... Return Home
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