Sail the river for 3 days in Douro Region and discover the capital of wine and vineyards. To get the most out of the local landscapes by train, by car, or by cruise.
DUORO VALLEY
Departing from Porto, where the river flows into the sea and where the Douro wines (table wines and Port wine), produced on its hillsides, also end up, there are various ways to get to know this cultural landscape, listed as a World Heritage Site: by road, by train, on a cruise boat and even by helicopter. None will leave you indifferent.
Following a route between the viewpoints that offer the best vistas, you need to cross the river from north to south and back again. But along the way you can admire breathtaking landscapes over the river and visit vineyards, towns and villages until you reach Miranda do Douro, the point at which the river enters Portugal.
Start at Vila Nova de Gaia with a visit to the lodges where Port wine is aged. Here you will get to know this wine a little better, taking the opportunity – how could you do otherwise? – to taste the precious nectar. And you can still see the old rabelo boats on the river, the vessels that carried the wine from the quintas where it is produced to the mouth of river, before the various dams that made the river navigable were built.
WHERE TO SLEEP
With a breathtaking view over the Douro River and the Tedo River, it is in the heart of the Douro Wine Region that the Vila Galé Douro Vineyards is set. With a strong component of agro and wine tourism, this unit extends across the centuries-old Val Moreira Estate (Quinta do Val Moreira), which was already present in the famous Baron Forrester’s map, created in the nineteenth century, which earned him the reputation of a cartographer. Book Vila Galé Douro Vineyards
WHAT TO SEE
The first stop is in Pinhão, a small Portuguese located on the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers and home to a large number of wineries. Here, we’ll enjoy the region’s star product: wine. As well as the wine, we’ll also be treated to a delicious traditional lunch of Portuguese delicacies. So that you can fully enjoy this traditional lunch, please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. From is where you probably take the cruise.
Old city of Amarante, where we’ll discover its beautiful historic centre, as well as the stone ‘St. Peter’s Bridge‘, the symbol of the region. The next stop will be Galafura, in the heart of the valley, providing incredible views of the entire region. Then, to discover the local gastronomy, we’ll eat in a traditional restaurant and of course, during the meal, you can sample some of the famous region’s finest wines. Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
We’ll continue our tour at Quinta da Roêda, or another similar vineyard/wine cellar. Here, we’ll sample some of their exquisite wines and learn about the different nuances in the flavors. Did you know that the Douro region was the first demarcated wine region in the world? It’s also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an irrefutable title to anyone who’s laid eyes on its beautiful landscapes.
CRUISES
You will probably embark on a cruise to discover the Pinhão region from the water. The views from the boat are truly unmissable. Here I leave you the list of all cruises available (different prices too)
