Compare Enticing Douro by AMA Waterways vs Portugal Real Food Adventure, featuring Galicia by Intrepid Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
3.5 | Average
|
4.5 | Great
|
| Duration | 11 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 3,879 | $ 3,108 |
| Price Per Day | $ 353 | $ 389 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
10 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
Spend three nights in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, before beginning your journey down the Douro River, with its dramatic gorges, lush vineyards and tranquil fishing villages. Begin in Porto and continue on to the ancient and picturesque city of Lamego. Enter Spain to visit Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the beautiful inland countryside and the palace and gardens of Mateus – before concluding your cruise in Porto. |
Uncover the flavours of Galicia and Portugal on this eight-day adventure full of culinary delights, local wines and European hotspots. Take a tour of the central markets of Santiago de Compostela and enjoy a francesinha dinner in Porto. Discover how centuries of invasion and trade have given Portuguese cuisine a mixture of Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern influences. Sip port and local wines among the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and roll up your sleeves for a cooking class at an Alentejo farm stay. Explore coastal Lisbon, rubbing shoulders with locals at a canned fish hotspot and tuck into a glass (or two) of ginjinha (wild cherry liqueur) and the famed Portuguese tarts. |
Day 1: Arrive In Lisbon, Portugal
Arrive in Lisbon and check in to your hotel. The remainder of the day and evening is free to explore this historic city on your own.
Day 2: Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Lisbon sprawls across several hills along the Tagus River. See Belem Tower, a fortified 4-story tower made of limestone, and visit the Late Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, the burial place of many Portuguese kings and heroes. You will also see the Discoveries Monument, the city’s most famous monument, built in honor of Portugal’s greatest maritime explorers. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city’s other top sights, such as the Castle of São Jorge or the Santa Justa Elevator that overlooks the castle, river and Rossio Square.
Day 3: Lisbon – Sintra
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a morning excursion to Serra de Sintra, one of the loveliest mountain villages in Portugal and a favorite summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for more than 500 years. Long an inspiration for artists and poets, Lord Byron once called it “perhaps the most delightful village in Europe.” High up on a rocky peak, you will tour the Castelo da Pena, a wonderful fairy tale castle dating from Portugal’s Romantic period. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting or free time on your own.
Day 4: Lisbon – Embarkation – Porto
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast, board a high-speed train to Porto to embark your ship. Gather on board tonight for a Welcome Dinner.
Day 5: Porto – Régua
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
This afternoon, you will have an excursion to ancient and picturesque Lamego, home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal, the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). The shrine features a staircase of nearly 700 steps, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles. Other attractions include a Gothic cathedral, a museum, and charming cafés. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to sample local traditional specialties such as Bolas de Lamego, bread filled with smoked ham, Presunto, a type of dry-cured ham, and Espumante, a Portuguese sparkling wine. Late this afternoon, you will visit a Wine Museum in Régua, where the ship will overnight. (B,D)
Day 6: Régua – Barca D’alva
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spend some leisurely time soaking up the beauty of the Douro River as you cruise to Barca d’Alva, where you will visit Castelo Rodrigo. Tour Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, a small fortified village perched high on a hilltop with centuries-old walls, steep narrow streets and fantastic views. We will stop to admire the Chafariz dos Pretos, a truly unique fountain decorated with black faces, and taste some delicious locally grown produce.
Day 7: Salamanca, Spain – Vega Terrón, Spain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive to Salamanca today for a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, located at the center of Spain’s Castilla y León region. Built of golden sandstone, Salamanca is known as a “living museum,” an opportunity to step back in time to the Middle Ages. During your guided tour, you will see the city’s elegant university buildings, the twin-towered Cathedral, the intriguingly decorated House of Shells, as well as Plaza Mayor, considered the most magnificent main square in Spain. Later, enjoy a Flamenco show in Vega Terrón.
Day 8: Vega De Terrón – Pinhão, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we have something special planned. You will indulge in an exclusive wine tasting and lunch at Quinta da Roeda, a famous estate that is home to one of the Douro Valley’s finest vineyards.
Day 9: Régua – Entre-Os-Rios
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, cruise to Régua for a morning excursion to the Baroque-style Palacio de Mateus and its gardens, located in the beautiful Trás-os-Montes region near the city of Vila Real. Inside the house you’ll see exhibits of religious images and beautiful furnishings, paintings and ceiling of intricately carved wood. The gardens here are considered some of the most beautiful in Portugal. Alternatively, you may either wish to visit Quinta da Pacheca where you will enjoy breathtaking views over the Douro River and picnic in a terraced vineyard, or enjoy a port wine tasting at Quinta do Seixo. Return to the ship for lunch while the ship cruises to Entre-os-Rios, arriving this evening. Tonight, you will enjoy a traditional home-cooked Portuguese meal off ship at Casa de Vila Verde.
Day 10: Porto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Your ship arrives in Porto, the capital of northern Portugal, early this morning. Your guided tour of the historical quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes a number of iconic sights: the Porto Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest and most impressive monuments, the bustling main square and the Sao Bento Railway Station, renowned for its magnificent blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. More active guests may wish to instead take part in a guided hiking tour of Porto where they will explore the old harbor quarter, passing through the medieval streets of Porto, and cross the Dom Luis Bridge by foot. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of port wine, which derives its name from this very city. A third option is a walk along the Atlantic coast and Porto’s seaside promenade, with a stop at a local café for Portuguese coffee. This afternoon, we take a short journey to the nearby coastal town of Matosinhos, where we will visit a traditional restaurant for a cooking demonstration of Pataniscas, a traditional Portuguese cod fish cake, and other typical regional snacks. The ship moors overnight in Porto.
Day 11: Porto – Disembarkation
Meals: Breakfast
Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight.
Day 1 Santiago de Compostela
Hola! Welcome to Santiago de Compostela – the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. If you arrive early, maybe walk the streets of the Old Town, known for its distinctive Romanesque, gothic and Baroque buildings. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, maybe get to know your fellow travellers with an optional dinner of traditional Galician favourites. For seafood lovers, try the pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus).
Day 2 Porto
This morning, you’ll head to a local market in Santiago de Compostela – one of the city’s most popular attractions (alongside the cathedral). Follow your leader as they share tastes of local delicacies around the market. If you like, you can grab some extras for the public bus journey this afternoon, travelling over the border into Portugal. Arrive in the charming city of Porto in the late afternoon – known for its medieval riverside district with colourful houses bordering the Douro River, this is one of the country’s most romantic cities. Tonight, you’ll head out for an included dinner of a plant-based version of Porto's favourite dish, the francesinha.
Day 3 Porto
Taste your way around Porto this morning, exploring its majestic bridges, cobbled streets, merchants’ houses and cafes. From the grand fountain in Praca dos Leoes, head to a local café for coffee and pastel de nata (the famed Portuguese custard tart). Walk through the Clerigos, S. Bento and Se quarters before popping into a bar for a cachorrinho (a spicy bread and sausage mouthful) accompanied by a cold beer. Continue through the Ribeira District, sampling local specialties like bacalhau (dried, salted cod) and a glass of rosé. Round out your explorations with a sip of the city's namesake drop (port) and a selection of petiscos (Portuguese tapas). The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Maybe pull up a chair in one of Porto's atmospheric tavernas and order another glass of port.
Day 4 Douro Valley - Coa Valley
Take a scenic drive by private vehicle this morning to the Douro Valley. Arrive at Quinta da Pacheca (winegrowers since 1738) for a picnic and wine tasting. Over a couple of glasses of local wine (and a port, of course), you’ll share an assortment of olives, sausages, dried fruits, traditional salads, regional cheeses, apple tartlets and more. Travel on to the Coa Valley – known for the combined efforts of passionate locals to rewild the area, starting with the reintroduction of ancient cow breeds. Here, you’ll stay in an historic guesthouse atop a hill, overlooking the village and surrounding fields. Tonight, enjoy a home-cooked dinner of the best local produce.
Day 5 Alentejo Farmstay
Relax into the day with no plans until a late morning departure. You might like to explore Castelo Rodrigo (the surrounding village) or go for a hike in the countryside. Then hit the road for the Alentejo region – surrounded by wheat fields dotted with grazing cows. Stop at Castelo Branco to stretch your legs and spend some time exploring the historic town. Maybe grab some lunch and people-watch or walk around the Jardim do Paco Episcopal (a popular baroque garden). Continue to your farm stay in Alentejo – this area is renowned for its cork plantations, vineyards and the coveted Azaruja sausage made from black Alentejo pigs. You’ll be greeted with a local tipple and a tour of the farm, which has been in the family for the last six generations. You’ll see what’s it like to live at the farm, before some free time to settle in, take a swim in the pool or amble around the property, enjoying the peace and quiet. Then, guided by your host, prepare a meal of regional specialties from the best fresh produce. On the menu might be pork with clams, baked goats cheese, soup with cod or cheesecake flavoured with local honey and lemons.
Day 6 Lisbon
Say goodbye to the farm and head to a local olive oil producer for a tasting (a bottle of this locally produced oil makes an excellent souvenir!). Continue to Lisbon, popular for its pastel-coloured buildings and the Sao Jorge Castle. Enjoy some free time when you arrive to find some lunch, then head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings and see the city’s highlights. As you make your way, take a moment to try some ginjinha, a sweet cherry liqueur that originated in Lisbon. Afterwards, make a detour to Loja das Conservas, a quirky deco store selling canned fish from 17 different national canned fish outlets for you to taste and explore! Tonight, you’re free to explore the city’s nightlife or find a great spot for dinner – your leader will have some great recommendations for local restaurants or where to find the best live fado show (a genre of Portuguese soul music that originated in Africa and has evolved to suit the streets of Lisbon).
Day 7 Lisbon
This morning, visit the local market Mercado da Ribeira, a vibrant food market offering fresh produce, local delicacies, and artisanal goods. This afternoon, after some free time for lunch, you’ll visit one of the city's iconic eateries, Pasteis de Belem, for pastel de nata – established in 1837, these are arguably the country's best! First made in the 16th century by nuns, this mixture of crispy pastry and creamy filling is Portugal’s best-known dessert, so why not take every opportunity to treat yourself (and maybe some extras for later?). Tonight, maybe head out for an optional farewell dinner with your group.
Day 8 Lisbon
Today, there are no activities planned and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to spend more time in this gorgeous city, just speak to your booking agent.
