Compare 8 Day Portuguese Coastal Way by Magic Hill Holidays vs Villages and Vintages: Cruising the Douro River Valley 2021 by Tauck
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
Price From | $ 750 | $ 4,390 |
Price Per Day | $ 94 | $ 549 |
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Trip Style | Self-guided tour | River cruise |
Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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Countries Visited | ||
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Flights & Transport | NA | No |
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Description |
Running from Porto to Baiona, the Portuguese Coastal Way is a scenic alternative to the busier classic Portuguese Way which can be found adjacent, yet, further inland. From the enchanting city of Porto, this route travels next to the Atlantic, past sandy beaches, charming fishing villages, forest trails and medieval towns like Vila do Conde and Viana do Castelo. You'll cross the Minho river by boat from Caminha to La Guarda in Galicia, trek through the heart of the Rías Baixas (the place to refresh with copious Albariño wine tastings), pass rugged coastline, stay in pretty fishing villages and gobble up delicious food before finishing in the seaside town of Baiona. This 8 day trip starts takes in just over 130km of the Portuguese Coastal Way, with average daily walking distances of 22km. This Camino is very well signposted and has a good range of services (cafes, restaurants etc) along the trail to allow for breaks and is recommended for those looking for a 'flattish' trail, next to the coast. |
An 8-day riverboat cruise on Portugal’s Douro River! Beginning and ending in Porto, our cruise-only 8-day Portugal riverboat adventure offers an authentic taste of daily life in the Douro River Valley… a UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in a legacy of wine making for 2,000+ years! |
Day 1: Arrival day to Porto
Day 2: Matosinhos – Vila do Conde (22km)
Day 3: Vila do Conde – Esposende (23km)
Day 4: Esposende – Viana do Castelo (25km)
Day 5: Viana do Castelo – Caminha (26.5km)
Day 6: Caminha – Oia (17km)
Day 7: Oia – Baiona (19km)
Day 8: Departure day from Baiona
Day 1 Arrive Porto
Tour begins 5:00 PM. A transfer is included from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto Airport) to your riverboat, ms Andorinha, on the Douro River. Settle in, then join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner and onboard entertainment.
MEALS : D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 2 Porto and The Douro Valley
Rising on staggered hills along the river, colorful Porto beckons you to its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, Baroque churches, fountains, and bell towers, Beaux-Arts buildings, and bohemian neighborhoods. Choose a walking tour of the town's historic center or a guided stroll through Ribeira, the riverfront district. It's hard to take a bad picture in Porto, where houses are clad in painted tiles and beguiling, eclectic architecture is around every corner. Return to your riverboat and sail to the Douro River Valley and its astonishing landscapes. All along the winding river, rugged conical mountains and shale hills carved by concentric vineyard terraces tell of a winemaking history thousands of years old. Inhospitable to most kinds of farming, the terroir is perfect for Portugal's indigenous wine grapes, whose hardy roots can go down 30 feet or more in search of water. And since the 18th century, when Portuguese vintners created a sweet fortified wine – now famous as Port – that could make the long sea voyage to Britain without spoiling, the Douro Valley has been the only supplier of Port to the world, and the oldest demarcated wine region.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 3 Peso da Régua and Pinhão
Dock in the historic town of Peso da Régua, once a busy hub where wooden boats called rabelos, laden with barrels of Port, sailed downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia. At the Museo do Douro, housed in a renovated 18th-century mansion, multimedia exhibits offer a history of viniculture in the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site; you also have the choice of a port cocktail-making workshop. This afternoon, sail to the idyllic, tranquil village of Pinhão, nestled at a dramatic bend in the river; Pinhão is known as the gateway to the valley's quintas (vineyards) and large wine estates. From here it's a short drive to Quinta do Portal, a family-run estate in the Cima Corgo region where renowned Port and non-fortified wines are made. Your visit includes an introduction to the vineyards and a private dinner with wine pairings.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
Day 4 Along the Douro to Vega de Terron
The Douro River Valley and its unique landscapes of terraced mountains, villages, and wine estates unfolds today on a full day's sail to the small Spanish port town of Vega de Terron, where the Douro forms the border between Spain and Portugal. The landscape, at a confluence of rivers, is tranquil, beautiful and unspoiled, at the edge of Douro International Natural Park.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
Day 5 Castle Ruins and Paleolithic Art
At the town of Pocinho you have a choice of shore excursions. Visit Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval hilltop village with a turbulent history, where battles were once fought against Moors and Spanish rule; the empty ruins of its 13th-century palace still stand guard over the walled town with its churches, Manueline pillory, cistern, and panoramic vistas. Alternatively, travel to the Museu do Côa in the Vale do Côa Archaelogical Park, for stunning exhibits of rock art from the valley's Paleolithic era, discovered in the 1990s when excavations began for a Côa River dam; unlike cave art found in other parts of Europe, the thousands of petroglyphs in the Côa region were created in the open air by the valley's earliest inhabitants, and the museum explores their mystery through state-of-the-art multimedia exhibits. Return to the riverboat for lunch and sail back to Pinhão, arriving this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
Day 6 Pinhão and Mateus Palace
Your choice of excursions this morning includes a walking tour of Pinhão and its early-20th century train station, adorned with blue-painted tiles (azulejos); or a vigorous hike in the hilltop vineyards with striking views of the town and river. Sail to Régua, and drive to Vila Real for a visit to 18th-century Mateus Palace, a lavish Baroque residence designed by Nicolau Nasoni, now a museum with period furnishings and artwork, a heraldic hall, formal gardens, a winery, and a chapel with tombs and reliquaries. Begin the return trip to Porto, and dock overnight in this verdant wine country, where some traditional farms grow vines on pergolas and fences so high the grapes must be harvested with ladders.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
Day 7 Guimarães or Amarante to Gaia
Today, you have a choice of full day excursions; one option offers you a chance to explore the medieval town of Guimarães, known as the “Cradle City; the kingdom of Portugal was born here after a famous battle in 1128. The city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a wealth of architectural treasures, including the ruined Castle of Guimãraes, with its tempestuous history and sweeping views, the opulent Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, lush with 17th-century furnishings and tapestries, and the 13th-century Church of São Miguel do Castelo. You also have the choice to take a bicycle ride (for experienced cyclists in good physical condition) through the Vinho Verde region before arriving in the pastoral town of Amarante, famed as being the hometown of São Gonçalo, Portugal’s St. Valentine. Enjoy lunch before your late afternoon arrival into Porto where you’ll cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, the destination of wines shipped from the vineyards, and home to many Port wine warehouses and cellars; visit one of its "caves" for a tour and tasting, and toast the end of your Douro River journey. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner aboard ship.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Andorinha
Day 8 Journey Home
Tour ends: 8:00 AM Porto. Disembark and fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your riverboat to Porto Airport. Allow at least 3 hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal