580 helpful votes. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). on Twitter 2024: Cruise through the dramatic UNESCO-designated Douro River Valley on an extraordinary journey designed for culturally curious travelers. The Gothic-esque, multi-story Livraria Lello was the inspiration for J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Because of the high levels of humidity, the winter months are frigid, but the rest of the year is pleasant, with a reasonable probability of rain. It flows W across N Spain, then southwest to form part of the Spanish-Portuguese border before flowing W across N Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean at Prto. A small tributary of the river has the Ca Valley Paleolithic Art site which is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our prediction algorithm for water temperature is in development phase. If things are bad enough (like during the once-in-a-century flooding that occurred along the Danube in 2013), your river cruise might turn into a bus trip as the cruise line attempts to do its best to hit all the major sights and attractions along the way. On this sailing adventure, you'll set off down the Douro River, taking in beautiful scenery and the sights of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia from the water. To improve the knowledge on the impacts of existing dams (including the Portuguese Large Dam Program) and projected new dams, the Douro Vivo Network studied the cumulative impacts of hydropower on ecosystems and livelihoods. Outright cancellation. We can sympathize; after all, if we liked coach tours, wed call our site. Douro River Douro River 7,503 Reviews #6 of 369 things to do in Porto Nature & Parks, Bodies of Water Porto, Portugal Save Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise 1,150 Book in advance from C$172.81 per adult Check availability View full product details keith47 Westcliff-on-Sea, United Kingdom 600 254 Its total length is 897 kilometres (557mi),[10] of which only sections of the Portuguese section, being below a fall/rapids line, are naturally navigable, by modest rivercraft. For 112 kilometres (70mi), the river forms part of the national border line between Spain and Portugal, in a region of narrow canyons. Still, events have occurred in the past. Get to Known Basic Spanish and/or Portuguese or Pack a Phrase Book. Some of the places in which you'll dock are actually nothing much but piers with access to a place to board the motorcoaches. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The scenic Douro railway line runs close to the river. The average water temperature in Porto (Rio Douro) today is -. The most populous cities along the Douro River are Valladolid and Zamora in Spain, and Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. the water level in Douro river is controlled, so between winter and summer time there's no much difference, but of course winter months the level is slightly over the year average. There is very little to do, but a nightcap in the gorgeous hotel -- The Vintage House -- is well worth it. In some cases, ships are operated by DouroAzul, a Portugal-based company that owns much of the region's cruising infrastructure, from docking facilities to a fleet of river ships. This region is generally semi-arid plains, with wheat and in some places, especially near Aranda de Duero, with vineyards, in the Ribera del Duero wine region. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The cable car station is also on this side of the river -- if you don't fancy or can't manage the walk up to the top of town this is a lovely and reasonably priced (nine euros return) option, which affords fantastic views -- and even a free glass of port! It is observed by space radar altimeters that measure the time it takes for radar pulses to reach the ground targets, directly below the spacecraft (nadir position), and return. Since the 1930s the Douro has been harnessed extensively for hydroelectric power and irrigation. Nothing in the information given us by Viking indicated that all river traffic on the Douro in April is "ify" at best. CroisiEurope, Scenic, Viking, Uniworld and Emerald fully own and operate their ships. Viking had known about this condition for at least two prior weeks but did not notify their customers. Eventually, the moon will rise again in the northeast (60) at 15:28 h. When the solunar period coincides with sunrise or sunset, we can expect more activity than initially planned. The portuguese name it's "Tainha", no idea about the english name. The Douro vinhateiro (vine-land) of the Douro Valley in Portugal, long devoted to vineyards, has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Douro_eng. In the last decade, Douro River cruises have become increasingly popular. Scientists and conservationists highlighted the threats to freshwater biodiversity stemming from hydropower dams and obstacles in the Douro river. The seven-night cruise itself travels between the delightful UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto (where you'll likely spend a couple of nights) and either the last little village in Portugal, Barca de Alva; or, just over the Spanish border, another tiny village called Vega de Terron; both are the jumping-off point for the two-hour bus ride to {#widget:image|decorators:article_image|image:3568|title:Vega de Terron (Salamanca) (Photo:canadastock/Shutterstock)|description:Vega de Terron (Salamanca) (Photo:canadastock/Shutterstock)#}. The Dom Luis Bridge, which you can cross by tram, car or on foot on either upper or lower levels, was designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel. At a press conference on July 23 rd, the Douro Vivo Network launched seven studies providing new information on the Douro river basin ecosystem. It formed a historical barrier to invasions, creating a cultural/linguistic divide. Casa Lis, an art deco and art nouveau museum, is housed in a palace with stained-glass ceilings and windows and the Puente Romano (Roman Bridge). You will find most of the itinerary highlights on all the lines. We came to Porto (having made our own flight and hotel arrangements in September) with the specific of doing a day cruise to Pinhao and the train back. on Facebook, Wetlands International European Association, However (after booking the trip with our helpful receptionist) we were called the night before to be told the trip would not be happening. Moreover, the new information will be used to change public perception of the impacts of hydropower on river ecosystems and to create a movement to support river protection and restoration. Salamanca: An absolute highlight of a Douro cruise, Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, is one of the most gorgeous cities in Spain. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Douro River Cruises: Tips for Sailing Portugal and Spains Magical Waterway, Douro River Cruises Offer Tantalizing Scenery, Gastronomy and Relaxing Sailing, Expect a Long Season of Douro River Cruises, Selecting the Right Douro River Cruise Line for Your, Douro River Cruise Itineraries: Cruises to Suit Every Traveler, Douro River Cruise Destinations: Witness Ancient History and Quaint Quinta, Douro River Cruise Tips: From Weather and Climate to Pre-Planning advice, Drinking on the Douro: What to Sip on Your Portugal River Cruise. While most of the cruise lines do offer pre- and post-cruise trips to better-known cities like Lisbon and Madrid, consider spending a few extra days there. It is a nice escape on a warm day. The Netherlands Porto. Tel. Shipowners and Captain, have full authority to make decisions about changes in sailing times and itineraries. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-68898124', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruises are schedule this means that the river has "sufficient water" for it the water level in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? MLS # 40383059 It boasts a fantastic view of Porto across the river, and it has a fabulous bar and restaurant. While most cruise lines offer a handful of tours showcasing the attractions of Porto and, just across the river, the city of Vila de Gaia, it's a fascinating place to visit. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. Tide times and charts for Porto (Rio Douro), Porto and weather forecast for fishing in Porto (Rio Douro) in 2023 Tide tables and solunar charts for Porto (Rio Douro): high tides and low tides, surf reports, sun and moon rising and setting times, lunar phase, fish activity and weather conditions in Porto (Rio Douro). The major tributaries of the Dourothe Esla, Pisuerga, and Arlanzn, all in Spainflow from the wetter northern zone; the southern tributaries are less important. Call 1.406.541.2677 Start Planning My Trip Fortunately, the, You wont find any Douro valley cruises that travel in. When I last visited, in October 2012, there were many fish visible from the quay along the Ribera. If you own rights to any of the images and they are not credited, or you do not wish them to appear on our site, please contact us at [emailprotected]. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Solstice vs. Millennium Class on Celebrity Cruises, Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions, Countries That Require Visas for a Cruise, The World's Best Beaches to Visit on a Cruise, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise, Mystery Cruises: What They Are and What to Expect, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, 48 Hours in Brisbane Before or After a Cruise, How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta Central in Castile and Len into northern Portugal. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. VERY DISAPPOINTING!SO-- to make a long story short, we paid big dollars to have a river cruise only to get a bus tour and even then did not see the sites advertised in the billing. (These include shoes, soaps, pretty notebooks, hand-painted tiles, etc.). Continue the affected itinerary by having guests swap ships typically, being bussed from one town to the next, where you will embark a sister-ship or similar vessel to continue the rest of your journey. I believe the choice should be based on weather and the views, considering that I suggest: May to July - warm weather not too much and the landscapes are colorful. In almost all cases, water levels are so fickle that they can change by the hour. While it's best known for the production of port wine (wine that's fortified with the addition of brandy), it's also a bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis. more, Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise. The drought is mainly on south of Portugal, albeit it hit all country. Explore more travel destination possibilities and experience the world first hand. You can have confidence in our experts' dedication to traveler safety, comfort, & providing a seamless trip. Re: Douro River 17 years ago Save Hi Yes! TIDES4FISHING | HIGH TIDES AND LOW TIDES IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | TIDAL RANGE IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | PROGRESSION OF THE TIDAL COEFFICIENT | MARCH 2023, You can change the time format and the default unit for height in the. The highest lock, at Carrapatelo Dam, has a maximum lift of 35 metres (115ft). It's also where you'll Se Cathedral, built in the 12th century to serve as fortress as well as church. WOW-- some fun!The grand finale was at the end of the time they asked us to fill out a survey of the tour but then proceeded to tell us how to do it by saying that "they did the best they could under the circumstances" and therefore we should not reflect poorly on their effort. 2. For the best value pricing, shoulder season months, like March to early May and then again in November, offer the cheapest fares, but weather can be cool and rainy. Although in most places we get a value very close to the actual sea water temperature, it may not be accurate in certain areas. In Portugal, the Douro flows through the districts of Bragana, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real, Aveiro and Porto. 747 reviews. River cruise lines will typically attempt to keep your itinerary as operational as possible. So pack in layers, and don't forget your bathing suit. Having been on the Douro in early April during a period of higher-than-average water levels that prevented river cruise vessels from sailing for a short period, one thing passengers repeatedly . 55 helpful votes 1. Douro River, Latin Durius, Spanish Ro Duero, Portuguese Rio Douro, third longest river of the Iberian Peninsula, draining a catchment area of 30,539 square miles (79,096 square km). (One of the five we went through, Carrapatelo -- the largest in Portugal -- represented a drop (or rise) of 115 feet.). The Douro's last five dams are in Portugal, and allow for navigation: Pocinho, Valeira, Rgua, Carrapatelo, and CrestumaLever dams. Answer 1 of 7: Wondering if any locals can provide insight into the extreme water levels of the Duoro River that are causing river cruises to be cancelled. The Douro (UK: / d r o, d r u /, US: / d r u, d r o, d o r u /, Portuguese: ; Spanish: Duero; Latin: Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula.It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta Central in Castile and Len into . What happens if high/low water levels affect my sailing? Douro River cruises are from Porto, Portugal to Vega de Terron, Spain. While we havent been delayed or inconvenienced on the Douro (other than one very wet, damp mid-March sailing), but we have experienced both high and low water events on all stretches of the Danube, the Rhine, the Main, and even the Mekong, which was swollen to an unbelievable height during a cruise a few years back that resulted in messy disembarkations at every port of call. The old travel adage, forewarned is forearmed, is very appropriate. (Salamanca was the farthest away, some two hours drive.) Most trips are roundtrip from Porto, which is a coastal city in western Portugal located near the Atlantic Ocean. Things will be normal in June, the dams are at their maximum capacity and may be still discharging a lot of water, but that's going to stop pretty soon, we need as much water as we can get. Mid-July through August is another good time for snagging deals; the region can be very hot then. Lines sailing this Portuguese-Spanish waterway include AmaWaterways, APT, A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, Scenic, Uniworld, Viking River Cruises and Emerald Waterways. We are booked to cruise the Duoro late June and hope the levels will have subsided by then. The studies have increased the level of understanding of the Douro basin ecosystem and will be used to inform decision-makers, especially feeding the current drafting process of the third River Basin Management Plan for the Douro. Recently, a prosperous tourist industry has developed based on river excursions from Porto to points along the Upper Douro valley. This article is about the river. If youre curious about Douro River cruises, heres everything you need to know. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Your email address will not be published. Vila Nova de Gaia: This city lies across the Douro from Porto, and it's where ships dock. The ancient city, one of the most historic in Europe, dates back to the Roman Empire and also has influences from periods such as Gothic and Baroque, tucked within Romanesque city walls. Rue de l'Industrie 10, 1000 Brussels, Most of the ships that ply the Douro have small swimming pools on their sun decks. Porto is the main hub city in northern Portugal. Very enjoyable cruise to see and the Douro Valley, where wine and port are made. 6700 AL Wageningen This is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the benefits of a mostly rural itinerary is that you're not cruising through industrial regions. www.europe.wetlands.org. Within Spain, it flows through the middle of the autonomous community of Castile and Len, with the basin spanning through the northern half of the Meseta Central. The first two charts have "height (m)" on the left. Viking Cruises' website states that "low water levels will affect select river itineraries." Impacted travelers will be contacted by the cruise line. This is the rarest option, exercised when no other alternatives are available. Well-traveled and insightful. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-49042501', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Porto. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Douro-River. Our personal expertise & experience, local partners in our destinations, & access to over 150 small ships are all invaluable to designing your unique journey. Speaking of water in the Douro, here is a question I've been meaning to ask someone from Porto . Wetlands International Europes role in the Network is to help achieve enhanced conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of the river Douro through lobby and advocacy at EU level and by facilitating transboundary cooperation in the basin. Moreover, they shared approaches to restore and protect this natural hotspot. Vega de Terron is located about 125 miles east of Porto and is the most eastern cruise port on the Douro. The latter includes wine producing areas such as the Ribera del Duero DOP. And remember: a nice glass of wine is never out of reach on this journey. "My feeling is this was a unique year. We did not check out this time of year on the WEB (Our fault) so we were not aware that each year in April the River gets the snow melt from the mountains in Spain and the authorities control the water flow and for the most part close the river in April. Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys. Vessels with a maximum length of 83 metres (272ft) and width of 11.4 metres (37ft) can pass through the five locks. Header image: View on So Domingos Mountain and Douro river Paulo Cardoso on Unsplash, Share this post: Dating back to the Roman Empire, it's first and foremost a university town since the 12th century. Here are a few things you should know about taking any river cruise, not just one operating along the Douro: Chances are good that your Douro river cruise will proceed exactly as expected but there are some things that are good to know about these water-related events, and what to do should one arise. Prochilo says that many river cruise boats are specifically built with flatter hulls to deal with low water levels. This means at this moment you need to be prepared for a wave of, TIDES4FISHING | SWELL FORECAST IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, Remember that you can check the tides at your fishing point from your smartphone with Nautide, the. Being so close to the ocean gives Porto a bit of a San Francisco feel; it's every bit as hilly, there are plenty of trams, street life is colorful, and occasionally a dense fog rolls in off the Atlantic. Consider this, too: this could have been one of several sailings that the crew has had to deal with so far this season. Getting angry, yelling at staff or threatening the cruise line rarely fails to accomplish much, as the issue is almost entire out of their control. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Wetlands International-European Association and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission. Unlike ocean cruises, river cruises operate in the margins. The waters of Pocinho lake reach 125 metres (410ft) above sea level. As far as Aranda de Duero, Spain, it is narrowly confined by its banks; it then widens across the broad plains of Old Castile.