You'll also likely visit Mateus Palace, known for its gorgeous gardens. Helping you make informed cruise decisions. There is very little to do, but a nightcap in the gorgeous hotel -- The Vintage House -- is well worth it. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Rue de l'Industrie 10, 1000 Brussels, The Douro railway line (Linha do Douro) was completed in 1887; it connects Porto, Rio Tinto, Ermesinde, Valongo, Paredes, Penafiel, Livrao, Marco de Canaveses, Rgua, Tua and Pocinho. . Don't miss the train station at Sao Bento for its lively tile murals depicting the Portuguese people working, playing, living. Today Saturday, 4th of March of 2023, the sun rose in Porto (Rio Douro) at 7:04:12 h and sunset will be at 18:28:13 h. In the high tide and low tide chart, we can see that the first high tide was at 1:30 h and the next high tide will be at 13:57 h. The first low tide was at 8:12 h and the next low tide will be at 20:17 h. Today we have 11 hours and 24 minutes of sun. We are booked to cruise the Duoro late June and hope the levels will have subsided by then. 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. 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. 7 years ago. The latter two are located at the mouth of the Douro at the Atlantic Ocean. Outright cancellation. MLS # 40383059 In the last decade, Douro River cruises have become increasingly popular. Vega de Terron is located about 125 miles east of Porto and is the most eastern cruise port on the Douro. The Pisuerga River (tributary to the Duero) in Valladolid, The Upper Douro valley where Port wine grapes grow, The typical rabelo boat and Porto historical district in background, The river between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, Douro Internacional near Miranda do Douro, Looking across the river mouth from Foz do Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia (Atlantic Ocean on the right), Typical almond tree, mostly seen along the river in Portugal. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We did the six bridges tour. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-49035074', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise the Duoro late June and hope the levels will have subsided by then. [5] At Douro's mouth at Porto, the second largest city of Portugal, the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. 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. It formed a historical barrier to invasions, creating a cultural/linguistic divide. We returned by train after free time in Regua at 4.50pm arriving in Porto at 7pm. Be Prepared for a Ride to Reach Off-ship Douro River Attractions. +31 (0) 318 660 910, E-mail: [emailprotected], Wetlands International-European Association, Mundo J, Can highly recommend Barracouda Tours at the quayside at Gaia, bookable at Tourist offices for a wonderful day cruise, returning to Porto by train. 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. Mid-July through August is another good time for snagging deals; the region can be very hot then. Omissions? Generally, when high/low water levels hit the Douro, three options are available to cruise lines: Continue the affected itinerary by having guests 'swap ships' - typically, being bussed from one town to the next, where you will embark a sister . 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. As far as Aranda de Duero, Spain, it is narrowly confined by its banks; it then widens across the broad plains of Old Castile. River cruise lines will typically attempt to keep your itinerary as operational as possible. Horapark 9, 6700 AL Wageningen I can't locate any news regarding these issues. 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? Please, use with caution. However, we were already in Lisbon before receiving this notice and therefore could not exercise our option to cancel under the terms of our insurance and get our money back. The river mouth is silted, and the artificial port of Leixes (erected in 1892 and further developed in 1916) has grown up to the north of the estuary. Some of the places in which you'll dock are actually nothing much but piers with access to a place to board the motorcoaches. Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys. CroisiEurope, Scenic, Viking, Uniworld and Emerald fully own and operate their ships. 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. My Bookings. Viking Cruises' website states that "low water levels will affect select river itineraries." Impacted travelers will be contacted by the cruise line. How do tides form? This is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CIBIO found that the presence of small hydropower plants deeply affect endangered pearl mussel populations. 747 reviews. The old travel adage, forewarned is forearmed, is very appropriate. The boat crew were professional, helpful & friendly. Cruises on the Douro River may not have quite the same pull as other European rivers, but its beautiful scenery of sloping wine terraces give it the edge. 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). We safeguard and restore wetlands for people and nature. The 750 sq. The length of time the moon will be visible is 14 hours and 32 minutes. 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. 2024: Cruise through the dramatic UNESCO-designated Douro River Valley on an extraordinary journey designed for culturally curious travelers. "My feeling is this was a unique year. Just because one year was affected by abnormally-heavy rainfall doesnt mean the following one will be identical. 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. Prochilo says that many river cruise boats are specifically built with flatter hulls to deal with low water levels. TIDES4FISHING | RISING AND SETTING OF THE MOON IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, The effects of the sun and the moon influence the activity of all living creatures on earth, TIDES4FISHING | SOLUNAR CHARTS FOR PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | MOON PHASE | 4 MARCH 2023, 9:33, Calendar of Lunar Phases and Eclipses for the next 2000 years, TIDES4FISHING | UPCOMING MOON PHASES | MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION | 4 MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | LIGHTING THE EARTH IN THIS MOMENT | 4 MARCH 2023, 9:33, TIDES4FISHING | FISHING SITES CLOSE TO PORTO (RIO DOURO), Plan now and enjoy your activities at sea with the tides4fishing app, Enjoy to the max a well-planned fishing expedition in Porto (Rio Douro). Call 1.406.541.2677 Start Planning My Trip It boasts a fantastic view of Porto across the river, and it has a fabulous bar and restaurant. The wine was taken downriver in flat-bottom boats called rabelos, to be stored in barrels in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from Porto. Example: We traveled 1 1/2 hours by bus over winding roads to visit a palace where we had a half hour tour and then drove another 1 1/2 hour bus drive back to the boat. Except for Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia at the river mouth, the only population centres of any note are Foz do Tua, Pinho and Peso da Rgua. (These include shoes, soaps, pretty notebooks, hand-painted tiles, etc.). Unseasonably heavy rainfall in April and September a few years ago resulted in itinerary changes and modifications, most of which were conducted by utilizing motorcoaches to complete the journey. Re: Douro River 17 years ago Save Hi Yes! One of the downfalls? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-68898309', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');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. All images are copyrighted to their respectful owners and we make every effort to credit photographers. Other major houses include Taylor's, Ferreira, Sandeman and Calem. Example: +water -Europe In 1998, Portugal and Spain signed the Albufeira Convention, an agreement on the sharing of trans-boundary rivers to include the Douro, Tagus and Guadiana. Porto. The drainage basin borders those of Mio to the north, Ebro to the east, and Tajo to the south.[10][11]. The most frequent wave height will be about half the height of the significant wave. 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 first two charts have "height (m)" on the left. 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 . The only motorcoaches you may see on the twisting winding roads are those from your own ship, though the river is getting busier as more river lines add ships. While there's plenty to do, one oddity of the Douro experience is that there's no night navigation, so ships must cruise from sunrise to sunset. The Douro (UK: /dro, dru/, US: /dru, dro, doru/,[1][2][3][4] Portuguese:[do(w)u]; Spanish: Duero [dweo]; Latin: Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. 580 helpful votes. One of the benefits of a mostly rural itinerary is that you're not cruising through industrial regions. Alternatively, you may use, InterContinental Porto - Palacio Das Cardosas, an IHG Hotel. At a press conference on July 23rd, the Douro Vivo Network launched seven studies providing new information on the Douro river basin ecosystem. Be sure to take a jacketthe journey can get cool if you're on the deck of the boat & the train has air-con on all the time. We plan on taking a Viking cruise on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Fish are cold blooded, which means their metabolism is strongly influenced by the temperature of their surrounding environment. 2. These changes are frustrating for travellers, many of whom only learn that there is a problem with their river cruise after arriving in Europe, ready to start their holiday. Since the 1930s the Douro has been harnessed extensively for hydroelectric power and irrigation. The next five downstream are along the Portuguese-Spanish border; the first three are owned and operated by Portugal: (Miranda, Picote and Bemposta Dams), while the next two belong to Spain: (Aldeadvila and Saucelle Dams). Report inappropriate content Diva Porto, Portugal Level Contributor 11 posts 2 reviews 2. TIDES4FISHING | WATER TEMPERATURE IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, It is normal for waves to vary in height from one to the next. Visits to a range of quintas, the Portuguese term for wineries, mostly focus on the region's famed port wines, but the winemakers in the Douro region also produce beautiful reds and whites. The motorcoaches are new, clean and comfortable (with bathrooms onboard, if necessary). Because of this, many river cruise lines dont know until almost the last minute how your sailing will or wont be affected. Tell us your travel interests, dreams and desires, then let our experts tailor the perfect trip for you! 3. 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. On the Douro, this option is really only open to companies like CroisiEurope and Viking River Cruises that operate more than one vessel in the region. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. It's simply gorgeous country, whether in the lush vineyard regions closer to Porto or in the wild, craggy landscapes to the east, near the border with Spain. What types of tides are there and how do they influence sport fishing? The highest lock, at Carrapatelo Dam, has a maximum lift of 35 metres (115ft). Re: River water levels. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The crew got out the tape measurer and waited it out until the water had slackened enough to allow us to pass unscathed. When I last visited, in October 2012, there were many fish visible from the quay along the Ribera. The most important tributaries in this region are the Pisuerga, passing through Valladolid, and the Esla, which passes through Zamora. Alternatively, you may use. Scientists uncover new information on the Douro river ecosystem, Small hydropower plants as a threat to the endangered pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, Reviving Douro Basin Identification of Biodiversity Hotspots, Georeferencing and characterization of the Douro River Basin obstacles, Contra barragens, pelos santurios do Douro: o SOS dos investigadores, Investigadores e ambientalistas defendem que no se faam novas barragens, Associaes ambientalistas no querem mais barragens no Douro, Assessment of terrestrial protected areas for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity (CIBIO). Lines sailing this Portuguese-Spanish waterway include AmaWaterways, APT, A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, Scenic, Uniworld, Viking . The Netherlands 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. Yes, the river levels are a bit low, but I never heard on the news that the Douro river can't be used by boats. The fact of the matter remains that the vast majority of Douro river cruises will be completed without a hitch. Unlike a river cruise that is scheduled to sail between Amsterdam and Budapest, the distances that have to be sailed on a Douro river cruise are minimal. 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. A tiring but excellent dayhighly recommended. The scenic Douro railway line runs close to the river. At this moment the current water temperature in Porto (Rio Douro) is -. Furthermore, the creation of Fluvial Nature Reserves should strengthen the legal protection of the Douros biodiverse natural sanctuaries. On another instance, on a Christmas Markets river cruise through Germany, thewater level made us too high to clear a bridgeblocking our path by mere inches. 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). 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. (and has been for the last 20 years) We arrived in Lisbon and then received an Email notice from Viking that they were experiencing river problems and were sorry. The Douro has some help, though, in avoiding water level-related snafus. And they have input to a degree into their own ships; AmaWaterways, for instance, has incorporated its popular balcony/picture window suite design. I looked it up; we call them grey mullet (not to be confused with my hair style). You can have confidence in our experts' dedication to traveler safety, comfort, & providing a seamless trip. Our personal expertise & experience, local partners in our destinations, & access to over 150 small ships are all invaluable to designing your unique journey. Its most plentiful tributary (carrying a larger discharge than the Douro at their meeting) is the right-bank Esla river. Unlike you, they dont get to leave instead, theyre treated to greeting busloads of unhappy guests week after week. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-68897250', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');the Douro River. Recently, a prosperous tourist industry has developed based on river excursions from Porto to points along the Upper Douro valley. Low bridges, power lines, and other navigational obstacles restrict the height of a vessel. In Porto and in Salamanca, where the primary languages are Portuguese and Spanish, respectively, English-speakers can get around well enough. Report inappropriate content. You'll pass must-sees like the Clrigos Church, the wooden rabelo boats which used to carry wine barrels across the river and the Nature Reserve Douro Estuary Site, a protected area with . Whether a river has high or low water levels is something youre unlikely to consider when planning your river cruise. Private Douro River Sailing Cruise 49 Recommended Day Cruises from C$187.45 per adult (price varies by group size) 3-hour Port and Douro Wines Tasting Tour With 10 Tastings 126 Recommended Private and Luxury from C$57.47 per adult Porto: Morning City Tour with Six Bridges Cruise and Lunch 5 Bus Tours from C$94.31 per adult Outright cancellation. In Portugal, between Peso da Rgua and Porto (Oporto), the river has considerable barge traffic, taking the wine from the port-wine area to Vila Nova de Gaia; from Pedorido to Porto there is some coal traffic. The portuguese name it's "Tainha", no idea about the english name. Onone memorable sailing down the Danube, we only found out halfway through our voyage that the passage from Nuremberg to Passau was impossible; wed have to swap-ships (more on that later) to complete our journey. 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. www.europe.wetlands.org. [11] The Douro River basin encompasses an area of approximately 97,290 square kilometres.[12]. What problem?? Dont let people (or past reviews) put you off unnecessarily. (Look for Kopke, which matches chocolates to its ports.). 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. 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. The premier times to visit the Douro are in springtime, May and June, and then again during harvest season -- in fall months of September and October. The academic partners include the universities of Porto, Coimbra, Trs-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Nova University of Lisbon and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragana. 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. To mitigate issues, Viking runs sister ships sailing the same itinerary, but in opposite directions. We can compare these levels with the maximum high tide recorded in the tide tables for Porto (Rio Douro) which is of 4.2 m and a minimum height of 0.3 m. The following graph shows the progression of the tidal coefficient in the month of March of 2023.These values give us a rough idea of the tidal amplitude in Porto (Rio Douro), forecast in March. The convention superseded an agreement on the Douro, signed in 1927, that was expanded in 1964 and 1968 to include tributaries. These reaches of the Douro have a microclimate[specify] allowing for cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes, which are important for making port. Massive wildfires swept through the region during the summer of 2017, with columns of smoke choking skies and water bombers roaring overhead in an attempt to control the blaze. It was like purchasing a BMW and then when they car company dilivered the car it was a VW-- and then they say it is not our fault, the BMW you ordered was not available. Rising in the Sierra de Urbin in Spain, the river crosses the Numantian Plateau in a pronounced bend and flows generally westward for 556 miles (895 km) across Spain and northern Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean at Foz do Douro. Porto. On Saturday, the water level at the German town of Kaub - a critical juncture - slipped to just 36 centimeters, or 14 inches, according to official figures. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Considered one of the most untamed rivers of Europe, the, The grape harvest season is the best time to visit the Douro Valley when the region is at its most beautiful. Large coefficients indicate important high and low tides; major currents and movements usually take place on the sea bed. Nowadays port is transported there in tanker trucks. See ourfeatured river cruise sailings >>, Talk with Teresa Skeim who has over 30 years experience for more ideas planning your trip >>. Report inappropriate content NewJerseyCyclist New Jersey Level Contributor 154 posts 2. What's most heartening about a cruise on the Douro is the small surprises. Salamanca: An absolute highlight of a Douro cruise, Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, is one of the most gorgeous cities in Spain. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. The waves you will find on the shore can be slightly affected by the orientation of the coastline and the seabed of the beaches, although in most cases they are usually equivalent. Explore more travel destination possibilities and experience the world first hand. 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. 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. Header image: View on So Domingos Mountain and Douro river Paulo Cardoso on Unsplash, Share this post: 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. These studies (some in Portuguese, some in English) and presentations (in Portuguese) can be found on the Douro Vivo Network website: The Douro Vivo Network is led by GEOTA in partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature Center for Mediterranean Cooperation, Wetlands International Europe, WWF Portugal, and the Inducar Network. On the other hand, you run the risk of a modified itinerary because your riverboat may not be able to get under a low bridge due to the high water caused by snowmelt and rains. These events are inconvenient, but it is important to remember that they arent all that likely to happen, and certainly not all the time. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. For other uses, see, "Duero" redirects here. more, Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. For 112 kilometres (70mi), the river forms part of the national border line between Spain and Portugal, in a region of narrow canyons. BUT the BMW is a car and the VW is a car so we actually delivered on our contract. We can sympathize; after all, if we liked coach tours, wed call our site. Maythrough October have the best months for outdoor activities during a Douro cruise. However (after booking the trip with our helpful receptionist) we were called the night before to be told the trip would not be happening. . Enclose phrases in quotes. On a somewhat smaller but no less enchanting scale, the city's Clerigos district is home to one of the world's most famous bookstores. [6] The meaning of this element is however unknown. Does any one have experience with this river and any suggestions on the best time to go to avoid a problem. 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.