The 4 Private River Charters in Portugal That Earn Their Price

1.Private tour in the Douro (1 to 4 people) on a boat just for you

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 744 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Our pick

Set out from Freixo Marina on a private two-hour Douro cruise for up to four people. Your local skipper may be Paulo, Luca, Bernardo, Danny, or another DouroBoatman guide. Expect a welcome drink, bridge views, Gaia’s Port caves, Foz, and a possible ocean run when conditions allow.

“Our family (2 adults, 2 children 11 and 12) had a wonderful experience on our boat tour of Porto. Danny was our guide and was friendly and knowledgeable. It felt like we had known him for years! Not only did we learn about the 6 bridges and other notable places, we were also encouraged to ask questions. Any place we pointed out Danny knew all about it! He also had some great anecdotes and we were very entertained, always smiling and laughing. Since our children had a little experience driving boats, he allowed them to take the wheel (supervised of course) and they really enjoyed it. At one time, we…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.VALE DOURO, Premium Wine Tour, Wine Lunch, Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 362 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $163Best value

Travel from Porto in a small group of up to eight with guides such as Vasco, Luis, David, or Rui. Visit two wineries, taste 10 Portuguese wines, enjoy a wine-paired farm lunch, cruise the Douro on a private boat, and stop at scenic viewpoints along the N222.

“Fun and informative thing to do in Porto. See the Douro Valley, take a great little cruise in a small charming boat with accomplished Pirate & Captain. See the wonderful vistas of the valley, stop to take a photo or two at key spots, and have a delicious local traditional wine and food experience in a choice restaurant. Our Tour Guide David P was the best, he really took care of everyone to make sure they had the best time. Take a jacket or sweater just in case.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Douro Valley Best-Of Private Tour – Fully Customizable Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $249

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring the Douro Valley with a private guide such as Nuno, Monica, Tiago, or Sofia. Expect a family winery, the scenic N222, Pinhão, a village wine lunch, and a final tasting in Sabrosa. Add a boat ride or extra winery visits to shape the day.

“Monica, our guide, was excellent. She explained the history and the current operations in the Valley. The scenery was spectacular and the lunch spot was fine. The sip and chill stop at the top of the mountain was beautiful, the owner was a wonderful host, and Trinidad was a beautiful restaurant.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Douro Valley: Winery, Traditional Lunch & Private Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 176 reviews · 9 hours · from $223

Travel from Porto in a small group of up to seven with guides such as Fabio, Denys, Maria, or Luís. Visit two small wine producers, taste 11 Port and DOC wines, eat a fire-cooked regional lunch, and take a private-style Douro River cruise with snacks and drinks.

“My fiancee and I had an absolute blast on this tour! We were having a hard time deciding among the many (many) Douro day tour options when we got a tip from a colleague about this particular one, and we're very glad we did. Ricardo was easy to get a hold of on WhatsApp and communicated clearly about the pickup logistics etc, and our guide Fabio was outstanding - friendly, excellent English, knowledgeable, professional, basically everything you want in a guide. The tour itself was well balanced and paced, and all the stops were worthwhile (and the food and wine were delicious). You'll probably notice this tour is a bit…”

Check availability →Read our full review