Régua - Barca D'Alva - Régua Cruise Upstream by Boat

OPTION A: 07:30 am – Embarkment of passengers at Régua Quay
OPTION B: 08:30 am – Embarkment of passengers at Régua Quay
OPTION C: 09:00 am - Passengers embark at Régua pier

• Beginning of the cruise towards Barca D'Alva
• Breakfast served on board
• Régua Dam (Flood-gate, unlevelling 28 meters)
• Eventual technical stop at Pinhão
• Upstream of the Valeira Dam (Flood-gate, unlevelling 32,5 meters)
• Port Wine Appetizer
• Lunch served on board
• Upstream of the Pocinho Dam (Flood-gate, unlevelling 22 meters)
• Snack (**)

OPTION A: 04:30 pm – Expected Arrival at Barca d’Alva and Transfer by Bus to Pocinho Station
OPTION B: 05:00 pm – Expected arrival at a Barca d’Alva and return to Pocinho by boat
OPTION C: 05:30 PM – Expected Arrival at Barca d’Alva and Transfer by Bus to Régua (*)  

• Arrival at Pocinho

OPTION A: 06:30 pm – Beginning of the train journey to Régua
OPTION B: 06:30 pm – Beginning of the Bus journey to Régua
OPTION C: 07:08 pm – (*) On the Pocinho - Régua route, the return trip by bus can be replaced by a train without prior notice

08:30 pm – Expected arrival at Régua station

End of our services

Departure time will be informed at reservation confirmation

• Vegetables Soup
• Roasted Pork Loin with Potato, Rice and Vegetables
• Dessert
• Red and White Mature Wine from Douro, Water, Juice and Coffee
• Note: If you have any food restriction please inform when booking.

• Departures at 07:30 am: Transfer by Bus from Barca D'Alva to Pocinho and descent by train from Pocinho to Régua (This route will be carried out by train, if there is availability on the part of CP)
• Departures at 08:30 am: Transfer by boat from Barca D'Alva to Pocinho and descent by bus from Pocinho to Régua
• Departures at 09:00 am: Transfer by Bus from Barca D'Alva to Régua (The route between Pocinho and Régua can be replaced by Train without prior notice)
• (**) The 9 a.m. slot does not include a snack.
• The train journey is made on a CP Regular Train and is not an exclusive service, therefore the journey is the sole responsibility of CP, and it is not possible for us to guarantee all seated seats
• The on-board assistant will accompany the group throughout the journey
• Due to the closure of the Douro dams for maintenance and weather conditions, this cruise takes place between the months of May and mid-October

Régua–Barca d'Alva Cruise — The Longest 1-Day Journey on the Douro

The Régua–Barca d'Alva Cruise is the longest 1-day cruise on the Douro — an epic 11-hour journey through the Upper Douro, departing from Régua Wharf and arriving at Barca d'Alva, on the border with Spain. Along the way, the boat navigates 3 impressive dams, crosses schist and vineyard landscapes that define the Douro Wine Region and serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack on board. For those who want to experience the Douro from start to finish, this is the ultimate programme.

What Makes This Cruise Unique

While most Douro cruises go as far as Pinhão or Régua, this programme goes further — much further. The destination is Barca d'Alva, the last Portuguese village before the Spanish border, on a route that crosses the heart of the Upper Douro, one of the most remote and breathtaking areas of the Douro Valley. Over 100 km of river, three dams and landscapes that few tourists have ever seen.

The programme operates weekly between May and mid-October and offers 3 boarding time options (07h30, 08h30 and 09h00), each with a different return journey — by train, coach or boat to Pocinho.

The 3 Dams of the Upper Douro

One of the most impressive experiences of this cruise is passing through the three major dams along the route:

Bagaúste/Régua Dam — a 28-metre drop, right at the start of the journey, already a hint of the scale of what lies ahead.

Valeira Dam — a 32.5-metre drop, the highest on the route. This is where a Port wine aperitif is served — the most iconic moment of the cruise, with the sluice gates opening before you and a glass in hand.

Pocinho Dam — a 22-metre drop, the last before reaching Barca d'Alva. At this point, the Douro is already different — narrower, wilder, quieter.

On Board: Breakfast, Lunch and Snack Included

With 11 hours of sailing, the on-board catering is comprehensive:

• Breakfast shortly after boarding, as the boat departs from Régua
• Port wine aperitif before passing through the Valeira Dam
• Full lunch on board — vegetable soup, roast pork loin with potatoes, rice and vegetables, dessert, Douro red and white wine, water, juice and coffee
• Afternoon snack included on the 07h30 and 08h30 boarding options

If you have any dietary restrictions, simply indicate this at the time of booking.

Barca d'Alva — The End of the Douro in Portugal

Arriving at Barca d'Alva means reaching the limit — the last Portuguese village on the banks of the Douro, in a natural amphitheatre of schist and vines where the river still knows no borders. Few tourists arrive here by boat. It is a privilege reserved for those who make this journey.

From here, the return to Régua is made according to the chosen option: by boat to Pocinho and then by coach, or by train along the Douro Line — one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Portugal.

The 3 Boarding and Return Options

Option A — Boarding at 07h30 (Rota do Douro) Return by coach from Barca d'Alva to Pocinho, then by train to Régua. Expected arrival at 20h50.

Option B — Boarding at 08h30 (Barcadouro) Return by boat from Barca d'Alva to Pocinho, then by coach to Régua. Expected arrival at 20h30.

Option C — Boarding at 09h00 (Tomaz do Douro) Direct return by coach from Barca d'Alva to Régua, with the possibility of being replaced by train. Expected arrival at 20h50. Afternoon snack not included.

The exact boarding time and location are confirmed at the time of booking.

What is Included in the Régua–Barca d'Alva Cruise

• Breakfast on board
• Port wine aperitif at the Valeira Dam
• Full lunch on board with Douro wines included
• Afternoon snack on board (07h30 and 08h30 options)
• On-board assistant throughout the entire journey
• Return transfer (coach, train or boat depending on option)

Book Your Place Now

The Régua–Barca d'Alva Cruise operates only once a week and places sell out quickly, especially during high season. If you want to experience the longest cruise on the Douro and reach the most remote point of the valley in Portugal, don't leave it for tomorrow.

Select your date, choose your boarding option and confirm your booking in seconds.