Portugal, Spain, & the Douro River Valley 2011

DAY 1: Lisbon
Arrive at Lisbon’s Portela Airport where you’ll be transferred to the hotel. 

DAY 2: Lisbon
Featured Excursion: Lisbon city tour 

Your guided exploration of Lisbon takes you to the historic district of Belem and the Belem Tower, the traditional starting and ending point of Portuguese voyages of discovery. You’ll then visit the magnificent cloister of San Jeronimos, built in the early 16th century as a celebration of Portugal’s territorial expansion and an expression of a unique national style. (BB) 

DAY 3: Lisbon
Spend leisure time enjoying this cosmopolitan city often referred to as the “City of Seven Hills.’’ Uncover a treasure trove of Old World architecture, or simply relax in one of the many cafés in Lisbon’s popular Rossio Square. (BB) 

DAY 4: Lisbon, Colmbra, Porto (embark)
Featured Excursion: Coimbra tour with family-style lunch 

In the morning, you’ll head north through the picturesque countryside to Porto. En route, you’ll stop in Portugal’s third-largest city, Coimbra, birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Within the university is the Biblioteca Joanina, a gem of a library with books that date back to the 12th century. After your library visit, you’ll stop for lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to the ship docked in Porto. (BB, L, D) 

DAY 5: Porto, Bitetos
Featured Excursion: Porto city tour and dinner at the Alpendurada Monastery 

Traipse through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center of charming Porto. Later, sail to Bitetos where you’ll indulge in a country-style dinner at the former 14thcentury Benedictine Monastery of Alpendurada. (BB, L, D) 

DAY 6: Bitetos, Régua, Pinhão
Featured Excursion: Mateus Palace and Gardens 

Visit the impressive Baroque Mateus Palace and Gardens; with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, it’s often described as the most fantastic country house in Portugal. (BB, L, D) 

DAY 7: Pinahão, Vega de Terrón (Spain)
Featured Excursion: Wine tasting at a local quinta 

Pinhão is the epicenter of the Port winemaking area. Visit a quinta (vineyard) where you’ll learn the history of, and sample, the country’s most celebrated beverage. Later in the day, cruise from Pinhão to Vega de Terrón. (BB, L, Captain’s Dinner) 

DAY 8: Vega de Terrón (Salamanca, Spain)
Featured Excursion: Full-day Salamanca tour with traditional Spanish lunch and flamenco show 

From Vega de Terrón, on the Spanish border, travel overland to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage city. This charming town is untouched in its architectural purity, and throughout the centuries the sandstone buildings have gained an exquisite golden glow, giving the city the nickname the “Golden City.” Visit Salamanca’s historic university before having lunch with a flamenco show at a local restaurant. Then enjoy free time in this magical city. (BB, L, D)

DAY 9: Barca d'Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Pinhão
Featured Excursion: Castelo Rodrigo tour and dinner at the Vintage House hotel 

In the morning, visit the picturesque, 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo. This is a charming and captivating place with Medieval streets, thick stonewall houses, and a remarkably distinctive fountain, Chafariz dos Pretos. In the evening, indulge in a delicious dinner complete with wine at the Vintage House hotel, a magnificent converted 18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. (BB, L, D) 

DAY 10: Régua, Porto (Guimarães)
Featured Excursion: Guimarães city tour 

Historic Guimarães was the first capital of Portugal in the 12th century and home to the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Henriques. It has been referred to as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques’ grand castle, Guimarães was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extremely well-preserved city center. You will be guided through the narrow streets of the Medieval quarter, which is lined with old houses embellished by ornate balconies, toward the beautiful main square, the Largo da Oliveira, and then on to other lovely places such as the splendid Monastery and Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the 14th-century Gothic Padrão do Salado. (BB, L, D)

DAY 11: Porto (disembark), transfer to the airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to the Porto airport for your flight home. (CB or BB)

The Douro River, rising in Spain and reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Porto, has created the spectacular Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rambling vineyards and charming native farms called quintas cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions and to Port country—the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.

Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of old world architecture. Visit Coimbra, the “Birthplace of Kings;” Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center; and Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Port charges of $112 per person are not included in the prices shown above.
• Cabin upgrades are available at additional cost.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more details.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive prices are displayed, these prices do not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.