Nicole Edenedo
Even in Portugal, Avalon Waterways stays true to its Active & Discovery roots, and clients will soon have additional choices in how they can experience this destination through the immersive excursions the brand will be offering there next year.
I sailed on the Douro River with the company aboard its newest ship, the Avalon Alegria, visiting Porto, Entre Os Rios, Regua and Pinhao. It was a four-day, preview sailing as opposed to the regular eight- and 11-day itineraries currently on offer, and it featured a few excursions that aren't yet available but will be starting in 2025.
Some of those soon-to-be-offered excursions were active, like kayaking on the Douro and hiking above Pinhao.
For this trip, I was particularly excited to go kayaking on the Douro.
As I mentioned in my last insight, I'm part of a kayak club in my neighborhood, the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club, and every summer the club hosts daily paddles on the Hudson River for its members. But between the months of November and May, sadly, the club closes.
I was in luck with the Portugal trip: I was able to experience kayaking not only in the off-season but in a new place surrounded by its own beautiful landscapes and winding river corridors.
I sailed on the Alegria in late March, so the weather was still quite chilly in Portugal. In fact, it rained for about 90% of our four-night cruise (this sailing was an abbreviated version of the line's eight-day Vida Portugal: Vineyards and Villages along the Douro itinerary). But I found that the saying "fortune favors the brave" rang true on this trip because the rain stopped long enough for me to enjoy both of the active excursions I signed up for: kayaking in Castelo and biking in Gaia.
Gearing up for the kayak excursion
Our kayaking excursion was operated by a local company called NaTour Way: Jeep & Walking Tours. There were about 20 or so of us on this excursion, including three or four guides.
I was looking forward to seeing what kind of kayaks we might use for this trip. Would they be sit-on-top kayaks? Or solo kayaks, the kind you sit inside of with room for one person? Those are the kayaks we use at my club back home, and I find them much easier to use than the sit-on-tops.
But to my surprise, NaTour Way uses inflatable kayaks that can accommodate two people. They were similar to a canoe, as there were two support panels that served as the seats for paddlers. Just like an inflatable stand up paddleboard, I found this kayak to be very sturdy and stable, even with its relatively light weight.
The kayaks used by the excursion operator were inflatable, two-person kayaks that were sturdy and stable. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
Because it was chilly, we had to wear dry suits for our kayaking excursion. Dry suits are very important for anyone planning to paddle out of season, even if the sun is shining. That's because, as the managers at my kayak club have warned us, the temperature of the water is too cold, and therefore dangerous, to paddle in without proper protection.
A trip to Portugal's Love Island
So once we suited up on the shores of the Douro and put on our life jackets, it was time to get on the river. Our destination was Love Island (or Ilha dos Amores in Portuguese), which is a small island at the confluence of the Douro and Paiva rivers. The island is shrouded in local folklore. Legend has it that there was a forbidden love affair between a young farmer and a noble woman that ultimately ended in tragedy.
Avalon guests paddling in Portugal. The excursion's destination was to Love Island, or Ilha dos Amores, at the confluence of the Douro and Paiva rivers. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
Today, the island has a modern public dock and informational boards about the story behind the island and the wildlife you might see. There are picnic tables since the island is a popular spot for picnics and day trips. You can jump off one of the ledges on the island into the river if you're brave enough (and at least one person from our group did just that).
Post-paddle snacks and summer vibes
At the end of our kayaking adventure, we brought our boats to the shore and indulged in some light charcuterie snacks and juices before heading onto the bus and making our way back to the ship.
The light lunch felt a lot like summers with my kayak club. Every Tuesday night we have a potluck gathering at the clubhouse after a sunset paddle. Everyone brings a dish or drink, and sometimes people bring their guitars to serenade the group. It's lovely and peaceful, and this kayak experience on the Douro made me feel a little closer to home and reminded me of just how close we are to summer.