Visit Silves & Explore the Arade River | Eco-Friendly Solar Boat

Meeting point

Where

Check-in is 15 min before departure. Boarding is on the north side of Portimão Marina, by the administrative building (Rua Simão Correia). Don’t enter just “Marina de Portimão” in Uber/taxi or you may be dropped on the south side, a 15-min walk away. We can’t wait for late arrivals. · Open in Google Maps

Departure

20 start times between 09:30 and 16:00 daily; scheduled year-round (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)

Return

This activity ends back at the meeting point

Pickup

No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

Operator

Algarve SUN BOAT Trips; booking and payment are completed on Viator

1. Algarve Sunboat

   We will departure from the Pier A, at Marina de Portimão.

   Pass by, no stop
2. In Ferragudo, located in a strategic location on the bank of the River Arade, is the fort of São João, whose origin dates back to the 17th century

   This fort cooperated with the Fort of Santa Catarina, which was in front of it in Portimão, in defense of the river estuary. Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, this military construction continued to be used until the end of the 19th century, when it was sold at public auction, and acquired by the poet Coelho Carvalho who transformed it into a private residence. The fort is well maintained and in addition to a wall that connects Angrinha beach to Praia Grande, it also has several guardhouses and a garden.

   Pass by, no stop
3. The Convent of São Francisco is an architectural complex from the 16th century, developed from a set of houses that were donated by Simão Correia, captain of Azamor, who had also built a small Chapel in honor of Nossa Senhora da Esperança, as a thank you for protection of God in wars

   The buildings are harmoniously interconnected. The convent was built later, in 1541. Currently, in Portimão it is a property of public interest, but it is owned by private individuals, with no access to visits and in an advanced state of degradation.

   Pass by, no stop
4. Museu de Portimao

   Portimão Museum is located in the century-old fish canning factory Feu Hermanos, located on the city's riverside area.

   Pass by, no stop
5. This is the oldest bridge of Portimão that establishes the road connection between Portimão and Parchal (municipality of Lagoa)

   In the last quarter of the 19th century, the riverside area saw its landscape transformed with the construction of a river embankment started in 1863, with a view to the introduction of the road bridge, built by the French company Five Lille, under the direction of engineer Bonnet. Started in January 1875 and completed in April 1876, its construction together with the neighboring railway bridge is a good example of iron architecture in the Algarve.

   Pass by, no stop
6. The metallic railway bridge was built between 1915 and 1919, by the Empresa Industrial Portuguesa, measuring 300 m in length and consisting of 6 spans with iron arch beams, based on stonework pillars

   Its inauguration on July 30, 1922, allowed the extension of the railway line, from Tunes to Lagos.

   Pass by, no stop
7. It is one of the structures that crosses the Arade River, located between Calvário and Companheira

   It was completed in 1999 and is the main point of connection for the Portimão and Lagoa councils, forming part of the EN 125.

   Pass by, no stop

About this tour, from the operator