--- title: Visit Silves & Explore the Arade River | Eco-Friendly Solar Boat lang: en alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/portimao/tours/visit-silves-explore-the-arade-river-eco-friendly-solar-boat/ type: tour city: Portimão country: Portugal price: 50 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.99 reviews: 215 duration_minutes: 270 languages: [pt, en] free_cancellation: "true" schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/portimao/tours/visit-silves-explore-the-arade-river-eco-friendly-solar-boat/ --- # Visit Silves & Explore the Arade River | Eco-Friendly Solar Boat **Guidekin's take:** A quiet solar powered boat up the Arade river from Portimão to the medieval town of Silves, with live commentary, cushioned seats and shade, a change from the cave boats. Minimum numbers apply, parking in high season is extra, and it is not suited to small children. 4.99 from 215 reviews at €50 per person for 4h 30m. ## Overview Discover this wonderful river & the medieval city of Silves, full of history, with a very rich nature and unforgettable landscapes. Enjoy a relaxing trip from Portimão to Silves aboard our sustainable eco-friendly boat on the full of history waters of the Arade River, where the future meets the past. Our ecological boat is quiet and perfect for those who look for a peacefull and quiet boat trip. It has comfortable cushioned seats, shades and tables for placing glasses of drink and personal items. During the trip, the captain will share with you curiosities about the river and its history. At Silves you'll have about 1,5 hour to visit the historical places , monuments, castle, museum or try it's delicious local cuisine. On our return to Portimão, enjoy a different perspective of the city and the Arade River's mouth. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Check-in is 15 min before departure. - 20 start times: between 09:30 and 16:00 - Children from €50: ages 4 to 10 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €50 per person - Duration: 4h 30m - Rating: 4.99/5 from 215 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Likely to sell out - Operator: Algarve SUN BOAT Trips - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: Portuguese, English - Start times: 20 start times between 09:30 and 16:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.99 from 215 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 215 of 215. - 5 stars: 212 (99%) - 4 stars: 3 (1%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ## What's included - All taxes, fees and handling charges - Driver/guide - Live commentary on board ## Not included - The listed price does not include the car parking price, on the high season. - Hotel pickup and drop-off ## Itinerary 1. **Algarve Sunboat** (pass by, no stop) - We will departure from the Pier A, at Marina de Portimão. 2. **In Ferragudo, located in a strategic location on the bank of the River Arade,...** (pass by, no stop) - 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.... 3. **The Convent of São Francisco is an architectural complex from the 16th centur...** (pass by, no stop) - 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... 4. **Museu de Portimao** (pass by, no stop) - Portimão Museum is located in the century-old fish canning factory Feu Hermanos, located on the city's riverside area. 5. **This is the oldest bridge of Portimão that establishes the road connection be...** (pass by, no stop) - 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... 6. **The metallic railway bridge was built between 1915 and 1919, by the Empresa I...** (pass by, no stop) - 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... 7. **It is one of the structures that crosses the Arade River, located between Cal...** (pass by, no stop) - 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. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 20 start times between 09:30 and 16:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point 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. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ1cit0MrZGg0R3HGxIdwAkb4 Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund - Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund - Not suitable for small children - Dogs or other pets are not allowed - Suitable for pregnant women - Children must be accompanied by an adult - Please check in 15 minutes before departure time - Only water and food intended for young children are allowed on board - Smoking not allowed - ATTENTION: Our kiosk is not the check-in or boarding point. The Boarding Pier M is on the North Side of Portimão Marina, with car access via Rua Simão Correia. - Not recommended for travelers with reduced mobility - Not recommended for pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies or in advanced stages of pregnancy ## More in Portimão - All Portimão tours: https://guidekin.com/portugal/portimao/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/portugal/portimao/tours/visit-silves-explore-the-arade-river-eco-friendly-solar-boat/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/portugal/portimao/?format=md