Ânima Durius

We rented one of the larger sailboats for four people in the Douro Valley and had Barbara as our captain — she was exceptional. Even in the August heat, she kept us comfortable with plenty of champagne and snacks, and provided a speaker so we could play our own music. When conditions allowed, we sailed for a while, and she even let my husband assist, which made the experience extra special. She also went above and beyond by taking beautiful photos and videos that perfectly captured the day. This was not only the highlight of our two-week European vacation, but truly one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve ever had. Worth every penny — highly recommend!

We had the most wonderful experience on this private boat charter! The views along the river were absolutely spectacular, made even better by the delicious wine and beautifully prepared charcuterie board. What truly made the trip unforgettable, though, was our captain, Barbara. She was warm, welcoming, and such a pleasure to spend the day with. My two children adored her as well, which made the whole experience even more special for our family. I can’t recommend this charter enough – it was the highlight of our trip!

One of the best experiences I’ve ever had. There was 10 of us, family trip to Portugal. We knew we wanted to take a boat cruise down the Douro River and we’re so happy we chose Anima Durius. We decided on the boat, The Unbelievable and unbelievable it was. There was originally 10 of us but last minute we asked if we could add two more friends since the boat accommodated 12 to which they allowed us to do so on the spot! We brought our own beers and wine which to our surprise, Nadia (second mate) began serving us what we brought. She was awesome, funny, super helpful and created an ambiance of fun and just relax for us. Barbara our captain was amazing! Both Barbara and Nadia made the experience such an incredible one. We played music, danced, drank wine, took pictures and laughed tons for 2 hours. An experience we will never forget. I cannot recommend these guys enough and if you’re lucky, you’ll end up with Barbara and Nadia. Can’t wait to do it again!

Sylvia was our captain for a 2.5 hour sunset cruise. She was super friendly and super knowledgeable. She was very qualified for the captain job but also as our tour guide. She was attentive and was always smiling. We were very happy with her and would book again. 12/10 would recommend and great location. Fantastic experience on Baco on the Douro River!

A wonderful way to experience the scenic and beautiful Douro Valley around Pinhão. Our captain, Silvia, is an expert navigator, her boat skills are as impressive as her knowledge of the region, wine, and vineyards. She was also fantastic with our kids, making the trip fun for the whole family. Our 1-hour tour was not only picturesque but also incredibly informative. The boat itself is very charming. Highly recommend! Thank you for the wonderful hour we got to spend with you!

NADINE was wonderful! She’s an engaging, kind, and honest sailor good at her craft. She wants you to thoroughly enjoy a great time on the Douro River. She’s done lots of things and has broad interest in the world around her. The boat was really nice to be on and we learned so much. A great way to spend a few relaxing hours in the valley 😎

We enjoyed a beautiful 2 hour boat ride up and down the Douro from Pinhão yesterday. Barbara is a very friendly and capable skipper. We took the first tour of the day which also meant we were the first boat out on the river. We were lucky with the weather and it was peaceful and serene. The scenery was amazing and Barbara gave us a lot of information about the Douro Valley and its history. We felt this was a more personal tour rather than the larger boat tours.

We had a fabulous boat tour with Barbara! Even though it rained the whole time, we still had a wonderful experience. We ordered the snacks, and we're so glad we did, even though we weren't particularly hungry at first. Barbara created a delicious spread with fresh pomegranates from her garden and tasty local treats. The highlight was Barbara's warm personality and getting to learn about the culture from a true local.

We elected to do the Pick A Day - our day with Paulo was hands down our favorite of the trip to Portugal, possibly even our favorite day of travel ever. Booking and communicating with Paulo to plan couldn't have been easier. We mixed up the train times and he ended up waiting for us at the train station, but he was very flexible and kind about it. Paulo's tour of his family's vineyard was one of the best wine/vineyard tours I've ever had. He's very intelligent and knowledgeable, not only about the wine and port making process but about the region's politics, regulations, and portuguese history. He graciously answered all questions from our group of 5 (we had a lot) - the conversation was easy and enjoyable the entire time. Lunch at the farmhouse was absolutely perfect. It is hard to pick which course was the best between the local meats, soup, and tasty dessert. After lunch Paulo took us for a coffee and we headed to the dock where we chose to go out in his sailboat. The views were amazing, the company even better. Paulo got us back to the train station just in time for our return. I can't recommend Paulo enough. We miss him!!