We drive to the Amieira Marina, located near the village of Amieira, one of the riverside villages of Alqueva. The route is easy, and the roads are in good condition, thanks to the improvements in the road network resulting from the construction of the Alqueva dam.

We arrived at the Amieira Marina at 10 am, one hour before the boat’s departure, scheduled for 11 am. We found a very pleasant spot, surrounded by the waters of Alqueva. In the main building, there is a bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the dam, a small convenience store, and the counter where you can purchase boat tickets. In front of the building is the dock, which has several mooring points for boats. Further ahead, there is the panoramic restaurant with a stunning view all around of the Alqueva reservoir.

While we wait, we see another boat depart for a cruise, named Guadiana. This boat usually operates full-day routes on the Alqueva. Our boat for today is much smaller, called Alcarrache (named after one of the tributaries of the Guadiana River), and is used for shorter routes.

At the scheduled time, we depart for the trip. We will travel the Alqueva from the Amieira Marina to the Amieira dock, a route of about 15 km (round trip). The heat here is already high at this time of the morning, so we are happy to start the trip, hoping to cool off a bit.

We begin the journey. As we move away from the shores, we can admire the beautiful view from the boat. At the marina, the boats become smaller and smaller, and the Alentejo fields, with their cork oaks extending to the water’s edge, create a scene worthy of being painted. A pleasant cool breeze sweeps across the boat, allowing us to refresh and calmly observe all the details of the shores as we travel along the dam.

In the distance, we see cattle grazing along the shores. The pilot also acts as a tour guide, describing the places we pass by and sharing a bit of history about the Alqueva dam and the region.

We pass under the bridge that connects Amieira to São Marcos do Campo.

We reach near the Amieira dock, where we turn back. We return to the Amieira Marina for the much-anticipated lunch.

The Panoramic Restaurant at Amieira Marina offers a very pleasant view of the Alqueva reservoir, as it is situated at the tip of the peninsula where the marina was built.

We choose a table. The choice is easy, as the restaurant is almost empty at this hour, something unusual since reservations are always recommended, as several excursions often fill the restaurant completely.

Our package includes a buffet, so we can choose from various traditional Alentejo dishes. Everything is accompanied by a good Alentejo wine. On the restaurant’s terrace, with the dam as a backdrop, in a calm and pleasant atmosphere, we enjoy our lunch.

A very pleasant trip that, based on our experience, we recommend to anyone who wants to explore Alqueva by sailing on it.

However, we are left with a desire to take the longer cruise, which visits several riverside villages. Something to plan for soon…

Nuno Franco
2011