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Photograph to come · The Douro valley from the river, a ship on the water below the terraced vineyards

The Douro River Cruise Pilgrimage

Lisbon, Santarém, Fátima, Pinhão, Régua, Porto and Ávila

Thirteen days from Lisbon to Madrid, seven of them aboard a river ship on the Douro, from the Eucharistic miracle at Santarém and two days at Fátima to the terraced vineyards of the Alto Douro and the walled city of St. Teresa at Ávila.

Departures

Current Tours to Portugal

Upcoming departures to Portugal. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Seven stops from Lisbon to Madrid

Lisbon, Fátima, Vega de Terrón, Régua, Porto, Ávila and Madrid.

Itinerary · EU_NL-DE-FR-CH-CRUISE-11D-01

The Douro River Cruise Itinerary

One of our two river pilgrimages, a route on which you unpack once. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–4

Lisbon and Fátima

Pilgrims at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
The sanctuary at Fátima
Day 1

Depart the United States

We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Lisbon.Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2

Arrival in Lisbon

Our local tour escort meets us at Lisbon airport and accompanies us to our hotel.Welcome dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
Day 3

Lisbon, Santarém and Fátima

We begin at the Monastery of St. Jerome and at the Church of St. Anthony, built over the house where the saint the world knows as St. Anthony of Padua was born, then travel north to Santarém to venerate the thirteenth-century Eucharistic miracle before continuing to Fátima.Mass is celebrated at the Church of St. Stephen, Santarém. Dinner and overnight in Fátima.
Day 4

Fátima

A full day at the shrine: the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary where St. Francisco, St. Jacinta and Venerable Lúcia are buried, the Via Sacra, and Valinhos, ending with the candlelight procession Our Lady asked for.Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. Dinner and overnight in Fátima.
DAYS 5–9

Onto the Douro

A river ship on the Douro below the terraced vineyards
The Douro valley from the river
Day 5

Fátima and embarkation

We return to the Chapel of the Apparitions, then travel to Vega de Terrón on the Spanish bank of the Douro, where we board our river ship.Mass is celebrated at the Chapel of the Apparitions. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 6

Barca d’Alva and Castelo Rodrigo

From the quay at Barca d’Alva we climb to Castelo Rodrigo, the fortified village known as the White Village for its almond blossom, and walk its medieval streets and Manueline windows before sailing down to Pinhão.Mass is celebrated aboard. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 7

Pinhão

We walk to the Pinhão railway station and its twenty-five tile panels of the valley’s working year, then go ashore to a family quinta in the Alto Douro, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.Mass is celebrated aboard. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 8

Régua

We visit the Mateus Palace and its formal gardens, with painted ceilings and furnishings of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.Mass is celebrated aboard. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 9

Régua and Entre-os-Rios

A morning of cruising past terraced vineyards cut into these hillsides by hand, and a traditional meal ashore at a local quinta.Mass is celebrated aboard. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
DAYS 10–13

Porto, Ávila and home

The city of Porto above the Douro
Porto above the river
Day 10

Porto

A last morning on the water brings us into Porto. We tour the historic quarter, the twelfth-century Sé where Henry the Navigator was baptized, and São Bento station with its tiled history of Portugal.Mass is celebrated at Porto Cathedral. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 11

Porto on foot

The ship stays berthed and the city is ours: the Church of the Clérigos and its granite tower, São Francisco with its gilded interior and catacombs, and free time on the Ribeira.Mass is celebrated at the Church of the Clérigos. Lunch, dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 12

Porto, Madrid and Ávila

We disembark and fly to Madrid, continuing to Ávila within its complete eleventh-century walls, to the Convent of La Encarnación where St. Teresa entered religious life and lived for nearly thirty years.Mass is celebrated at the Convent of La Encarnación. Dinner and overnight in Madrid.
Day 13

Departure

We transfer to Madrid airport for our return flight home.Breakfast at the hotel.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima from above
The DouroUnpack once, and wake up somewhere sacred.
Photograph to come
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · Santarém and the Eucharistic miracle
The Eucharistic miracle at Santarém
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fátima
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fátima
The Chapel of the Apparitions at Fátima
The Chapel of the Apparitions, Fátima
The Via Sacra, the Way of the Cross at Fátima
The Via Sacra at Fátima
The Via Sacra, the Way of the Cross at Fátima
The terraced vineyards of the Alto Douro

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to take the Douro cruise?

The river cruising season runs from spring to autumn. May, June and September bring the mildest weather and the longest days on deck, while July and August are the warmest and the busiest. Water levels are a matter for the ship rather than the pilgrimage, and the operator will always tell you well ahead if a stretch has to be covered by coach.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

How much walking does a river pilgrimage involve?

Less than a coach pilgrimage, and that is the point. The ship ties up in the middle of each town, so Pinhão, Régua and Porto are all explored on foot from the quayside, with the ship a short walk away whenever anyone wants to rest. You unpack once, on Day 5, and stay in the same cabin until Porto.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Portugal?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageChristmas markets and AdventWorld Youth Day Seoul 2027Somewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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