O Pioneiro - Kayak-tours on the Mondego
Every day, between Penacova and Coimbra
Kayak tours in Portugal adapted for everyone
The combination of the natural beauty of the Mondego valley – with its cliffs, forests and river beaches – with an excellent and yearlong stable water level made the Mondego the preferred river for canoeing and kayaking in Portugal. Enjoy a relaxing and refreshing day on the river and observe the majestic prey-birds, the king-fishers and a great variety of river fish. We have trips adapted to everyone!
For specific maps and instructions to get to our meeting points, click on the arrows below:
Trip 1. Penacova - Torres do Mondego
The trip for everyone! With a length of 18 km, it starts at the dam of Carvoeira, 500 m downstream of the river beach of Penacova and finishes in Torres do Mondego, 3km downstream of the river beach of Casal da Misarela. The whole trip takes place in the natural Mondego river valley – in the middle of the extensive forests – and passes by the small villages of Ronqueira, Rebordosa, Louredo, Foz do Caneiro and Casal. This part of the river is full of small beaches where you can stop for a pick-nick or a swim. There is one bar on the river beach of Palheiros where one can also eat a small snack, drink a beer or have an ice-cream. This part of the river usually has a light current, which makes this kayak-tour easy; accessible to all ages.
The tour takes around 3-4 hours by kayak. We usually meet at 10.00 at Torres do Mondego (see map) – or at 10.30 in Penacova (see map). Whoever travels by public transport, we can pick up at the center of Coimbra (see map). In Penacova we hand you over your kayak and give some instructions. The start of the trip is around 11.00, the arrival at Torres is expected between 15.00 and 17.00.
Trip 2. Penacova - Coimbra
The classic kayak-trip of the full 25km. This descent also includes the last 7 km to the center of the city of Coimbra. The tour is made harder by the widening of the river and the disappearance of the current. Moreover, the usual front wind makes some waves. But who can do this distance has the privilege to enter Coimbra over the river, and have a different perspective on the university tower. This trip is for those sporty people that see kayaking not only as an activity to relax, but also want some physical challenge.
The trip takes around 4-5 hours by kayak without stopping. We normally meet at 9.45 at the watersport club of the “Parque Verde” in Coimbra (see map) or at 10.30 in Penacova (see map). In Penacova we hand you over your kayak and give some instructions. The start of the trip is around 11.00, the arrival between 16.00 and 18.00.