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Lisbon to Barcelona

Combine a culturally immersive inland journey throughout Portugal with a scenic and insightful tracing of Spain’s iconic coastlines during this remarkable 12-day combination cruise and land tour. Inhale intermingled aromas of seafood and spicy bean soup on Porto’s glowing twilight streets as melancholic fado lyrics and guitarra strings reverberate across stone walls from a more modest skyline. Light a white candle amid prayerful pilgrims in the silence of Fátima’s most sacred sites. Peer into the spiraling, moss-lined columns of the Initiation Well near the misty and verdant Sintra Forest. Bask in the Douro Valley’s unique sunlit glow as you stand among the rocky contours of steep terraced vineyards and gnarled gray trunks of Tinta Cão vines. Master the art of tapas cooking under the direction of an Andalusian chef near Málaga. Sip sherries and wander among old barrels in Cadiz wine cellars. Kayak between scenic caletas, or quays, in Mallorca’s clear coastal waters.

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Day 1: Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive at the Lisbon airport to be met by an English-speaking driver with luggage service. Overnight at Altis Avenida Hotel, a 5-star boutique hotel located in the heart of Lisbon, close to the historical Chiado and Avenida da Liberdade areas.

(Includes overnight at the Altis Avenida Hotel and transfer from airport.)

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Day 2: Lisbon – Fatima – Porto, Portugal

Breakfast at the hotel and begin the morning touring in Lisbon. Enjoy a sightseeing tour to Lisbon’s major highlights – take a tram ride passing the Old Quarter and walk through the tiny squares and alleys of Alfama and a visit to the Belem monumental area and Jeronimos Monastery, declared a UNESCO site. Continue to Fatima in central Portugal, for an included Portuguese lunch and a visit to this important Europe pilgrimage center. Your last stop will be Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, beautifully settled near the mouth of Douro’s river. Check in at the hotel followed by some free time. Early evening includes a tapas dinner at a local tavern, free time and overnight at the Pestana Palace of Freixo Hotel.

(Includes overnight at the Pestana Palace of Freixos Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)

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Day 3: Porto and Douro, Portugal

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your sightseeing tour of Porto highlights –walk Aliados Avenue, see the S. Bento Train station and Porto Cathedral ending at Ribeira Quarter, with free time on your own and/or lunch (not included). Drive towards Pinhão, the heart of the Douro wine region. Stop at Viewpoint Casal de Loivos, considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the area. The Douro Valley, an 18^th century demarcated wine region, encloses one of the most spectacular landscapes in Portugal. Board a traditional Douro River “Rabelo” boat and visit the local Quinta do Bonfim (or similar), to learn about Port wine history and its production methods and have a memorable wine tasting accompanied by some appetizers. Drive to Régua, check in to Quinta da Pacheca Wine Hotel, where dinner is included with your overnight.

(Includes overnight at the Quinta da Pacheca Wine Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.)

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Day 4: Douro, Coimbra, Sintra, Portugal

Breakfast is included at the hotel. Drive for about 2.5 hours to Coimbra known as the student's city, located in central Portugal close to Mondego River. Visit the Coimbra Old University, UNESCO recognized as a heritage site since 2013. Enjoy some time at your leisure before heading to Sintra from Lisbon through a protected forest with narrow streets and stunning 19^th century Romantic architecture. Overnight at Sintra Boutique Hotel, with free time to enjoy the village known for its numerous historic palaces and castles.

(Includes overnight at the Sintra Boutique Hotel and breakfast.)

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Day 5: Pena Palace, Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel and spend the day discovering the splendid Sintra Pena Palace. The fabulous and impressive Pena Palace sits immersed in a stretch of woody terrain in the park of the same name. Associated with Portuguese discoveries, the palace was built to reflect a scene from an opera and erected to celebrate the sighting of Vasco de Gama's returning fleet from his explorations. Continue to the town of Cascais and enjoy some leisure time at the historical center of cobblestone streets, lavish mansions, interesting museums and an imposing fort. Drive to Lisbon, pass by the town center, charming Liberty Avenue and Rossio Square, and pause on the way for tasting the famous pasteis de nata (Portuguese egg custard tarts) before the arrival to the pier and your waiting Windstar ship.

(Includes breakfast and transfer to ship.)

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Day 5: Lisbon

The rhythm of Lisbon invites you to join its captivating dance. This splendid capital city on the banks of the Rio Teja offers a warm welcome and an unparalleled blend of architectural styles. Elegant outdoor cafés line the cobbled sidewalks. Turn-of-the-century funiculars climb the scenic hills. Find the UNESCO sites of the Tower of Belem and the Monastery of the Hieronymites. And, everywhere, the city engages you with its easy style and remarkable charm.

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Day 7: Cádiz

Cádiz is the most southern province of the Iberian Peninsula. It is extremely rich in natural beauty and some of the most important Natural Parks of Spain and Europe are found here including Sierra de Grazalema and los Alcornocales. Both are rich in flora and fauna, including species under threat of extinction. Many birds find their resting and feeding place here just after or before making the jump from or to Africa.

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Day 8: Gibraltar

It’s an odd bit of Britain here at the toe of Spain, with Barbary apes and miles of tunnels as well as traditional red phone boxes. Legend says Gibraltar was one of the two pillars erected by Hercules to mark the edge of the world. Take the cable car to the top to see if you can see it from here. No, that’s not it. That’s just Africa. What a view.

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Day 9: Málaga

Here, on the shores of Costa del Sol, the Andalusian spirit thrives. Be sure to include an optional visit to see the brilliant and comprehensive collection of Picasso’s work at Museo Picasso Málaga, a tribute to this artistic genius in the city of his birth. Or you may choose to opt for a visit to the beautiful village of Mijas, where picturesque Andalusian country life creates some of the world’s best wines.

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Day 10: Almeria, Spain

Enjoy a walking tour of this ancient city. If you prefer, opt for a beautiful drive through the Andalusian countryside to Granada and the magnificent UNESCO site, the Alhambra Palace. Built in the 14th century, this breathtaking example of Moorish architecture combines intricate mosaics and stone-cast latticework in a tapestry of grace and sophistication unparalleled in western civilization. Or take an optional excursion into nature at one of three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

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Day 11: Cartagena

The walled town of Cartagena is a popular seaport with a large naval shipyard. The seashore offers a wide range of activities from windsurfing to good snorkeling to sailing. From Cartagena you can easily explore the ancient city of Murcia, the coastal resorts of Mazarrón, Cala Cortina, and Cabo de Palos or a little further north, the world famous resort of Mar Menor.

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Day 12: Palma de Mallorca

Mallorca is steep, green, and fringed with enticing coves and more than 200 lush beaches. But all that natural beauty is just the beginning. Stroll along the tree-shaded Paseo de Born in search of tapas. Shop for a Siurell; a traditional red, green, and white clay whistle dating back to the time of the Moors. Watch the street performers on the piazza around the church, or cross the island to beautiful Sóller. Not to be missed is the cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Day 13: Barcelona

The old meets the new in this sunny Catalan metropolis, where narrow alleyways contrast with grand boulevards, trendy cuisine meets homemade tapas, and everywhere you’re greeted by the warm, welcoming smiles of the fashionable locals. Don’t miss UNESCO sites like the mind-boggling architecture of Antoni Gaudí or La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, with its eight decorative spires soaring hundreds of feet into the sky.

What’s Included?

All transfers to and from sites, hotels, port and airport

4 hotel stays – 1 night at Altis Grand*, 1 night at Pestana Palace of Freixo*, 1 night at Pacheca The Wine Hotel, 1 night at NH Sintra Centro

Entrance fees to the tram in Lisbon, Porto Cathedral, River cruise in Pinhão, Coimbra University and Pena Palace

Guided tours of Jeronimos Monastery (on Mondays this will be an exterior tour only)

Wine tasting at Quinta in Douro, Wine tasting combined with Portuguese Appetizers in Quinta do Bonfim or similar

Meals as indicated - lunch at Restaurant Tia Alice, Tapas Dinner at Petiscaria Santo António, , dinner at Quinta da Pacheca in Lamego/Douro

8-day cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona or reverse

* or similar hotel class

Portuguese Passages & Spanish Shorelines Cruise Tour

What’s Included?