The first full day at Quinta do Cachao in São João da Pesqueria began with a lovely breakfast of toast and jam, ham and cheese rolls, fresh orange juice, and fruit. After breakfast we explored the Quinta grounds and surrounding vineyards and olive groves. We took a late morning train to Pinhão for lunch and to catch a boat ride through the Rio Douro valley. We returned to the Quinta by train for a simple meal of sandwiches and cookies that we purchased in Pinhão.
We didn’t have any specific plans for our days at the Quinta, assuming we’d be exploring the area one way or another. When our host Beatriz suggested a local train from Federrosa (about 3k from our Quinta) to Pinhão instead of driving, we jumped at the chance. The drive would have taken over an hour over twisty roads. The train took about 35 minutes and rode along the north bank of the Douro with excellent scenery. Less than 3€ per ticket.
Here are some photos from the day.
