Today, by taking tours on traditional boats of the Tagus estuary, one can revive the memory of the many types of boats that once sailed along the river and between its banks. These boats were used for various fishing tasks and played crucial roles in transporting passengers, raw materials, and goods.
An overview of their evolution, the associated artisanal shipbuilding industry, and their decline in the 1960s, with the emergence of new means of transport and communication routes such as the new Bridge over the Tagus in 1966, can be read in the article “A Brief History of the Tagus Estuary Boats” by collector Luís Bayó Veiga.
In recent years, we have witnessed significant efforts by municipalities in the Tagus estuary area to restore typical boats, particularly the work developed by the Naval Nucleus of the Municipal Ecomuseum of Seixal, to keep alive the heritage, history, and culture linked to the river environment of these territories.
Providing recreational, cultural, and educational activities to residents and visitors through tours on traditional boats is one of the ways municipalities promote this rich heritage from the past.
Before embarking, we draw attention to the richness of the colourful decorative paintings each boat features, a result of the taste and creativity of the painters from the various shipyards that once existed.
Tours on Traditional Boats
We find several types of boats: varino, bote, bote de fragata, and muleta, which operate from various riverside locations. These tours are organized and conducted by municipalities or tourist operators who also offer special programs for private groups.
The routes are very varied, allowing for observation of diverse landscapes such as islets and the natural reserve with its fauna and flora, urban views from both banks, and even the sighting of iconic sites and monuments of Lisbon, such as the Praça do Comércio with its Arch of Triumph.
We start with the traditional boat tours available on the north bank, first in the upstream municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, and then in the city of Lisbon, before moving to the south bank, covering Alcochete, Moita, Barreiro, and Seixal.
Vila Franca de Xira
The history of the varino “Liberdade” began in 1945, in Abrantes, where it was built and christened “Campino“. Its initial function of transporting goods on the Tagus River underwent changes. In the 1960s, it carried garbage from Lisbon to the south bank and later navigated the Sado River for salt loading.
With the decline of river transport, this boat, meanwhile renamed “Rio Zuari“, had to be sunk until the Vila Franca de Xira City Council recovered and rechristened it “Liberdade” on April 25, 1988, integrating it into the municipality’s museum collection.
The beauty of this varino can be appreciated virtually or in person through organized trips between March and November, with the remaining months dedicated to its maintenance and the restoration of its ornamental paintings.
There are several routes, exploring different locations: Volta aos Mouchões, Vala Real da Azambuja, Conchoso, Parque das Nações…
All information can be found on the City Council’s website.
Lisbon
In Lisbon, tours on traditional boats are available through the tourist operator Nosso Tejo. This company has two typical boats, the bote de fragata “Seja Feliz“, built in 1947, and the varino “Sou do Tejo” from the late 19th century.
It offers various proposals, from longer tours to express versions, and the possibility of enjoying a fabulous sunset with a sunset cruise, seeing monuments and representative sites on both banks, such as the Belém Tower, the Christ the King statue, or Cacilhas with its emblematic lighthouse.
By purchasing your tickets here you are supporting the getLISBON project.
Alcochete
In Alcochete, we can sail aboard the bote “Leão“, which has been conducting tours to Lisbon and the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve since 2016. This boat, owned by the City Council, was entirely built from scratch according to the techniques used in the old Tagus boats, in memory of and similar to the namesake boat that connected Alcochete to the capital from the late 19th century to the 1960s.
The bote “Leão” is also virtually visitable, allowing us to get to know it in a playful way and observe some of its details, particularly the decorative paintings.
Find out all information available on the municipality’s webpage.
Moita
At the Moita Pier, from where various tours on traditional boats routes promoted by the City Council depart, we find other small typical boats, all colourful and well-preserved, which is undoubtedly an encouraging scene for their memory and preservation.
On the promenade, informative supports provide a brief history of the boats and the relevance of this pier, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2023.
Little is known about the past of the varino “O Boa Viagem“, only that in 1900 it was registered as “Marechal Saldanha” and in 1907, with the change of owner, its name was changed to “Albano I“.
In 1980, the Moita City Council acquired it and promoted its recovery using traditional techniques by Master José Lopes, at the Gaio shipyard.
The following year, during the town’s festivities, the varino was introduced to the population, receiving the name that evokes the local religious tradition, in honour of Our Lady of Good Voyage.
The tours on traditional boats routes presented by the municipality include various initiatives such as: special programs for schools; bird watching; sunset on board; the possibility of including a typical lunch; among others.
All information about this rich and varied program from May to October can be found on the City Council’s website.
Barreiro
The tradition of maritime activities was also very significant in the history of this municipality. One of the typical boats used for fishing was the muleta with unique characteristics that take us back to origins in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Barreiro City Council owns the muleta “Álvaro Velho“, built from scratch at the construction and repair shipyard of Master Jaime Ferreira da Costa.
Since 2022, it has been making trips on the Tagus organized by the municipality itself or by the tourist operator that holds its concession.
The contact information for the Tourism Office can be found on the municipality’s webpage, where a more detailed description of the muleta’s type can also be read.
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Seixal
The Seixal City Council owns two traditional boats, the bote de fragata “Baía do Seixal” and the varino “Amoroso“. The first is older, with known information dating its construction to 1895, and the second was built in 1921; both are at the municipality’s service for cultural and historical maritime activities.
The route they offer aims to showcase the municipality’s heritage, viewing from the river relevant points such as: the Ponta dos Corvos Beach; the Corroios Tide Mill; manor houses; the Naval Section; the Quinta da Fidalga shipyard; among others.
For more detailed information available on the Seixal City Council website.
With this last suggestion, we have reached the end of our maritime route through the Tagus estuary. Embark on one of the many tours on traditional boats to enjoy unique views and landscapes, and imagine the vibrant movement and colours that once animated the river.
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