A luxury getaway in search of the landscapes of the greatest curve of the Duero

The view from any point of this five-star hotel, whose greatest luxury is the stillness that is breathed, encompasses the majesty of a river landscape that reaches a kilometer upstream until reaching the establishment’s pier, right in the bend that the river makesand its course continues placidly into view for another thousand meters downstream in an alluvial plain, until it merges with the autumn color palette of the leafy riverbank.

This chain takes its name from the octant, an astronomical instrument of the quintant or sextant type, with a similar application in navigation, which pays tribute to its locations. And that of Octant Douro is literal in an enclave where the time that has shaped this region of northern Portugal seems to stop. Heraclitus said it in the year 500 BC: “everything flows”, a concept that many young people and adults use today when they say they like to ‘flow’, in line with the modernity of ‘liquid life’ by Zygmun Bauman . So nothing remains, like the river, in which you can never bathe in the same waters, although in the case of the Duero at this point, its passage is slow, placid.

The idea that water, like air, is a common good of nature is as old as the Roman torso, but in any of the 61 suites at the Octant Douro it becomes exclusive by offering care and attention, peace and freedom, without time limitations. Like the indoor pool and gym facilities, open 24 hours a day.

Unique emotions are added, such as lunch aboard a rabeloa typical Portuguese boat from the Douro, in addition to in-depth knowledge and unique discoveries that leave their mark, from Portuguese gastronomy to the green wines of the region, without forgetting the extremely varied range of fortified ports. In it Raiva restaurant They have a winery with 123 different varieties of this broth that is characterized by the addition of spirit to the wine when it is in the fermentation process.

Full connection with the landscape

The topographical characteristics of the enclave and the architectural characteristics of the building, built with shale rock and glass, on a stepped slope that extends almost to the shore, increase the guest’s connection to the surrounding landscape and the feeling of having gotten away from the madding crowd. Among the establishment’s elevators, one that stands out is called the funicular, due to its lateral movement along the slope of the hill where the suites are perched. On the door of this mill that avoids stairs, there is a sign that summarizes Octant Douro’s philosophy: “Be patient: some things take time.”

The decoration of the spacious rooms and interiors are always spaces with a view of the river and the natural environment, as well as the corners of the hotel, where armchairs are located in front of large windows to simply sit and contemplate the slow course of the river. . In the environment, the human construction is discreet and merges harmoniously with the river and the mountains that surround it, in a coherent and respectful environmental balance.

Expansion of 20 villas

The aspiration is for full sustainability, such as that practiced in the construction, uphill, of 20 new villas that constitute the expansion of the hotel; all of them with gardens and terraces designed for contemplation of the river, among which four with two bedrooms with private pools and 16 with one bedroom stand out, with 4 of them that will also have a private pool (here the water flows everywhere). Each villa has two bathrooms and a kitchen. The expansion is estimated to be completed by the end of February 2025, under the direction of architect Serôdio Furtado & Associados y Arquitectos Lda, with the interior design by Atelier Cristina Jorge de Carvalho and the landscaping by Topiaris.

Octant Douro is reached from the airport of Port after 50 minutes by car, but it is highly recommended to do it on silent boats that the hotel itself is in charge of providing, as well as the vehicles and activities, which here they call experiences. Among them, boat trips to the romantic Ilha dos Amoresin the middle of the river, where you can have a picnic or swim. The emblematic boat was restored by Filipe Ferreira respecting the original design of the vessels that the historic riverside carpenters built to transport Port wine across the river.

Shale villages and wooden walkways

Stroll along the paths that follow the banks of the river, starting from the hotel to the town of Fartingor the old shale villages (which owe their name to the stone used in the construction of the houses) of Gondarem and Midöesit is a good and relaxed option. For the more active, it is possible to practice kayaking, canoeing or paddle surfing and visit the iconic Paiva Walkwaysan 8-kilometer-long wooden path that follows the course of the Paiva River, a tributary of the Duero that locals claim is the cleanest in Europe as it lacks industries in its riverbed, which contributed to it being declared a world heritage site. UNESCO. In Paiva you can practice rafting. This visit can be complemented with a round trip to Bridge 516, the highest suspension bridge in Europe next to the Sellanoin Italy, although the terrifying fire that devastated this area last summer destroyed the beginning of the wooden trail.

Gastronomy is another of the attractions of this refuge on the largest curve of the Duero. A tasting dinner at the hotel’s Raiva restaurant, led by chef Dárcio Henriques, is pure hedonism. Immersing yourself in a gastronomic journey through local products means being captivated not only by the flavors of each dish, but also by the impressive panoramic views of the majestic river, permanently present. Throughout the gastronomic adventure, co-pilot Bernanrdo Pinho, the establishment’s sommelier, is in charge of guiding a careful choice of wine pairings to enhance each dish. Whether in the establishment’s quiet gardens, or inside its elegant library, the agape will sharpen the senses, not just the palate.

The trip is conducive to trying the massages and treatments at the spa, which has a glass wall with panoramic views of the river; or integrative therapy, in addition to tai chi and qigong classes, a prelude to that Eastern philosophy for the body and mind that is the basis of martial arts. They also carry out wine tastings from Spanish regions. Ribera del Duero and Rueda and the Portuguese Alto Douro Vinhateiroestablishing a friendly competition between both countries crossed by the same river that also serves as a border for 112 kilometers of its channel, forming the natural parks of Douro Internacional in Portugal and Arribes del Duero in Spain.