A river full of life, with remarkable natural, scenic and ecological richness, and a unique biodiversity.
The Tagus River is much more than water. It is full of magical places, life, culture, history and nature.
Our Tagus is the one at Escaroupim, in Salvaterra de Magos, flowing through Ribatejo, with fresh water and green banks. It is the river of the fertile floodplains once celebrated by the magazine "Borda d'Água". A river full of life, with remarkable natural, scenic and ecological richness, and a unique biodiversity.
Island of Love
"It's enchanting", "a paradise", "a wonder of nature", "a magical place", "a real surprise", "how is this possible, so close to Lisbon and hardly anyone knows about it?" These are some of the expressions we hear from people discovering the Tagus with us for the first time.
Here the Tagus is still shaped by the tides, high and low. There are unique and hidden places known only to those who were born here and know the river well. These are the places we have chosen to share with you, along the most beautiful stretch of the Tagus River, home to horses, birds and fish, where the sky seems bluer and the river greener. Where nature is generous.
Almost without human presence, there is only nature here. Trees, plants, birds and some horses.
Herons Island
The islands along the Escaroupim - Salvaterra de Magos stretch are one of the Tagus River's great surprises.
Ilha dos Cavalos (Horses Island), Ilha das Garças (Herons Island), Ilhas dos Amores (Islands of Love), Palhota Island, Ilha das Cabras (Goats Island), Mouchão dos Caracóis, Mouchão da Casa Branca, among many others.
They are often inaccessible, mysterious and uninhabited. They are extraordinary places for wildlife and birds, and something many people never imagined could exist in Portugal.
In the Tagus, these islands are called mouchões. They are formed by the accumulation of sand and other sediments carried by the water. Over time, grasses appear and the first trees begin to grow. And that is only the beginning. Little by little, a small, unique and fascinating habitat is created.
All the islands are different, all are unique, each is a world of its own. There is even an island inhabited only by birds. Hundreds upon hundreds of birds of many species spend the night there. During the nesting season, thousands of herons build their nests there. It is something truly extraordinary.
Along the Tagus, we see islands at different stages of life. Some are being born while others slowly disappear. This is one of the wonders of the Tagus River: seeing nature in the middle of its creative process. A Tagus that changes, adapts and renews itself every day. As an old Portuguese song says: "...a Tagus forever new..."
The river as you have never seen it...
The Boat
The "Rio-a-Dentro" is a modern boat: comfortable, safe and with zero CO2 emissions. Because it has an electric motor, it is completely silent. On board, all you hear is the sound of the water and nature. There is none of the usual engine noise of combustion boats, no oil released into the water, and no smell of fuel. It is truly environmentally friendly.
Fully covered on top and at the sides, it allows navigation in winter, even with rain, wind or cold. At the same time, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view, making it the perfect boat for a relaxing nature tour or birdwatching experience.
The "Rio-a-Dentro" complies with the highest international safety standards for passenger boats. It also has all the technological features needed to provide an exceptionally comfortable nature tour on the Tagus River.
With its 19th-century vintage-inspired design, reminiscent of the boats that once sailed Europe's rivers and lakes, the "Rio-a-Dentro" glides silently between islands and secondary channels without disturbing wildlife or leaving an ecological footprint.
The Tagus River has never had a boat quite like this: so comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly. Every detail was designed to provide a fantastic experience in the heart of nature, even for those who do not usually feel at ease on boats. The "Rio-a-Dentro" is a real surprise, and there is no other boat like it on the Tagus River.
Next time you want to amaze someone, you already know: Escaroupim, Salvaterra de Magos, in Portugal.
To invite your friends, there is nothing better than showing them a few pictures. You will have no shortage of reasons. You'll see that your friends will love the idea.
