Guided visits
Come and see where and how Ria de Alvor sea bream grows, guided by the people who look after it every day.
Two ways to visit
All visits are guided and by prior appointment only, to ensure the safety of our visitors and the smooth running of production.
Individuals
A quiet visit to the tidal ponds, to discover the production system, the life of the Ria and the work of every day.
Groups
Visits for school classes, universities, company teams, associations and tour groups, tailored to the goals of each group.
The route
A guide takes you around the tidal ponds and explains, at each stop, how Ria de Alvor sea bream comes to life here. What you see depends on the time of day and the season: every visit is a little different.
Stop 01 · Arrival
The tidal ponds lie inside the Ria de Alvor nature reserve, between Lagos and Portimão, just a few metres from the sea. They cover 10 hectares of earthen ponds, connected to the Ria by channels.
Why it matters. It is here, between the Ria and the sea, that it all begins: the water in the tidal ponds comes from the Ria itself.
Stop 02 · The tide
Channels connect each tidal pond to the Ria. Salt water flows in and out with the tide, naturally, twice a day.
Why it matters. The water is renewed at nature's pace, in a stable environment close to the sea.
Stop 03 · The tidal pond
Algae, small molluscs and invertebrates live naturally in the tidal ponds and form part of the fish's diet.
Why it matters. A tidal pond is not just a tank: it is a piece of the Ria, with a life of its own.
Stop 04 · The walkway
From the walkway you can see the shoal rise to the surface. We never exceed 3 kg of fish per cubic metre of water.
Why it matters. More space means less stress, more natural growth and higher quality in every fish.
Stop 05 · The harvest
The harvest is done with nets, in the ponds themselves, by people who know every tidal pond, and to suit each order.
Why it matters. A simple gesture that preserves the integrity of the fish right up to the last moment.
Vale da Lama
Come and see the tide
at work.
Book a visit
Tell us your preferred date and we will confirm availability. We will reply by email with all the details.
Choose the type of visit, your preferred date and the number of people.
We reply by email with availability, the length of the visit and its price.
At Sapal do Vale da Lama, in Lagos, inside the Ria de Alvor nature reserve.
For your visit
Visit request
The Vale da Lama tidal pondsGroup visits
For large groups, school visits or special occasions, call or write to us: we will tailor the visit to your group.
Call to a Portuguese mobile number