While the hot weather is a novelty for us UK dwellers, it is causing huge issues in Portugal and has been for several years.
When we visited the Douro Valley in July 2025 we saw up close the problems that the scorching heat and tinder dry landscape created.
We watched, enthralled but worried, as the skillful seaplane pilots passed over the river, scooping up water to carry off to several fires that we could see the smoke from.
This carried on for two days while we were based in Pinhão, with three planes in convoy, all collecting the river water for hours on end.
Then it was time for us to cool off ourselves as we finally arrived at our lovely little Quinta in Pinhão.
It has to have one of the best view we have ever seen with the Douro river snaking away into the distance as the sun sets over the valley.
The seaplanes continued over head for several hours, and you can see one of them captured below!
Pinhão itself is tiny. There’s a handful of cafés, small hotels, and family-run restaurants line the river. Life moves at a measured pace.
Locals greet each other by name. You’re more likely to hear birds and water than traffic. Which is lovely, but did make it very hard to find somewhere to eat if you arrive after 5pm!
Pinhão’s train station is famous for its beautiful blue-and-white azulejo tiles. These hand-painted panels depict scenes of the Douro’s wine harvest—grape picking, river transport, and rural life.