We’re normally not big on aquariums, but this centre, Fluviário de Mora, next to the Playa Fluvial do Gameiro (river beach) near Cabeção, Mora, is both close to Estremoz, and also pleasantly calming to wander through.

Passadiço do Gameiro

The Fluviário de Mora is located on the far side of a working dam, but before visiting we took a leisurely stroll along the River Raia for a couple of kilometres. Leaving from the praia fluvial (river beach) and its café, WCs and umbrellaed beach, we followed the wooden walkway (passadiço) for approximately 1,5km and then continued on towards the village of Cabeção on the footpath to what we call Fisherman’s Beach. We actually saw the flash of huge fish jumping out of the water to snap up unsuspecting flies and other bugs, leaving ever-widening eddies on the surface. So, it was very interesting to then see the same species of fish swimming around and getting fat in the aquarium.

Underwater lunch

Next, we had lunch at the newly opened restaurant: O Fluviário. Housed in the same building, the far wall of the restaurant is fully glass and looks into the outdoor pool of the aquarium. The fish were fascinated by us diners and kept close up against the glass, much to the delight of those seated at the adjacent tables. The menu was interesting with a modern take on traditional Portuguese cuisine. We tried wild boar croquettes, ‘peixinhos da horta’ followed by a chicken, goat’s cheese, walnut salad and a dish of fried octopus tentacles. Very healthy and delicious!

Dive into the aquarium

After that, we went into the aquarium itself and wandered around viewing the river fish from the other side of the pool, and displays of all kinds of river animals from fresh water fish, frogs, toads and turtles to be found in Portugal to exotic creatures such as the hungry piranhas (always make me think of the James Bond movie), poisonous neon frogs used on the end of darts by Amazonian hunters, to fish with legs (Axolotle). One of the scariest displays is a huge anaconda river snake, I didn’t want to ask what it eats!

The aquarium is divided into six main exhibition areas where you can get to know more about the freshwater aquatic life in Portugal, the Iberian Peninsula, and also the tropical regions of South America and Africa, amongst others.

The gallery rooms are as follows:

• Course of the river
• Monsters of the river
• The otter pen
• The carp room
• Exotic habitats
• The grand Amazonian aquarium

Don’t miss the otters

There are two compounds with otters, but unless you go at feeding time (12:45hr and 16:45hr) they stay hidden away in their sets. We did however buy some fish food (for 50 cents) and fed the fish, although there was a pair of ducks (male and female) who kept snapping it up and pecking the fish out of the way too.

To finish up there is a small gift shop.

I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you have children with you – and we will return to experience the otter feeding some time soon!

Details:

Address: Fluviário de Mora, Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Cabeção
Tel: +351 266 448 130
Website: www.fluviariomora.pt
Entrance: 7€ adults, 4,5€ children (over 3)
Easy parking onsite, open everyday 10:00hr – 17:00hr