Viamar

Viamar has made the crossing from Peniche to the Berlenga since 1958 and presents itself as the historic operator of the route: it carries more than 25,000 passengers a year and more than three million in total. It is a family company, formerly called Transportes Berlenga, and is a licensed operator of the IMT, the Portuguese transport body. Its current boat is the Cabo Avelar Pessoa, the largest on the route, with a capacity of 180 passengers, which the Autoridade Marítima Nacional inspects every year; it is named after an earlier boat from the 1970s and 1980s.

How it works

It leaves from Peniche marina, next to the fortress, from 8 May to 30 September. The crossing takes about 45 minutes and all departures give 5 hours on the island: from 11:00 to 17:00 in low season, and from 10:00 to 16:00 or from 12:00 to 18:00 in high season and at weekends. You must arrive 45 minutes before (an hour for groups) and look for the check-in flag or someone from Viamar in uniform. The return is boarded on the island, where they also sell the glass-bottom boat trip through the caves, of about 25 minutes.

Prices

Return for adults from €19.90 to €34.90 depending on the week, and for children aged 3 to 11 from €11.90 to €24.90; up to age 2, free or with a small supplement in high summer. Children always travel with an adult. The BerlengasPass, the nature reserve fee, is processed separately and is mandatory: €3 per adult per day, with a discount for ages 6 to 18 and over-65s.

Bookings and cancellation

You book on its website, with FareHarbor, by phone or by WhatsApp. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before (48 for groups). With the Flex fare you can change up to half an hour before, but that supplement is never refunded. If it is Viamar that cancels because of the state of the sea or for operational reasons, it refunds everything paid. Summer weekends sell out weeks ahead.

Luggage and the island

Each passenger can carry two bags and one hand luggage; for large objects, call beforehand. On the Berlenga you cannot camp freely: only at the island campsite, with compulsory reservation. There is a restaurant for lunch and a drinks stand at the Castelinho. The boat has seats reserved for people with reduced mobility and for babies; if you need help, let them know. On the island there is hardly any coverage, so bring battery power. They serve in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.