Through the River Tagus in Lisbon with Hippotrip

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A recipe for fun.

The unexpected sight of the yellow Hippotrip vehicles driving into the River Tagus in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, fascinates passengers and other casual observers. It has a Mercedes engine and provides lots of entertainment – a concept that has proved highly successful.


Frank Alvarez, a Portuguese-Canadian businessman, has lived in cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam, but he couldn't stop thinking about Lisbon, until he decided in 2008 to exchange his job in Toronto for an "adventure" in Portugal. After he had seen how the idea of tourist trips in amphibian vehicles can be put into action at other tourist destinations, Frank Alvarez was sure: Lisbon "needed" a company like Hippotrip.

The idea goes back to 2005, when he was just finishing his MBA degree at Harvard, which involved developing a business plan: inspired by the first operations with amphibian vehicles in Boston in 1994, Frank Alvarez saw Lisbon as the ideal location for that sort of venture.


On land and water.

Normally, the journey with Hippotrip takes about 90 minutes, about 25 minutes of which are through the River Tagus. The departures and arrivals are at the port of Santo Amaro, and the tour goes via Praça do Comércio, Marquês de Pombal, Jardim da Estrela, Museu da Eletricidade and Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Then the journey across the sea begins at a dock named Bom Sucesso and leads to the VTS tower, the monument to discovery voyages, and the tower of Belém.

This interesting route and the unusual means of travel have meant that the number of customers has steadily risen since 2013. Last year the figure of 59,000 passengers was reached, far exceeding our hosts' expectations. The secret, says Frank Alvarez, lies in "the way we gain people's sympathy and the maximum of entertainment we offer during the 90-minute journey". They are already considering adding a fourth vehicle. Then "Amadeu" will join "Chico", "Lola" and "Alegria", and together they will fulfil Hippotrip's main aim: "providing an innovative and excellent service for tourists".


Frank Alvarez was never in any doubt that Portugal needed a company like Hippotrip.

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