Portland Duck Tours

ducks There are lots of ways to see Portland’s sights, including several which take advantage of the river running through the city’s center. One particular tour company not only shows you the sights from the river, they also take you up on land as well - in the same vehicle.

Portland Ducks Land and Water Tours offers tours that go from land right into the Willamette River and back out again in amphibious vehicles based on the old DUKW trucks used during World War II. There are several cities around the world which use such vehicles to ferry tourists around in a unique way, including Dublin, London, Singapore and Boston. Duck Tours turn amphibious vehicles from war transports into tourist attractions, although the ones used by Portland Ducks Land and Water Tours are modern Hydra Terra vehicles and are deemed “unsinkable” (at least by the company).

Each bus/boat in the Portland Ducks fleet can seat 46 passengers, and tours are offered three times a week on a regular basis. Private tours can be arranged as well - can you imagine your next company meeting taking a Duck Tour over lunch? The tours themselves begin at the Oregon Convention Center in SE Portland and go through downtown before driving straight into the Willamette River. The trip lasts around two hours, and if you’re thinking that a wintertime tour doesn’t sound fun (it rains here during the winter, after all), don’t worry - each vehicle has windows and heaters so trips can be fun - and dry! - year-round.

Tickets aren’t cheap, but it’s likely to be a tour you won’t soon forget.

Tour Departures: Friday, Saturday, Sunday - 13:30 departure from the Oregon Convention Center (other special tours occasionally offered for limited time during the year)
Loading begins 15 minutes prior to tour departure.

Tickets: $27 adults, $24 seniors, $17 children, $1 infants

Website: http://www.portlandducks.com/index.html