Portugal Local culture Trips

I travel a lot, but this tour was truly one of my favorites. Everything was thoughtfully planned down to the smallest details. The itinerary included some of the most beautiful towns and cities in Spain and Portugal, comfortable buses, an interesting cultural program, delicious local food and restaurants, live music, and amazing entertainment. The Flamenco show was especially unforgettable. The hotels were beautiful and located in the best areas, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. A very special thank you goes to our guide, who was incredibly helpful, caring, and dedicated throughout the entire trip. He created such a friendly, fun, and relaxed atmosphere for all of us, and it made the journey even more memorable.

If you’re lucky enough to have João as your tour manager… you’ve already won the trip. From the very first day, João didn’t just guide us—he elevated the entire experience in ways that are hard to put into words. His knowledge, passion, and pride for Portugal and Spain were incredible, but what truly set him apart was how deeply he cared about every single person on the tour. João has that rare gift—you feel like you’re traveling with a friend, not just a guide. He anticipated needs before we even knew we had them, handled every detail seamlessly, and somehow made a large group feel personal, connected, and special. Whether it was sharing stories on the bus, recommending hidden gems, or making sure every moment ran smoothly, he went above and beyond… every single day. And then there’s his energy—warm, genuine, funny, and endlessly patient. He brought the group together, created unforgettable moments, and made us all feel taken care of from start to finish. Because of João, this wasn’t just a tour… it was an experience I’ll never forget. Collette is lucky to have him—but we were even luckier to travel with him.

The tour was everything I had hoped it would be. From the welcome evening to the last cocktail hour everything went as smoothly as it co. Well paced travel and tours were mostly outstanding! The experiences were amazing! There were so many great ones: my first view of the Fouro River valley from the top of the canyon, the fairy tale atmosphere of Sintra, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, walking the St James trail. Most especially the dinner with Marta at her home with her family. It was such a warm and very tasty experience!

Our tour manager Joao was the best guide we have ever had. He went out of his way to make everyone feel like a family. We loved all the stops with just enough time to explore on your own. The highlight for me was Sintra and the stay in Douro Valley in the middle of the trip. It gave enough time to relax and recharge for the second part into Spain. Victor our driver who was with us the majority of the tour was excellent as well. Hight recommend this tour and Collette.

Our guide, Carla Costa, was wonderful---such passion for the history and culture of Portugal! She helped bring the cities to life for us all! Wonderful hotels and restaurants, great food, good pace for us all.

Our Tour guide, Carla Costa is an exceptional guide, she had done so much research and her enthusiasm, and intellect were a joy to be a part of, along with her calm prescence and constantly sunny disposition, she left no stone unturned in her quest to give us every possible way to enjoy ourselves and answer every question raised. The trips are extremely well put together, well thought through and work very well when conducted. The itineraries are varied and contain a fabulous mix of interesting and unusual things to see and do.