Portugal Local culture Trips

It would be impossible to have a favorite…. As much as I loved seeing all the old city centers as well as walled cities, cathedrals and palaces, I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know all the other members in our group! Some were from the US and others from Australia and Korea. The dinners where we were all together are some of my favorite memories!

There were 22 in our group, 16 associated with a Sun City community and 6 who joined on their own. A very congenial group! Our tour manager, Elena Planas, was top of her class! So prepared each day with information on our stops/tours, all touched by her wonderful humor. She balanced each day with great finesse. Highlights were a dinner with Fado music in Lisbon - and eating pastiche de nata (or Belem...sooo good!); visiting a one-woman olive oil production in a small village in Spain (sooo impressive is she!); Salamanca; bullfighting museum; Douro Valley (stunning!); walking a small bit of the Camino (wonderful guide!) and sharing all of this with our dear friends. A wonderful trip. Shout out to Collette for helping with our return flight - we missed our connection back to the US. Not a problem with Collette!

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.