Perfect in Portugal
Portugal
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Aug 27 - Sep 5, 2023
The trip has far exceeded any possible expectations from the sights the hotels and the people. Sofia and Carl were wonderful hosts who shared their home and special traditional dishes (one of the best of the entire trip!) that I’ll try to replicate. Luis took us for the day to a private wine tour where Catarina at the winery was delightfully refreshing with vast information on sustainability and the new vs old processes at the vineyards. The tour was fun and the pairings were very nice. We then went to the farm of a husband and wife school teachers at the small 200 tree olive farm told stories of the farm from his grandfather and their love and genuine appreciation of their roots and history was just so wonderful. They have 13 trees that are 2000 years old! We learned how to taste olive oil and purchased a few small bottles that we'll share with our story. And it all just got better! Hard to believe BUT Paulo was simply amazing sharing his knowledge of the castles, the history of the country, and his own personal life taking care to be sure we were okay along the steep hilly hike. He packed a homemade lunch that was so delicious and special. It was a day we all thoroughly enjoyed and was forever memorable. In Porto we started with an e-bike tour through town that was so much fun, racing downhill and enjoying the beautiful neighborhoods. Next, Nuno was very kind, gentle, and conscientious of everyone's well-being as he guided us through the National Forest where we hiked two areas and swam in two different water holes that were secluded, tranquil, and pristine. We took the train from Porto to Lisbon which was simple and comfortable - a nice way to go! Simply spectacular- everything !!! THANK YOU 🙏🏽
Hotel Reviews
The rooms are spectacular - very spacious and light. The hospitality was wonderful and the location was perfect!
Nice people in the heart of Sintra. Wonderful views.
They made us feel like family visiting! I was very comfortable, clean, and in a good location. The dining room has the best pizza ever!!
The hotel was nice comfortable and clean.
Activity Reviews
This was a nice start to our visit - a quick tour of the local highlights
Sofia and Carlos were absolutely lovely - very hospitable and they shared their wonderful stories of their life in Portugal. It all sounded amazing. Sofia made a home-cooked meal that was the best meal of our entire trip! We won't forget this visit ever!
This was an amazing eco-friendly experience starting with the Jeep ride through the vineyards and then to their nature preserve. It was wonderful to hear how they were training the vineyards to grow deeper roots to access water so that no external watering would be needed. Then on the wonderful Olive Oil farm, where they produce the "Amor e' Cego" olive oil the traditional way eschewing modern mass farming techniques. João's message was inspirational and the tasting was intense. Finally, we went on a Cork tour where we all learned something about Cork and the multitude of products it can be made into. Did you know that the Cork tree is harvestable in 9 to 12 years? It is also sustainable without harming the tree.
Sintra was a magical experience made even more so by our fabulous guide, Paulo. He took us on the hidden route up to the castle while many others waited in cars. It was fantastic walking amongst there's ancient walls and then the castle was incredible. After the strenuous ascent, Palo made us a satisfying lunch of Iberian meats, cheeses, and wine. After we descended fully we had a small taste of the local liquor, ginjinha, and of course an espresso. It was incredible.
This was our first time on an e-bike and it was great. Our guide knew his stuff and we rode the entire way along the river. We stopped along the way for photos and some history lessons. Then we went through the park seeing the famous Rooster/ chickens roaming about in the verdant flora.
Peneda-Gerês National Park is an amazing nature preserve with a tranquil water pool, secluded and welcoming for a quick soak. We learned about the wolf trap and reviewed the ruins of the trap. Then it was time for a hand-prepared lunch with an assortment of Portuguese foods, soup, and desserts. Finally, on the way back we hiked down to a few more pools and all took a good long peaceful soak. We also saw a working water-powered Olive press that was still revitalized each season by the locals for use. A great memory that we will never forget.
Hi Cynthia! Thank you for your kind words and review! It was a pleasure to organize this trip for you and your family, where you were able to discover the highlights and remote paths of Portugal, inside and out. We will make sure to take into consideration your experiences in the different hotels, and tell our local guides the great job they do! :) Hoping to cross paths in the future again. All my best for you and your family, Raquel