We had an amazing day with Sérgio. He was a pleasure to tour with and a very informative and helpful guide. Bonus that he took pictures for us he sent to us after. Would definitely recommend!

We had a great day with Sergio! We really appreciated his knowledge of the local flora and fauna, as well as the history of the area. The trails and villages are beautiful. He recommended a great restaurant for lunch that served delicious local dishes (chanfana and wild boar). I would definitely recommend a guided hike with Sergio.

Lovely fella. We think his name was Sergio. Great communication and information shared along the way. We enjoyed the villages and history. A unique afternoon.

We had a wonderful day tour of the Cascades and Shist Villages, Piodao with Sérgio. If you are considering a trip outside of Coimbra and want beautiful scenery and an experience you wont forget I highly recommend this tour. Sérgio was so kind, and extremely knowledgeable. We stopped at various spots along the way to Piodao for views/photos. Once we arrived in Piodao, we had lunch with Sérgio. After lunch he took us around the village, pointing out historical details and artifacts. We stopped in the little village chapel which was amazing. Lots of great conversations. On the way back we stopped at a hidden waterfall. Overall we felt like the day was relaxing, adventurous, and educational. We were well cared for. He sent complimentary photos of our trip the next day. I highly recommend Sergio and any of his Aventuras Forte(s) tours. Just do it!

It was nice to take a break from the busy city and see the storybook like villages. Fatima was so kind and we enjoyed the time with her.

We thought this was really good. Conímbriga was more extensive and more interesting than I thought it would be. Sérgio was one of the best guides we have had the pleasure to meet. He was informative, insightful, and a pleasure to be with. We have seen many Roman sights over the years. This trip ranks right up at the top.

It is a beautiful forest that is accessible to everyone. The guide did give it an extra dimension. We have been to beautiful places and viewpoints. The guide told interesting things about the forest and the history surrounding the Bussaco Palace. He told it in a pleasant and understandable way.

This was a really great trip. Book a train to Coimbra, and it’s absolutely worth it to find this hidden gem. Sergio was a great and very friendly tour guide with plenty of insights to share! Lunch with green wine was also a highlight! Monsanto is a beautiful village with some very extreme visuals and a lot of history. I felt sorry for the other people we saw checking it out without Sergio to tell them all about the history of the village. Great for solo travelers! I was honestly a bit reluctant when I realized I had to pay the same as two people, but when you realize he only does private tours and thus if you book solo you’re the only person on the tour, you realize that for the amount of time he’s spending, this is what makes it worth it and even makes the solo option available. So whether you come alone or bring friends, family, etc. along, I highly recommend this tour while you’re in Portugal!

What a great experience this was! Sergio was our guide and he was so knowledgeable about the area. The hike was beautiful and in the morning it was so quiet and peaceful. The villages were fun to explore and the whole tour felt like a very unique, like a side of Portugal that many travelers overlook. I would highly recommend! One tip to pass along- if it looks like there is no availability when you check the tours online, email Adventure Forte Tours directly. They were flexible with us and able to accommodate our schedule.

We saw 2 villages with Sergio - Candal and Talasnal. The former has 7 residents and it is refreshing, quaint and different. The latter is slightly more commercial with lots of options for lodging. Time has really stood still in these rural villages and Sergio really educated us across a few hours on the shale villages. His passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for rural living really came across and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to uncover a hidden national treasure. We really enjoyed meeting and hanging with you!

Sergio was amazing! I didn’t realize it was going to be a one on one tour, so was very pleasantly surprised. He did a great job with the destination villages and really knew his stuff!! Also, you can really tell y he enjoys his job, because the villages, cafes and restaurants that he frequents for his tour all the people know him. He is very personalble and friendly which is a perfect combination on a one on one tour. Cheers and I wish you much success! Thanks for a great and informative tour!!! Carolyn

Sergio is a fabulous guide. Courteous, knowledgeable of the geography, history, plant and birds or the region. We had a lovely day and thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour with. Sergio. Well worth the cost. Thank you!

This was a great experience. It was a great way to get out to Lousa. I enjoyed getting into the mountains, and the Schist Villages we visited were charming, and each had their own character. Sergio was knowledgeable about the history, the geography and the flora and fauna. He was a safe driver and a pleasant host. I felt like the trip was tailored to me, as he answered my questions and followed up on my interests. He took beautiful photos which he shared with me too. I highly recommend this trip.

Portugal is so much more than Lisbon and Porto and our day spent with Sergio touring the Schist Villages of Lousa was one of the best days of our three week Portugal vacation. The sheer beauty and fascination with the Schist villages is hard to explain but should never be missed. Sergio was one of the best tour operators we have ever hired and he made sure to share both the history and stories of these villages and kept us engaged through the entire nine hours of the tour. He also made sure to take us to an amazing restaurant where we dined and had one of our best meals on our trip. Make sure to leave the city's and explore the mountains and beautiful countryside of Portugal.

The motto of Aventuras Fortes sums it up: "More than just a tour; an adventure." We would both say "More even than an adventure: a treasured experience." From the beginning of the journey to Conimbriga Sergio was helpful and considerate, ensuring we approached the vehicle in the most convenient as well as safe way. On arrival there was little delay and we were escorted throughout the tour with helpful commentary that showed how well he understood the site and its history. The tour followed a gradually revealing route through the buildings outside the late defensive wall, with explanations of why our approach was from their rear. On reaching the front entrance we could see each building layout clearly as well as how it had been overshadowed by the wall that eventually failed in its purpose of defence. Beyond the wall we were of course impressed by the governor's residence and the gymnasium area but both seemed insignificant compared with the magnificence of the merchant's house. How heartbreaking it must have been to have built such a mansion and then have to abandon it before the city was overwhelmed by an enemy. The whole narrative was given to us in an understanding way, and the care Sergio took of two elderly people on a site with deep steps and uneven surfaces was exemplary. The final visit to the site museum to see objects found by excavation added mush of the human dimension to a long-lost city. We are both very grateful and recommend Aventuras Fortes heartily.