Azores Private Tours
Azores Private Tours
5
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About
My name is Rui and I am a Sao Miguel Island native. I love meeting people from other countries and making their visit to the Azores one they will never forget. My customers are not just clients to me – they are new friends, and as such they receive personalised service. I have many years of experience as a professional private driver, and you will find me an enthusiastic host with an excellent sense of humour. I can provide VIP services, Private Tours by Car and/or Minivan, and Airport Transfers.
Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Azores Private Tours
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(20 reviews)
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5.0
516 reviews
Excellent
504
Very good
7
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Brenda A
Richmond Hill, Canada2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We debated about renting a car as so many people say it is essential to get around in Sao Miguel. The best decision we made was booking with Azores Private Tour company and having Rui take us on two tours of the island. It allowed us to totally focus on the scenery and not spend time figuring out how to get there, find parking or worry about narrow roads.
We did the half day tour of the west part of the island and then the full day of the east going to Furnas and other key points. Both days were phenomenal not only because of the scenery but more so because of Rui, his professionalism, knowledge and wonderful demeanour. He had a wealth of information to share about the sites we visited, was very accommodating and made us feel so comfortable. He gave us time to explore and adjust according to our interests within the 8 hours so that we could thoroughly enjoy the day.
Anyone looking for a tour, Azores Private Tours is definitely the way to go; no stress and you aren’t confined to the fixed schedule of a regular tour operator or frustrated by people who run late and most importantly, you couldn’t find a nicer person to show you Sao Miguel Island. We have met someone we hope to connect with again when we visit the Azores, but this time at a cafe!
We did the half day tour of the west part of the island and then the full day of the east going to Furnas and other key points. Both days were phenomenal not only because of the scenery but more so because of Rui, his professionalism, knowledge and wonderful demeanour. He had a wealth of information to share about the sites we visited, was very accommodating and made us feel so comfortable. He gave us time to explore and adjust according to our interests within the 8 hours so that we could thoroughly enjoy the day.
Anyone looking for a tour, Azores Private Tours is definitely the way to go; no stress and you aren’t confined to the fixed schedule of a regular tour operator or frustrated by people who run late and most importantly, you couldn’t find a nicer person to show you Sao Miguel Island. We have met someone we hope to connect with again when we visit the Azores, but this time at a cafe!
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonor C
Lowell, MA2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
My kids and I, want to Thank Rui for the excellent tours and experience we all had in the Azores. We highly recommend Rui for his friendly , courteous and super knowledgeable experience. We had so much fun and will definitely book again with Rui in future trips.
Thank you again Rui . Great job …5 stars .
Leonor e família
Thank you again Rui . Great job …5 stars .
Leonor e família
Written 29 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dulce B
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
Rui is very friendly we enjoyed very much spending the day with him can’t wait for next year to explore some more places with him
Written 12 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob A
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
I recently went on a tour with Azores Private Tours and it was absolutely amazing! The tour was well organized, our guides, Rui and Flavio were incredibly knowledgeable/personable, and the scenery was breathtaking. We were able to see some of the most beautiful sites in the Azores, and our guides were able to provide us with a wealth of information about the history, culture, and natural wonders of the region. I would highly recommend Azores Private Tours to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in the Azores. Thank you Rui and Flavio for an incredible experience and a ton of memories that will last a lifetime !
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen M
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
We had an amazing time!
Having Rui as our tour guide was great, he was knowledgeable, his English was excellent, and if there’s anything you need he’s your guy.
Can’t imagine going to the island and not having him as our guide
Having Rui as our tour guide was great, he was knowledgeable, his English was excellent, and if there’s anything you need he’s your guy.
Can’t imagine going to the island and not having him as our guide
Written 21 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed A
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
We had a fantastic experience with this tour company. The staff were very caring, professional, and they provided the most comfortable/satisfying experience. After doing all my research with selecting the right tour guide, I was not disappointed. Rui is ver knowledgeable and knows all the hidden gems on this island. What a great experience.
Written 20 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyce S
1 contribution
Oct 2022
Rui was a great guide! He's very knowledgable about São Miguel and the Azores. He struck a good balance between providing a guided tour while still giving us space to explore on our own at each location.
Written 2 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
akersbell
Palo Alto, CA24 contributions
Nov 2022
We scheduled a private 1/2 day tour with Azores Private Tours as the major event of our cruise stop in Ponta Delgada. Rui was prompt, professional,competent, delightful, informative--we could go on and on. His tour was a highlight of our fourteen day cruise from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale. As a native of the Azores, the pride he has in his country shines through in his conversation about life on Sao Miguel and its history. Heavy cloud cover greeted us every where we went but that didn't detract from the tour. We still were able to gain a sense of the northern portion of the island, its history and its people with Rui's excellent tour commentary. If we ever return to the Azores, we will book with Rui (Azores Private Tours) again.
Written 21 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SuperKatie
Austin, TX736 contributions
Aug 2022
I am so happy that we booked three days' worth of private tours with Rui. He is friendly, funny, and so incredibly genuine. No request is too much trouble for him. He managed to fit in SO many great places and experiences into his itineraries, while never making us feel at all rushed. Rui knows his island like the back of his hand and is genuinely so excited to share its magic with visitors. He was on time and easy to reach via WhatsApp. His car is very nice (he cleans it every day!) and he drives safely. He was happy to modify our itineraries to better fit our preferences for the trip, such as adding some time to swim at an amazing local beach where the water is warm at low tide due to an underground geothermal source, or adding a stop at the local winery. He knows the best local restaurants and bakeries. He managed to always seem to get us to viewpoints when larger tour groups weren't there, which made them even more magical. He has encyclopedic knowledge of San Miguel and the Azores, from the geothermal and volcanic science to the animals and plants to the changeable weather, history, and cuisine, Rui can answer any question you can come up with. I'm sure we saw a ton more places (and experienced way less driving stress) with Rui than we ever would have managed on our own. Perhaps best of all, he's very pleasant to spend time with. We felt truly like we were being escorted by a new friend. I would not hesitate to highly recommend Rui's services. (He runs his own small business, so be patient with emails - if he's out on a tour, he may not reply until a bit later, but he will reply..)
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte D
Jacksonville, FL5 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
We utilized this company on our last day on the island. Rui was a great tour guide. The trip was clean, smooth and very informative. He took us to places on the island we hadn’t been to yet. Rui was a great driver and had plenty of information about the Azores and different towns on São Miguel. I highly recommend traveling with this service.
Written 8 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I looking for some information about taxi and other car services, shutle bus etc. We going to Azores for hollydays, and will make a trip around the Sao Miguel Island. Many thanks for some information.
Hi, I'm having trouble getting your contact information as well. Could you please provide phone number or email address?
Ricardo B
Utrecht, The Netherlands17 contributions
Sorry for my late answer, e-mail and phonenumebers are correct. azoresprivatetours @ gmail
His phones are
Tlm.:(+351) 914 616 240
Tlm.:(+351) 962 758 186
Benjudy2018
Woodland, CA24 contributions
How do we book the service I don’t see an email address or phone?
DaninrugbyUk
Rugby, UK165 contributions
On the menu there is a contacts list. Here you will find email and phone numbers.
vchhat
Toronto, Canada
We are 2 seniors in good shape but not rich. We are going to Portugal with a stop over in Azores. We love nature.
How many days do we need to see a few good places with a guide named Rui.
Erich B
El Mocanal, Spain8 contributions
4 full days and full nights and if possible a few extra days to travel by yourself in the city.
6 or 7 stay in Sao Miguel and 4 days tours is ideal if you want to visit all and try spa, visit natural areas relax and shop local products and visit unsual places for tourists
vchhat
Toronto, Canada
We are 2 seniors in good shape but not rich. We are going to Portugal with a stop over in Azores. We love nature.
How many days do we need to see a few good places with a guide named Rui.
270barbara
Northamptonshire, UK2 contributions
Hi. Sorry, I have only just seen this. We spent 2 full days with Rui and we saw so much of the island with him. Well worth the money and he is a true gentleman.
Hi, we will be cruising Royal Caribbean and will be at port port of call on April 25, 2017 from 7 AM to 4 PM. We are interested in a four to five hour tour for two seniors and one adult, preferably a private tour. This is our first time and would like to know what you recommend. Also cost. Thank you so much
Steven t
Lacey4 contributions
We stopped in Ponta Delgada returning from Barcelona on Disney last fall. We had a half-day tour with Rui Medeiros of Azores Private Tours. It was outstanding, as I noted in the review I posted. His car (Mercedes) is perfect for a tour group of 3. Rui is personable, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. The island is beautiful, and the ride pleasant. Rui also was happy to drop us off and point where we could purchase some port wine to carry back on-board (allowed by Disney).
I just looked and Rui has 313 "very good" or "excellent" reviews. Compare those to only 2 "poor" reviews. Hard to beat. Reviews can be found if you search on tripadvisor for "Azores Private Tours".
henriettachan
Toronto, Canada35 contributions
Just want to know if Rui has a list of different standard tours (with maps) for small groups.
DreaminCalifornia
El Dorado Hills, CA71 contributions
Rui is awesome! He has different tours you can choose, but we had fog the day we did our tour so we would not be able to see anything on the top of the mountain. He suggested to go to a waterfall instead and we loved it. He is very accommodating. Also very knowledgable about the island, very proud and very friendly. You won't be disappointed!