Private Jeep Tour of Marão Nature

We took a 4-hour jeep tour with João and our friends and it was really awesome. João is knowledgeable, approachable, and a great driver! He attended to all of our needs, including stopping to take pictures or a toilet break. It was such a great trip in nature that we really needed to escape the daily routine. I highly recommend! Not to mention, the booking process was easy and smooth. Thank you João for this memorable experience!

We did both the Jeep tour and Romanesque tour with João. He was a wonderful host throughout both tours, ensuring we felt comfortable and that our needs were attended to. He was also a fountain of knowledge, giving us much history and context for how Amarante has evolved over the years. Thank you João!

We first booked the Amarante city walking tour with Joao and were lucky enough that Lilliana was our tour guide. We met after lunch in the city just outside a restaurant that was recommended by them. We spend two hours with Lilly walking around the city, learning about the history of of Amarante, and experiencing parts of the city that we would never have realized were there or known to explore ourselves. Lilly had us laughing and enjoying ourselves the whole time. After such a positive experience, we decided to inquire about the Jeep tour for another day. Lucky for us, Joao was available. The jeep tour had just amazing views where words are just inadequate. It was a one of kind experience that we will always remember. The picnic lunch was one of the best meals we had our whole vacation! (We loved the local AJTS wine too!). For both tours, it was so apparent that both Lilly and Joao have a deep love for Amarante, and we were so glad they shared it with us. I highly recommend this tour as one you definitely shouldn't miss!

After leaving Porto, we spent the next several days at the Monverde Hotel outside of Amarante in the Braga wine region. We booked a room under the description “A Retreat in Nature,” not knowing exactly what it was. We later learned that the booking included a multi-hour excursion into the surrounding hills. Still not knowing exactly what to expect, we showed up at the appointed hour and met João, a truly cool person, who runs Inside Experiences. We spent the day with João in an open air Jeep (which I’m quite certain has no replacement parts available on the European continent), going to the top of Marão mountain in Serra do Marão. The Jeep, as it turns out, was half the fun. The “Retreat in Nature” (aka Nature Jeep Tour Marão) was just that; a close up and personal look at the gorgeous landscape from a perspective most travelers will never experience. It’s one thing to look at a place from a distance, but quite another when you have someone at your side who can fill in the blanks and make an area that is unseen by many travelers come to life with a story of how the people lived there in ancient times and how they live now. The day was relaxing, except for the occasionally bumpy ride and a few wandering cattle who decided to take their half of the road out of the middle. The diverse mountain terrain seen from below must be explored up close and at the top. This is a unique and interesting way to see first hand how the local people managed these beautiful forests, how they protect and govern the land, and how they live in some of the more remote areas. We learned how wildfires, which can be a real problem in the area, are detected and fought. We learned that the sacks of what appeared to be yellow sap attached to pine trees is not in fact syrup for breakfast, but instead used to make glue. Who knew? At the very top of the mountain is a sign that reads “Arvores sao peomas queaterra escreve para o ceu” which translates, more or less, to “Trees are poems that the earth writes to the sky.” How true. João gave us a history lesson in a humorous and informative way about Portugal’s past, its interaction with neighboring Spain, and its place in Western Europe. He is gregarious and likes meeting people, and since he spoke great English, we didn’t have to stumble around with our nonexistent Portuguese! Thank goodness because I’m convinced that translation apps can spark an international incident. We wanted a lesson from a local perspective and that is what we got, complete with a picnic lunch of delicious local food made by a great cook in a nearby village. You don’t get more authentic than that. João answered questions that saved us a lot of Google searches and his wit and humor made it possible to remember the details of this one day for a lifetime. He “customizes” every excursion according to what you want, he can modify on-the-fly, and does a thorough and professional job. He also does much more than treks through the forests. If you are looking for an inside look at the nearby town of Amarante, an authentic cooking lesson, or outdoor adventure with a bit more excitement, then João is your guy. If you are the kind of traveler who likes to learn about the country and the people, and not which place has the best wifi, João is the perfect guide!

Fizemos um tour de Jipe com o João, no contexto de uma despedida de solteira, e adoramos! Muito prestável, atento aos passageiros, condução segura e cuidadosa. Passeamos por sítios muito bonitos, com direito a banhos. Incluía refeição. Fizemos um pic-nic óptimo, com comida caseira deliciosa e acabada de fazer (o João teve o cuidado de a ir buscar imediatamente antes de a comermos) e tivemos direito a vinho regional fresquinho que foi a cereja no topo do bolo. Recomendamos muito!