Portugal’s Vicentine Coast & Algarve Tour Reviews — 1 to 30 of 33

Beautiful ocean vistas and sunny weather

Be prepared to have fun and a wonderful experience.

We did this trip in late September on hybrid bikes, self-guided. We had great weather! The routes were varied and enjoyable. Some along the coast, some along backroads farther inland. Most of the riding was not on paved roads, but on gravel and sandy roads, some two track and some trails. Some of the paved sections had very little car traffic while some were more heavily trafficked. The Trek hybrid bikes worked great, were sturdy and comfortable. The most memorable parts were riding down into the villages, the varied routes on all kinds of surfaces, the stunning scenery and the swimming pools at the end of most days. Going self guided allowed us to experience the feeling of discovering things on our own. We used our Ride with GPS app for viewing the downloaded routes that the company sent to us. The local partner stayed in touch with us throughout the trip to make sure things were going well. You can plan on pushing your bike through a little sand at least once on this trip. It is minimal and just part of the experience. All in all a great trip!

There were so many memorable parts of this trip! Two of us, in our upper 60s, rode hybrid bikes on the self-guided 8-day tour. The local partner provided us with GPS maps that we downloaded onto our phones. Then we used the Ride with GPS app for viewing the routes. Distances per day were 20 to 31 miles, which was perfect for us. The scenery, including the dramatic coastal cliffs and beaches, pastoral fields and pine groves, and the incredibly quaint and picturesque villages was fantastic! I would rate the skill level required as easy to moderate. There were smooth roads, sandy and gravel roads and trails and some small sections of mountain biking. It was a nice combination of flat and hilly sections. The hills were not extreme, although we did choose to walk portions of them occasionally. The routes were well chosen. We enjoyed the variety of surfaces and views and we always trusted where the routes would take us. The hotel choices were always comfortable and lovely! The local partner kept in touch with us via WhatsApp to make sure things were going okay throughout the tour. Thank you for a grand memorable trip!

This was a well thought out bike tour! The route was beautiful with amazing views. There were many “wow” moments. There was a great mix of trails, secondary roads and dirt tracks. The hotels were fantastic!! The whole tour was memorable… Even the odd time we got lost added to the whole experience!

The most memorable part of the trip was the beautiful scenery of Portugal and seeing it from a variety of vistas. Also, we had a terrific group of people that was led by Joao and Telmo. Both guides provided excellent service, moving bags, as well as replenishing water and snacks. Joao was very informative about Portugal and as well helped us selecting menu items etc. Telmo has an infectious personality who kept a close eye on the group when guiding, was highly communicative during the rides and cheered us on. The guides did an excellent job of providing great stops, surprises (fada), and additional tours (distillery, wine tasting etc.) It truly gave us a glimpse into the culture of this beautiful country.

In terms of suggestions, I would upgrade sections of this trip from moderate to difficult. We encountered deep sand, rough, rocky terrain and a deep drop off a mountain that led to some dicey moments and a few spills. As well, I would suggest prior to getting into busy traffic, there is a clear safety plan in place that is communicated to the group. Not that there was a lot of traffic, but there was enough traffic and we did have one biker go into a ditch. The accommodations ranged from excellent to one that was not great (In the village) as our room smelled of mold. I understand with people joining at the last minute, accommodations may have had to change but maybe a more consistent range would be better. Overall, the trip was amazing and I would highly recommend it. I believe the few suggestions are very doable and would help with the comfort and safety of others. Thanks so much Telmo and Joao, hope we ride together again!

We had a great small group with our guides Telmo and Jian. Jian was very knowledgeable and Telmo took excellent care of us all. He is an exceptional guide. We had a wonderful time and really challenged ourselves. We had some great stops enroute and really enjoyed these side trips and surprises. Very well planned.
I would upgrade the difficulty of parts of this trip as Moderate to Difficult. We had one extremely long day with some very challenging climbs and descents on rough terrain with a sheer drop on one side. The soft sand and deep ruts in some areas could be difficult to manoeuvre as well.
Our accommodations ranged from excellent to unsatisfactory. Four beautiful, and three not so nice. An alternative choice would have been nice for the three substandard ones.
One suggestion would be to have an easy first day to get used to the bikes and the terrain. Maybe it was but it took a couple of rides for me to feel confident on the EBike.
All in all I would highly recommend this trip. The scenery is spectacular!

The scenery was amazing, the food was outstanding, and the group of riders and guides we were with really made the trip special. The roads were a mix of paved and dirt, hilly and flat, some, especially on the first few days, were bit sandy, enough to have to walk it in some short sections, but overall a good, well-planned route. I highly recommend this tour, it's one of our favorites!

Really enjoyable trip, beautiful scenery, from quiet fields to cliffs over the ocean and groves of trees. I appreciated that much of the riding was off the busy roads. The off road terrain required quite a lot of focus and energy as we road on gravel, thick sand, rocky paths, and some mud. At some point each of the four of us fell on the ride due to terrain. The distance and the elevation were in line with my ideas of the riding though the terrain was more challenging (I am not a mountain biker). I would rate this bike trip as moderate due to the terrain.

The hotels were adequate to very nice and comfortable. Two of hotels which were several kilometers out of town. They were my favorite hotels yet made dinner arrangements more challenging.

The support from the Portuguese crew was outstanding, they were quick, kind and helpful when we needed them. The bikes and gear were great. Instructions and directions were right on (and part of the adventure).

The four of us had a grand adventure!

We had a fantastic trip. Riding along the coast of southern Portugal was absolutely breathtaking. The route was clear and the app and GPS made navigating a breeze. We felt fully supported by Tripsite when two members of our group got sick and needed to take the day off riding. Tripsite made sure we had transportation and checked in to make sure we were satisfied. The route was at times challenging for us, a group of 60+ year olds, but it was enjoyable. Many days the rides were more like mountain biking than street biking. The bikes we were given were more than adequate for the task but there were some rough patches of sand, gravel, steep ups and downs that made the adventure challenging a bit beyond what we had expected. Overall, we absolutely loved the trip and look forward to another Tripsite supported adventure in the future!

The coastal views we accessed on our ride were stunning. The routes we took gave us access to an insider view of Portugal’s agriculture and small town charms. The hotels we stayed at were 5 star and the breakfasts were world class!

This was our first trip with Tripsite and we had such an amazing time that we have already booked another one. The coastline was beautiful, the accommodations were unique, the bikes were in excellent shape. Our guides Miguel, Berto and Pedro were awesome and by the end of the trip felt more like friends than guides. We rented E-bikes which I am glad we did. There was a nice mix of trail and country road biking with some sections that were a little challenging but that is all part of the fun. I would highly recommend this trip and would encourage E bikes.

If someone asked me which tour to do I would say this was on of the top Portugal trips to do.
Super full of cultural and historical facts and experiences.

Very good trip, views ,mix of road and trail cycling.
All accommodations were top notch.
Guides were very friendly and eager to assist.
I would probably rate the tour as moderate to say the least, loose sand and rocky trails can make it challenging.

Beautiful scenery along the coast of Portugal. This trip was rated as easy and if certainly was not. We were on regular bikes and there were quite a few very steep hills on rough terrain. People in our group had to walk their bikes up.

The beauty of the beaches, the breathtaking views of the cliffs and Portugal food and wine. Sergio, our guide, also was perfect!

The Triple was fantastic! There where many memorable moments. One was the fado group at a charming hotel. The fantastic beaches and food must be noticed as well. The movie of the trip done by the local partner (sergio) was very touching. The guy is the best!

The guides were very professional and the program/attractions very good. Good equipment. 4 of the 6 hotels were very good, the remainder 2, acceptable,

The Vincetine Coast is spectacular. The weather ( 6 sunny days), the views, the beaches, the guide´s, and the bikes were very good. Our Group was hibrid with e-bike and normal bikes. No problems with either. The e-bikes were very good.
i recomend this TOUR.

We had a wonderful trip from beginning to end. We decided to trust that it would all be good so we didn't research anything ahead of time so that we could be surprised. Every day was a pleasant surprise. We chose E-bikes and were very glad. We were all E-bike snobs and this trip totally changed that perspective. The routes were split between paved roads and dirt roads. The dirt roads were rugged and we loved them. The paved roads were well chosen. The side trips were well thought out and truly worth doing. We used the provided GPS device and the Ride with GPS device. We found the Ride with GPS easier to use and cross-referenced it with the GPS device for accuracy if we ever got off course.
The hotels were great. Each one was different and represented the region/village we were in. Part of the fun was seeing what would be for breakfast every morning. We were always greeted warmly and they accommodated the charging needs of the bikes. The hotels were convenient to towns to explore and sample the local cafes, mercados, etc. The one hotel that was not close to a town had an amazing restaurant, heated pool and beautiful farm to explore.
The local bike guide, Top Bike Tours, did an excellent job of planning the trip out and supporting us throughout the trip.

My husband and I are in our late 60s/early 70s. We selected the Vicentine Coast & Algarve trip (self-guided) to celebrate our early May 30th wedding anniversary. It was our first visit to Portugal, first tour with Tripsite, and first time riding e-bikes. Our expectations were exceeded in every aspect of this trip! The route was spectacular and almost exclusively off of busy roads. We rode mostly on pavement or dirt farm roads, with occasional gravelly/sandy paths. I found the paths to be challenging in some locations and chose to walk, affording more time to enjoy the delightful views and fragrances of the region. Our accommodations and food options were terrific and varied. We only needed to contact Tripsite a few times during our stay, and each time Sergio was very responsive. We added extra days in Lisbon on both ends of the bike-touring and were so happy we did. And one more thing, early May is an excellent time to visit this part of the world - sunny and in the 70s, fresh ocean breezes, and not too crowded. All around, an excellent adventure.

The most memorable part of our trip were our 3 hr lunchs and the amazing people we met along the way! The hotel accomodations were also top notch, hard to pick a favorite but if I had choose Herdade Do Touril in Zambujeira do Mar and Casa Fajara in Carrapeteira were quaint and secluded and the staff were top notch! The breakfast at each of the hotels were fantastic, much more than we had expected. The local partner did a great job with the bikes, gps and roadside assist for a flat tire. Definitely plan to get lost along the trail at some point but honestly getting lost just added more fun to the journey. I would suggest that the leader and the biker at the end of the group use mirrors... to keep track of everyone and at the end of the group to watch for traffic. This was our groups first bike trip and we all thoughly enjoyed it! We really enjoyed being on our own schedule, unlike other tour company's that schedule events and meals we appreciated being able to come and go as we pleased and ate meals at small local restaurants which was really enjoyable. We have shared Tripsite with many travelers along the way and can't wait to book our next trip!!

The scenery was spectacular, on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic...words and photos just can't do it justice. All the of the accommodations were excellent and the equipment provide by Sergio and team was of the highest quality. If you enjoy breathing taking views and unlimited sunshine then this is the tour for you!!!

This was a truly exceptional trip! The most memorable part was the scenery. The route included many different terrains, some quite challenging, and I was very thankful for the e bike. The rider should have some experience with trail riding and be prepared to encounter some steep ascents and descents on gravel roads. The accommodations were so lovely. I would highly recommend this trip.

We took this trip as a self-guided tour in late January/early February in order to get a break from the cloudy, dreary weather in central France. We were a little worried about the weather conditions, but it turned out to be perfect - and no crowds! I started each day in a ski coat and double pants, but by the early afternoon would be down to just a light jacket. Ideal biking weather - never got hot, not very windy, and yet the sun was bright. Sergio had the trip set up perfectly - the bikes were top-of-the-line and worked well, the multiple GPS systems were accurate and useful, and he was always just a text away. A mix of accommodation types which were all good in their different ways, and a couple of them were just outstanding. The scenery and countryside were by turns fascinating and breathtaking. The coastline had spectacularly scenic rocky cliffs with interesting birds (including nesting storks). All the people we met were friendly, helpful, and welcoming. I would highly recommend including some extra days in Lisbon and Sintra.

scenic views.great accommodations and enjoyable group dinners. Guides were friendly and helpful.

suggestions- rating it as " easy" was not accurate. the varying terrains made it more challenging. hill durations might be described better. I would give participants a branded water bottle as a take away.

Beautiful beaches. The coast of Portugal is truly remarkable

The trip was outstanding. Sergio is the ultimate trip leader. Some in the group were not expecting as much off road dirt and stone trails, but they managed. Just know this will be part of the route. Until Portugal, and perhaps other countries, eliminate the currency exchange surcharge, I’d recommend bringing Euros with you. AAA is currently exchanging dollars to Euros with no fees for members. And pack lightly! Many had too much clothing.

Traversing by bike through the Vincentine Coast and Algarve was an unforgettable experience! The scenery was breathtaking at each turn...just when we thought we had seen the most beautiful view we rounded a corner and came upon yet another gorgeous view. The varied surfaces that we biked on kept things interesting but we were well guided by our fearless leader Sergio. We completed the ride on hybrid bikes but the majority of our group were on ebikes. We were able to visit many small towns along the way, a stop at a dairy farm with a tour of their cheese making and tasting, a wine tasting at a vineyard and opportunities to jump in the ocean! All of the accommodations were wonderful. We loved the trip and would do it again in a heartbeat!

It was the trip of a lifetime! On top of our own fabulous group of 20 and lots of sunshine, our tour guides, Sergio, Miguel and Pedro,were phenomenal! They were patient, kind and fun and very knowledgable. We had a tour of the back roads and coastlines of Portugal that included visits to ruins, wineries, cheese farm, beaches & many small towns. They always had water and snacks available at each stop. Our guides were always flexible to accommodate the needs and wants of the group and worked very hard to keep everyone happy. A few minor technical issues with the bikes were resolved promptly. The accommodations along the way were all very different and each wonderful in its own way. I highly recommend this trip without reservation!!

Our trip was fabulous.
The coastal roads were amazing.
We felt like Sergio was available anytime we needed him.
The hotels were mostly perfect.
We would recommend this trip to all our friends!