Spectacular Portugal Adventure: Kayaks and Cooking

I have used Zicasso for a few of my trips and I appreciate that they assist in connecting you with a local travel company, without trying to find someone on my own. Having booked a few trips, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect with the arrangements being made with the local company. What I have learned is that this travel company doesn't deliver some of the concierge services like other companies.

Upon arrival, the travel company was there to greet me and check me into my hotel, which was great after a long day of travel. However, I never heard from them again until the fourth day into the trip. Yes, I could have messaged them if I really needed something. However, I have been accustomed to some of the other agencies that check in each day to see how things are going and remind me of what is on the schedule next. In addition, if there were tour days that needed to start prior to breakfast being served at the hotel, they arranged for a breakfast box at the front desk. This was an arrangement I did myself on this trip. With other agencies, they took on this task. It is by no means a deal breaker, but just a different level of service provided.

The lodging booked in Lisbon was extremely tight in space and I would not recommend staying at that site, which I told the travel company. It was so tight that I could not even open the closet door when pushing the bed as far as I could. Thankfully, I was traveling solo, or it would have been absolutely miserable trying to fit two people, with luggage.

My trip included going to Lagos. In that area, the travel company did a good job arranging a local driver and an excursion with a local guide; it was nice to get out of some of the touristy type of excursions in Lisbon (Sintra and Fatima).

Overall, the trip was pretty seamless and enjoyable.

We had a wonderful experience, a handheld adventure with local guides with a great understanding and ability to share the history and culture of this amazing country. Zicasso's travel agents supported each part of the adventure and were flexible with weather changes, and provided alternatives when needed. We highly recommend traveling with them!

Our Zicasso travel agent curated a private tour for the six of us, including the perfect mix of historical, gastronomical, wine, and cultural experiences. 

We stayed in Lisbon, Évora, the Dao Valley, the Douro Valley, and Porto. We traveled in a comfortable Mercedes van and, to break up our trips, we stopped at amazing sites along the way as we traveled from city to city. 

Some of our favorite things were a private sunset sail in Lisbon, a fado dinner, the Évora Cathedral, a cork trek and wine tasting in Alentejo, the monastery at Batalha, wine tastings in Santar (Dao Valley), a boat ride on the Douro, wine tastings and hiking in the Douro Valley, the Bom Jesus shrine in Braga, the Port tasting and dinner in Porto, and multiple pastry tastings along the way. 

Our guides were fantastic. They were attentive, on time, and very knowledgeable about the history and culture of each place we visited. 

There were very few issues on our 17-day tour, which was literally one of the smoothest and best-curated trips we have ever had. We will use our travel company and agent again as we intend to go back to Porto and the Douro Valley.

We took our fourth private tour to Portugal using Zicasso. The travel company we selected was superb from the day we arrived to the day we departed. We received personal care at the highest level. 

The vehicles were top of class, so we were always comfortable in transiting between locations. The guides/drivers were knowledgeable and friendly. They had a well-thought-out itinerary that lasted 12 days and each lodging was six-star in every way. We stayed in a restored nunnery, and several other amazing places. 

The company arranged a wonderful nature hike along the coast with a naturalist and a boat ride along the Douro River, along with a visit to a winery, which had a gourmet lunch for us, combined with the wine tasting. At the end, in Lisbon, we went to a fado dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant, with amazing performers and food. If you want carefree luxury travel, they will hit the mark!

My husband and I were lucky enough to have found Zicasso’s travel specialist and the tour company. She, along with our amazing guides, gave us the most amazing experience in Portugal that I know we would not have had without their guidance. I wanted to make sure we had the typical tourist attractions and some that were not typical.

Our travel specialist planned a perfect trip from Lisbon to Porto for us. She was always a text or call away for any questions and was the most amazing host. Our guides were wonderful and they were very knowledgeable about the country and the places they took us to. It was so nice going into little cafés and special places that they wanted us to see, which we would never have gone to on our own.

We have traveled all over the world and this travel team is top-notch!!

This was a perfect Portuguese getaway, thanks to Zicasso's travel designer and the travel company!

I can’t say enough good things about our experience with her and the travel company. From the moment we reached out with just the idea of visiting Portugal, it was clear we were in excellent hands. She and her team went above and beyond to provide personal attention that made all the difference.

What stood out most was how genuinely she listened to what we wanted. Every suggestion felt handpicked for us—from charming hotels in Lisbon and Porto to incredible jeep tours in the Azores to a one-of-a-kind personal wine tasting in the Douro Valley that we never would have discovered on our own. Her knowledge of Portugal is unmatched and you can tell she is passionate about sharing the real Portugal with their clients.

Despite the high level of service, everything was surprisingly affordable. We got tremendous value without ever feeling like corners were being cut. It’s rare to find a company that balances quality and cost so well, but Zicasso's travel designer has struck that perfect balance.

This wasn’t just a trip—it was an experience we’ll remember forever. If you're considering a trip to Portugal, don't waste time trying to figure it out on your own. Let her and her team take care of it—you’ll be so glad you did!