Private Birdwatching from Porto

I booked this private birdwatching tour for my mother (age 81), who is an avid birder and it turned out to be a truly wonderful experience for both of us. Carlos was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about birdlife and the local habitats. Even though I’m not a birdwatcher myself, I genuinely enjoyed the day and learned a lot. We explored a range of landscapes, from forest to beach to farmland, all within a short distance from Porto. A major highlight was spending time in Carlos’s bird hide, where we got an up-close view of local species in a quiet, natural setting. My mom was absolutely thrilled! She saw 10 life birds and was beyond excited. Renate was also fantastic. Super warm, helpful, and a great translator, which made the day even smoother and more enjoyable. Lunch was a highlight in itself!—delicious and well-timed midway through the day, giving us a chance to relax and reflect before heading out for more birding. This tour was a perfect balance of learning, adventure, and comfort. Whether you’re a serious birder or just along for the ride, it’s an excellent way to explore the natural beauty near Porto.

Carlos and Renata were fabulous guides. They made us feel very comfortable and Carlos’ knowledge and experience is incredible.

Unfortunately, I did not go on the tour. However, I still wanted to share this experience for fellow bird friends that might think about going. I tried booking through Tripadvisor, but as the minimum number of people is 2, as a solo traveler, it was not possible. Thus I went to the official website and contacted them using their contact form, as instructed on the website. This was one week before the planned tour - to date I have still not received an answer. After some days, I contacted Carla through Whatsapp. Her number is provided on the website for spontaneous booking requests. For days, she ignored my message. Two days later I contacted Sergio - same Carla his number was on the website. He read my message and just ignored it. To date, I have still not received an answer. 2 days before the tour I tried calling Sergio twice. No answer. I also tried calling Carla, no answer either. 1 day before the trip I tried Carla again twice. And only after that she texted back that they don‘t have enough registrations. After which she just blocked me on Whatsapp. So just a bad overall service.