Meet the Team
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Sérgio Costa
Portugal EV Tours
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Leonel Rodrigues
Desirable Portugal
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Gabriel Lima
GL Tours
Sérgio Costa
Some people know the Douro through postcards. I know it through a lifetime of connection.
I’m Sérgio, founder of Portugal EV Tours and a lifelong explorer of northern Portugal. Based in Porto with deep roots in the Douro Valley, I created Portugal EV Tours to offer a more thoughtful, sustainable way to experience Portugal — one that feels personal, unhurried, and truly connected to the land.
My passion for this region began long before the tours. With a background in Biology and a PhD in Forensic Genetics, I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate relationships between people, nature, and place. That scientific curiosity naturally evolved into a deep love for Portugal’s landscapes, wines, traditions, and the quiet stories hidden in its villages and valleys.
In 2018, I founded Portugal EV Tours to share this part of the country in a way that respects both the environment and the traveler’s desire for authentic experiences. Traveling by electric vehicle allows us to move silently through the landscape, stop spontaneously, and truly immerse ourselves — whether we’re winding through the terraced vineyards of the Douro, exploring the wild beauty of Trás-os-Montes, or discovering the hidden gems of the Minho.
For me, the real Portugal isn’t found in rushed itineraries or crowded viewpoints. It’s found in conversations with local winemakers, quiet moments overlooking the river at golden hour, family-run quintas that have existed for generations, and the small details that reveal the soul of a place.
Every journey we design is personal. Whether you travel with me, one of our expert guides, or the full team, we take the time to understand what you’re looking for and craft an experience that feels like it was made just for you. Our goal isn’t simply to show you Portugal — it’s to help you feel it.
Guests often tell us they return home with a completely different, deeper connection to Portugal than they expected. That’s exactly what we aim for.
If you’re looking for more than a standard tour — if you want to experience Portugal the Unplugged way, sustainably and authentically, through the eyes of people who truly love this land — I’d be delighted to welcome you.
Leonel Rodrigues
I’m Leonel Rodrigues, founder of Desirable Portugal Tours and a passionate local guide with over a decade of experience showing travelers the real heart and soul of Portugal.
Based in Lisbon, I’ve spent nearly twenty years exploring the hills and hidden corners of Sintra, and many more discovering the landscapes, history, food, and traditions that make this country so special. What began as a deep curiosity about Portugal’s stories has grown into a full-time commitment to sharing them in a personal, unhurried way
I believe the best experiences happen when you move slowly, listen closely, and connect with the places and people you meet. That’s why I created Desirable Portugal Tours — to offer private, tailor-made journeys that feel relaxed, joyful, and meaningful. Every tour is shaped around what matters most to you, whether that’s history, nature, wine, local cuisine, or simply quiet moments away from crowds.
A few years ago, I made the decision to run my entire fleet on electric vehicles. It’s more than a practical choice — it’s a commitment to sustainability and to experiencing Portugal in a quieter, cleaner, more respectful way. Guests often tell me how the silence changes the journey, allowing them to truly hear the landscape and feel present in every moment.
While I guide across the country — from Lisbon and Sintra to the Alentejo, Douro, and Algarve — my greatest joy comes from helping travelers discover the Portugal that rarely makes it into guidebooks: family-run quintas, forgotten viewpoints, authentic traditions, and the small details that reveal the true character of a place.
Every experience I create is personal. Rather than following fixed routes, I focus on meaningful encounters and genuine connections. My goal isn’t just to show you Portugal, but to help you feel it — through the eyes of someone who lives and breathes it every day
If you’re looking for more than a standard tour — if you want to experience Portugal the Unplugged way, sustainably and authentically — I would be honored to welcome you and share the Portugal I love with you.
Gabriel Lima
Some people know the Algarve through its beaches. I know it through a lifetime of exploration.
I’m Gabriel Lima, a proud Algarve native, explorer, and founder of a local travel company specializing in private, tailor-made experiences across southern Portugal.
The Algarve has been my home for more than 50 years. I grew up in Faro, where I lived for over three decades, before settling in Albufeira — a central base that allows me to guide guests throughout the entire region with ease.
My journey as an explorer began nearly four decades ago. As a teenager, I started venturing beyond my hometown by bicycle, driven by curiosity and the desire to discover what lay beyond the next hill or hidden valley. Those early rides laid the foundation for a lifelong passion.
With limited television growing up, I spent my free time reading, studying maps, and learning about geography, history, wildlife, and science. That same curiosity still drives me today — whether through my own travels or by constantly learning from books, documentaries, and educational content. I believe every destination holds stories worth discovering, and every traveler deserves to experience them in an authentic, meaningful way.
For 17 years, my sales career took me across the Algarve almost daily, giving me an intimate understanding of its landscapes, towns, villages, and people. At the same time, I explored mountain trails, coastal paths, hidden viewpoints, and forgotten backroads as a road and mountain cyclist. As mapping technology evolved, I continued uncovering places still unknown to most visitors — and even to many locals.
For the past 11 years, I’ve dedicated myself full-time to designing and leading private tours. While I regularly create multi-day journeys connecting Lisbon, the Alentejo, and the Algarve, my deepest expertise lies here — in the region I’ve spent a lifetime exploring.
The Algarve’s famous beaches and cliffs deserve their reputation, but they tell only part of the story. The real Algarve lives in timeless villages, family-owned restaurants, mountain landscapes, forgotten castles, authentic traditions, breathtaking viewpoints, and hidden trails that rarely appear in guidebooks.
Every experience I create is tailored to my guests’ interests, pace, and curiosity. Rather than following rigid itineraries, I focus on meaningful moments, genuine conversations, and unforgettable discoveries. My goal isn’t simply to show you the Algarve, but to help you trails that rarely appear in guidebooks.
Every experience I create is tailored to my guests’ interests, pace, and curiosity. Rather than following rigid itineraries, I focus on meaningful moments, genuine conversations, and unforgettable discoveries. My goal isn’t simply to show you the Algarve, but to help you you understand it through the eyes of someone who has spent more than 37 years exploring it.
Guests often tell me they leave with a completely different understanding of the Algarve than they expected. That commitment to authenticity is reflected in outstanding reviews across Viator, Tripadvisor, and Facebook, where travelers praise my local knowledge, flexibility, storytelling, and genuine passion.
If you’re looking for more than a standard private driver or guide — if you want to experience the Algarve beyond the obvious, away from the crowds, and through the eyes of someone who truly calls it home — I would be honored to welcome you and share my Algarve with you.