If you’re considering a driver or guide in Portugal, stop searching and book Ricardo immediately! From the very beginning, his communication was incredible. We built such a great rapport during the planning phase that we felt like we knew him before we even arrived. Ricardo picked us up in Sintra and not only drove us, but actually joined us for the castle tour, sharing fascinating details we never would have known on our own. From there, we stopped in Nazaré on the way to Porto, and his insights and suggestions turned every stop into an unforgettable experience. Our day trip to the Douro Valley was beyond amazing. Ricardo took us to off-the-beaten-path sites and charming villages, introduced us to his friends at a local vineyard, and even arranged a delicious homemade meal that catered to our dietary needs (pescatarians and non-pescatarians alike). The wine and port tasting was phenomenal, and the boat ride down the Douro River on his friend’s personal boat was a dream. Ricardo’s attention to detail didn’t stop there. He met us at Livraria Lello, shared fascinating stories and hidden secrets about the famous bookstore, and even walked us into the airport upon our departure. Ricardo is truly a gem among gems. Not only did he make our trip to Portugal a mind-blowing, once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we also gained an incredible friend. We’ve booked drivers and guides in several countries, and Ricardo is hands down the best we’ve ever had. Honestly, we’d return to Portugal just to spend time with Ricardo again. Do yourself a favor and book him now—you won’t regret it!

Ricardo is literally the PERFECT tour guide. We used him this month for both tours of Santiago in Spain and the Douro Valley in Portugal. He is professional, friendly and so informative. The two days we were with him were by far and away the highlight of our 10 day cruise. He gave us cherished memories that we will never forget!

Our day with Ricardo was truly unforgettable – one of the highlights of our entire trip to Portugal! Ricardo is not just a guide; he's a passionate storyteller who brought the history of the Douro Valley alive for us with incredible detail and enthusiasm. His knowledge of the area is outstanding, and he made every stop along the way meaningful and memorable. Ricardo took us to a charming local spot for a short break where we got a taste of the Douro’s unique flavors and local traditions. But the best part was lunch at his friend’s home – a warm and welcoming setting where we enjoyed an incredible meal paired with exceptional wines from the region. This was such a special, authentic experience, something we would have never found on our own. I came with my husband and two friends, and we all agreed this was one of the best days we had in Portugal. If you're in the Douro Valley, don’t miss out on a day with Ricardo! Highly, highly recommend – it’s an experience we’ll always cherish.

Ricardo is the best! We met as friends, left as brothers. His knowledge of the area is so interesting. He explained the different types of grapes, the process of making port, and all types of trees...olive, cork, eucalyptus, lemon, persimmon,..too many to count. The bikes were perfect and easily handled any steep incline with ease. He introduced us to a mixture of pilsner beer and muscat wine. Unbelievable! But, the highlight was a traditional Portuguese lunch and a family home...tasting 12 different different wines throughout the meal. If you're in the Douro Valley, even for one day, Ricardo won't disappoint!

OMG Ricardo is the bomb! He was so descriptive in telling us all about the Douro Valley and the amazing olive trees and history of the vineyards. We had a traditional Portuguese meal at a charming home and enjoyed multiple wine tastings. The trip was phenomenal and Ricardo was so kind and helpful in giving us tips of other things to do while in Portugal. Ricardo is a gem and you won’t be disappointed if you book with him.

What a great experience! My family also loved. We want to thank Shuttle Douro Tours and Ricardo, our guide who gave us the opportunity to visit the Douro region. We loved everything, from the fantastic views, traditional food and of course we couldn't miss the excellent wine tastings! Fully recommend it!

We had just completed a Rick Steves tour through the Heart of Portugal and had one more day before heading home from Porto. We decided we wanted to see Braga and Guimarães so we booked a private tour with Ricardo Manuel. He picked us up in the morning at our hotel and we had the best time. He was fun and knowledgeable and went out of his way to give us an excellent experience. He shared interesting information about the countryside on the drive and great details about the things we were seeing in each city. We were exhausted from our trip, it was raining, and we were a bit anxious about the long travel back home. All of that disappeared when we set off with Ricardo. He also offered to answer any questions about things to do in Porto and made great suggestions before we had our day with him. We would highly recommend him as a guide.

Ricardo was a fantastic guide. From the start, he was super helpful as I needed something customized for the short amount of time we had in Porto and Douro Valley. He was quick in his responses and offered me different options. When we arrived in Porto, he took us to our hotel even though our tour wasn't until the next day. He was great with the kids offering them snacks and juice. Throughout the tour, he was helpful with information and tips. He arranged a wonderful boat tour of the Douro Valley which was beautiful and we also had a super delicious lunch with wine pairing. We loved it! When he found out of itinerary for the rest of our trip, he gave us tips and links for places to check out. I really recommend Ricardo for your next tour. He's a warm and friendly guide!

Ricardo was fantastic. He let us through a beautiful, informative tour of the Dora valley, pointing out various fruits, and even picking fresh cherries for us to eat. He then took us to a wine tasting lunch with delicious food and a breathtaking view. Highly recommend!

What an amazing experience from start to finish, so much so, that I felt compelled to share my experience with others. Strongly recommended by a friend, I reached out to Ricardo - best decision ever! He generously customised two of his tours into one - an e-bike tour and a wine tastings tour. Picking us up in a comfortable vehicle from our Porto City hotel, we set out to the Douro Valley - the ride complete with cool drinks and fresh Portuguese tarts - yum! Arriving at a small cottage surrounded by grape vines in a town on the fringe of the Douro Valley our E-bikes were charged and ready to go. Setting out on our downhill adventure we went, Ricardo leading the way, sticking to quiet unused roads, making brief stops along the way, giving us plenty of information and time to take in the views and of course to take photos. Reaching our destination in the magical town of Pinhão, Ricardo had a friend waiting to pick us and our bikes up. Next on the agenda was lunch which was provided to us by a lovely couple in their home, who paired the food with different wines for us. Here we were able to taste no less than 15 different wines. Yes, 15! We tasted white wine, red wine and Ports. Just imagine, all of this while overlooking the Douro Valley from a large outdoor verandah at the rear of the house. Once we were ready to go, we packed back into the vehicle and just as I thought we were going to call it a day and head back, Ricardo stopped off at one of his favourite view points, a place with 360º views of the Douro Valley. From there we set back on our journey to our Porto City hotel, finishing the day feeling as though we had done and learnt so much, yet didn’t feel rushed or exhausted. Please, I urge you to reach out and contact Ricardo. He is an absolute gentleman, humorous, kind, patient and thoughtful, he left us with the feeling as though we had known him for a lifetime. Thank you very much Ricardo, I will definitely be in contact again for another tour.

We took a fantastic e-bike tour in the Douro Valley near Porto with Ricardo. I would give the tour 10 stars if possible. The bikes and helmets were brand new and Ricardo made everything fun and easy. By the end of the day, we felt more like family. Amazing experience! Amazing guide! We will do some of Ricardo’s other tours on our next visit. He was generous with recommendations for things to do and very responsive on WhatsApp. Don’t hesitate! Book with Ricardo.

Ricardo is a great Tour guide. Friendly, Nice and very experienced. We did the bike tour in the douro valley. Wonderful day! Highly recommend Ricardo!

Ricardo was Exceptional. Best day of our two weeks in Spain and Portugal. Pleasant ride from Porto with Ricardo sharing knowledge of Portugal, Porto, Douro Valley and all points in between. Met with the Winemaker and toured Quinta Do Cume and learned a lot! Went to a wine tasting at friend’s (Ronald and Jet’s) home in Provedense that was remarkable - whites, reds, and red and white Ports from various winery’s. We had lunch with them and truly enjoyed the experience. So unique and so informative we will repeat it again when we return. You cannot go wrong with Ricardo.

Incredible day when the Ricardo. Picked us up at our Airbnb. Nice ride to Duoro Valley. Nice small village stop for coffee the to private small vineyard. Wine tour of winery and then extensive tasting of wines and ports with great conversation and wine making history. Winery was tour was with owner of a family winery. Winery was I. The family for three generations. Then to another village for wine tasting and lunch with wonderful couple. Food, wine and conversation terrific. Highly recommend the tour!!

Ricardo Manuel was great. He explained everything in detail, answered all our questions, took time to show us around and offered great suggestions. He was wonderful all around. I highly recommend Ricardo Manuel for any Porto tour.