An Adventure Through The Forest And Palace Of Bussaco - Coimbra

Amazing and highly informative. Definitely recommend! I would have never been able to see some of the most important sites in the forest on my own.

Wonderful morning in the forest. A little less religious commentary would have been preferred, Sergio was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna.

The tour was fantastic. The guide knew almost every plant and tree by sight, and their origin around the world that brought them to this unique forest. Add to that an eye for the fascinating architectural features of the palace, and the full afternoon was completely worth it!

Sergio was a great host for the trip. The walk through the forest and the Palace hotel grounds was lovely, great historical background information and peaceful surroundings. Highly recommend if you love nature and want a break from busy tourist areas.

Sergio was great. Picked us up on time. We had a great time wandering in the woods and the old Palace hotel grounds. He was friendly and talkative. Great knowledge of the city and area. He even sent us the pictures he took to go along with our own. Highly recommended if you like walking in peaceful nature areas.

This tour with Sergio was amazing! It was a private tour with just my husband and myself with Sergio. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the forest, even the history of coimbra. We learned a lot and had an amazing time. He made sure when we walked the forest that we saw all the highlights. I can’t recommend this tour enough!

My 10-year old son and I took the train up to Coimbra from Lisbon, and had a wonderful day exploring Buçaco National Forest with our guide Sergio. Sergio provided very clear instructions on where to meet him near the train station, and the drive to Buçaco was an enjoyable windy trip through the countryside. Sergio provided info about the local economy and ecosystem as we drove. Throughout the entire afternoon, Sergio was wonderful with my very inquisitive, nature-loving son - I'd highly recommend him as a guide for any families interested in this adventure. We explored natural springs, man-made ruins, the lush and peaceful forest, and finally wrapped up at the Palace of Buçaco and its surrounding features. My son and I learned a lot about Portuguese flora, and the history of this unique national forest. To top it all off, Sergio took photos of our day with his own camera and shared them with us via WhatsApp at the conclusion of the excursion. What a thoughtful touch! I highly recommend this tour, and our guide Sergio.

Our guide Sergio gave us an excellent tour of the Bussaco Palace and forest. He was prompt with meeting us and provided much information about the forest including the history of the palace. We had a lovely walk and he showed us some very special areas and trees in the park. We enjoyed our tour very much. It was well paced and we would recommend this tour and Sergio as a great guide.

We really enjoyed this trip. Our friendly and knowledgeable guide Fatima picked us up promptly and gave us an excellent introduction to the forest on the ride. She skillfully and efficiently lead us to many beautiful locations in the forest, including the valley of the ferns. She also took pictures all along the way, so we could focus on the scenery. Her pictures were much better than what we could take, and she sent them all to us after the tour. I am interested in botany and she was able to answer our questions and identify trees and plants. The history and natural features of Bussaco make it a unique treasure, one of the highlights our visit to Portugal.

This was a great introduction to the forest. We enjoyed our afternoon amongst the fantastic trees and plants. Happy we booked with Sérgio to show us around.

Sergio is a highly professional and thoughtful guide who highlights the beautiful forest by giving historical information and details about the local animals and plants.

A great experience in a wonderful location. Fatima was the perfect host. History, ecology, botany, she had all of the answers. Highly recomended.

My tour with Sergio to the Bucaco forest was excellent. He speaks English very well is fun to be with and very knowledgeable about Portuguese natural environment and history. I really had a beautiful day exploring with him and Fatima! I would highly recommend him and this tour. The forest and the castle are so beautiful and interesting!

We contacted Sergio many months before your stay in Coimbra and worked with him to tailor two day trips that suited our interests. He made suggestions and included some places that we wouldn't;t have even considered. Sergio is a thoroughly nice and genuine person who has a huge knowledge to flara and fauna and of course life in Portugal - today and in the past that added to our experience. We came away extreme;ly happy and will be telling any friends that we know that are visiting the area to include time with Sergio or his colleagues in their plans . You won't regret it.

Our guide was wonderfully knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories about the forest’s diverse flora and the monks who once inhabited it. Do not miss this place and tour during your stay in Coimbra.

The Forest and Palace was one of the very best tour we had during our stay in Portugal - it is a magical place. Sergio was so knowledgable about the variety of trees and the history of the forest.

We really loved this tour. It was so nice to get out of the city and explore the forest. Sergio was informative and provided a lovely experience. We learned a great deal about the forest while getting to see some highlights, including the palace hotel. It was so peaceful and we want to come back and spend even more time.

It is a beautiful forest that is accessible to everyone. The guide did give it an extra dimension. We have been to beautiful places and viewpoints. The guide told interesting things about the forest and the history surrounding the Bussaco Palace. He told it in a pleasant and understandable way.

Everything exceeded my expectations. The forest is dense with many trails and view points. The castle-turned-hotel inside the forest is mesmerising and one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. The monastery is unique. The guide is very knowledgable and friendly. 5+. I am coming back next time.

Our guide Sergio was very thoughtful and informative with the deep history of the forest leading up to the monastery. There isn't enough time to take it all in, but my favorite part was looking up the steps that were designed around the natural spring... just "heavenly" .

This tour was excellent! Sérgio taught me a lot about the history of the forest as well as the beautiful structures built within it. He made the experience really enjoyable despite the rain, and even took photos for me of everything we saw!

Sergio was an excellent guide through the forest and palace. He is very knowledgeable about the fauna and history and gave us a lot of information. He also took lots of pictures for us and answered all of our questions. I would highly recommend this trip.

This was a top tour during my trip to Portugal because of the variety of sites all on one tour and the knowledgable tour guide. I especially enjoyed the Monastery and the walk through the woods. I learned so much about a wide variety of topics during this tour. Exceptional tour guide!

This was such a unique tour through some small villages on the way to the Palace, Monastery and lovely walking trails of Bussaco. I highly recommend this tour because the Monastery is wonderful and the outdoor trails are a welcome reprieve from exploring the cities of Portugal. The Palace has a wonderful set of historical tiles as well. The best tour guide in all my travels, very knowledgeable and fun to spend time with. Clearly passionate about Portugal and its history. I really enjoyed this tour!

Sergio was an excellent guide. He was even willing to put together a custom tour of Nazare and Figueira Da Foz for us. His knowledge of and appreciation for nature really added a lot to seeing the sites. Sergio’s English is superb and he was a great communicator. In addition to providing tour options that really enriched our stay in Portugal, Sergio managed to take great pictures without missing a beat or delaying the day at all. We particularly enjoyed his personal touch and sharing his life experiences growing up in the area.

Great experience! Must do when in Portugal. Everything was very easy to organise and the forest was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. The palace was very impressive as well!

Sergio (tour guide) picked me up at my hotel in Coimbra to go on a tour to the Bussaco national park and the surrounding area. I had an amazing time and since I was the only one on the tour, I had to privilege to have a little private tour and conversation with Sergio. Sergio is very knowledgeable about the places you're going to visit and it amazed me how big the tree in Bussaco is that you're going to visit. It is truly humongous and cannot be captured in a single photo, even with an ultra wide lense. The gardens and the Palace is very cool and detailed and there are some amazing places to take cool picture. One of them is on the highest point of the trip where you can see the entire area surrounding the forest and mountains. Super cool. I won't spoil too much but I would highly recommend this trip if you're in Sintra and you want a little bit of a different experience then all the city1-city2-coolplace3 kinda trips that try and cram as much experiences in a single day. Sergio takes the time for you to take it all in and experience the couple places you're going to visit. It was very relaxing and I never felt we were rushing or trying to get to point A or B before time ran out. I've dealt with other tours where sometimes that really is the case and you feel it. Not here. Make sure you have good shoes and a charged phone or camera and you're good to go.

I had a tour of the Bussaco Forest combined with one of the schist villages. Sergio was punctual, very polite, spoke excellent English and told me lots of interesting facts about everything we saw. We had lunch at a local restaurant that served traditional suckling pig. I had a great day and thoroughly recommend this tour to other solo travelers! He even took me to the local supermarket so I could get a couple of things I needed!

Sergio picked us up on time at our accommodation and took us on a fantastic tour of the Bucasso National Forest. His enthusiasm and knowledge for the extensive variety of plants in the forest really came across. The tour took in amazing parts of the forest, including the beautiful Bucasso palace and some view points high up on the mountain. It was really the guide that made this tour so special and Sergio really engaged us with his knowledge of the nature and history of the national forest.

This tour with Fatima was WONDERFUL! She is knowledgeable about the history of the forest and the plants and animals that inhabit the area. But it is her passion and respect for nature that helped make this activity so special. I feel lucky to have experienced this remarkable part of Portugal with Fatima.

Fantastic day visiting the Bussaco forest/Palace hotel. Sergio was incredibly knowledgable about the local ecosystem and the religious, political history of the area. As cake lovers, we appreciated the nice touch giving us a sample of the local delicacy. I would strongly recommend this trip!

It was a great trip, Sergio and Fatima were incredibly knowledgable and fun and helpful. I would strongly recommend this trip!

We had a great day visiting the Bussaco forest with Sergio, he did a great job of explaining different aspects of this nice forest and what is hidden inside it. Occasional rain during the tour didn’t stop us and the last 1/2 hour it was pouring but we won anyway! Thanks again Sergio! Final thoughts; « There is never a bad day, only bad clothings »!!!

Lovely way to spend a morning and learn something about forest trees in the company of an enthusiastic and friendly couple.

Excellant tour, we highly recommend this tour for those who would appreciate and enjoy a hike through forest and view of the exterior & gardens of Palace Hotel. Suitable for families, teens & couples. Our guides, Sergio & Fatima were very pleasant and knowledgeable about the area, forest and plants. Very relaxing & enjoyable tour.

Sergio and Fatima made the adventure of exploring Bussaco Forest both magical and memorable. Their genuine passion for, and knowledge of the flora and fauna, history and culture made this experience truly special and alive for us. We really appreciated their attention to our various needs, comfort and interests, and the generous and capable manner in which they readily personalised the tour. We highly recommend this amazing adventure, and wish Sergio and Fatima’s guiding venture goes from strength to strength.

Super interesting guide, super beautiful scenery.

An unmissable stop for both the place and the adventure. The meeting point is decided the day before and our guide Sergio was punctual. He took us to taste the thermal water of Luso first, telling us stories related to the nature of the place. Afterward, we ventured into the park, describing its history and talking about the plants, flowers, and animals that populate the park. It was a pleasant 4 hours that Sergio knew how to enhance... Excellent English, friendly and capable of making you immerse yourself in nature (a complete guide). For an outfit, comfortable shoes are just fine; the park is kept impeccably, while still preserving the naturalness of the place.

I visited and walked through the woods It was an excellent option and with a visit to the hotel palace to the convent with entrance exit and twice All well treated

Excellent guided tour with Sergio the villages of shist. Knowledgeful and friendly, even took pictures of the tour. I recommend!

It was a wonderful afternoon to discover the Bussaco forest that is unique in Portugal for its species and history. The tour was very well organized. Sergio and Fatima made a fantastic double always with a huge attention to the group and with a great knowledge of the region. I loved it!

Superó con creces mis expectativas. Sergio es un guía culto, informado, muy entretenido y apasionado de la Naturaleza. Un paseo súper agradable y estimulante. Experiencia muy recomendable

The visit was very pleasant, with beautiful landscapes! Sérgio as a guide was fantastic and his narration, regarding the flora and history of the environments we passed through, made the visit unique.

Even with the rainy start, this was a trip to remember. On my mother's birthday on April 28th, she will definitely remember this trip

I never tire of visiting this place and every time I go I have a pleasant surprise. Good place to picnic and take the kids.

The tour was wonderful with our Guide Sergio showing in-depth knowledge about the history and diversity of the Forest, making the tour about 4 hours long to learn a little about.

The Bussaco forest is absolutely magical, it makes us feel like we are in a different world, without the touch of humanity. Every corner has something to see, feel, smell. The palace is beautiful and more than worth the visit. Sérgio is an experienced guide with clear knowledge of the area, intensifying the experience by sharing information and curiosities. There was no question I didn't know how to answer. For those who like nature, the smell of the earth and the forest, this tour is highly recommended.

Very diverse, rich and sometimes tropical fauna. Several routes from walking to hiking are possible. Beginner to advanced levels. Population Varied, children, adults, elderly people, from pregnant women to athletes. Refreshing forest, especially during hot weather. A great afternoon of activity.

Paula, our CoimbraAmeias host recommended this tour. Something different and that we had not planned, Sérgio settled us and took us to this beautiful forest. You rating that Sérgio has a lot of knowledge of the forest and explained patiently the details of the whole environment. A comfortable, fun and learning journey. Sérgio is a great guide, but above all you know the forest, its flora and fauna very well. Something different to do in Coimbra and highly recommended.