T.J., hiking guide and owner of West Coast Adventures, Lagos, Portugal

Hey there, I'm T.J.

I'll Be Your Guide to the Algarve's Wild Side

Before you get in my van, you might like to know a bit about me...

This isn’t a big tour company—it’s just me. When you book this experience, you’re traveling with me, exploring with me, sharing stories, laughs, and good food with me.

Since 2014, I've poured my whole heart into crafting these small-batch adventures. This isn't just my business—it’s my way of sharing the Algarve as I would want to experience it: Active, authentic, immersive, wild, different.

I started this journey as a traveler myself, with a backpack, a spirit for adventure, and a one-week visit to Portugal. What I found was a side of the Algarve most people never see—the raw, untamed beauty beyond the tourist trail. I've stayed all these years to share that with others—not in a typical way, but with heart and intention.

So if you’re looking for something personal, thoughtful, and just a little offbeat, you’re in the right place.

My Intentions

When crafting my adventures, I am guided by...

My love for:

Movement, adventure, and discovery... For wild places, open spaces, and secluded beauty... For hands-on encounters, out-of-the-ordinary experiences, and journeys of both mind and body.

My belief that:

Direct experience with nature is good for both the walker and the world... That the best views come after a bit of old-fashioned hard work... That the natural world is more than just scenery to look at... That the frenzy of modern life needs to be balanced with moments of wonder, stillness, and surprise.

My experience that:

The sincerity, passion, and character of a business matter at least as much as its product... It’s better to build one excellent thing than many half-hearted things... What you love, others will too—if you just show them how.

And my hope to:

Create something not just fun, but meaningful... To focus not on doing more, but doing better... To measure success not in numbers, but in wisdom, wonder, and well-being—both given and received... To stay true to my values, as a person and as a business.

T.J. and a group of volunteers participating in a coastal beach clean-up as part of his conservation efforts

My Mission

I aim to provide exceptional experiences while also protecting, caring for, and giving back to the landscapes I love.

By sharing this place, I am to deepen our personal connection to the natural world, inspire care, respect, and stewardship of the land, leave every place better than we found it

My Backstory

I’ve spent much of my life seeking adventure, connection, & clarity in the outdoors. Nature has been both my playground and my classroom, shaping how I live and work.

My travels have taken me from my Midwestern-American roots across nearly every corner of the globe. In the end, I found what I was searching for here, at Europe’s western edge. This is my way of sharing that discovery with others.

A group of hikers learning about the Algarve's West Coast geology from guide T.J. from West Coast Adventures.

My Expertise

I’m a certified hiking guide and outdoor educator with 12 years of guiding experience. I hold professional instructor certifications in: Hiking & Backpacking; Mountaineering & Rock Climbing; Wilderness First Response.

When I’m not guiding travelers, I lead an outdoor education program for school kids—helping the next generation explore nature safely, joyfully, and responsibly.