Hey there, I'm T.J.
I'll Be Your Guide :)
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.
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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 visitor myself. What I found here was a side of Portugal I was never expecting, and that most people never see, and I've stayed all these years to share that with others—not in a typical way, but in my own way, 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:
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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.
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My belief that:
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, but a world to feel and engage with... That the frenzy of modern life needs to be balanced with moments of wonder, stillness, and surprise.
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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 measure success not in numbers, but in the amount of wisdom, wonder, and well-being, both given and received... To stay true to my values, as a person and as a business.
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.
My Expertise
I’m a certified hiking guide and outdoor educator with 12 years of guiding experience. I hold professional certifications in: Hiking & Backpacking; Mountaineering & Rock Climbing; and Wilderness First Response.
When I’m not guiding tourists, I lead a local outdoor adventure program for school kids, helping the next generation learn to explore nature safely, joyfully, and responsibly.