Portugal in
Full Color
12 days through Porto, the Douro Valley and Lisbon. Local guides, five-star hotels, port wine blending, tile painting, Fado and the kind of dinner companions who have opinions about food.
Twelve travelers. Two cities. Every detail handled.
Built for travelers who want to stand inside a place and feel it, not just see it from a tour bus window.
Not a tour. Not DIY. Something better.
You walk into a 400-year-old church in Porto that wasn’t on the itinerary. The walls are covered floor to ceiling in hand-painted azulejo tiles. You stand there for ten minutes and nobody rushes you.
That evening you’re at dinner with eleven people who would have done the same thing. That’s this trip.
Portugal in Full Color is a 12-day hosted trip for people who travel to connect with a place, not just photograph it. Local guides who know more than the talking points. Hotels chosen for where they are, not just what they look like. And enough open time that you can follow whatever catches your attention.
Jess Peterman
Why travel with Jess?
I’m Jess. I have three grandchildren who make me laugh on a daily basis. I run mostly on coffee and if there’s a good local coffee shop nearby, I will find it. Probably more than once.
As a traveler, I want to stand in places that have real history in them. Ancient buildings that show their age and make you pause for a second. I want to eat what people actually eat there and will almost always try the regional dish.
The local guides are what make it feel real for me. I love hearing their pride, their stories and the details they notice because they love their country. That’s how a place starts to feel like somewhere you’ve been, not just somewhere you visited.
I built this trip with vetted Portugal partners, local guides and the same over-researched standards I use for my private clients. Portugal is on my own bucket list. I am going for the first time right alongside you, which means I have been researching everything, asking every question and not stopping until I know the great places and the tours worth doing.
What I loved most was that the itinerary was packed with many options… including DOING NOTHING! Which I loved and opted for a time or two. Our group had literally every option. You are the most thoughtful travel planner I have ever worked with.M. Hutter · Past group traveler with Jess See the trip details →
Photos from a past hosted trip with Jess
Portugal in Full Color is for the person who
Spends 20 minutes inside a church they weren’t expecting and considers it a highlight.
Comes home from a trip and nobody in their regular life wants to hear about it.
Has opinions about food and wants dinner companions who do too.
Has done the large group tour thing and found it underwhelming.
Wants the research done right but doesn’t want to do it themselves.
Wants to feel like a traveler in Portugal, not a tourist in a queue.
Dates
Sept 26 – Oct 7, 2027
Duration
12 days / 11 nights
Fly into
Porto (OPO)
Fly home from
Lisbon (LIS)
Places remaining
10 of 12
Meals included
11B · 3L · 2D + reception
Airfare
Not included
Two home bases. One move south.
Five nights in Porto to settle in and go deep. A full day in the Douro Valley. A stop in the medieval village of Óbidos on the drive south. Then six nights in Lisbon. You unpack twice. That’s it.
The moments you’ll carry home
A full day in the Douro Valley
The train pulls away from Porto and within twenty minutes the city gives way to steep hillsides terraced with vines dropping down to the Douro River below. You are watching it out the window and you do not want to look at your phone.
From there: riverboat cruise, winery visit, tastings and lunch at a table with no reason to leave early. This is the day people are still describing two years later.
Port wine blending workshop
Four glasses in front of you. Each one a different component of port wine: different ages, different varieties, different levels of sweetness. Your guide explains what you are tasting. Then you start combining them.
By the third blend, you start to understand what you are building and why. You bottle what you made, label it yourself and bring home a conversation that lasts longer than the wine.
Azulejo tile painting workshop
By Day 7 you have spent six days stopping to look at the tiles. They are on train stations, church walls and building facades you pause mid-conversation to stare at. At some point the admiring becomes a need to understand.
A local artist puts materials in front of you: a blank bisque tile, cobalt pigment and a brush. An hour later you are looking at a tile you painted by hand in Lisbon. Something very different from a souvenir bought off a shelf.
Fado, pastéis and a final night together
The restaurant is small. The tables are close together. You have just come from Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Tower and the original pastel de nata from the bakery that has been selling them from the same recipe since 1837.
Then the singer stands up and the room goes quiet. Fado does not ask you to understand Portuguese to feel it. The voice carries something: longing, beauty, the sound of a country that has been here for a very long time.
Only 10 places remaining
See What’s Included →Why late September
July and August in Portugal are hot, crowded and expensive. By late September the temperature drops to the mid-70s. The lines at Pena Palace are half what they were six weeks ago. Restaurants have space again. You can get a table at the good places without planning two weeks ahead.
Porto and Lisbon feel like themselves again after summer. Locals are back. The light is long and golden. It is warm enough for outdoor dining and cool enough to walk all day without wanting to quit by 2pm.
Your hotels
Porto · Days 1–5
The Rebello
Loft-style suiteA collection of converted riverside warehouses on the Douro’s south bank, now a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The rooms have soaring windows, polished concrete floors, Claus Porto bath products and Sjöstrand coffee machines. The rooftop bar looks straight across the river at Porto’s historic center and the Dom Luís I bridge.
The spa draws on Roman-inspired wellness with an indoor pool, sauna and treatment rooms. Five mornings of breakfast here before you cross the river into the city.
Lisbon · Days 6–12
Lisboa Pessoa Hotel
Standard room · Upgrade availableA 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Lisbon, steps from Chiado and Bairro Alto. Named for Fernando Pessoa, Portugal’s most celebrated poet, the hotel carries literary touches throughout: a curated library, writing desks in the rooms and each floor dedicated to one of Pessoa’s heteronyms.
Rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the city. Spa with indoor heated pool, hammam, steam room and sauna. Six nights here puts you within walking distance of Alfama, Rossio, Príncipe Real and the best coffee in the city.
Room upgrade to Superior: +$275 per person. Contact Jess before deposit.
* If a listed property becomes unavailable, a comparable alternative will be arranged at the same room category.
Portugal in Full Color
Five nights in Porto to settle in and go deep. Then south through the medieval village of Óbidos into six nights in Lisbon. Two free days built in. One arrival, one departure, everything in between handled.
Day 1 · Sunday, September 26
Porto Beginnings
You land and someone is already waiting. Transfer handled. You check in to The Rebello, put your bags down and for the first time in however long this trip has been in your head, you are here. Tonight: welcome reception on the rooftop with light bites, drinks and the view across the Douro. Reception included
Day 2 · Monday, September 27
Cobblestones, Color and Dinner at 1828
A local guide takes you through Porto by tuk tuk: close to the streets, through the neighborhoods the tourist maps don’t cover. The river, the tile facades, the stories behind the buildings. Then the afternoon opens up. Find the coffee shop. Walk somewhere with no plan. Tonight: dinner at 1828, one of Porto’s best restaurants, with a full menu and drinks. Dinner included
Day 3 · Tuesday, September 28
Taste the Market, Blend the Port
The Bolhão Market reaches you before you see it: bread, flowers, seafood, something frying in good olive oil. A local guide walks you through it to feed you, not lecture you. That afternoon: a working winery and a port wine blending workshop. You will not drink port the same way again. Lunch included
Day 4 · Wednesday, September 29
Golden Douro, Vineyard Tables and River Views
Scenic train into the valley. Riverboat cruise on the Douro. Winery visit and tastings. Lunch at a table with no reason to leave early. Time with producers who have worked this land their whole lives. This is the day people are still describing two years later. Lunch included
Day 5 · Thursday, September 30
A Slow Day in Porto Free
No plan. Sleep in. Have the second coffee. Walk somewhere new.
Pro tip: the Foz do Douro neighborhood at the river’s mouth and the Serralves Foundation gardens are both excellent slow-morning options. Optional add-on: Aveiro, Portugal’s canal city with striped houses and fresh seafood (~$85/person).
Day 6 · Friday, October 1
From Walled Villages to Lisbon
Drive south with a stop in Óbidos: a medieval walled town so intact it stops you mid-sentence. Flowers over doorways, stone underfoot, the smell of ginja in the air. Free time for lunch on your own. Then Lisbon and the Lisboa Pessoa Hotel. You will put your bags down and immediately want to go sit on the rooftop.
Day 7 · Saturday, October 2
Tiles, Color and Lisbon on Your Own Terms
Morning tile painting workshop with a local artist: by hand, from scratch, yours to take home. Then a museum visit. After that, Lisbon is yours. Alfama, the viewpoints over the river, the bookshops in Chiado, the café you find by accident and go back to twice.
Day 8 · Sunday, October 3
Sintra’s Castles and Palaces
You will round a corner today and stop walking. Pena Palace, painted in ochre and terracotta, perched above the treeline. Then Quinta da Regaleira with a spiral well that descends 27 meters into the earth. Free time for lunch on your own between sites.
Day 9 · Monday, October 4
A Portuguese Kitchen and a Free Lisbon Afternoon
Hands-on cooking class with a local chef and a market visit: not a demonstration, you cook. That counts as lunch. Then Lisbon opens up. Go back to the viewpoint. Find the thing you meant to try. Lunch included
Day 10 · Tuesday, October 5
Lisbon Your Way Free
No agenda. Use it however feels right.
Pro tip: the LX Factory market is worth your morning. Optional add-on: Alentejo wine region, cork forests, whitewashed villages and red wine that earns its reputation (~$240/person).
Day 11 · Wednesday, October 6
Pastéis, Fado and a Final Night Together
Belém in the afternoon: the Jerónimos Monastery, the Tower and the original pastel de nata from the bakery that has been selling them since 1837. Then farewell dinner at a local restaurant with live Fado. The room goes quiet when it starts. You will carry this night home. Dinner included
Day 12 · Thursday, October 7
Farewell to Portugal in Full Color
Transfer to Lisbon airport, handled. Twelve days ago you landed not quite knowing what Portugal would feel like. Now you know.
Everything in the price
Five-star and boutique hotels
Five nights at The Rebello in Porto and six nights at Lisboa Pessoa Hotel in Lisbon.
Private transfers
Airport transfers and ground transportation for included activities are handled.
Douro Valley day
Scenic train, riverboat, winery visit, tastings, lunch and local producers.
Port blending
Hands-on workshop with tastings and your own blend to bring home.
Azulejo workshop
Tile painting with a local artist, by hand, from scratch.
Sintra full day
Pena Palace (interior visit) and Quinta da Regaleira.
Fado farewell
Belém touring and a final dinner with live Fado.
All gratuities
Tips for all included guides, drivers and hotel staff are covered.
✔ Included
- Private airport transfers, arrival (OPO) and departure (LIS)
- 5 nights The Rebello, Porto: loft-style suite, double occupancyDouro rooftop bar, spa, indoor pool, SLH member
- 6 nights Lisboa Pessoa Hotel, Lisbon: standard room, double occupancyRooftop restaurant, spa, heated pool, hammam
- 11 breakfasts daily at hotel
- 3 lunches: Bolhão food tour, Douro Valley, cooking class
- 2 dinners: 1828 restaurant in Porto and Fado farewell
- Welcome reception with light bites and drinks
- Tuk tuk tour of Porto with a local guide
- Port wine blending workshop with tastings
- Full-day Douro Valley: train, riverboat, winery, lunch
- Porto-to-Lisbon transfer with Óbidos stop
- Azulejo tile painting workshop with a local artist
- Full-day Sintra: Pena Palace (interior) and Quinta da Regaleira
- Portuguese cooking class with market visit
- Belém highlight tour and farewell Fado dinner
- All gratuities for included guides, drivers and hotel staff
- All ground transportation, city tax, VAT and pre-trip guidance
- Jess hosting in person for all 12 days
✕ Not included
- ·International flights
- ·Travel insurance (required; see details below)
- ·Meals and drinks outside those listed above
- ·Room service, minibar and hotel incidentals
- ·Spa treatments, personal shopping and souvenirs
- ·Optional excursions: Aveiro (~$85pp) and Alentejo (~$240pp)
- ·Lisbon room upgrade to Superior (+$275pp)
- ·Solo room supplement (contact Jess for pricing)
- ·Airline baggage fees and seat upgrades
- ·Anything not specifically listed as included
$7,750
Per person, double occupancy
The price includes 11 hotel nights, private airport transfers, all included touring and transportation, listed meals, tastings, taxes, fees, gratuities and Jess hosting the full trip.
Three payments. Additional plans available.
| Payment | Amount | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | $1,000 | Due at booking · Nonrefundable |
| Second payment | $3,375 | February 1, 2027 · Nonrefundable |
| Final payment | $3,375 | May 1, 2027 · Nonrefundable |
| Total | $7,750 | Taxes, fees and gratuities included |
All payments are nonrefundable once made.
Additional payment plans are available. Contact Jess to discuss a schedule that works for you. Full cancellation terms and supplier policies apply at booking. View full Terms and Conditions.
Questions people usually ask
How active is this trip?
This trip includes walking tours, cobblestones, hills, stairs and full sightseeing days. It is best for travelers who can walk comfortably on uneven ground and stand during tours. If you have mobility concerns, contact Jess before booking to talk through the physical requirements.
How much free time is built in?
Two full free days plus open time on several guided days. You can join every included activity or skip one when you want a slower day. Skipped activities are not refundable.
Who is this trip not for?
Not the right trip if you want a resort-style vacation, minimal touring, fully private arrangements or no group timing at all. Free time is built in, but this is still an experience-focused hosted group trip with a small group of travelers who want to be there.
Can solo travelers join?
Yes. Solo rooms are limited. Contact Jess for solo pricing before submitting a deposit.
How do flights work?
International airfare is not included. Fly into Porto (OPO) on September 26, 2027. Fly home from Lisbon (LIS) on October 7, 2027. Jess will provide flight guidance before you book. Do not purchase nonrefundable airfare until the trip is confirmed to operate (enrollment decision by January 15, 2027).
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. All payments on this trip are nonrefundable once made. Travel insurance is required for every traveler and must include 100% trip cancellation coverage, $50,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 in emergency evacuation coverage. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage is strongly encouraged. Proof of coverage is due within 14 days of your deposit.
Are any payments refundable?
No. The $1,000 deposit and all later payments are nonrefundable once received. This is why travel insurance is required, not optional. View full Terms and Conditions.
What travel documents will I need?
U.S. travelers need a valid passport. Current guidance: passport validity at least three months beyond departure, but six months is a safer buffer. ETIAS travel authorization may be required by the time of travel. Final requirements will be confirmed before departure.
Not sure this trip fits?
Schedule a 15-minute Portugal trip fit call with Jess.
Four steps to Portugal
Request your place
Complete the TravelJoy booking form so I have what I need to confirm your spot.
Review your booking details
You’ll receive the full booking information, including inclusions, payment schedule, terms and cancellation policy.
Submit your deposit
The $1,000 nonrefundable deposit confirms your place. All later payments are also nonrefundable once made.
Start getting ready
Flight guidance, packing notes and pre-trip prep come from me before departure.
Reserve Your Place in Portugal
Important details
Payments and cancellation
All payments are nonrefundable once made, including the $1,000 per person deposit. Travel insurance is required. Full Terms and Conditions.
Insurance, passport and ETIAS
Travel insurance is required with at least 100% trip cancellation, $50,000 emergency medical and $250,000 evacuation coverage. CFAR coverage is strongly encouraged. A valid passport is required. ETIAS may be required for U.S. citizens by the travel date.
Flights and solo rooms
International airfare is not included. Fly into Porto (OPO), fly home from Lisbon (LIS). Solo travelers are welcome. Solo rooms are limited. Contact Jess for solo pricing before deposit.
Hotels, itinerary and group size
Hotels are listed as confirmed. If a property becomes unavailable, a comparable alternative will be arranged at the same room category with prior written notice. The itinerary is subject to change. The trip requires a minimum of 10 travelers; enrollment decision by January 15, 2027.
Your place in Portugal
12 days. Porto, the Douro Valley and Lisbon. Local guides, five-star hotels, hands-on experiences, two free days and Jess hosting the full trip.
You are the most thoughtful travel planner I have ever worked with. Looking forward to our next adventure.
M. Hutter10 places remaining · $1,000 deposit · Two payments of $3,375 · All payments nonrefundable · jess@jesspeterman.com · 303-378-7351
