Published on Oct, 2024

Juco was a terrific guide and we enjoyed our day hiking with him! He’s very knowledgeable about the island And was able to adjust the hike to the experience level of the group.

Published on Oct, 2024

A memorable experience from the minute we were picked up until we returned. Juca is very knowledgeable about the island’s history, geology and local favourites including the Azorean way of life and the best trails. He is passionate about photography and shares his talent for capturing the most beautiful images on this magical island. Wear your hiking boots and bring your raincoat even if it isn’t calling for rain as the trails can be muddy and have exposed roots and lava rock. Spoil yourself with this private hike and forget the van tours!

Published on Jun, 2024

I nearly canceled this tour because I basically gave myself sun poisoning in my first few days on the island. Tip: the UV levels on the island may be much higher than you're used to and 50+ SPF, hat, long sleeves could be helpful! Anyway, I'm so beyond thrilled that I pushed through with the hike. It was a wonderful adventure and Juca was incredibly kind and patient and he made me laugh until my face hurt! I so enjoyed chatting with him - never a dull moment! Juca knows everything about the island and its geology. He shared so many interesting facts! After our first hike, a 4+/- mile loop, I decided to call it a day and get some rest. But first we had lunch at the most wonderful restaurant with the most welcoming people! I felt a little like a jerk because I was still feeling a bit sick and not super hungry - but they were offering so many wonderful things and I'm so glad I got to try them all. This part can't be understated: Juca is a true artist! He has studied exactly how to create the best photos on the trails and I am completely astounded by the photos he took of me. I'll treasure the photos forever. They are the best ones from my trip. One final note: Juca really cares about the island and told me about his conservation work, including helping migrating birds, which I think is super cool! As tourists, we don't always know how to protect and be respectful of the places we visit so it's important to have an informed guide like Juca! 10 stars!

Published on Jun, 2024

I nearly canceled this tour because I basically gave myself sun poisoning in my first few days on the island. Tip: the UV levels on the island may be much higher than you're used to and 50+ SPF, hat, long sleeves could be helpful! Anyway, I'm so beyond thrilled that I pushed through with the hike. It was a wonderful adventure and Juca was incredibly kind and patient and he made me laugh until my face hurt! I so enjoyed chatting with him - never a dull moment! Juca knows everything about the island and its geology. He shared so many interesting facts! After our first hike, a 4+/- mile loop, I decided to call it a day and get some rest. But first we had lunch at the most wonderful restaurant with the most welcoming people! I felt a little like a jerk because I was still feeling a bit sick and not super hungry - but they were offering so many wonderful things and I'm so glad I got to try them all. This part can't be understated: Juca is a true artist! He has studied exactly how to create the best photos on the trails and I am completely astounded by the photos he took of me. I'll treasure the photos forever. They are the best ones from my trip. One final note: Juca really cares about the island and told me about his conservation work, including helping migrating birds, which I think is super cool! As tourists, we don't always know how to protect and be respectful of the places we visit so it's important to have an informed guide like Juca! 10 stars!

Published on Jan, 2023

Our guide, Juca was kind, friendly and very knowledgeable. Although I speak Portuguese, my fiancee does not, so it was great to learn that Juca spoke English well. We travelled at a tricky time of year to Terceira where the weather can change instantly, but he made great use of our time and we enjoyed many beautiful hikes and sites. Juca had a way of showing the beauty of the island even in a foggy, rainy and windy situation. My fiancee is not an expert hiker, but Juca made her feel comfortable and safe by assisting with her footing, etc during our hikes. We were only on the island for 6 days, but with Juca's help we felt we got to experience the island fully. One last thing to note is that Juca is a photographer and so we left our tour with photos of the two of us that are one of a kind and not just selfies. We would absolutely recommend Azores Expeditions.