Why me?
Hello! My name is Diogo Guerra,
motorcycle guide, instructor,
content creator
and self-proclaimed national treasure
! I have been exploring Portugal for the past 20 years, and nowadays my greatest joy is to share what I have found and learned along the way. Ah, have you seen the
intro video
?
The greatest reason for booking a tour/training with me is the great personal care you will get. I only work with small groups (4-6 riders per guide) so things are kept very personal and personalized, with everyone getting the attention they deserve to have a great time and learn as much as possible.
Portugal itself is amazing. C onsidered by many to be "the last off road paradise in Europe" ! And yes, with nice weather, great food , welcoming people, safe, clean, and with unrestricted unpaved trails going in every direction, the fame is totally justified.
My tours are very "riding oriented", meaning we will spend most of the time on the bikes. Nevertheless, there is a decent cultural aspect in the form of shorts stops in important landmarks, and of course, strong hearty meals to taste the delicous local gastronomy (most important part of the tours, if you ask me).
Travel Information
From Lisbon's Airport (Humberto Delgado Airport) you can get a subway train (or Taxi/Uber) to "Oriente" station (10min away, ~1.80€ by subway), and from there you can get a Train directly to Santarém (~50min, ~13€).
I can pick you up for free in Santarém's train station and take you to the hotel or the motorcycle parking.
Here is a link to
Lisbon's
subway map
(see the red line) and a link to the
train schedules
(usually 2 per hour, from 6am to 11pm).
If you are already in Lisbon, then you can catch the same train to Santarém from the
"
Santa Apolónia
"
station as well.
You can also
order a UBER, BOLT or a Taxi
to bring you here. I recommend Uber/BOLT since the price is easier to predict
(usually 50-60€. Check both operators since prices sometimes are quite different).
As a last resort I can get you myself,
I charge 160€
divided by the number of passengers.
How difficult are the activities?
Don't worry about that, really! Your experience or age won't be a problem .
I have been doing this for many years and I know that the great majority of my guests won't be 25 year old motocross superstars (at all).
Of course I want people to have fun, to try and learn new things, but
it is my job to make sure no one gets exhausted
or is forced to do things they are not comfortable with. I am an instructor and tour guide, not a hard enduro coach.
This is how I guarantee your success:
a) Before every tour I will talk to you and understand your skill, expectations, etc. and I will adjust the plans accordingly.
b) I will be 100% focused on your happiness. When I am working, I am there for YOU.
c) I only work with small groups (up to 6 riders), and I will hire additional guides for bigger groups)
d) As an instructor, I know how to help. Every difficulty will be a learning opportunity
e) Most of my tours begin with a training day to make sure everyone has the necessary skills for each adventure
Accomodation and food:
The hotels I pick for my tours are always conveniently located in the heart of our daily destinations (being it a city, town or rustic village), at a walking distance from the place where we will have dinner.
I usually pick 3/4* star hotels
(or charming rural accomodations). Expect them to be convienient, well located, clean, comfortable (AC and private bathroom in every room), with all the necessary ammenities (towels, shampoo, etc), but please don't expect golden toilets and champagne Jacuzzis 🙂
By default, my tours prices are calculated for twin/shared rooms. If you want a single room it will cost an extra ~30€/night.
As for the food
... I am super proud of the Portuguese gastronomy, soI l will provide plenty of opportunities for us to taste it properly throughout our journeys, (both for lunch and dinner).
I like authentic stuff, so instead of eating truffles and caviar to the sound of violins, expect soul-filled, real traditional places, DELICIOUS food, big servings and good local wine.
How do payments and deposits work?
Reservations will only be confirmed after guests pay a reservation deposit. For tours the deposit is fixed at 300€. For rentals (withouth guide ) the deposit will be 30€/day. This sum is non-refundable, but you can use it as a credit credit for any other service provide by offroad-offcourse within 1 year.
For solo rentals and other unguided adventures I will also request a
400€ safety deposit
(to be paid upon arrival and returnable at the end of the tour)
I prefer bank transfers for deposit payments. Paying by Paypal or credit card is also possible but unfortunately I will have to charge you a 5% fee on those. On the registration form you will find the necessary bank info. For local payments (rental deposits, or 2nd installments), I accept cash only.
Weather: Portugal is usually very hot in the Summer (June-August) and cold (but not freezing) in the Winter (November-February). Rain can occur, but even during winter its not that common. Odds are you will enjoy the weather, and thats why I operate my tours all year round.
What should you bring on the tours:
Protection gear: For your own safety, everyone must wear: Full face helmet, Armor or Armoured jacket, Adventure/enduro boots, Kneepads and gloves. I recommend that you bring your own stuff, but if you can also rent the kits from me.
How we deal with luggage: On bigger tours (like the 5 day one, for instance) we will carry the necessary luggage on the bikes. They are equipped with top metal racks, 30L dry bags and the super practical rok-straps. So far, no one had any trouble carrying what they need (but feel free to share your concerns and we will work it out).
These things are mandatory for all tours and rentals:
Bike equipment:
My bikes have 70/30 tires (offroad/onroad), adequate for the conditions we have here in Portugal, USB power ports and can be fitted with universal phone holders for navigation (it is advisable that you bring your own). All bikes have top-rear metal racks and rokstraps (ideal to carry the 25-30L drybags I can provide. Other options may be available upon request). Most of my bikes have some sort of suspension upgrade (some are lowered, some have performance shocks, some have upgraded cartidges, etc) I always try my best to give everyone the most adequate bike for their body type, so if you are worryed about that, make sure to tell me early enough 🙂
Prices and general conditions:
In order to rent a motorcycle for off-road use you should be a moderately experienced rider, with enough mechanical knowledge to solve common issues (like flat tires, broken lever, misaligned levers/handlebars, tightening transmission kits, etc), specially if you are travelling alone. All necessary tools will be provided.
The normal rental price for the Hondas CRF300L is 100.00€/day (including the 15eur/day unguided rental fee), with a safety deposit of 400.00€ , returnable in full at the end of rental period if there are no damages.
I have prepared a few "self-guided adventures" (where you get legal off-road tracks for 1 to 6 days, as well as recommendations for hotels, fuel stops, restaurants and sightseeing spots). I give this information at no extra cost (There will be a charge for preparing custom plans. ).
The bikes should be returned washed and fueled up . If not, a 15€ fee will be charged + the calculated cost of the missing fuel
The user (lessee) will be fully responsible for the motorcycle while renting it . Damages/losses will be charged fairly according to the following price list: HERE . The motorcycles have a mandatory 3rd party insurance, however, i f the user (lessee) runs into an accident with another vehicle and said insurance needs to be used, the lessee will be charged 1000€ (for activating the insurance) + all damages caused to the motorycle.
The user will be responsible for all fines, fees and tolls resulting from using the bike during the period. This includes riding into zones that are protected and where off-roading is not allowed (like beaches and national reserves/parks.
While renting a bike the users (lessees) will be responsible for its maintenance (mostly tightening/lubricatig the chain), as well as fixing common problems (like flat tires, bent hanguards, etc) . All necessary tools will be provided.
If a lessee runs into a problem they can't solve they can call me (or some member of my team) and we will try to help remotely for free (finding a local repair shop, for instance or providing technical information). If, however, the lessee needs rescue or assistance on the spot, the logistic costs will be charged at 80€ + 1€/km (distance from Santarem to the Motorcycle). Note 1: I dont have a dedicated 24h assistance service, so help may take several hours to arrive. Note 2: Said assistance won't be charged if there is a mechanical failure caused by something not attributable to the user.
Extra insurance: For an extra 20€/day your responsability over the bike will be limited to the amount paid as a deposit (400.00€). This means that whatever happens*, you won't pay more than that amount. Additionally, any rescue/assistance cost will be charged at 50%
*With the following exceptions: Bike getting totalled, lost or stolen, and all costs associated with fines, tolls, and/or recovery of the motorcycle in case it got aprehended or abandoned.
Working hours: Bike pick-ups and returns must be arranged with out team. Normal hours would be 9h for pick-ups and up to 18h (6pm) for drop-offs. We will charge as late fee of 15€ for every 30min after 6pm
Additional questions
I am here for you, don't worry. Just send me an email and I will personally make you you get all the info you need.
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