Maria Tuk Tuk
Chat with Maria

Porto & Gaia, Portugal · Private tuk tuk tours

See Porto with the wind in your hair and Maria at the wheel.

Tours in

11 years showing the streets, bridges and stories of this city. A private tour just for your group, with plenty of photo stops.

★★★★★ 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor
Message Maria on WhatsApp See tours & prices
Sticker of Maria's Red Classic Tuk TukRed Classic!
From€100per Red Classic Tuk Tuk · 1–4 people
  • 🚗Red classic tuk tuk · 1h to full day
  • ⚡100% electric: quiet and clean
  • ☂Rain or shine, clear curtains
  • 🎁Maria Tuk Tuk gifts for every family
  • 11Years guiding in Porto
11years of experience4tour languages on request1h–full daytours1–4people per Red Classic Tuk Tuk1red classic tuk tuk
Maria with a happy group in the old town
Maria taking a selfie with her guests in the tuk tuk
Maria smiling with guests on the back seat
Maria laughing with her guests
Maria with new friends in the old town
Maria

Why Maria

A guide, not just a driver.

History, told like a story

Nearly 900 years of Portugal: the Templars, the Discoveries and Prince Henry the Navigator, born right here in Porto. Philosophy graduate, History lover.

Fluent English

Tours in English, and also in Portuguese, French or Spanish if your group mixes languages.

Just your group

A private tour: the tuk tuk is yours and so is the pace. We stop for photos whenever you like.

Smooth driving

Calm, defensive driving on the hills and cobblestones. Just sit back and enjoy the view.

Tours & prices

Your ride: the red classic tuk tuk.

One ride, done beautifully: Maria's red classic tuk tuk, for 1 to 4 people. The price is per Red Classic Tuk Tuk. Tap a duration to ask Maria about it on WhatsApp.

Price per Red Classic Tuk Tuk, 1–4 peoplePrivate tour, just your groupFamily gifts included6 people? Ask Maria on WhatsApp
Statue of Prince Henry the Navigator in Praça do Infante, Porto
Prince Henry the NavigatorBorn in Porto in 1394, he launched Portugal's Age of Discoveries
  1. Clérigos Tower
  2. Porto Cathedral The medieval heart of the city
  3. São Bento Station Tile panels telling the story of Portugal
  4. Stock Exchange Palace · São Francisco
  5. Chapel of Souls · Bolhão Market
  6. Santa Clara · Carmo & Carmelitas
  7. 14th-century Jewish Quarter
  8. Eiffel-school bridges · Vila Nova de Gaia

Where we go

Way more than 800 years of history. Zero hills to climb.

Porto is a medieval city of hills, viewpoints and narrow cobbled streets. The tuk tuk does the climbing, you do the looking. The route adapts to the length of your tour.

next stop: the Douro!

Only with Maria

Ride with the Knights Templar.

Discover where Portugal began, the history behind it and how it still shapes the country today. The country even takes its name from Porto's old Roman name, Portus Cale. Maria's red classic car, the “calhambeque”, is dressed for a crusade: Templar flags, knights on the bonnet and a story to match. In Portugal the Order never really vanished. When it was dissolved in 1312, King Dinis kept its knights and lands in the new Order of Christ, whose red cross later sailed on the caravels of the Discoveries.

Learn all about the Crusades

Real photos, real guests

Happy people on board.

No stock photos. These are Maria's guests, laughing their way around Porto.

Maria and two guests laughing and making peace signs in front of Porto's Ribeira
Pure joy at the RibeiraStrangers in the morning, friends by lunch.
Three friends laughing over port wine in a Gaia cellar
Cheers, girls!
Dancing by the Douro
Guest giving a big thumbs up in the tuk tuk
Thumbs up!
Couple smiling cheek to cheek in the tuk tuk
Cheek to cheek
Couple raising a toast in the tuk tuk
Saúde, Porto!
Guests with Maria by the Douro bridges
Friends for a day
Maria and a guest taking a selfie in the classic tuk tuk
Selfie time
Maria making a peace sign next to tuk tuks in Porto
Peace from Maria
Maria taking a selfie with smiling guests inside the covered tuk tuk, with clear rain windows
Tuk tuk · clear rain curtains
Happy guests in Maria's red classic car with its hood up, below the Serra do Pilar monastery in Gaia
Classic car · convertible hood

Rain?

Raining? Even better.

The tuk tuks have clear plastic curtains and the classic car has a convertible hood. You see the whole city without getting wet, instead of staying stuck in your hotel room.

Ask about a rainy-day tour

Little gifts

Every family goes home with souvenirs.

Each family gets complimentary Maria Tuk Tuk Porto gifts: a wine key engraved with her name and number, perfect for the bottle of port you will surely take home, and colourful pens to remember the ride.

  • 🎁Free gifts for every family
  • ✍️Engraved wine key: MARIA TukTuk Porto
  • 🍷Opens that bottle of port back home
  • 🖊️Colourful pens to take home
Wine keys in six colours
Six colourful wine keys engraved with MARIA TukTuk Porto and her phone number
A handful of colourful Maria Tuk Tuk gift pens
FREEgifts your Porto souvenirs!
Maria smiling by the Douro, with the Ribeira and Porto Cathedral behind her

Your guide

Hi, I'm Maria!

I've been guiding tuk tuk tours for 11 years in Porto, Gaia and Lisbon. I graduated in Philosophy at NOVA University Lisbon, studied Journalism, did a postgraduate degree in AI and never stopped studying History. If your group loves culture, the tour grows with you: we can stop longer at Eiffel's Maria Pia bridge or talk Templars and caravels.

Before Porto, I was a sailor: Brazilian women's champion in the Laser class. I have also published two books, one for children and one on Greek tragedy.

My tour is cultural, fun and made to refresh the soul: we stop at the monuments, share stories and take the photos you'll want to keep.

  • Philosophy · NOVA Lisbon
  • Journalism
  • Postgrad in AI
  • ⛵ Brazilian sailing champion
  • 📚 Published author
  • Porto · Gaia · Lisbon

Maria

Guest reviews

What guests say about Maria.

Real reviews from travellers who rode with her. ★★★★★

●●●●●

Sunset Tuk Tuk with Wonderful Guide

My boyfriend and I did a 90 min tour before sunset with Maria in Porto. We had such a great time! Maria is knowledgeable, very kind, gave us photo ops and great conversation :) We were only in Porto for 2 days and her tour helped us see more than we would have otherwise. It’s also great for seeing where you want to return and spend more time!
Bathing Suits & Rain BootsJul 2025 · Tripadvisor
●●●●●

Excellent car ride in Porto

Excellent tour… Maria knows the history of Porto to perfection… extremely friendly and very helpful… very careful driving in a city well difficult to handle… highly recommended… speaks many languages to perfection… the vehicle is very striking and well taken care of.
Francisco y NenaNov 2025 · Tripadvisor · translated from Spanish
●●●●●

Wonderful Day Discovering Porto with Maria!

This morning my wife and I enjoyed a wonderful Tuk Tuk tour of Porto followed by a delicious lunch at Restaurante Bocca in Foz. It really was a lovely day! Maria was our guide and we highly recommend her as she is knowledgeable, fun, accommodating and great company! Porto has so much to offer and it may be best accessed with a good Tuk Tuk guide. Highly recommend Maria for your tour!
Fly_d_Skies · Trinidad and TobagoJul 2026 · Tripadvisor
●●●●●

“Maria foi uma guia maravilhosa”

A Maria foi uma guia maravilhosa, que nos mostrou e compartilhou coisas conosco. Rapidamente nos sentimos imersos na cidade e conseguimos nos orientar…
T. · verified bookingOct 2026 · Private tuk tuk tour of Porto

Talk to Maria

Got a question? Ask Maria directly.

No forms, no call centre. Tap a question and it opens in WhatsApp, ready to send. Maria answers personally with prices, dates and ideas for your group.

💬 Please send a written WhatsApp message. Maria is usually driving and can’t take many calls, but she replies to every message. Save her number:

+351 962 318 521
Maria · Tuk Tuk Portousually replies on WhatsApp
Hi! I'm Maria 👋 What would you like to know about Porto by tuk tuk?

FAQ

Quick questions.

How much is it, and how many people fit?

The red classic tuk tuk takes 1 to 4 people and the price is per Red Classic Tuk Tuk: 1h €100 · 1h30 €130 · 2h €160 · 3h €240 · 4h €320 · full day €460. For 6 people, ask Maria on WhatsApp.

What if it rains?

The tour goes on. The tuk tuks have clear plastic curtains, so you stay dry and still see the city.

Is the tour in English?

Yes. Maria also guides in Portuguese, French and Spanish, so mixed groups are welcome.

We are 6 people. Is that possible?

Yes, there is a 6-seat option. Send Maria a message on WhatsApp with your date and she will give you the details.

What's included?

A private tour with your guide-driver, photo stops and Maria Tuk Tuk gifts for each family.

How do I contact Maria?

On WhatsApp at +351 962 318 521. Tell her your dates, how many you are and what you would love to see, and she will suggest the best tour.

Maria Tuk Tuk Guide · Memoirs

Headwind and Inner Latitude

“I still didn’t know that winning would be just the first of many ways to leave.”

It was already the final day of the Brazilian Laser Class Sailing Championship…

Before becoming the Brazilian Champion, however, I had already traveled a path of wind, discipline, and the silent repetition of excellence. I had captured the four-time championship title of the North and Northeast regions, winning stages in Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and in Santarém-Pará on the Tapajós River—a tributary of the Amazon.

I also participated in a North-Northeast championship in Aracaju-Sergipe, but that one was a disaster. I didn’t sleep well because of the enormous muriçocas (mosquitoes) with giant needles, and as if that weren't enough, my brand-new boat came with a defect in the daggerboard trunk seal and would fill with water within the first third of a race… The manufacturer was present and stood there with me for about 10 minutes watching water pour out from inside the boat. I lost the five-time championship and I don’t even know why I didn't ask for compensation, because after all, I had sponsors… Ricardo participated with my old boat that was up for sale and won the men's division... and I sold the boat... irony.

Each championship had a different body of water, a distinct mood of the wind, and a new way of learning to listen to the boat. When I finally achieved the Brazilian title, it didn't emerge as an isolated event, but as the natural continuation of a crossing that had been mapped out long before.

That National Championship I won was in Itaparica-Bahia, on the other side of the All Saints Bay (Baía de Todos os Santos). The Brazilian Laser Class Championship always took place in February, precisely one week before Carnival.

To be able to participate in national and regional championships, I religiously split my month of vacation into four parts at the television station where I worked. The editors never really liked it. I never fully understood why. How exactly did it affect them that someone continued to chase the wind in their free time?

Perhaps because certain passions seem excessive to those who have never needed them.

Strong summer.

Crystal-clear water.

And the Laser perfectly tuned.

A small but demanding boat, where every centimeter of sail and every movement of the body alters your destiny. On the windward leg, under the delicate commands of the English rudder, the English daggerboard, and the English sail, the boat behaved beautifully.

The rudder and daggerboard had been recently imported from London, along with a pair of fantastic red boots to hike out without hurting my ankles as usual. These were essential items cordially brought over by Jane and Alfredo, Ricardo and Alexandre's parents. Jane managed to work with the Consulate to recover some money I had left in an English bank after selling a motorcycle subsequent to my departure from Cambridge, where I lived for a year studying English. The sale, in turn, had been handled by my friend Nick, a PhD biology student. Ricardo and Alexandre were also at this Brazilian Championship.

To sail is to enter a living geography where good materials are no less important. The heat rises, already transformed by the sea, like an invisible breath. The sun weighs heavy on the shoulders. The salt settles on the skin like a second memory.

And the tropical sea is never just blue.

It is green where it breathes shallow.

Dark where it guards depth.

And streaked where the gusts write their encrypted calligraphy across the surface.

The best were out on the racecourse.

In the men's fleet, Torben and many others…

Among the women, Andreia, Mónica, Viviane... she had been crowned South American Champion six months prior—strong, fast, tough. Winning this Championship would mean defeating the current South American Champion.

We reached that final race of the last day like someone crossing familiar territory: many points ahead, a comfortable, almost silent advantage.

There was no euphoria—just that discreet feeling of someone who knows the work was well done and that it is enough not to interrupt the flow of things.

The winds were intense, and I had prepared everything for this.

I trained Tatiana for a precise role: to be a crew member (proeiro) not just with her body, but with time.

Because competing is not just about having strength.

It is about discovering what to do when strength is lacking.

We were light.

Too light.

We didn't have enough weight to haul the vang (o burro).

The vang—that set of blocks and lines under enormous tension that forces the mast, bending it in the right direction and shaping the ideal angle to climb into the wind.

For the boys, this was solved with brute force.

Among the girls, I had never seen anyone do it differently.

So, I invented.

I invented because sometimes technique is born exactly where power ends.

I trained Tatiana so that, at the exact moment I allowed a brief fluttering of the sail, she would climb up and sit on top of the boom.

For a few seconds.

The boat seemed to stop.

It was almost ridiculous.

Funny, even.

In the middle of a race, someone sitting on the boom.

But that brief delay bought us a better geometry afterward.

More pointing angle.

More height.

More speed.

More headway gained against the wind.

Everything depended on the instant.

Not a second before.

Not a second after.

As if we were playing music.

Because sailing, deep down, is never about defeating the wind.

It is about coming to an agreement with it.

In the salty sea of a tropical country, in a small racing boat, you learn this early: the body does not dominate nature—it converses with it.

And sometimes, it wins.

We believed in the technique.

We already sensed the possibility of victory even before the championship began. Cesar, coming from the Yacht Club on a motorboat, also offered us water and said:

"Champions!"

I smiled, because there are words that are more than predictions—they are presentiments…

The winds were strong.

Constant.

If they remained that way for the duration of the days, perhaps the training and luck would finally decide to speak the same language.

Until the sea, as it so often does, decided to remind us that nothing is guaranteed.

There was a change in the course.

We didn't realize it in time. We rounded that buoy convinced it was the last one and were already heading toward the beach when we saw the other boats keep going. First came confusion. Then understanding. Then that pure moment of despair—Tatiana and I looked at each other and turned back to the racecourse.

We returned like someone stepping back into a dream they thought had ended.

We lost positions. My heart raced in that cruel mathematics that only exists in sports: how many places? How many points? How much does a stupid mistake cost?

We finished.

But we didn't know.

We didn't know if that distraction had been enough to steal the victory from us.

We returned to the shore neither in triumph nor defeat—simply suspended.

And there they were: my mother, my stepfather, and my boyfriend—possessing the name of a Roman Emperor like a super-enthusiast—already celebrating, already convinced of something I still didn't dare to believe.

And I pouted.

Because sometimes winning takes longer to reach the body than it does to reach the scoreboard.

Ride with Maria · message on WhatsApp