In today’s world, everything around us is designed to make life as comfortable as possible. At Oporto Adventure Tours, we invite you to step out of this comfort zone and connect with your adventurous side. While our Land Rovers may lack most modern comforts, that’s exactly what makes them an essential part of our tours. Their ruggedness enhances the thrill of exploration and each vehicle, with its unique personality adds its own character to the experience. Let us introduce you to our beloved team of Land Rovers.
IVAR
Our Viking, Ivar, is our off-white Defender 110 from 1999, and has driven the most kilometers of all our vehicles. He got his name from Ivar the Boneless, a character in the show Vikings. When he joined our team in 2017, he didn’t have any structure and was basically boneless himself! Thanks to our dedicated mechanic, most of his “bones” have been expertly restored, making him ready for the countless adventures that followed – he even hit a wall once and got his “heart” replaced twice.
O ESPANHOL
Although originally from the UK, O Espanhol (The Spanish) – our white Defender 110 from 2006 – spent most of his life in Spain. In 2023, he immigrated to Portugal to join our team, but his laid-back Spanish character remains. O Espanhol enjoys testing his passengers' patience with his little quirks, like seatbelts that only pull out slowly, adding a unique touch to every adventure.
RITA
When Rita, our grey Discovery II from 1999, joined us in 2014, we wanted to give her a female name. The girlfriend of Varela, one of our guides at the time, was called Rita. As Varela was driving a lot with the car, we named the car after his girlfriend to keep harmony on the road and at home. Rita has been part of the team the longest and she’s been with us through thick and thin.
JACINTA
Our grey Discovery II from 2001, Jacinta, joined us in 2023. Her name comes from her licence plate initials, ‘SJ,’ which could stand for São Jacinto, the hometown of our guide Luís. We chose Jacinta as a nod to the tradition in the '90s of hanging rosaries from car mirrors—a small homage to Portuguese Catholicism.
Our Land Rovers aren’t just vehicles—they’re part of the experience, helping you connect with the untamed beauty of Gerês. From Ivar’s warrior spirit to Jacinta’s cultural nods, each Land Rover makes your journey through the national park truly one of a kind.
To meet our cars in person, join us on our Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour!
