The people, idea and story behind Choose Your Route.

About Choose Your Route | Algarve Tours from Faro

★★★★★ · 4.9 · 2,126+ verified travellers

All stories start somewhere!

We started with a few friends exploring the Algarve. Today, we create small-group experiences where travellers discover real places, meet real people and leave with a story of their own.

12,143+
happy travellers
since we opened our doors in 2019
40+
countries represented
in our groups every single week
7
years guiding
the real Algarve since 2019
#1
rated tours in Faro
Google · Viator · GYG · Tripadvisor

The Choose Your Route story

It all started with a few trips between friends.

Simão came to the Algarve from the north of Portugal to study. Somewhere along the way, the Algarve became home.

In 2017, he started taking international students and friends on trips around the Algarve and southern Spain. There was no big plan behind it. Just good people, beautiful places and the feeling that a day exploring together was better than travelling alone.

Then a friend’s family came to visit. Simão showed them around, just as he had done so many times before. At the end of the day, they told him: “You should do this for everybody.”

That was the click. In 2019, Choose Your Route was born.

Travellers sharing a moment with their local guide on a Choose Your Route tour

Beyond a tour...

it's the people you meet along the way.

“Life is a journey that gives you the liberty to draw your own map, and choose your own route”

Dennis E. Adonis

THE CYR EXPERIENCE

It’s not just where you go. It’s how the day feels.

You come for the views.
You stay for how it makes you feel.

The CYR experience

Small groups. Real connection.

We keep groups small so there’s time to talk, laugh and actually get to know the people you’re travelling with.

“The whole group became friends by the end of the tour.”

Guides who feel like locals.

Our guides bring the Algarve to life with local stories, recommendations, hidden details and plenty of good energy.

“Guide was our local friend.”

Freedom to make the day yours.

We take care of the route and the details, while paying attention to your pace, mood and interests along the way.

“Perfect balance of adventure and comfort.”

The Algarve beyond the postcard.

We’ll show you more than beautiful views... the people, food, traditions, stories and nature that make the Algarve feel alive.

“We felt like locals, not tourists.”
Start your experience →

More than the postcard

The Algarve is more than beaches and viewpoints.

We love the places that make you stop, look around and reach for your camera. But the Algarve becomes something else when you slow down and look beyond the view.

Meet the people. Taste the food. Hear the stories. Discover the traditions, nature and little details that make this place feel alive.

That’s the Algarve we want travellers to experience… and remember long after the day is over.

Travellers sharing a moment with their local guide on a Choose Your Route tour

MEET YOUR GUIDES

The people who make your day

The places matter. But the person showing them to you can change the whole experience.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

The values behind every route, every guide and every connection.

These aren’t just words on a wall. They shape how we look after our travellers, how we work as a team and how we experience the Algarve every day.

Our values

Connection

We make people feel they belong.

Travel is better when you have someone to share it with. We create space for conversations, shared laughs and genuine connections... with your group, our guides and the Algarve itself.

Authenticity

We keep it real.

No staged experiences or polished versions of the Algarve. We share the places, people, stories and moments that make this region genuinely special.

Care

We look after people and places.

We care about how people feel, how the day unfolds and how we treat the places we share. From the smallest detail to the bigger picture... care is part of every route.

Joy

We believe exploring should feel good.

We bring energy, humour and a sense of adventure to the day. Because the places matter... but so do the laughs, the smiles and the feeling you take home with you.

Curiosity

We never stop discovering.

There is always another story, another path, another local detail worth noticing. We stay curious so we can keep discovering the Algarve and sharing more of what makes it fascinating.

Growth

We keep getting better.

We listen, learn and evolve. From our routes and guides to the way we welcome travellers... every experience is an opportunity to do things a little better.

Real words from real travellers

The best part of our story is the people who join it.

TRAVELLERS LOVE IT
★★★★★ 4.9
Based on 2,126+ traveller reviews Google · Viator · GetYourGuide · Tripadvisor
★★★★★5.0Viator

"One of the highlights of my life. Our guide went over and above any expectations and kept us safe while we explored."

LindaCanada · October 2025Solo traveller
★★★★★5.0GYG

"It felt more like spending the day with a passionate friend than being on a tour. The photos our guide took were incredible."

MelinaGermany · May 2025Solo traveller
★★★★★5.0Viator

"By far the best tour we've ever experienced. Our guide was so personable and went above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome."

Adam & NicoUnited Kingdom · July 2025Couple
★★★★★5.0GYG

"Our excursion felt like a family trip. Our guide played a playlist with songs from every country in the group and knew everyone's name by the end of the morning."

AmelaGermany · May 2025Friends
★★★★★5.0Tripadvisor

"Don't think. Just book it. You won't be disappointed. It was by far the most memorable day of my entire vacation to the Algarve."

SarahUnited Kingdom · March 2025Solo traveller
★★★★★5.0Google

"Our guide was EXCELLENT! She kept my 2 teenagers fully engaged and they had a blast. The whole experience was warm, friendly and professional."

WandaUSA · July 2025Family
★★★★★5.0Viator

"I usually hate tours because of the rush and the big groups, but this felt like going out with friends. Worth every penny."

AnastassijaRussia · June 2025Friends
★★★★★5.0GYG

"That was my first solo trip, and it was absolutely amazing! Our guide's smile and positive energy made the whole ride unforgettable."

DelfinaPoland · May 2025Solo traveller
★★★★★5.0Google

"Fabulous tour. Exceeded our expectations, especially for the kids, who initially didn't want to go. The hours went by so quickly."

Paul FinneganUnited Kingdom · February 2025Family

Where we're going

The route keeps growing.

What started with a few trips for friends has grown into a team of people who believe the Algarve is worth experiencing differently… through real people, local stories and moments that stay with you.

For Simão, one of the most rewarding parts of that journey is seeing other people grow with CYR. What started as his route has become a shared one… with guides bringing their own personality, stories and energy to the experience.

The company may have grown, but the reason behind it hasn’t changed: love people, show them the Algarve, and make the day worth it.

The heart stays the same.

Beyond a tour...

In the end, we just want you to feel... it was worth it.

The places. The people. The laughs. The little moments you didn't expect. That's the part we hope stays with you.

Start your experience →

Choose your route.

Ready to explore the real Algarve?

Max 8 people · From €55 per person
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