The story of how Go Local was created.

As a typical Portuguese person we sure like to go and have a coffee with friends and just talk about our lives, jobs, recent experiences, etc.. So, this story starts out with a simple coffee between two life-long friends, Zeca and Raúl.

Zeca and Raúl decided to meet up for a coffee talk, where they discussed the big boom of tourism in Porto and how tourist traps were popping up. From seeing port wine being served as a main course drink to overpriced meals and incorrect information about our beloved city called Porto.

Having traveled a lot, they knew how it feels to experience something truly authentic, like the time they were road tripping through Morocco and met a local who showed them the best spots in town and where they should go next. This awesome local also invited them into his home where he cooked a traditional dish just to show off how amazing their food culture is.

A true local does not want to cheat anyone of experiencing the awesomeness of their city and will go above and beyond to make sure you go back home with only positive memories of the city you just visited. This was the conclusion of this coffee talk as they reminisced about their travels and how they were positively impacted by locals.

They both went on with their day, but a seed had been planted in their minds.

“Do you like the name Go Local?” was a text that Zeca sent Raúl on the night after their coffee talk.
“I love it!” said Raúl.

The very next day they both meet at the same cafe to discuss if it would be a good idea to quit their jobs and start a tour company in Porto (their hometown). They decided they wanted to be the travellers' trusted locals and take on the responsibility of showcasing Porto’s best spots and surrounding areas like the Douro Valley. So, because of some casual coffee talk, Go Local was born! In fact, if you look at Go Locals logo, you will see that it’s a coffee bean and the two lines represent these two lifelong friends.

The company has won a couple of awards such as the Luxury Travel Guide Global Award, and the team keeps expanding with other friends that share this passion for Porto and travel. Go Local has become what Zeca and Raúl wanted and has been creating lifelong memories for whoever crosses their paths. Always supporting local businesses and creating authentic experiences like the ones they had while travelling.