Our Expert Guides

We know that having a great guide is key to truly discovering a destination. That’s why our tours are led by passionate Spain gurus who love sharing their insider knowledge with our guests. We’ve got historians, sommeliers and art experts on the team, and each guide is a gifted storyteller.

We can’t wait for you to meet them!

Paula Valluerca

Born in The Basque Country, Paula is an award winning comedic performer and food lover.

Claim to fame: Has been a presenter for different film documentaries about food in Europe.
Spain feat: She is knowledgeable not only about Madrid, but also about so many other places in Spain (she has lived in 4 different Spanish cities!)
Spain survival tip: In Spain, there is nothing more important than building relationships. Socializing is a huge part of our culture and you'll see proof of that in bars, cafés, park benches… everywhere!

Arantxa Lamas

Born & raised in Madrid, Arantxa is a professional chef trained at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She loves exploring the markets of Madrid, and cooking delicious meals

Claim to fame: Arantxa’s recipes have traveled the world over through her students from all over the globe!
Spain feat: She has pulled off a paella party 30 people – and the rice came out perfect!
Spain survival tip: Forget about supermarkets and find your nearest neighborhood market for better quality. Also that's where the best tapas bars are!

Miguel Ángel Rolland

Third generation madrileño passionate about storytelling around culture, city living, food and nightlife.

Claim to fame: nominated to the Spanish Film Awards, Goyas, for his short-film "Aerosol"
Spain feat: a true "gato" (a person from Madrid) who loves nightlife and could spot a good bar/club for a chat, dance or night out any day of the week at any time. Care to challenge him?
Spain survival tip: Always pay for the first round of cañas and never try to split the check into decimals for every member of your group.

Annette Cini

After living in 7 cities across the globe, Annette has now spent more of her adult years living in Spain than in any other country. Freshly-fried churros are her kryptonite.

Claim to fame: Performed in the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 Commonwealth Games with 100,000 stadium onlookers and livestream TV.
Spain feat: Kayaked around the island of Menorca for several days, sleeping under the stars on virgin beaches.
Spain survival tip: Hop off the tourist trail and sample the delights of Madrid's backstreet markets and culinary gems.

Eleanor Bunt

Eleanor has traveled the world but always comes back to Madrid to soak up the incredible culture, wine and food.

Claim to fame: Raised over €6 million for NGOs/charities through fundraising events in London
Spain feat: Introducing her Spanish friends to amazing hidden bars that they never knew about since she's always trying out somewhere new every week!
Spain survival tip: To survive the late eating times in Spain, you can always rely on the most local-looking bar to serve you the best pincho de tortilla and caña of beer at any time of day to keep you going until mealtime!

Jake Page

Half Irish, half Basque, Jake is a lover of food and languages who studied fine arts and graphic design in Bilbao.

Claim to fame: Lied his way into a job mixing cocktails in China, and actually became pretty good at it!
Spain feat: Owns a copy of his Basque grandmother's personal recipe book, and will one day know it by heart, the way she does.
Spain survival tip: If you really liked the tortilla at a tapas bar, don’t hesitate to compliment the cook—they are very proud of their tortillas!

Jackie Koester

A self-proclaimed Spanish Civil War history nerd, Jackie has traveled to all 17 autonomous communities in Spain to feast on local flavors.

Claim to fame: Got to film a commercial for Mapfre insurance, posing as a tennis player, recording on the same courts Spanish tennis star Rafa Nadal has practiced on
Spain feat: Chanted a ritualistic poem in front of a family of Spaniards to create the traditional Galician alcohol-fueled, devil-be-gone, blue-fired Queimada
Spain survival tip: Three words: menú del día. Many places offer wonderful lunch options for a reasonable price that will keep you filled for the entire day. Remember to go at the right time though, between 2 pm and 3 pm.

Oliver Lucas

Spanish and American with a touch of Venezuelan, Oliver is a former English teacher turned full-time devourer and food tour guide.

Claim to fame: Visited over 30 countries before turning 30
Spain feat: Intensely interested in rustic and local cuisines of Spain. Makes a yearly pilgrimage to Astigarraga to eat at a traditional Basque cider house.
Spain survival tip: Always order what the locals are having and never be afraid of ingredients you may not be familiar with!

Rafa Salmerón

Born and raised in Madrid, Rafa has always loved food! He learned how to cook at 8 years old by watching his grandmother prepare her secret salt cod recipe. He’s now perfected seafood paella, too!

Claim to fame: He is a published author and illustrator of books for children and young adults. He’s been in the business more than 20 years and published more than 75 books.
Spain Feat: He is from a food and wine loving family! On his dad’s side, his family owned vineyards and a winery in Castilla La Mancha for more than 100 years, and his grandfather owned a candy factory in Seville for 25 years.
Spain survival tip: Don´t be surprised if the meat or seafood you order still looks like the animal it came from. This is typical in Spain and it lets you know the product is authentic and fresh!

Meredith Miller

Meredith grew up in North Carolina but always dreamed of traveling and living outside of the US. She studied history and Spanish in college and after visiting Madrid in 2008, realized it perfectly combined two things she loved!

Claim to fame: She recently helped to cook an authentic (and big!) paella over an open fire pit in the middle of the countryside, and it came out decently!
Spain feat: First time traveling by herself was in Spain! At the end of 2008 she visited Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona and Valencia.
Spain survival tip: Be open to trying all the seafood! Spain has lots of things that come in shells and with tentacles, and they are all delicious! Your food experience won’t be the same without them.

David Lavoile

A London native who married a Spaniard! As a lover of rich cultures and foods, it was somewhat inevitable that he would find himself living in a city that feeds both interests.

Claim to fame: Wedding appeared on national TV, although it got slightly less exposure than Will and Kate's!
Spain feat: Lives in an apartment block where every resident is a member of the family. Can't get more integrated than that!
Spain survival tip: Spanish people are naturally curious, so don't be surprised if you get stared at! They're probably thinking what wonderful style you have, or imagining where you're from! Use it to your advantage, and get interacting, especially with the elderly—they will entertain you for hours!

Servet Domínguez

With degrees in flamenco guitar and contemporary art history, Servet is an expert in Madrid’s cultural scene! He loves his hometown of Madrid for how welcoming, spirited and delicious it is!

Claim to fame: He's studied flamenco and jazz guitar for 12 years.
Spain feat: He is one of the few people in Spain whose tortilla de patatas is better than his mother's.
Spain survival tip: There are no secret recipes in Spain. If you want to know how to cook something, just ask the waiter—they will be delighted to tell you!

Yvonne Power

Born in Ireland, Yvonne travel led far and wide before finally settling in Madrid. She loves the vibrant Madrid food markets, live jazz music at the Sunday Rastro market and swing dancing.

Claim to fame: Whilst walking part of the Camino de Santiago from San Sebastian to Bilbao, Yvonne got an insider tour of a closed Basque gastronomic society, a txoko.
Spain feat: Yvonne has planned and researched luxury cycling trips all over Spain, getting out on the bike herself in many regions to check out the routes and try the food along the way!
Spain survival tip: Don’t be shy here in Spain! Interact with people, ask questions and shout if you need to get your order heard in a crowded bar!

Eduardo Muñoz

Having lived in 5 countries, travelling is in Eduardo’s DNA! Now in his hometown of Madrid, Eduardo is a curious sommelier with a passion for Spain’s artesanal wines.

Claim to fame: Eduardo speaks 5 languages and has a medal for being the youngest passenger to fly on SAS Airlines! (He was just a few days old!)
Spain feat: He has visited more than 30 Spanish wine regions.
Spain survival tip: Try to learn Spanish so you can interact with old people. They have the best stories!

Margit Sperling

Her birth certificate may say Seattle but after 10 years in Spain, Margit is an honorary Spaniard!

Claim to fame: She has lived in 4 Spanish provinces and is our foremost expert on exploring cheese caves in the Picos de Europa mountains.
Spain feat: After years of studying Spanish, she's often mistaken for a local.
Spain survival tip: Entree envy is a good thing. Never be embarrassed to point, smile and ask for what she's having.

Carolyn Mitchell

Half American and half Spanish, Carolyn is a well-travelled Hotelier with a passion for food, wine and hospitality.

Claim to fame: She was Hotel Ritz Madrid’s youngest concierge at age 20!
Spain feat: She has catered to some of Spain’s most elite aristocrats including the current Prime Minister.
Spain survival tip: If you are a fan of sangria, try a “Tinto de Verano” instead for a more local and refreshing alternative

Sean Retana

Born in Madrid, Sean is basically a tour guide. He designs and runs tours all over Spain and he’s not easily daunted by the vast and diverse nature of the country.

Claim to fame: is a more or less successful single dad.
Spain feat: one day his cocidito madrileño will smell, feel and taste like his father's.
Spain survival tip: while in Spain, try to learn and then use the Spanish words to describe your food.

Ewan Bleiman

From a food-obsessed family in Scotland, Ewan fell in love with Spanish food, history and art four-and-a-half years ago.

Claim to fame: at ten years old appeared on a primetime Saturday night UK game show
Spain feat: Ewan has eaten and drunk in many Spanish cities that even the majority of Spaniards haven’t visited (Ourense, Algeciras, Puertollano…).
Spain survival tip: Don’t limit yourself to Spanish food: Madrid currently has some of the best Venezuelan, Moroccan, Peruvian and Chinese food anywhere in the world!

Joy Figueroa

Joy, a New York native, visited Madrid in 2010 and loved the city so much she never left! Now she gets to spend her days showing others the city that stole her heart.

Claim to fame: can direct you to the best croquetas and tortilla de patatas in the city!
Spain feat: can impress even the most diehard Spanish foodie with her culinary lore.
Spain survival tip: don't be afraid to be a bit pushy to get served at a busy bar — speak up!

Luke Darracott

From soggy United Kingdom, Luke spends most of his time publishing articles, books, videos and podcasts about food and travel. He’s also a qualified wino and passionate wine educator.

Claim to fame: Presents a television programme ("Finding Little Italy") that has been broadcast in Spain and various other countries.
Spain feat: Has walked 1200km of Camino de Santiago and published a book about it.
Spain survival tip: When ordering wine, remember it’s usually by region and not grape!

You?

Want to join our team as a guide? Find out how here!

Our Expert Guides

We know that having a great guide is key to truly discovering a destination. That’s why our tours are led by passionate Spain gurus who love sharing their insider knowledge with our guests. We’ve got historians, sommeliers and art experts on the team, and each guide is a gifted storyteller.

We can’t wait for you to meet them!

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