About

WHAT WE DO

We believe thet the power of gastronomy is the perfect way to unveil a nation’s culture, history and singular lifestyle. As Spanish natives and wine aficionados jet setting around the the Mediterranean world, we present elements of culture in their purest form.

Our made-to-measure, full-concierge food and wine experiences offer an ideal solution to creating complex, multigenerational, and once-in-a-lifetime adventures for the bon vivants at heart. If you prefer to travel on your own but need help with designing your perfect holiday, our team of experts can assist you from A to Z. From a full itinerary-planning services to extra support on your self-defined trip, we will help you plan your ideal trip to our three Mediterranean destinations: Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

If on the contrary you prefer to explore new destinations in the company of like-minded guests on a fully-escorted food and wine tour, our CÚRATE Trips are made for you, with an emphasis on off-the-beaten path experiences from an insider’s point of view.

WHY TRAVEL WITH US

✧Our aim is to share – in a unique way few others can – the unrushed, unpretentious and unspoiled splendor of the countries we love and live in: SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND MOROCCO — in a unique way that others can’t.

✧We infuse the natural connection between local gastronomy with the arts, social traditions, health and nature. We mix them up with the most intimate local knowledge in order to best suit each individual traveler’s interests and expectations, while always respecting longstanding traditional foundations.

✧We strive to activate our customers’ 5 senses through the most unconventional and exciting FOOD & WINE experiences.

OUR 3 PILLARS

100% SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
We aim to respect and enrich the local environment while involving our travelers in an open dialogue to encourage them to practice ethical tourism on a finite planet.

100% DESTINATIONS GURUS
Exclusive to the best-connected natives, our experiences get to the heart of the local essence. We magically intertwine food & wine throughout a country’s natural landscapes, cultural traditions and art.

100% HANDCRAFTED EXPERIENCES
To guarantee emotionally engaging journeys, all of our trips are designed and meticulously planned in-house. Like artisan sourdough bread, every ingredient is carefully selected to be slowly kneaded and baked into the finished product.

WHO WE ARE

Paladar y Tomar is proud to partner with a passionate and dedicated team of wine and culinary professionals, guides, and lecturers across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. We invite you to meet with our cuisine and wine connoisseurs, who are experts at sharing the delectable local flavors of their region. ¡Salud!

Fernando Paredes

Co-Founder & CEO

MEET FERNANDO

Born in Barcelona with a family from Jerez, it’s no surprise that Fernando has spent his entire life moving between Northern and Southern Spain. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Barcelona University and soon after started his career in pharmaceutical consulting. Eight years and dozens of countries later, he decided to change careers and follow his true calling: travel. Fernando entered the tourism industry in 2005 as the General Manager of a bespoke outbound travel group with offices throughout the world. Every time he embarks on a new journey it feels as if it was the first time. He has visited India, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Costa Rica, Turkey, Yemen, Morocco, South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Canada, the United States, and most Western European countries.

He is the personification of wanderlust and always thinking about his next destination — Australia and South America are next on his bucket list. Mediterranean and Asian cuisines are Fernando’s favorites but he appreciates any meal cooked with love. He is responsible for designing over 140 different pairing menus a year. He has a special sensitivity for wine and he is an avid wine collector – in fact, he is a Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advanced Expert, as well as a WSET 3 certified with merit.

Valeska Idarraga

Co-Founder & CEO

MEET VALESKA

Having grown up in a culinary family, Valeska inherited a talent for cooking from a young age. Her Basque grandmother worked as a chef for 30 years at one of the most prestigious government institutions in Spain. Likewise, her refined taste for gastronomic culture came from her father’s side of the family, as she lived and traveled across France since she was a child. Valeska is a Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advanced Expert and is a WSET 3 certified with merit.

Born and raised in Barcelona, Valeska earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Barcelona University and graduated in Journalism from Pompeu Fabra University. In 2004 she took a postgraduate course in Hotel Management at Glion Hotel School in Switzerland and a Yield Management Executive course at École Hôtelière de Lausanne. After gaining experience at some of the most prestigious hotels in Barcelona and Costa Esmeralda, Valeska soon started her own company, Xtrême & Trends, offering luxury personal concierge services. The media soon covered her successes: The Wallpaper, The Globe and Mail, Robb Report, Fuera de Serie. Valeska was forced to set aside her project for personal reasons, and spent the next nine years as the Marketing Communications Manager at a Japanese multinational company. She has lived in France, Switzerland, and the United States. She speaks Spanish, French, English, Italian, and Catalan, and her favorite hobbies include cooking and hosting private receptions at home.

THE TAILORMADE WAY

✧ THE BEST PRIVATE TRIP

The best private trip is a seamless one where all of the pieces and details flow together into one cohesive itinerary. The process of researching and putting together a customized proposal that matches your travel preferences takes time and requires comprehensive knowledge.

✧ TRAVEL PLANNING PROCESS

Our connections, investment in research, and the time-saving factor for our clients require recognition, which is why we charge a fee for custom travel requests.

The Travel Planning Fee covers a wide range of services, including the initial consultation and discussion of your trip preferences; our knowledge and connections; our research; proposal development and revisions in order to create the perfect tailor-made itinerary; booking and managing all components; and 24/7 support while traveling. The travel planning fee varies based on the length and complexity of the trip, and starts at €300 for two travelers for a maximum 7-day journey.

✧ The Travel Planning Fee does not apply to our CÚRATE Trips small group tours, nor to our loyal clients.

12 Easy Steps to Plan Your Custom Trip

1
INITIAL CONTACT

When we receive your first request – usually through this form – we will get a general idea of your expectations and style of travel.

The more we know about you, the easier it will be for us to understand your preferences and plan the perfect trip.

2
INITIAL FREE CONSULTATION

Let’s chat! Our first conversation will be either via call, videoconference, or email. This will help clarify our questions and define your priorities to make sure that we are on the same page.

We will come up with a first draft itinerary ASAP.

3
DRAFT ITINERARY

We will send you a drafted itinerary and schedule a second conversation to clarify any questions and/or to take into consideration any necessary adjustments.

4
PLANNING FEE DEPOSIT

Once the draft has been approved, it is time to pay the Travel Planning Fee deposit.

5
DETAILED ITINERARY

Within the agreed timeframe, we will develop the final itinerary and prepare a proposal, complete with pricing and a detailed plan.

6
REVIEW & CHANGES

Upon receiving our detailed proposal, you will give us your feedback so that we can make the final adjustments until you are satisfied.

7
FIRST PAYMENT

When the trip is defined, we require a 40% booking deposit upon confirmation.

When we receive your payment, we will secure all elements of your journey and inform you.

8
FINAL PAYMENT

Final payment of private custom travel arrangements is due 45 days before the trip’s departure date.

9
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Around 2 weeks before departure we will send you all of the necessary travel documents.

10
ENJOY YOUR TRIP

¡BUEN VIAJE! • BOA VIAGEM! • RIHLAT JAYIDA!

It is time to relax and enjoy your dream trip.

11
24/7 SUPPORT

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having around-the-clock support — we are ready to assist you if any unforeseen situations arise. We are available 24/7 by phone, text message, WhatsApp, social media, or email.

12
WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

Your opinion matters to us. We would love to hear your feedback, as it helps us grow, improve our offerings, and will benefit future travelers.

NOTE: Due to the complex nature of travel planning, we prefer to handle the whole booking process and not to book “A la Carte” components of a trip that you have already partially booked on your own. We have learned from experience that it can be confusing for everyone to have different components booked by different people and makes it very hard for us to ensure the level of service we aim to provide on all trips.