EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Join a biologist for an enlightening walk and boat cruise through Albufera National Park to see how its former rice fields were transformed into a natural reserve. Decades of harmful agricultural practices deteriorated the water quality and threatened the wildlife within the area that is now the Tancat de la Pipa reserve. Once the rice fields were converted to freshwater wetlands, the wildlife—particularly water birds—returned in great numbers. The biologist will describe the transformative process and how the reserve’s spring-fed waters are naturally filtered. A leisurely cruise on a boat will provide you with a different perspective of the wetlands and the chance to observe the flourishing biodiversity. You may spot black-winged stilts, crested coots, little-ringed plovers, and countless migratory birds such as bee-eaters. Marsh harriers are also abundant. These raptors can be easily identified in the air by their long tails and wings, which they typically hold in a shallow “V.”

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a biologist through a national park, parts of which were once used for farming.
• Gain insight into how the land was transformed from rice fields into freshwater wetlands.
• Cruise through the reserve in a boat and observe the abundant water birds.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Learn to make traditional paella at a farm in nearby L’Horta, an agricultural region on the outskirts of Valencia where most of the ingredients grow or can be found. Valencians often spend weekends in L’Horta to relax and enjoy a dinner of paella. The gathering is a ritual of sorts, in which families come together to socialize and dine on a dish that was first prepared in this area in the 15th or 16th century. The owner of the farm will show you around the grounds and point out some of the many garden items that will end up in your paella. You will then join a hands-on workshop and learn the basics of preparing this once-humble dish from scratch. While the dish is simmering in a large circular pan, you will toast the upcoming meal with a glass of sangria. When the paella is finished, you might taste it straight from the pan, another Valencian tradition.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Visit the farming region of L’Horta, where Valencians often spend weekends relaxing.
• Tour a farm where many of the ingredients for paella are grown.
• Learn to make traditional paella in a hands-on workshop on the farm.
• Dine on the freshly made paella, perhaps straight from the pan, which is a tradition.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at a citrus farm that grows fruit much like it did in the 19th century when the farm was established. Family-owned Huerto San Eusebio grows a variety of organic fruit, including famed Valencia oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, and lemons. While touring the farm with the owner, you will also likely see rarer fruits such as a multi-fingered citron known as Buddha’s hand and citrus caviar, a stout finger-shaped lime native to Australia. Most of the products are sold locally to maintain freshness and to minimize the environmental impact of transporting them over long distances. No chemicals or herbicides are used, and monoculture farming is avoided because it can deplete the soil’s natural nutrients and endanger the crops. You will learn some of the more fascinating specifics during a tasting of fruits and citrus jams. In contrast to this traditional experience, you will pause for photos at the modernistic City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s cultural hub.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tour a family-owned farm that grows organic citrus using eco-friendly methods.
• Sample organic fruits and jams that taste far superior to produce grown conventionally.
• Snap photos of Valencia’s most modern attraction-- City of Arts and Sciences.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine on a selection of tapas and thoughtfully paired wines at two restaurants following an enlightening drive through downtown. The Romans founded Valencia more than 2,000 years ago, and today the city boasts a wonderful mix of historical and modern attractions. They range from the medieval Valencia cathedral to the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s cultural hub. You will dine at two traditional restaurants that source their ingredients in La Horta, a flourishing agricultural region with thousands of farmland plots and Spain’s largest lake, Albufera, which supplies abundant seafood. Although the tapas ingredients will be determined the day of the excursion based on the season, they often include rock mussels, Getxo-style calamari and anchovies. Dessert may be sponge cake topped with caramelized pastry cream. Red and white wines will also be served to complement the tapas.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor a variety of tapas with locally sourced ingredients at two restaurants in Valencia.
• Enjoy a selection of red and white wine that perfectly pairs with the tapas.
• Drive through Valencia and see landmarks that reflect the city’s culture and history.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Cruise across a freshwater lake in Albufera Natural Park and dine on traditional paella in a centuries-old farmhouse nearby. As you cruise across this largest lake in Spain, you will see an abundance of water birds and seemingly endless fields of rice, one of the key ingredients in paella. A once-humble dish, paella originated in the area in the 15th or 16th century and has become synonymous with Valencia. Traditional versions are made with rabbit, chicken, snails and a variety of vegetables such as butter beans and artichokes. Smoked paprika and saffron are commonly used as spices. One of the favorite parts is the socarrat, which is the caramelized crust that forms at the bottom of the paella pan as the rice simmers undisturbed in the broth. The version of paella that you will be served at the restaurant La Genuina – which appropriately means “The Genuine” – will be as authentic as it gets.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dine on authentic paella, a once-humble dish that is synonymous with Valencia.
• Enjoy the ambiance of the 200-year-old farmhouse that is now La Genuina restaurant.
• See the area where paella originated as you cruise across a lake in Albufera Natural Park.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Watch an authentic flamenco performance while dining at a restaurant in Valencia that has been presenting these mesmerizing shows for more than a decade. As an introduction to the local culture, you will first stop for a glass of chilled horchata, a milky beverage made with a vitamin-rich superfood known as chufa. The restaurant La Bulería will offer an even more in-depth immersion into the Valencian lifestyle through its cuisine and flamenco show. As you dine on traditional foods such as Iberian ham, a Spanish omelet and foie gras croquettes, you will be treated to a passionate flamenco performance. UNESCO added this centuries-old art form to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list because it is so artistically expressive. Through dance, song and guitar music, the seductive gypsy art of flamenco will tell stories with themes ranging from love to oppression. You can’t help but be caught up in the highly emotional performance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch a highly expressive flamenco performance that fuses dancing, singing and music.
• Dine on traditional cuisine made with ingredients locally sourced in Valencia.
• Pause for a glass of horchata, a milky drink synonymous with the area.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour, conducted in small groups is the ultimate way to enjoy some of the best sights, customs and flavors of Valencia in a day. Explore its squares, hidden corners and monuments. Learn about its traditions and sample Paella, the symbol of Spanish cuisine which originated in the rice fields of Valencia. Walk through Plaza de la Reina in the historical center and discover its monuments and architecture. Visit the Cathedral and learn many of its secrets while you admire its great works of arts, such as the spectacular angel frescoes and paintings by Goya. Stop at La Lonja de la Seda “the Silk Exchange” declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO and experience the market scene like a local at the Central Market.

Take a break at the famous Horchateria Santa Catalina and a sample a local popular drink, horchata or orxata. Learn about Valencia’s most colorful festival Las Fallas as you visit the Fallero Museum. A short video shows you the highlights of the festival from costumes to fireworks and the night of the burning. Each year, one of the intricate and humorous figures is saved by popular vote and housed at the museum. The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences designed by the famous architect Santiago Calatrva as a present to his home city, is another stop. Scenic beauty, an educational experience, and the flavors of Valencia are yours to experience at the Albufera Nature Reserve. Take a boat ride on the lake where water birds and rice fields coexist harmoniously and visit a cottage used by the fishermen and rice growers. Learn how the locals created the now famous Paella while working in the fields and hungry for lunch.

Admire the highlights of Valencia at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around the city, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing. You will first be dropped off at Plaza de la Reina, a lovely plaza in the heart of Old Town. Whenever you are ready, use the complimentary bus pass to explore the destinations that are most appealing to you. Simply hop on one of the buses and then hop off when it reaches an attraction of interest from the nearly 15 designated stops. Stay for as long as you like, and then hop on another bus whenever you’re ready. The buses operate throughout the day and make continuous loops around Valencia’s must-see landmarks. Once onboard, you will receive a route map that describes the destinations, making it easy to choose your favorite ones. You can remain in the city for up to five hours.

Discover the medieval charm of Bocairent, a hilltop village built almost entirely of stone, including a bullring that was carved from solid rock in the 19th century. It took the villagers years to complete the excavation, but the bullring is still used today. Because almost every building is constructed from rock or carved into rock, Bocairent has an engaging medieval ambiance. The historic quarter is particularly atmospheric, as it was laid out in an Arabic style that reflects a Moorish influence. The streets twist and turn, rise and fall and often end in charming squares and cul-de-sacs. While sometimes challenging to negotiate, Bocairent’s old quarter is visually breathtaking, especially from areas that offer panoramic views of the countryside. To enhance your appreciation of the local culture, you will visit an local artisan shop that makes regional liquors such as anise-flavored herbero from mountain flora. While tasting his concoctions.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore Bocairent, a village built almost entirely of stone, giving it a medieval ambiance.
• Marvel at the bullring that was pickaxed and chiseled out of the solid-rock hillside.
• Meander the winding, hilly streets of Bocairent’s atmospheric Old Town.
• Sample a glass of local anise-flavored herbero made with mountain flora.

This bike adventure shows you the city at its best. Pedal along the beautiful Turia Gardens, created on what was an old river bed, a green belt surrounded by ancient walls and buildings; a world of leisure and culture. See the Trinity Convent, the Fine Arts Museum, the Royal Gardens, the University and much more. A highlight of this tour is the amazing City of the Arts and Sciences, an architectural wonder in white, by renowned architect Santiago Calatraba. You will pick your bicycle up at pier.

Explora la ciudad de Valencia, con vistas de la Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, un recorrido panorámico y un paseo por el viejo barrio para visitar algunos de los edificios históricos más importantes. Descubre lo atractiva que es la combinación de restos antiguos y edificios modernos. Es una ciudad con servicios internacionales de un diseño de vanguardia. Visita la Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, la Nueva Valencia. Este importante centro de ocio y entretenimiento fue diseñado para promover la ciencia y la cultura. Maravíllate frente al original y espectacular diseño de Hemisféric y el Museu de les Ciencies.

Un paseo a pie por el centro histórico te lleva hasta Plaza de la Reina, donde podrás visitar los monumentos y edificios más importantes, como la Catedral, La Lonja de la Seda, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO y el Mercado Central, el mercado modernista de Valencia. Disfruta el encanto de la "plaza redonda", descubre esquinas ocultas o pasea por las calles principales del centro de la ciudad y la plaza Santa Catalina, donde tendrás algo de tiempo libre para recorrer por tu cuenta.

See the city highlights and spend time at Europe’s largest aquarium. The aquarium recreates the world’s most important marine ecosystems to enable environmental research, teaching and to contribute to the protection of marine life.

A panoramic drive marks the start of your journey through the 3rd largest city in Spain. Cross the Turia River and drive along the Gran Via and Calle Jativa passing the bullring , central train station and Serrano Tower. The Oceanografic is part of the City of Arts and Sciences. Set in a landscaped park of lush greenery covering an area of about 27 acres/110,000 m2, it’s the largest aquarium in Europe. It is home to approximately 45,000 creatures representing 500 different marine species. You’ll have a guided tour and free time to explore the areas that interest you most, on your own.

You can visit the Dolphinarium one of the largest in the world, see penguins in the Antarctic section and walruses and beluga whales in the Artic. Take a stroll under the amazing shark tunnel, which depicts a journey through the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Bermuda.