A deep week of Castillian grace, from our start in the stately and vibrant city of Salamanca into the sacred rural heartlands of Spain’s greatest product: jamón. This is an insider tour of a world-famous delicacy, and all the rich countryside that created it.
Local Guide
Fixer, Producer, Jamón Evangelist Alejo Sabugo
R&K Host
Writer, Researcher, Explorer Rafa Tonon
Overview
Salamanca and the World of Jamón
A deep week of Castillian grace, from our start in the stately and vibrant city of Salamanca into the sacred rural heartlands of Spain’s greatest product: jamón. This is an insider tour of a world-famous delicacy, and all the rich countryside that created it. And yes, there will also be rices and wines and olives and all the other fabulous products of Castilla y Léon and greater Spain. Light activity level with option for more. Meat-centric itinerary.
Private transfer from Madrid airport to Madrid city center, where we meet to head into the heart of Castilla y León.
Lunch in Segovia at Restaurante José María for lunch of cochinillo, the iconic suckling pig of the region
After lunch, walk around the old Roman city of Segovia
Transfer to Abadía los Templarios near La Alberca, perhaps the most famous village in Iberian ham production, home of the annual festival of San Anton, where a young pig is “adopted” each year and allowed to live free in the village before meeting its destiny at the next year’s festival
Visit Ganadería el Pilar to explore toro bravo culture and the wooded pastures that make up the dehesa habitat. This is the heart of the montanera—the season of fattening when the pigs eat acorns until the glorious finale.
Lunch at el Pilar of cured meats and toro bravo alike
Dinner with Cesar Niño, chef and owner of El Alquimista, a student of culinary history who recently re-released a cookbook of 17th-century Castilian recipes called 1607.
Visit to the family-run artisanal jamón producer Ibericos Torreón for a deep dive into traditional production methods, followed by a tasting and jamón-rich lunch
Free time for siesta or shopping in the old city
Tapas dinner at Mesón Cervantes, a true Salamanca classic
A village pig feast, the kind that only happens in this place, at this time of year
All-day Castillian rural bacchanal of jamón, of wine, of bread, of cheese, of bonhomie, with the mayor and the whole village of Guadramiro. It’s access to a culture that outsiders rarely see.
Wake up at the hacienda, slowly, with a bit of breakfast and a bit of coffee
Private transfers back to Madrid, to the airport if you’ve got a flight that afternoon, or to the city center if you’re staying on
Adios, hasta la próxima, mis bravos
WHAT’S INCLUDED
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, as well as snacks and beverages between meals
All accommodations and transportation during the trip (except when taking a taxi or ride app independently during unscheduled time)
Expertise and services of our experienced trip leaders: at least one guide and one host per trip
Additional guides and experts from the region
Transfers to and from the airport or wherever you are on the day the trip starts and ends
Daily Roads & Kingdoms gifts, notes, and playlists related to the themes, activities and narratives of each trip
All gratuities for accommodations, meals, guiding or transport
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International airfare to and from the journey
Transfers on days that fall outside of the trip dates
Personal bar tabs (when not with the group)
Personal laundry or spa services
Personal travel insurance
Meet Our Hosts
Alejo Sabugo
Fixer, Producer, Jamón Evangelist
We met Asturias native Alejo Sabugo when he worked on the “Parts Unknown” Asturias episode. A producer and fixer for Bourdain, he quickly became an integral part of the Roads & Kingdoms family and is now a frequent League of Travelers host. His passion for jamón knows no bounds.
R&K Host
Rafa Tonon
Writer, Researcher, Explorer
When Rafa Tonon isn’t on the road as one of the leading food writers working today, he is back home in the town he chose for its vibrant culinary scene and beauty: Porto. This trip is his beautiful vision of life in the north of Portugal. His work has been published widely, from Slate and Eater to The Washington Post and he is the author of books including “The Food Revolutions” (published in Portuguese and Spanish) and “50 Restaurants Over 50 Years Old – 5 Decades of São Paulo Food,” about the traditional restaurants of Latin America’s largest city.
Where You’ll Stay
Abadía los Templarios
Rural Retreat
Immersed in 10 hectares of rolling La Aberca countryside, this Medieval-style hotel offers great facilities and views of the rural surroundings. Surrounded by ancient chestnut trees, facilities include an open-air bar and café, a spa with sauna and hamam, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, private gardens, and a library.
Gran Hotel Don Gregorio
Salamanca Palace
Gran Hotel Don Gregorio is a luxury hotel set in a restored 15th-century palace in the historic center of Salamanca. A lovely porticoed patio and 17 guestrooms offer high comfort and spectacular views in stomping distance from the Plaza Mayor, Ieronimus Cathedral, and Clerecia Towers.
Traveling with R&K is like living in Bourdain’s Parts Unknown for a week. It is the deepest and most authentic travel experience of my life.
— Alex F.
Salamanca and the World of Jamón 2025
You could tell Alejo really put a lot of passion into all the research and recon he did for this trip. Which made the trip very special.
Tom R.
Salamanca and the World of Jamón 2024
We pierced the ‘tourist bubble’ largely through Alejo’s connections.
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