ABOUT LA TOMATINA EXPERTS
WHO ARE WE REALLY? AND WHAT’S OUR CONNECTION TO THIS AMAZING FOOD FIGHT AND TOMATO BATTLE HELD EVERY YEAR IN SOUTHERN SPAIN?
Please Note: Any questions or enquiries submitted via the button above will go through the contact form on the PP Travel website.
It will be a PP Travel staff member who makes contact with you!
La Tomatina = Mess & Fun
Why do I keep doing this?
For the sheer unadulterated fun of it and for the wonderful people I’ve made friends with down here in Valencia and Bunol!
Who do I keep doing this with?
PP Travel was who I worked for when I first came to La Tomatina back in 1998 and I’m proud to still be working with PP Travel to this day.
How can I help you?
Just ask me anything via the contact page of this website and I’d be happy to assist in any way I can. Either myself or Shane from PP Travel will get back to you.
What’s the purpose of this website?
This is just a resource I decided to start after having done the tomato fight so many times. I enjoy travelling and helping people and I figured I certainly have the experience – so here we are!
Well, For a Start, You Can Experience The Best That La Tomatina Has To Offer With Our Expert Insights
ALL ABOUT BUNOL
ALL ABOUT LA TOMATINA
ALL ABOUT VALENCIA
We’ve traversed the entire area in and around both the town of Bunol, and the city of Valencia. So have vast experience in what to see and do in the area over and above just the festivities of La Tomatina itself. We’ve made numerous friends in this part of Spain and return here regularly outside of festival times because of our continued and strong connection to the people and the area.
Why I Created La Tomatina Experts – My Story
I’m Mark, and I’ve been attending La Tomatina for overt 25 years having first visited Bunol to participate in the tomato fight back in 1997.
That’s not just a number on a website – it represents over a quarter-century of actually being there, in the thick of Spain’s messiest festival, learning what works and what doesn’t when 20,000 people are hurling tomatoes at each other in the streets of Bunol.
What Makes La Tomatina Experts Different
When I started attending La Tomatina in 1997, it was this wild, almost secret thing that only locals and a handful of adventurous travellers knew about.
Now it’s internationally famous, but that experience gives me something you can’t get from a Google search or travel brochure – genuine insider knowledge.
I’ve built La Tomatina Experts specifically to bridge the gap between official festival information and the real insider knowledge that only comes from being there, repeatedly, for decades.
I work directly with PP Travel as a tour leader and have since I first started coming here on organised tours because they consistently deliver what they promise, and I’ve seen enough companies come and go to know the difference.
My Track Record and Experience
Twenty-five years of festival attendance means I’ve seen it all:
- The years when rain turned everything into a slip-and-slide disaster
- Scorching hot years when people were passing out from dehydration
- Perfectly organised years when everything went like clockwork
- The evolution from underground event to internationally regulated festival
I’ve personally guided thousands of first-time attendees through their La Tomatina experience. Most importantly, they keep coming back – not just to the festival, but to me for advice when they want to bring friends, family, and co-workers.
Why I Believe My Recommendations Matter
I’ve built relationships with local businesses in Bunol, accommodation providers in Valencia, and transport operators throughout the region both personally and with my work through PP TRAVEL. When you’ve been around as long as I have, people know they can count on you for honest advice.
That’s why I work exclusively with PP Travel for tours and tickets. Not because of commission structures, but because I’ve watched them deliver consistently for years while other companies have disappointed festival-goers with substandard service.
Understanding La Tomatina Through My Eyes
La Tomatina happens every last Wednesday of August in Bunol – a small town 40 kilometres west of Valencia. The tomato battle itself lasts exactly one hour, from noon to 1 PM, but the real magic extends far beyond that single hour.
I tell people to imagine being in the world’s friendliest war zone. You’re shoulder-to-shoulder with people from dozens of countries, everyone laughing and slipping around in ankle-deep tomato pulp that smells like the world’s biggest gazpacho. The trucks roll through distributing fresh ammunition, and everyone dives in to grab handfuls of tomatoes.
The key insight I share after 25 years: wear clothes you can throw away completely. Closed-toe shoes that won’t slip off. Most importantly, the right mindset – you’re going to get covered head-to-toe in tomato, and that’s exactly the point.
My Partnership with PP Travel
I recommend PP Travel because they handle the complex logistics properly. Official La Tomatina tickets became mandatory for safety reasons, and you absolutely cannot show up hoping to sneak in. PP Travel’s packages include everything you actually need: tickets, transport from Valencia to Bunol, and access to the after-party that’s become almost as important as the main event.
After spending an hour getting destroyed by tomatoes, there’s something magical about cleaning up and dancing until sunrise with people who shared that intense experience with you.
On a personal note I have been working with PP Travel actually since 1994 – long before I first attended La Tomatina and I have become firm friends with the owner Colin “Bomber” Dale and his partner Shane “Monster” Baisden.
My Authority in the La Tomatina Space
I’ve been featured in travel guides and recommended by other tour operators, but most importantly, I’m recommended by the people who’ve used my advice to have incredible La Tomatina experiences.
My expertise comes from:
- Direct Experience: 25 years of festival attendance & experience
- Professional Involvement: Working as a tour leader with proven operators
- Local Relationships: Established connections throughout Bunol and Valencia
- Track Record: Thousands of satisfied festival-goers guided successfully
Valencia and Regional Expertise
Most people use Valencia as their base, and I always recommend this approach.
It’s Spain’s third-largest city with excellent connections, great accommodation, and fantastic restaurants. The train to Bunol normally takes an hour, but La Tomatina day logistics get complicated – that’s why organised transport is essential.
Valencia itself deserves exploration. The City of Arts and Sciences, historic centre, beaches, and incredible food scene make it perfect for extending your stay beyond the festival.
Planning Advice from 25 Years Experience
Book accommodation and transport early – Valencia fills completely during festival week. Pack smart: comfortable clothes for before and after, plus your disposable tomato fight outfit. Bring waterproof protection for valuables and consider eye protection.
Most crucially, approach it with the right attitude. La Tomatina is messy, chaotic, crowded, and occasionally uncomfortable. It’s also one of the most purely joyful experiences possible. Expect adventure, not perfection.
That’s It and That’s Me!
The festival has grown enormously since I first attended, but it hasn’t lost its essential character. It remains a celebration of community, abundance, and the simple pleasure of acting completely ridiculous with thousands of others doing exactly the same thing.
That’s what 25 years teaches you: the tomatoes are just the beginning. The real magic happens when you become part of something bigger, messier, and more joyful than anything you’d plan in normal life.
Mark, Founder – La Tomatina Experts
25+ Years La Tomatina Experience | PP Travel Tour Leader | Valencia Region Specialist