For the True Food Lover
By Margarita Hirapetian
For the True Food Lover
By Margarita Hirapetian
Taste the essence of Portugal & Spain as you wander through historic cities with Collette.
Some travelers let their taste buds lead the way, and why not? One of the greatest joys in life is delicious food that nourishes body and soul. If you’re a foodie, honor your cravings and travel through the Iberian Peninsula with Collette, tasting bold wines and home-hosted meals, petiscos and tapas, and paellas and hearty stews. A family-owned company that has been in business for over 100 years, Collette considers every single traveler their own personal guest, treating them with the same care and concern they’d treat a close friend or family member. Their expertly guided and meticulously planned tours through Portugal and Spain put the traditional dishes of these countries front and center, sating your hunger for both food and culture.
Flavors of Portugal & Spain
You’re in Portugal, learning how to make petiscos while taking in the breathtaking views of nature in the Douro River Valley, and you can’t wait to eat your creations. Life is good. Petiscos are similar to tapas, in that they are small dishes that serve as light snacks you might have with a drink or something with which to whet your appetite before the main courses.
On this tour, you will learn about these quintessential Portuguese appetizers, in addition to visiting the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, learning about traditional bullfighting in a bullfighter’s family home in Pamplona, and spending two nights in a charming and quaint quinta estate. Of course, you’ll also have many tastes of port wine as you explore wine cellars in the Douro and Rioja regions. Stomach full, thirst quenched, and heart happy—what more could anyone ask for?
The Azores
Jewels of Portugal
Portuguese island life waits to astound you on this tour of the Azores, the archipelago gems of Portugal, featuring thermal pools, lush craters, botanical gardens, and volcanic food. Yes, volcanic food. After days spent exploring the rim of the Sete Cidades Caldera and the volcanic ash-covered landscape of the Capelinhos Volcano, you’ll delight in trying a traditional cozida das Furnas meal at Furnas Lake on São Miguel Island. This hearty stew is slow-cooked underground using volcanic heat, and you’ve probably never tried anything like it.
One of the other highlights of this tour is experiencing a home-hosted meal with native Azoreans, who are more than happy to tell you about their way of life and hear about yours—a truly intimate affair that beats any restaurant experience.
Exploring Iberia
Southern Spain to Coastal Portugal
Pull up a chair and savor fresh local flavors as you enjoy a home-hosted meal during your visit to Ronda, one of Spain’s most historic cliffside towns. Try a variety of finger-lickin’ good tapas with a stop at the Mediterranean city of Málaga, including patatas bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy sauce), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and croquetas (breaded fritters filled with meat or vegetables). As the perfect end to your Spain trip, explore a family-owned olive grove and taste their award-winning product while learning about their business and why olive oil is a staple ingredient in Iberian cuisine.
When you taste your way through a country, you not only learn about a culture’s traditions and customs, you honor them as well, especially when you hear the stories behind them and participate in cooking yourself. Traveling through the Iberian Peninsula with Collette will get you closer to Portuguese and Spanish cultures than ever before, and you’ll be satisfied in more ways than one.
Want to keep reading?