My Universe
Born in Valencia (Spain) to Chilean parents, I lived part of my teenage years in Chile and as I was growing up, I felt an urge and great curiosity to learn different languages which lead to me living in Belgium, Ireland and England. A passionate traveller, I graduated in Tourism Industry studies which took me first to Germany, then later, to Uruguay where I finished my degree final project on Wine Tourism. Back in Valencia I obtained my Master in Tourism and Leisure Management, followed by multiple sommelier courses including WSET Level 3. Some years later I was fortunate enough to be granted a scholarship by the Taiwanese Government to learn Mandarin Chinese in Taipei, one of the most enriching experiences of my life.
I consider myself a citizen of the World, and I feel lucky that I have been able to travel and learn all these different languages at the same time as becoming a cultural ambassador of my home destination, as an official licensed guide in the Region of Valencia (in English, German and Mandarin). I chose the perfect career for me; “Tourism” as my professional career combined with my hobby “Wine” to complement it in and fulfil my role of sommelier. I currently run my own tour operator company Ambia Tours and online wine shop BlancoTinto.
I could define myself as rather hedonistic, and my professional life is related to the pleasure of the senses: travel, taste, smell, experiences. In short, knowing how to really enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
I love what I do, and I enjoy sharing my travellers’ leisure time as well as exchanging experiences, and continuously learning from this vast ocean of the “unknown” which we are faced with when we immerse ourselves in a new culture.
My work represents new adventures and opportunities to learn every single day.
What I do
Tour Guide
Are you coming to Valencia?
Valencia is the pearl of the Mediterranean, whenever you decide to come and visit, I will be here to guide you.
My goal is to show interested travellers the real Valencia, just as we, the locals, experience it on a daily basis. My home city is in a constantly changing, which makes it more alive than ever.
Are you coming to Spain?
Spain is the heart of the World, a marvellous land. Would you like to discover it from a different perspective? Let me show you around.
Travelling across such a diverse country as Spain is incredible, each corner is different from the next, the people, their culture, its history… Nevertheless, there is always a common thread: sharing a well-served table with good wine. It may sound like a primitive way of connecting with others, yet it is fundamental, as there is no greater pleasure than sharing good food in great company, one of the joys of life, this what Spain is all about!
Travel
Ambia Tours is a tour operator company established in 2008, we design trips and travel experiences related to food and wine along with culture and traditions in our destination of Spain.
We are based in Valencia, and we specialise in the area of Spain known as the Region of Valencia region and the Mediterranean coast.
Our goal is to customize the travel proposals for each customer, tailor-making the trip to their individual needs and wishes, with the help and collaboration of a nationwide network of professionals in the field.
Wine
I enjoy wine and for me it represents a means of sharing and celebrating moments. For over a decade I have been working as a specialized guide in wine tourism, visiting hundreds of wineries, not to mention the ones I visit for my own leisure. This work motived me deepen my knowledge of the wine industry so that I would be able to offer different level Wine Tastings in several languages and ensure that visitors have a memorable time with a glass or two of wine.
This passion for wine encouraged me to establish my own online wine shop BlancoTinto which offers great small wines from artisan producers and which can be shipped both in Spain and abroad.
In short, wine makes me happy and has enabled me to meet so many beautiful people who are a fundamental part of this “wine universe” and who can relate to it in both a fun and educational way.
Education
One of the professional aspects which inspires me most about my profession, is that of being a speaker at conferences and presentations or giving classes or seminars. I find that it helps me to evaluate my ability to transmit my knowledge and make myself understood. On the other hand, being a long-term student myself and taking part in continuous training has helped me develop critical thinking skills regarding various important elements in the teaching and learning process, aspects such as: who is telling tells me what, and how they are telling me, as delivery style, speech and interaction are fundamental for learning, where both for the teacher and the student are concerned.
My Book
Of all the projects that I have carried out to date, the most challenging one was writing a book. I now have an even greater respect for all the writers. I feel that the year 2020 taught us many lessons, some good and some not so positive ones. During this period, under global lockdown, without travel, I discovered a new motivation: telling the travellers how to enjoy my city during their visit although I was would not be there in person to accompany them. This is how “The Best Bike Routes in and around Valencia with Valeria Valdebenito” was born. It is a straightforward, easy-to-read and practical handbook which enables visitors to see the city as if they were a local, without missing the tremendous and varied beauty of the different corners of the city and its surroundings, the amazing food culture and the typical Valencian lifestyle.
My business
Ambia Tours is an incoming travel agency specialised in wine tours and food tourism in Spain, Levante area and Mediterranean coast.
We offer a wide variety of wine tastings and Wine And Vineyards Tours, among cultural tours and excursions to the most significant natural areas as well as authentic food tours to discover the flavours of each city.
We have a professional team, always in continuous training, with the aim of satisfying the needs of our customers by creating unforgettable moments.
BlancoTinto online wine shop came up while tasting white wines made like red wines, and we were in love with orange, skin contact, amber wines…
Our shop’s goal is to promote these hidden gem wineries and share all these Great Small Wines! We are happy to select & offer these wines for you, feel free to contact us!
This is the selection of tours that i offer in the region of Valencia, this is the English version Private Tours Valencia and the German version Valenciatour.de, my aim is to show you all the wonders of Valencia as a destination so that you don't miss anything.
Valencia Private Tour Guides is a website dedicated to Tours in Valencia since 2008. We have a great team of highly qualified, passionate and professional official tourist guides of the Valencian Region with amazing communication skills.
Founding partner Paulius Gudinavicius is from Kaunas, Lithuania. We have extensive experience in organizing trips and events in the Baltic States. We have an office in Vilnius to design guaranteed itineraries and tailor-made proposals for individual, group, corporate and incentive clients.
Where to find me
We can keep in touch on social networks
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