Holiday itinerary
Alájar is the region renowned for delicious Iberian ham, rolling cork and holm tree clad hills and is the perfect setting for your jamon iberico holiday. The countryside is rich in fresh produce which is where the free range black Iberian pigs indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula roam and are exclusively farmed on this west side of the country.
The countryside surprises visitors with its abundance of wild flowers that continue into early summer due to the plentiful water supply and foliage cover from the sweet chestnut trees keeping you cool through the summer. White villages sit untouched by development, with narrow cobbled streets hugging the lay of the land, creating a peaceful and magical place for you to begin the course.
This 3 night/4 day Iberian ham short break will lead you into the secrets of the Iberian pig such as how it is bred and how to prepare the best cuts of meats, giving you an understanding of why this exquisite product is highly prized by the world’s top chefs.
Starting at the jamon museum in Aracena and finishing the break dining on the meal you have just prepared, you will live an unforgettable gastronomic journey based on the Iberian Pig or Pata Negra set in the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park which has yet to be truly discovered.
Learn to differentiate between a variety of hams and Spanish cold cuts that are on offer back in the UK and enjoy sherry tasting and olive oil tasting to perfectly complement the Iberian ham.
Stay in the unspoilt, picturesque village of Alájar surrounded by hills, oaks, sweet chestnut trees, tiny hamlets, herds of goats, wild flowers and herbs.
The eco-friendly hotel boasts 6 double ensuite bedrooms (3 double bedrooms and 3 with twin beds) all decorated to a high standard whilst maintaining its natural features. Three of the rooms have balconies, the remaining 3 have terraces, all with a table and chairs overlooking the garden, lovely swimming pool and beyond to an oak clad hill.
Indulge your passion for Spanish jamon, enjoy the warm climate and hospitality, great food and wine and stunning surroundings on this Iberian ham short break with a difference.
Suitability
- Cookery holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks
- Minimum age 8 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Your hosts are fluent speakers of English and Spanish, lessons will be taught in English
- Maximum group size 8
- Please note that if a group of 5 to 8 people would like to book all together the transport for the whole break from Seville airport, transfers during the course and the return transfer to Seville airport would be included in the price
Travelling Solo?
- These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and singles are welcome to join an existing group
- Solo travellers can have their own private room for no extra cost if they join an existing group, making this a perfect break for singles
- Please note: Should you book onto a course with no other confirmed guests and pay the compulsory single supplement, should another guest confirm their place on the course you will not have to pay the single supplement, and your remaining balance will be reduced accordingly
Iberian Ham Holiday Start Days
- You can begin the course on any day
- Iberian ham holidays are for 3 nights/4 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Iberian Ham Holiday Itinerary
This itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1- Arrival at 12 noon, visit the ham museum, sherry tasting, ham carving and tasting
- Arrive this morning by 12pm and meet your welcoming and friendly hosts Lucy and Ángel
- Take time to settle into your accommodation if you are arriving by car, or if you are arriving by bus, then you will be met at Aracena bus station and have a coffee with your hosts before your midday activity
- Once you’ve met your hosts Lucy and Ángel and fellow guests, you will be taken to the Spanish jamon museum to learn all about the traditional Iberian hams
- After the guided and translated tour of the Iberian ham museum, you will sit down to sample the delights of the Iberian pork cooked in variety of different ways
- Return to your hotel after lunch and relax in the afternoon – take time to settle into your room, explore the beautiful gardens or take a swim in the pool
- Before dinner, enjoy an informal sherry tasting with your hosts Lucy and Ángel where you will taste 3 different types of local sherry
- You will also learn about how to carve the Iberian ham, and have a tasting session of other Iberian pork cuts
- After your taster session, enjoy a relaxed and delicious dinner with the group accompanied by wine
Day 2 – Visit to the Organic Pig Farm followed by gourmet lunch and free time
- After breakfast, set off for a short drive to an organic pig farm with host Ángel
- Meet local farmer Armando, and learn about his daily life and why he decided to switch to organic farming through Ángel’s translation
- Explore the organic pig farm’s large bodega full of hanging hams, some of which have been there up to 4 years and then have another go at carving the sumptuous hams
- After the carving, you will have a tasting session on the delicious freshly carved hams followed by a gourmet lunch of fresh jamon iberico, vegetables and fruit from their own farmland
- After lunch, you have the option of returning back to your accommodation or being dropped off at a local natural beauty spot where you can admire the views over the Andalucian hills before taking the short walk back to Alájar
- The afternoon and evening are free for your leisure, and your hosts Lucy and Ángel will be happy to recommend activities as well as restaurants for dinner in the village (please note dinner is not included today and is an extra cost)
Day 3 – Visit to butchers to purchase fresh Iberian ham and cookery class
- After breakfast, you will be transferred into Aracena to visit a local butchers, and there is an optional visit to an abattoir if you would like to see behind the scenes
- Now you can enjoy the rest of the day to perhaps visit Aracena and it’s wonderful caves, have lunch in one of the numerous bars, or opt to go for a walk with our detailed walking notes and map
- At around 6pm, you will have a fantastic cooking class using the fresh ingredients bought that morning where you’ll be shown how to prepare a wonderful meal incorporating the Iberian pork and a typical Spanish starter
- Sample dishes include Iberian pork casserole with chocolate and black pepper sauce, Iberian pork tenderlion with sweet chestnut sauce, tomato sweet chestnut and chorizo soup or Iberian pork pate
- At 9pm enjoy a farewell dinner in the company of your fellow guests, all accompanied with wine
Day 4 – departure day
- No rush today as you can check out when you need to (subject to availability), taking home with you the taste of the Iberian pata negra ham along with new found insights into Andalusian rural life that we hope will remain with you long after your holiday is over.
About Your Chef
- Lucy and Ángel have been running their rural retreat in Alájar for over 8 years now
- Ángel hails from Sevilla and has known the area since a child, Lucy is from the UK and after meeting Ángel moved to Sevilla over 22 years ago
- They opened their new low impact environmentally friendly project, Posada San Marcos, in July 2011
- They are both great hosts and love to share their passion and knowledge with their guests
- Lucy is a trained chef and loves cooking
- An important part of their hospitality is good food and that’s why even breakfasts are a learning experience (sorry - no bacon or eggs!)
- Ángel was a teacher but now much prefers to impart his knowledge of the delicious delicacies and beautiful local area to appreciative guests
What Will I Learn?
- How to differentiate between the hams and the Spanish cold cuts that are on offer back in the UK
- How to carve the Iberian ham and what utensils to use
- Course concentrates on the gastronomic delights of this exquisite product
- You will enjoy sherry tasting of 3 different types of sherry and olive oil tasting
- You’ll learn all about the history and influences this area has had on local cuisine
- You’ll gain an insight into a local Spanish way of life and traditions
- During your cookery lesson, you will learn to make pork dishes such as the following (guideline only):
- Prepare a wonderful meal incorporating the Iberian pork and a typical Spanish starter
- Iberian pork casserole with chocolate and black pepper sauce
- Iberian pork tenderlion with sweet chestnut sauce
- Tomato, sweet chestnut and chorizo soup
- Iberian pork pate
The Accommodation
- Your accommodation is in a totally unspoilt, picturesque village surrounded by hills, oaks, sweet chestnut trees, tiny hamlets, herds of goats, wild flowers and herbs
- The hotel offers 6 ensuite bedrooms (3 double bedrooms and 3 with twin beds)
- Three of the rooms have balconies and the remaining 3 have terraces, all with a table and chairs
- All rooms have views overlooking the gardens and pools and beyond to an oak clad hill
- Rooms are equipped underfloor heating and cooling, French windows and are furnished to a high standard
- The guest lounge is welcoming with sofas, armchairs, honesty bar and tea and coffee making facilities
- Beautiful gardens at San Marcos where the course is based with a 12m x 6m swimming pool, sun loungers and pergola
- The sky is almost always clear and blue in the spring, summer and autumn, with so little light contamination the night skies are a sight to behold.
- Accommodation is included for 3 nights/4 days in a twin/double en-suite bedroom
- There are no single supplements for solo travellers joining an existing group, and you will have your own private ensuite double room
- Compulsory single supplements apply to your booking if there are no other guests confirmed on the course
- Please note: Should you book onto a course with no other confirmed guests and pay the compulsory single supplement, should another guest confirm their place on the course you will not have to pay the single supplement, and your remaining balance will be reduced accordingly
- Check in by 12am on day 1 and check out by 3pm on day 4
Meals
- All breakfasts are included
- On Day 1, you will enjoy lunch in the buzzing town of Aracena and dinner will be served to compliment all the Iberian pork products consumed during the day
- On Day 2, you will enjoy a gourmet organic lunch at the farm and dinner is not included (extra cost)
- On Day 3, lunch is not included (extra cost) and you will enjoy the dinner you have cooked in the cookery class
- For the lunch and dinner not included in the price, you can walk into the village and choose from the 6 restaurants there (depending on which ones are open on that day)
- Wine and water are served with all meals
- Please note: this course is not recommended for vegetarians or vegans
- If you have dietary requests these must be communicated to us at the time of booking
Free Time In Andalucía
- Alájar is located just over an hour’s drive away from Seville’s airport and public transport is available to reach the area
- Alájar is a typical white hillside village with lots of nooks and crannies to discover, a lovely village square to have a drink and watch village life in your free time
- Aracena, the largest town of the area, is just a 10 min drive from Alájar and boasts the most spectacular caves in Andalusia Las Grutas de Las Maravillas with lots of tapas bars and restaurants
- Your hosts Lucy and Ángel love walking in the area and have written their own route notes to really get off the beaten track and see the countryside - from a 6km stroll to the breathtaking beauty spot towering above the village to a 20km full days hike
- There are also plenty of other activities that can be organised, and your hosts will be happy to recommend local attractions for you during your stay
- If you are staying in Sevilla before or after the course, Ángel will also be happy to recommend any restaurants and hotels etc., and as it is his home town he has a wealth of knowledge of the city
Enjoy an Iberian jamon short break with a difference and learn about Iberian pig rearing, cooking and gourmet ham products whilst staying in an eco-friendly hotel in Andalucia, enjoying great food and company.