Aitor Delgado
PRIVATE GUIDE
Every day at 12:00, the shrill sound of a war siren rumbles through the center of San Sebastián, frightening many tourists. Some of them ask the local residents, who are accustomed to the sound, if it is normal or if they should flee. But there are not many locals who know the reason why this anachronistic siren can still be heard: at the end of the nineteenth century, a cannon was placed in Gipuzkoa Square that was fired daily at noon, when the sun lit its wick, heated through a magnifying glass. In 1930, the cannon was disarmed, but they wanted to keep the shocking tradition; thus, the weapon was replaced by a siren that seems to warn of an attack – a siren that was first placed on the El Pueblo Vasco Newspaper building and then on the building where the Relojería Internacional jewelry shop is located, its current location. Finding out about stories like this one, stories that enrich the touristic experience, is what separates a good guide from the rest. Aitor Delgado is a private guide brimming with knowledge; an open book ready to surprise his clients with short anecdotes that make visitors feel more like locals than outsiders.
To bring these stories closer to foreigners, in addition to mastering their language, it is also important to understand their background and the idiosyncrasies of their culture. To that end, Delgado is a true master – he has visited more than 50 countries around the world and travels abroad at least three times a year to familiarize himself with other cultures. In addition, he is fluent in Spanish, Basque, English, and Italian and has an intermediate level of French and German.
Different associations and companies have acknowledged Aitor’s work: he was named the best Bilbao guide in the Luxury Travel Awards of 2017, 2018, and 2019 and Tripadvisor has given him its certificate of excellence every year from 2014 onwards; thus, he has been added to their “Hall of Fame.” His work has been reflected by travel bloggers, journalists, and authors of novels, history books, and cultural books; he has even helped with the drafting of Lonely Planet’s current Basque Country edition.
His 17 years’ experience as a guide have given him countless resources to meet demands of all types, being able to design –among others– cultural tours around Basque museums (Aitor is an authorized Guggenheim Bilbao guide) and tours about historical characters, as well as original gastronomic experiences, sports courses, and visits to vineyards, natural parks, the coast, animal farms, and even industrial areas. His versatility and ability to create custom tours throughout the Basque region in both Spain and France have been embraced by tourists who travel alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends and who aim to make the most of their stay.
Aitor’s plentiful joy and the passion he has for showing off his land bring about unforgettable moments with his clients. He deserves credit for never failing to transmit knowledge and traditions – even those that startle tourists on a daily basis.