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HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED ?
In 2012 , a record 50,000 people took part in La Tomatina in Buñol — quite a feat for a town with a population of 9,000 . Since then , a ticketing system has been put in place to limit the festival to around 20,000 people . Tickets cost € 12 ($ 13 ) and must be booked via the La Tomatina website and printed out in advance . Alternatively , tour companies offer packages that include entry to the festival , transport , accommodations and food , which is usually a plate of paella and sangria . On arrival in Buñol , festival staff will exchange your printed ticket for a bracelet . This gives you access to the food fight , which usually starts at noon and lasts around an hour . Traditionally , La Tomatina can only begin once someone has successfully climbed to the top of a
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Inside Buñol Castle
greasy wooden pole , where a leg of serrano ham awaits the worthy winner . In reality , though , people start throwing tomatoes as soon as a rocket is fired into the air , signaling that the fight can officially begin .
Following the signal , trucks parade the streets and throw tons of tomatoes down to the frenzied crowds . Within minutes , tomatoes are being pelted from every direction — including windows , balconies and lamp posts — until the streets of Buñol , and everyone within them , turn red with tomato pulp .
For this year , the festival is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 28 August , and there are three very important things to remember : it will get extremely messy , your clothes will be ruined , and you ’ ll never look at tomatoes the same way again .
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ESSENTIALS
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When to go : La Tomatina happens every year on the last Wednesday of August . If you ’ re traveling with children , Buñol hosts a child-friendly version of La Tomatina on the Saturday before the main event . Outside of La Tomatina , January to April offers cool weather for hiking and fewer crowds , and it ’ s usually when the waterfalls and natural pools are at their fullest . Currency : Euro Language : Spanish Getting around : Buses from the city of Valencia to Buñol take around one hour and cost € 6 ($ 6.50 ). There are also direct trains from Valencia to Buñol , which take around one hour 20 minutes and cost € 3-4 ($ 3.25-4.30 ).
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BOOK IT NOW
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Before the festival , head to Barcelona and board the Scarlet Lady for a seven-night Irresistible Med & Rome cruise with Virgin Voyages . View some of the Mediterranean ’ s most stunning seaside ports as you sail the captivating coast . As a special gift from our agency , you can get $ 100 Sailor Loot ( onboard credit ) per cabin . Departs Barcelona , Spain , on August 11 , 2024 .
CALL US
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To book your trip to Spain , contact our travel agency — the number ’ s on the back .
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image : alamy . Illustration : lis watkins |
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