Complete Guide To La Tomatina:
Good To Know
- Lucie Viktorin
- 6 Minute Read
- Subscribe To The Newsletter Here
Experiencing La Tomatina, the world’s biggest tomato fight, was an unforgettable adventure. After reflecting on my time there, I realized that having more detailed information beforehand could have made the event even more enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good surprise just as much as the next person. But in this case I could have dealt with a few less surprises. Which is exactly why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to La Tomatina. This three-part series covers everything you need to know, from what to expect to essential insider tips for an incredible time. Welcome to the third part of this guide: Good to Know about La Tomatina in regards to safety and preperation. Let’s start!
Buy Tickets Beforehand!
Tickets for La Tomatina can be purchased online in advance, which I highly recommend! The event is extremely popular and often sells out quickly, so make sure you won’t miss out on the fun. Moreover, buying tickets early allows you to plan your trip better and secure accommodations.
Securing Your Valuables!
Bags and backpacks are not allowed in the tomato-throwing area, so plan accordingly. Use a secure, waterproof pouch for essentials like your phone. You will not need money, as all stalls where you could purchase food or drinks are outside the tomato “arena”. Also, do not bring your keys! As they are hard and sharp objects, it might happen that you will be asked by security to leave them at the entrance of the area or not be allowed to enter all together. I personally even left my phone locked with my other belongings as one of my friends was already bringing his phone for photos. There are a lot of organizational groups who offer locker services where you can safely store your belongings before joining the festivities.
And if you are still hesitant about leaving your valuables behind, keep in mind that you will be able to move a lot more swiftly in the throwing pit without having to worry about your belongings! Additionally, you are a way more likely to lose your wallet and keys in the tomato soup running through the streets.
Security Checks!
Security personnel will check for prohibited items, such as bags, backpacks, glass bottles, and sharp objects. Only small, personal items like waterproof pouches are allowed. Attendees will also be provided with wristbands, which grant access to the arena. To ensure you’ll be let in without issues, make sure to really only bring the most important of your belongings and leave the rest with your backpack safe and sound.
Crowds And Safety!
As you can imagine, La Tomatina attracts massive which can get overwhelming. Emotions are on an all-time high, additionally increased thanks to the summer heat and of course, alcohol. In situations like these it’s easy to get separated from your group. Therefore, keep an eye on your companions and ask them to do the same for you. In case you do get split up, establish a meeting point beforehand. Of course, we all have phones these days, but losing it or having it damaged in the crowd can happen quicker than you would think.
Keep To The Sides!
Before attending, my friends and I thought the tomato fight would be contained within some sort of plaza or courtyard. However, that’s not the case. The main action occurs in the middle of the narrow streets of Buñol. Tomatoes are unloaded by trucks along the streets. These same streets become incredibly crowded with people. Therefore, my clear recommendation is to stay on the sides of the streets, close to the buildings. This way, you can avoid the intense pushback that inevitably happens when the trucks roll in and need to push through the crowd to unload their cargo. Knowing this piece of information beforehand would have made me personally feel a lot calmer. Because I’ll be honest, as always, being stuck in the middle of a crowd that is being slowly pushed back by a huge truck isn’t the safest of feelings.
As you can see,
I do value safety quite a bit and a lot of this information would have made me feel better if I would have known about it beforehand. Nonetheless, even without this info, the experience I had with my friends was absolutely priceless! And now you can join the festivities more than well-prepared for the world’s biggest tomato-fest!
If you are interested in learning even more about La Tomatina, I recommend the other two parts of this three part series. In this post we covered what is good to know about La Tomatina and here you can find information about what La Tomatina is and essential insider tips to enjoy the event to its fullest!Happy tomato day!
And feel free to share on:
Leave a Reply