Meet Damien

Founder, private tour guide & chauffeur

Euskal Motivo was born from a simple idea: discovering the Basque Country should feel personal, authentic and effortless.

My name is Damien, and I am the founder of Euskal Motivo. Based in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, I work as a private tour guide and chauffeur, creating tailor-made experiences throughout the French and Spanish Basque Country and beyond.

From luxury hospitality to private guiding

Before creating Euskal Motivo, I spent 14 years working in luxury hospitality, including at the renowned Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz.

Working closely with international guests taught me that creating a memorable experience is about much more than providing a service. It is about listening, anticipating needs, paying attention to detail and understanding what makes each guest’s journey special.

My passion for travel has also taken me abroad, including experiences in Costa Rica and Ireland. Travelling has always been an important part of my life and has shaped the way I see tourism: not simply as visiting places, but as discovering cultures, meeting people and understanding what makes a destination unique.

A local expert in the Basque Country

The Basque Country is my home and the region I know best.

I trained as a professional tour guide specializing in the Basque Country and also hold a professional VTC driver’s licence. Combining these two skills allows me to offer something different from a traditional tour: you have one dedicated professional who can both guide you and take care of the journey.

From the Atlantic coast to the inland villages, from San Sebastián to Biarritz, I enjoy sharing the history, traditions, landscapes, gastronomy and everyday life that make this region so distinctive.

Whether you are looking for a private sightseeing tour, a food and wine experience, a day trip across the border or a tailor-made journey, my aim is always the same: to create an experience that feels natural, comfortable and genuinely connected to the destination.

More than a tour

I believe the best travel experiences are not necessarily the ones with the longest list of sights.

They are the ones where you discover a place at the right pace, understand the stories behind it and come away with a genuine sense of having experienced it.

That is the approach behind Euskal Motivo.

I personally accompany my guests whenever possible, adapting each itinerary to their interests, pace and expectations rather than following a rigid programme.

Travel is part of who I am

When I am not guiding guests through the Basque Country, I continue to travel and explore new destinations.

I also share some of these journeys, discoveries and travel experiences on my personal website.

Discover my travel stories →

Welcome to the Basque Country

Whether you are visiting for a few hours or several days, I hope to help you discover the Basque Country beyond the usual highlights — with the comfort of a private vehicle, the knowledge of a local guide and the flexibility to make the experience your own.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Basque Country.