Meet Damien !

Your private guide & chauffeur in the Basque Country

Welcome to Euskal Motivo.

I’m Damien, founder of Euskal Motivo, a private chauffeur & guide based in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in the heart of the French Basque Country.

For me, showing people around the Basque Country is not simply about taking them from one place to another or checking famous sights off a list. It is about sharing a place I know intimately, while creating the kind of experience that feels personal, effortless and genuinely memorable.

From luxury hospitality to private guiding

My career in tourism began more than 20 years ago.

I worked as a travel professional in Costa Rica and later in Ireland, before spending 14 years at the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, one of the Basque Country’s most prestigious hotels.

Working in such an environment taught me something that remains at the heart of Euskal Motivo today: true hospitality is about paying attention.

Understanding what people enjoy. Anticipating their needs. Knowing when to explain something, when to simply let a landscape speak for itself, and sometimes knowing about the little detail that can turn a good day into a memorable one.

Today, I bring that experience into my work as a private chauffeur and guide.

Travel has shaped the way I guide

Travel has always been a major part of my life.

Over the years, I have travelled extensively through Asia and Latin America, often independently and for several weeks or months at a time. I have organised my own journeys, dealt with the unexpected, explored remote places and travelled well beyond the conventional tourist routes.

Among my most memorable experiences were trekking journeys in Patagonia and Nepal.

These experiences changed the way I see travel.

They taught me that discovering a destination is not only about seeing its highlights. It is about understanding its rhythm, meeting people, being curious, adapting to circumstances and sometimes taking the road that was not originally on the itinerary.

I believe these experiences also make me a better guide.

Travel is part of who I am, not simply what I do.

You can discover more about my personal travels and journeys on my travel journal:    Discover my travel stories →

A local expert in the Basque Country

I have made the Basque Country my home, and this is where my professional experience, my knowledge of the region and my passion for travel come together.

The Basque Country is a fascinating destination because it cannot be reduced to its most famous towns or landmarks.

There are the dramatic Atlantic coastlines, elegant seaside towns and historic cities. But there are also small villages tucked into the hills, family-run farms, local producers, mountain landscapes, traditions and places that most visitors would never discover on their own.

My role is to help you experience that wider picture.

Depending on your interests, we might explore the coast, discover traditional villages, meet local producers, taste regional specialities, visit a winery, walk through a historic town or simply stop somewhere beautiful that was never part of the original plan.

More than a driver. More than a guide.

With Euskal Motivo, I combine professional private driving with personal guiding.

You travel in a comfortable Mercedes van, with the flexibility to adapt the day to your interests and pace.

There is no fixed group itinerary and no obligation to follow a predetermined schedule.

Instead, I create private experiences for individuals, couples, families and small groups who want to discover the Basque Country with someone who knows the region and genuinely enjoys sharing it.

My aim is simple:

to make your day feel effortless, personal & unforgettable.

Welcome to my Basque Country

Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to the region, I would be delighted to show you a different side of the Basque Country.

Not simply as a destination, but as a place with a culture, a history, a landscape and a way of life that are worth taking the time to discover.

Together, let’s create unforgettable journeys — with my highest consideration.