Walking the Camino de Santiago: An Active Journey to Spain

Following an overnight flight, arrive in Madrid and transfer north to the medieval city of Burgos, located on the Camino Francés, or French Way, of the Camino de Santiago. Meet your trip leader and fellow travelers this evening for a welcome briefing and dinner. Please note travel time is approximately three hours. (D)

After breakfast, drive east to your starting point at the village of Villafranca Montes de Oca. From here, make your way back toward Burgos, following a trail that winds through oak forests and meadows bursting with wildflowers. Reach the remote village of San Juan de Ortega—stage 11 of the Camino Francés— and opt to extend your walk or board the support vehicle. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and visit the monastery, built by the village’s namesake to house pilgrims in the 12th century. Drive back to Burgos in the afternoon, and take a guided walking tour that includes the town’s World Heritage-listed cathedral, a superb example of Gothic architecture filled with art. Burgos is the capital of the old Kingdom of Castilla. The Burgos region was the birthplace of El Cid, a military leader whose role in the 11th-century Spanish Reconquest made him a national hero. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish. (B,L)

Walking (morning): 5 miles through forests and fields, 150-200 feet of elevation gain, 500 feet of gentle descent. On arrival in San Juan de Ortega, opt to extend your walk an additional 2 miles through similar terrain.

Walking (afternoon): 2-hour Burgos walking tour.

Visit Monasterio de San Antón, a church and convent established in the 12th century to care for pilgrims who fell ill while traveling along the Camino Francés. Walk through impressive medieval ruins, dotted with elements of Gothic architecture and Christian iconography. Begin the day's hike just outside the village of Castrojeriz, rambling through partially steep terrain that unfolds into verdant plains and agricultural fields surrounded by undulating hills. Stop for lunch in Itero de la Vega, then continue by vehicle to León and check into your hotel. In the afternoon, head out on a guided walking tour of the historic monuments of this captivating town, once considered a capital of Christianity in Spain. Visit the 13th-century cathedral of León, celebrated for its stained-glass windows, which cover nearly 18,000 square feet of the building’s walls. Enjoy an evening at leisure to discover more of León. (B,L)

Hiking (morning): 5-6 miles through mostly flat paths and fields, culminating in a steep 450 ft ascent to a plateau (meseta) with rewarding views at the top, followed by 400-500 ft of descent.

Walking (afternoon): 1-2-hour León walking tour.

Drive through the countryside to Lugo, famed for its World Heritage-listed Roman walls. En route, stop at important sites along this stretch of the Camino, including the medieval Puente de Órbigo bridge and the Episcopal Palace of Astorga, designed by Antonio Gaudí. At Palacio de Canedo, a rustic 18th-century palace nestled among vineyards and forested hills, visit the winery, where wines have been produced since 1730. After a lunch with local wine pairings, travel to Villafranca del Bierzo. View the 12th-century Romanesque Iglesia de Santiago, where pilgrims who are not physically able to continue to Santiago de Compostela can receive their blessing. Step into the Church of Santa María de Cluniaco, which began as a Benedictine monastery that housed pilgrims on the trail. Drive into the mountains of Galicia, ascending to the ancient village of O Cebreiro. Inside Santa María la Real, a ninth-century church considered the oldest on the Camino Francés, see the famous Galician Holy Grail. Arrrive in Lugo and take an orientation walk before an evening on your own. (B,L)

Walking: 2-3 miles, mostly flat.

Transfer to Sesmonde and hike along forest trails and country roads, finally crossing the River Miño into Portomarín. The town was moved to higher ground in the mid-20th century, when the construciton of a nearby dam flooded the original streets. Historic monuments such as the Romanesque church of San Pedro and the church-fortress of San Nicolás were rescued and rebuilt stone by stone. When the water levels are low, the arches of a second-century Roman bridge appear, rising out of the river. Take some time to explore Portomarin and have lunch on your own. Drive back to Lugo and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Those who wish may opt to traverse a section of the Camino Primitivo—the “Original Way” and oldest of the Camino routes—from the Lugo cathedral. Tonight, meet with the group for dinner. (B,D)

Hiking (morning): 4 miles through forests and fields, 800 feet of gentle descent.

Optional Hiking (afternoon): 1-2 miles to Ponte Vella de Lugo and back, mostly on pavement, approx. 280 ft elevation change

Travel to today’s starting point at Palas de Rei and set off into the eucalyptus forests of Galicia, hiking from one village to the next and witnessing everyday rural life along the Camino. In Melide, stop for lunch featuring pulpo a feira, a traditional Galician octopus dish typically served on wooden plates. Stroll through the historic quarter to visit the lovely Romanesque Iglesia of Santa María de Melide. Later, check into a charming 16th-century farmhouse that has been converted into a modern boutique hotel. (B,L,D)

Walking: 6 miles over paths with gentle grade, mostly flat with an undulating stage through shaded forests and a final steep ascent of 300 feet.

Return to Melide to pick up where you left off the day before, and follow forest trails and country roads to Iglesia de Santiago de Boente. Walk through some of the Camino’s most scenic stretches to the rural hamlet of Castañeda. Continue by vehicle to Arzúa, stage 31 of the Camino Francés and the last significant town before Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy lunch on your own and consider trying a pilgrim’s menu, a fixed menu with three courses. Take advantage of a free afternoon to enjoy an additional walk in the countryside. Transfer back to your hotel and gather for dinner together tonight. (B,D)

Walking: 5-6 miles over dirt, stone, and paved paths, gentle terrain through some forested areas, mostly flat.

After breakfast, travel to Lavacolla to begin the final stretch of the trail to Santiago, which winds its way up Monte del Gozo, or Mount of Joy. At the summit, a view of Santiago de Compostela unfolds before you. Descend into the city, following in the steps of millions of pilgrims over the centuries as you make your way to Praza do Obradoiro in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Old Town. Enjoy a pilgrim’s menu lunch to celebrate your arrival. Step inside the cathedral, home to the tomb of St. James the Apostle, whose remains are said to have been discovered here in the ninth century. Enjoy free time this afternoon to experience the city as you choose. Later, take a guided evening walk to admire the historic center and the Praza do Obradoiro lit up against the night sky. Dinner is on your own. (B,L)

Hiking: 6 miles through villages and fields, 200 feet elevation gain.

Walking (afternoon): 1-hour orientation walk in Santiago.

This morning, travel to Cape Finisterre, set on the tip of a narrow peninsula at Galicia’s western edge—and a pilgrimage site long before the Christian era. Your final hike traces the rugged Atlantic coast, crossing beaches and rocky headlands, and finishing at the Cape’s historic lighthouse and the final pilgrimage point. Enjoy lunch on your own in the quaint fishing village of Fisterra before returning to Santiago for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, celebrate your Camino experience at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Hiking: 4-5 miles over rocky, coastal terrain, 300-350 feet of elevation gain.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch your flight home. (B)