Best of Galicia Camino

Make your way to Madrid, we will meet in Madrid on Sept 12, 2022

If you need help making this arrangement, we would be happy to help you!

We will meet at the airport and make our way to Leon. A great city with much to see. Enjoy the afternoon to rest and explore.

"León is a city in Spain and capital of the province of the same name. It is on the Way of St. James and has a vast cultural, historical and architectural heritage. Some of the city's most prominent historical buildings are the Cathedral, one of the finest examples of French-style classic Gothic architecture in Spain, the Basilica of San Isidoro, one of the most important Romanesque churches in Spain and the resting place of León's medieval monarchs, the Monastery of San Marcos, an example of plateresque and Renaissance Spanish architecture, and the Casa Botines, a Modernist creation of the architect Antoni Gaudí. An example of modern architecture is the city's Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)." source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3n_(Spain)

Breakfast and then the morning to explore Leon. You are on your own, see what you are being called to see. We will supply you with information and places which are a must to see. After lunch, we will make our way to Astorga for a quick stop and on to Rabanal del Camino.

Rabanal del Camino is one of my favorite villages along the Camino. This will be our resting place before making our way over the mountain, Monte Irago, in the morning.

Rest up, tomorrow we will start walking.

At all times of the year, an early start will be chilly, so it is worth having your fleece out as you start walking. The panorama views in the mountains are beautiful.

Today is a day that many pilgrims hope to be lighter, both physically and spiritually. The Cruz del Ferro is an iron cross on top of a 5-meter wooden pole. Many pilgrims bring a stone from home to leave with the many thousands of stones already there. Leaving a stone is the sign of leaving behind a burden, or letting go of something in your life.

Today we have a nice stroll of 6 miles into Ponferrada. We will leave early so you will have a few hours to explore Ponferrada, don't miss the Templars Castle. After we have enjoyed some time in Ponferrada and lunch, we will be transferred to Samos, with a quick stop in O'Cebreiro a quaint Celtic village!

Samos is known for having one of the oldest Benedictine Monasteries in all of Spain, an important symbol of Galician culture. We will be staying close to the Monastery, you may visit and participate in the evening celebrations of Mass with the Monks.

You may wish to revisit the monastery for morning prayers before we start our walk! Today is a short walk, call it a partial rest day, as we saunter into Sarria. We will have a few hours of lush beautiful rolling hills ahead of us.

Prepare yourself for the crowds, this is where most people start the last 100 km walk.

At this stage of our journey, we will cross the 100 km mark to Santiago. It is a beautiful walk with smooth hills which run through dense vegetation and passes through many small villages, typical of this part of Galicia.

Portomarin dates back to the Roman Ages and was an important halt along the route in the Middle Ages. Due to the creation of a dam in 1962, the Old Portomarin is currently underneath the Mino River and many of the old buildings were moved. One of these buildings which were moved brick by brick was the Church of St. John of Jerusalem. This church was set along the route In Medieval Times, to protect the tomb of Santiago.

After the steep downhill along Portomarin main street and then a gentle uphill around Monte San Antonio, the rest of the day is easy going through the rolling countryside.

A continuously hilly stage. This will be another long day. We will leave early again so we can make it to Melide for lunch. Melide is home to the famous Galician dish, 'Pulpo á Feira', a must along the Camino.

The Spanish call this section the “leg breaker” not due to the surface, but due to the length. If you have been walking for the last two weeks or more you will find it quite an easy stroll in comparison to much of the way already walked. This is the last long day.

We are still in the province of Lugo as we enter Melide. This is the town where the French Way (the busiest) and Primitivo Way (the oldest) routes meet, a crucial point along the Camino. Please make note of the old roads as we enter Melide. These roads date back to the fourteenth century and are some of the oldest in the region of Galicia.

We will leave the Lugo province and enter the province of A Coruna today. Going up and down hills through vegetation makes up most of this stage. We will also cross the beautiful, medieval bridge over the Iso River to Ribadiso. Just a little further up the way is Arzua. This is where the Camino del Norte joins the Camino and where we will rest for the night!

Today we will enter the fragrant eucalyptus groves on natural pathways with good shade. We have breathtaking scenery as we walk largely on a level path with just 3 shallow river valleys. We end with a climb around the Alto de Santa Irene.

As we enjoy our last night before entering Santiago, you will notice the joy and the energy surrounding the pilgrims! The pilgrims are excited and they all know tomorrow is the big day of entering Santiago. Though they have traveled a long distance, they are not tired and weary, the excitement and anticipation are overwhelming. Our Lord and St. James have guided their paths and the pilgrims share this joy with others.

We will start before daylight today. The long-awaited, final stage!! Only the uphill climb to Monte do Gozo presents any real resistance, and this feels a lot easier on the legs due to the fact that we are so close to the Santiago Cathedral. The entrance to the city along the road does not affect the mood of the pilgrim who has finally arrived in La Plaza del Obradoiro!! You may wish to attend the pilgrim's Mass today in the evening. Botafumeiro could be used during this Mass.

After we have rested in the Plaza, we will head to our resting place. This is your day, so follow your heart and your feet. Rest, Mass, and dinner.

Today could be the final chance to attend a pilgrim's Mass and have a chance to see the Botafumeiro swing. You will have time to explore this beautiful city. Just make sure you enter the Cathedral and make your way to the tradition of hugging the shining statue of St. James. After the embrace, enter the crypt where Saint James relics are kept. Thank him for your safe travels!

As you take in the Cathedral, make note that it is formed with Galician granite. It is one of the finest architectural examples in Europe. It encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles.

Tonight we will have our farewell dinner and have time to reflect on our pilgrimage.

Depart for Home or Santiago ... Finisterre, ADD On: $150

If you are leaving we can help you arrange your flight out of Santiago.

If you choose to stay and do the Finisterre trip:
You will awaken in the beautiful city of Santiago, breathe it in, and relax. You have made it.
We will have our breakfast and then make our way for our tour to Finisterre.

A Guided tour by an outside company. Back by 5 with time for dinner and exploring Santiago.

We will travel along the Costa da Morte on a full-day tour from Santiago de Compostela. Visit Cape Finisterre, go to the villages of Muros and Muxía, and see the waterfall in Ézaro. Along the way, learn about the history and culture of the Galician region.

Say our goodbyes as we head home or more traveling!

Buen Camino!