If you’re looking to take on your own pilgrimage – along a route through the beautiful countryside and rustic villages of Northern Spain – start here, at the Camino de Santiago. On this 8-day trip, complete the last 60 miles of the pilgrimage route to Santiago and receive a “compostela” at the finish as evidence of your accomplishment. Refuel with tasty Spanish food along the way. This journey is an active one, but at a slower, more picturesque pace.
Arrive in Sarria at any time. Due to the potential for flight delays or cancellations, we recommend that you plan to arrive in Spain at least a day in advance. This will also give you time to rest and adjust to any time difference. We can book extra hotel nights for you in Sarria before the trip. To get to Sarria, you will probably want to fly into Santiago de Compostela or Madrid and take a bus to Sarria. Santiago de Compostela is closer, but Madrid will have more affordable flights. Hotel Check-in and Welcome Meeting Please note that check-in at the hotel is usually around 2:00-3:00 p.m. There are no planned activities until an intro meeting around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., usually in the hotel lobby. Check for a sign or ask at the reception desk about the exact time and location of the group meeting. Please make every effort to arrive in time for this meeting. If you are delayed and will arrive late, please inform us. Your tour leader will then leave you a message at the front desk informing you of where and when to meet up tomorrow. After the meeting, you might choose to get dinner at a nearby restaurant with your traveling companions and your tour leader to further get to know one another. Joining Instructions The program starts in Sarria. You will probably want to fly into Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), A Coruña (LCG), or Adolfo Suarez-Barajas (MAD) in Madrid. Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña are closer, but Madrid will have cheaper flights. To get to your start hotel in Sarria: From Madrid (MAD): • Fly: RyanAir or Iberia flights from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) or A Coruña (LCG) take about 1.5 hours with prices starting at €40. • Renfe Train: From Madrid Airport (Aeropuerto T4), take the Cercanías (C1) train to Madrid Chamartín station (20-25min). From Madrid Chamartín, the train journey to Sarria takes 4-6 hours and costs €45-€65. See renfe.com/es • ALSA Bus: Take the ALSA bus from Madrid’s Terminal de Autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) to Lugo. Buses leave 3 times a day. The journey is appoximately 6 hours and €45-€65. From Lugo, a take a 40min Monbus ride to Sarria for €5-€10. See monbus.es. • Car Rental: Costs vary, but expect to pay around €100-€150 for a one-way rental. An international driver’s license may be required. The drive takes approximately 5-6 hours and there are several tolls along the way, with an estimated total cost of €30-€40. Tolls can be paid using cash or credit cards. From Santiago de Compostela (SCQ): • Private Transfer with G Adventures: Book a private transfer through G Adventures. The journey is approximately 1.5 hours by car and costs around €150. • Renfe Train: The train from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria takes about 3.5 hours and costs €20-€30. See renfe.com/es • Empresafreire Bus: Direct buses run five times a day from Santiago de Compostela to Lugo. The trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs €10-€15. From Lugo, take a Monbus to Sarria (40 min; €5-€10). See monbus.es. • Taxi: CaminoFacil offers reliable taxi services, with an estimate of €175 from Santiago de Compostela airport to Sarria. See caminofacil.net. From A Coruña (LCG): • Renfe Train: The trip from A Coruña to Sarria takes about 2.4-3.5 hours and costs €15-€30. See renfe.com/es. • Monbus: Monbus has a direct line from A Coruña to Sarria which takes 3 hours and costs €10-€15. See monbus.es. For other travel options in Spain, visit Movelia or Rome2Rio. Accommodation: La Casona de Sarria (or similar) * For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Today, we start our trek to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela by hiking from Sarria to Portomarín, covering about 14 miles over the course of the day. We will pass through many lovely towns along the way, and you can choose to have a picnic lunch in places such as Barbadelo, Renta, or Ferreiros. We will spend the night in the riverside city of Portomarín. Approximate travel time: 6-8 hrs on foot Accommodation: Hotel Villajardin (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast
We will leave Portomarín in the early morning light in order to make the most of the day. This stretch of the trek will see some changes in elevation through beautiful scenery. The surrounding area has a rich history, especially from the Middle Ages; the Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the later Middle Ages. The Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th-century Europe led to its decline, but pilgrimages have continued without interruption since the Middle Ages. After our hike, we will arrive in the town of Palas del Rei. Approximate travel time: 6 hrs on foot Accommodation: Alda Palas de Rei (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast
Today, we continue the pilgrimage through the lush green valleys of Galicia, covering about 9 miles. We will have ample opportunities for rest stops and time to pick up any needed supplies before arriving in Melide. Take a break in the lively market town and try octopus, Galicia's most classic dish, in one of the many pulperías. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs on foot Accommodation: El Chiquitin (or similar)Meals included: Breakfast
Leaving Melide, the Camino crosses several streams and follows a forest track to the village of Boente. Next, walk through the scenic medieval village of Ribadiso before finally arriving in the town of Arzúa. In Arzúa, we will visit the churches of Santa María and Capela de la Magdalena. The distance covered today will be approximately 8 miles. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs on foot Accommodation: Pensión Domus Gallery (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast
Today, we traverse 14 miles of scenic Galician countryside, passing through pretty woods and sleepy villages and across streams. The chapel of Santa Irene, with its unique statue of St. James, is worth a visit. En route, visit the lovely hamlet of Rúa. The rest of the walk to Amenal is a mix of calm country roads and forest trails. Approximate travel time: 6 hrs on foot Accommodation: Amenal Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, we depart early in order to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in time for the Pilgrim's Mass. Enjoy the scenery during the final 8-9 miles of the pilgrimage before the baroque, painted towers of the cathedral come into view. Later, we will explore this fascinating city and sip some wine in a café to celebrate the incredible journey. The pilgrimage would not be complete without a visit to the cathedral on the magnificent Praza do Obradoiro, where tradition holds that the remains of St. James the Apostle are buried in the 1st century. Originally built as a small church over the tomb of St. James in 819 AD, the cathedral has remained the end-point of the spiritual pilgrimage to those walking the Camino de Santiago for centuries. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs on foot Accommodation: A Tafona do Peregrino (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast
There are no planned activities today, so you may depart Santiago de Compostela at any time. If you wish to extend your stay in Santiago de Compostela, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please note that check-out time from the hotel is usually mid-morning, but luggage storage services are available at the reception desk. Want more adventure? Book two or more GEEO programs in the same school year and receive a discount! GEEO will give you 10% off of the lesser value program(s) (up to 3 programs per year). If you would like to extend your time abroad but don't see another GEEO program that interests you, let us know. We can work with you to find a trip from our tour operator’s much larger catalog. Their tours are open to the general public and not designed specifically for educators, but, we can still offer you a discounted educator price on any additional tours that you book. Meals included: Breakfast