Active Adventures

Camino de Santiago Adventure

Day: 1 Explore Bilbao

Our adventure begins in the dynamic port city of Bilbao. Here, you'll meet your guides and fellow travelers at 5:30 pm at the joining hotel. After a short orientation, we'll head down to the Estuary of Bilbao and enjoy a pleasant stroll along the water and through the marvelous old city center packed with architectural wonders. Tonight, you'll sample authentic Basque cuisine at a local eatery.
Accommodations: Hotel Barceló Nervión, Bilbao, Meals: (D)

Day: 2 Hike the coastal trails of the Camino del Norte

Today you get your first taste of the stunning Costa Verde. After departing Bilbao we'll drive along the dramatic Atlantic coast, passing through Cantabria on our way to the Celtic region of Asturias for our first hike following the Camino del Norte. Our delightful coastal trail leads across gently undulating terrain, through oceanside meadows and forests scattered along the rugged coastline. We'll continue on to our overnight base in the former whaling port of Llanes. A short walking tour through the town's labyrinth of streets brings us to the town's former fish auction house. Next door we'll enjoy lunch at a seafood and cider tavern with views over the marina. After lunch, we'll continue hiking along the Camino, a spectacular seaside route following scenic clifftop paths among green meadows, linking golden beaches and sandy coves. Hiking:11.2 miles (18 kilometers), 5 hours 15 minutes, elevation + 1,033 feet (315 meters)
Accommodations: Hotel Don Paco, Llanes, Meals: (B, L, D)

Day: 3 Continue hiking on the Camino del Norte. Transfer to Oviedo

Today we continue our hike on the Camino, following coastal paths through elegant green meadows, alongside hidden coves and across stunning beaches. En-route we'll pass by Spanish civil war defensive structures and some surprising dinosaur footprints. When hunger strikes, we'll stop for lunch at a lovely inlet then transfer to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias. Here, we'll learn about the relics of the Kingdom of Asturias on a guided tour of San Salvador Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage complex. You'll even have the chance to see the Cloth of Oviedo, which is believed to have been wrapped around Jesus' head in the tomb.Hiking:11.2 kilometers (7 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 230 meters (755 feet)
Accommodations: NH Oviedo Principado, Oviedo, Meals: (B, L, D)

Day: 4 Begin hiking along the Camino Primitivo

The scenery changes today as we begin our hike along the Camino Primitivo, the oldest of all the Camino pilgrimage routes. Trading in the beach for forest and sand for pastureland, we'll hike towards Tineo, set high in the hills above the Narcea River valley. After a break for a well-deserved and picturesque lunch, we'll continue hiking through dense forest until we reach an abandoned 12th-century Benedictine Monastery that once played an important role in providing aid and support to pilgrims on their way to Santiago. We'll take time to explore the ruins before transferring to our hotel in Tineo.Hiking:16.6-20.6 kilometers (10.3-12.8 miles), 5-6 hours, elevation + 400 meters (1,350 feet), elevation - 485 meters (1,590 feet)
Accommodations: Hotel Palacio de Meras, Tineo, Meals: (B, L, D)

Day: 5 Hike remote and forested trails of the Camino Primitivo

Be sure to have your camera ready as today we embark on perhaps the most spectacular section of the entire Camino Primitivo. Our hike takes us uphill through one of Spain's most uninhabited regions until we reach an isolated pass showcasing 360-degree views of mountain forests and green hillsides. Be sure to keep your eye out for wild horses grazing nearby! After taking time to enjoy the views, we descend to a tiny ridgetop hamlet and medieval chapel. At the hike's end, we transfer to the tiny parish of Berducedo for a well-deserved lunch. We finally enter Galicia on our way to Lugo, whose 3rd-century Roman walls surrounding the old town are a UNESCO World Heritage site. On arrival, the rest of the day is free time for you to rest, relax and explore the twisting streets of this fascinating city . Dinner is on your own tonight.Hiking:6.9 miles (11.1 kilometers), 4.5 hours, elevation + 2,182 feet (665 meters), elevation - 1,689 feet (515 meters)
Accommodations: Gran Hotel de Lugo, Lugo, Meals: (B, L)

Day: 6 From the Camino Primitivo to the Camino Frances.

This morning we'll begin by touring Lugo's historic walls and visiting its renowned cathedral before setting out on our final hike along the Camino Primitivo. Today, we meander through fairytale-like forest paths and into tiny hamlets scattered across the Galician countryside. We'll stop for lunch in Melide, a town where the Camino Primitivo and Camino Frances merge into a single Way. If your stomach isn't already grumbling, hunger is sure to strike as soon as you smell the freshly baked pastries and almond cakes ever so apparent in Melide's historic center. After, we'll continue along the Camino through grand oak forests before calling it a day.Hiking:6 - 7.9 miles (9.6 - 11.8 kilometers), 3 - 3.5 hours, elevation + 755-935 feet (230-285 meters), elevation - 558-705 feet (170-215 meters)
Accommodations: Pazo de Eidian or Pazo de Sedor, Melides, Meals: (B, L, D)

Day: 7 Hike to Plaza del Obradoiro

We start the day off right with our first hike on the Camino Frances. We'll see many more pilgrims this morning compared to the previous day's solitude. Afterward, we transfer to Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), located on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela. Here, just like the pilgrims, you'll see your first glimpse of the city's famous cathedral spires. Our hike then continues to Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago's grandiose square. Take time this afternoon to explore the city and sit down for a relaxing lunch on your own. If you'd like, you can rejoin the group for a tour with a local guide and attend a pilgrim's mass at the cathedral. You may even get to witness the swinging of the Botafumeiro, which is one of the largest incense censers in the world. Dinner is on your own tonight, allowing you more time to explore the wonders of the city.Hiking:9.6 kilometers (5.9 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 225 meters (730), elevation - 385 meters (930 feet)
Accommodations: Hotel Monumento San Francisco, Santiago de Compostela, Meals: (B)

Day: 8 Hike to Cape Finisterre and enjoy the lighthouse before a celebratory farewell dinner

This morning we'll delight our senses with an early visit to Santiago's bustling market, where an incredible selection of seafood, meat, vegetables, and fruit await. We'll then drive to Cape Finisterre, the final destination for many pilgrims who walked the Way of St. James. The cape is also the historical ‘Land's End' reached by pagan pilgrimages predating Christianity. As we enjoy a hillside trail to the cape and lighthouse, take in the spectacular views of Costa da Morte (Coast of Death), so named for the innumerable shipwrecks over the centuries. After a hearty seafood lunch, we return to Santiago. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to discover the sights of the city. This evening we meet for a celebratory dinner at one of the area's finest restaurants.Hiking:5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles), elevation + 215 meters (705 feet), elevation - 125 meters (410 feet)
Accommodations: Hotel Monumento San Francisco, Santiago de Compostela, Meals: (B, L, D)

Day: 9 Enjoy a final breakfast, say your goodbyes

After a final breakfast, we'll say our goodbyes. You can choose to transfer on your own to Santiago's airport or continue your explorations of this fascinating region of Spain.
Accommodations: No Accommodation, Meals: (B)