WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT?

“Putting ourselves in the midst of something greater than our personal
dramas, difficulties and pain- as we do when we walk in the open plains,
hike in rarefied mountain air, or ramble on an empty beach- can give us a
sense of space and openness, lifting us out of our narrow selves….The
natural world communicates its profound message: things are okay as they
are; you are okay just as you are; simply relax and be present.”

Mark Coleman Awake in the Wild

The Camino de Santiago

A Sacred Journey: June 13-20, 2024

The Camino de Santiago retreat includes walking, yoga, nature, history, culture and an opportunity to set some intentions for your life or to honor someone you’ve lost.

We have encountered many Camino Peregrinos (pilgrims) passing through Gijon since we moved here in 2021. At last, we are ready to lace up our boots and do our own pilgrimage from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela and we would love to share this experience with you.

Rocky and I are excited to join forces with Spanish Steps, the experts in Camino Pilgrimage, who will be celebrating 30 years of sharing this path in 2024. We have customized a journey especially for our guests who prefer a more comfortable way to travel. Suffering is optional, but so are pampering and comfort. No hostels or camping out on this journey. No 50-pound backpacks and bedrolls. Just magnificent walking and hiking fully supported by Spanish Steps guides and drivers. See more in “What’s Incuded”.

We will walk along a 108 kilometer section of the 800 kilometer Camino de Santiago. This portion of the Camino takes us along the most beautiful footpaths of green Galicia, exploring forests, farming villages and countryside where time seems to have stood still.

Walking the final 108-kilometers (67 miles) of the Camino de Santiago will earn you the Compostela – the official certificate of completion for this epic journey. You’ll meet other pilgrims from all over the world as the many paths to Santiago begin to merge on this stretch of the path to Santiago de Compostela.

Interestingly, 108 has been considered a sacred number in many cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and the Jain traditions. In yoga, the number 108 has significance as the number representing spiritual completion.  Mathematicians also consider it special. Leonardo Fibonacci, born around A.D. 1170, theorized that the number 108 has a way of representing the wholeness of existence.

Whether you’re inspired to walk these sacred 108 kilometers to soothe your soul, to honor someone who left this world too soon, to mark an important transition or milestone in your life, or to simply to enjoy miles of bucolic countryside, we invite you to join us for a “Buen Camino!”

What’s included on your Camino Retreat

• Your experienced Spanish Steps guide will meet you in Lugo, a wonderfully restored, walled city built by the Romans in the 3rd century and now designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. (Pick-up is June 13, 2024 but we recommend spending a night or two before the retreat to explore this medieval city!) From there you will be driven by van about 40 minutes south just outside of the town of Sarria to begin your journey. 
• With Spanish Steps, you have the luxury of a fully supported van, which carries our baggage from hotel to hotel, and can take you the extra mile if you need to rest a little along the way. All you’ll need to carry while walking is a day-pack with water, suntan lotion, rain gear, phone and/or camera etc.
• We walk between 7-12 miles per day. Choose your own pace and rest when you want to rest. This is not a race. This Camino is structured to allow a comfortable walking pace for everyone, with plenty of time for breaks.
• Healthy snacks, daily maps and historical information will be provided by your Spanish Steps Camino guide.
• Sleep well in beautifully restored farmhouses, known as Casa Rurales, and family run Pazos, Galician manor homes and hotels. Share your double-occupancy room and private bathroom with a friend or partner or ask us to help you find a roommate. (No crowded hostel dormitory rooms on our Camino retreat!)
• There are occasions where we sleep for two nights in one hotel or B&B due to lack of accommodations where we end our daily stage of the walk. Many people find this to be an enjoyable advantage as it allows them to unpack or take a rest day if they choose not to walk one day.
• All breakfasts and six delicious dinners are included. If you  find that trail snacks don’t hold you over until dinner, you can enjoy a non-hosted lunch in one of the many cafes or restaurants you pass along the way.
• Jeni will lead yoga and meditation classes in the afternoons after you’ve walked, to stretch out tired muscles, and to help you process and integrate the transformation that often occurs on the Camino. No yoga experience is required. All classes are optional.

Not included: Airfare, travel & cancellation insurance (recommended), tips for the guides and van drivers, all non-hosted lunches and one non-hosted dinner out so the group can enjoy a local dining experience.