El Camino de Santiago: Walking in Northern Spain

Depart home independently on an overnight flight to Pamplona via Madrid.

Arrive in Pamplona in the late afternoon. Transfer to the Hotel Maisonnave, centrally located near Castillo Square. This evening, meet fellow travelers at a welcome reception for an aperitif.

Overnight: Hotel Maisonnave

Meals: R

Attend a morning lecture before enjoying a walking tour of Pamplona’s Old Quarter.

After lunch, drive to Roncesvalles, one of the main entrances to Spain for the St. James Way and a gateway to the Iberian Peninsula. Each traveler will receive a credencial (pilgrim passport) to mark their route and serve as proof of a completed pilgrimage to the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago to qualify for a compostela (certificate of completion of the pilgrimage).

Return to Pamplona, where the afternoon is at leisure. You can follow the route of the Running of the Bulls to the 19,000-seat Plaza de Toros de Pamplona or stop at Café Iruna, frequented by Ernest Hemingway and celebrated in his novel The Sun Also Rises.

Gather this evening for a welcome dinner.

Approximate walking distance: 6.5 kilometers / 4 miles

Overnight: Hotel Maisonnave

Meals: B, D

Travel by coach to the Romanesque Church of Santa María de Eunate, one of the jewels of the Camino, located in the heart of the Izarbe Valley.

From there, walk a short distance on the Camino to Puente La Reina, a medieval town where the two main routes on the Pilgrim’s Way converge. There will be time to explore the town, including its majestic namesake bridge, the Puente La Reina (the Queen’s Bridge), with its seven semicircular arches, and enjoy lunch on your own.

Transfer to Estella to see the Palace of the Kings of Navarre and San Pedro de la Rúa with its beautiful 12th-century cloister. Continue to Laguardia, the historic capital of the famous Rioja Alavesa wine region. The Hotel Villa de Laguardia, surrounded by lush vineyards, will be home for the next two nights.

Dinner is at a local restaurant, featuring regional cuisine and wines.

Approximate walking distance: 4.5 kilometers / 2.75 miles

Overnight: Hotel Villa de Laguardia

Meals: B, D

Following a morning lecture, drive to the lively university city of Logroño to see its lovely Old Quarter and the cathedral that boasts a painting by Michelangelo and the carvings of Spanish Baroque sculptor Gregorio Fernández.

Lunch is at Bodegas Baigorri, where Rioja Alavesa is produced.

Return to Laguardia and visit Santa Maria Church with its beautiful portico. Stroll through the streets of this medieval town and stop in any of the numerous cellars to taste or buy some magnificent local wines before returning to the hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure.

Rest day (only sightseeing walking)

Overnight: Hotel Villa de Laguardia

Meals: B, L

Depart for Nájera, the former capital of the Kingdom of Navarre, where you will visit the Monasterio de Santa María La Real de Nájera, the burial place of many of the kings, queens, and knights of Navarre.

Continue walking on the Camino to Azofra, then drive to Santo Domingo de la Calzada for lunch and a visit to the cathedral and Pilgrims’ Hospital, situated among its network of medieval streets.

Check into the Hotel NH Palacio de Burgos, our home for the next two nights. Dinner is at leisure.

Approximate walking distance: 5.8 kilometers / 3.6 miles

Overnight: Hotel NH Palacio de Burgos

Meals: B, L

This morning, discover the sumptuous Burgos Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and view its richly decorated interior chambers.

Drive to the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, which dates from the seventh century and is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. While there, experience a Gregorian chant performed by the world-famous monks of Silos. Afterwards, stroll along a delightful Camino path through an oak and pine forest leading to the peaceful valley of the Río Vena.

Dinner is at leisure.

Approximate walking distance: 6.1 kilometers / 3.8 miles

Overnight: Hotel NH Palacio de Burgos

Meals: B, L

Drive this morning to the little village of Calzada del Coto to begin a beautiful hike along this stretch of the Camino to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos.

After a tapas buffet lunch at a popular pilgrim restaurant, continue to León, where you will check into the Parador de León.

The afternoon in León is at leisure. Take a stroll and see the medieval Palacio del Conde Luna and the Casa de las Carnicerías before enjoying dinner on your own.

Approximate walking distance: 8.7 kilometers / 5.4 miles

Overnight: Parador de Leon

Meals: B, L

Start your day with a lecture, then follow the Camino within the walls of León to discover Antonio Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece, the neo-Gothic palace Casa Botines. Begun in 1891 and declared a Historic/Artistic Monument in 1969, the palace features a Gaudí exhibition as well as a collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings from artists like Ramón Casas, Raimundo de Madrozo, Joaquín Sorolla, and Ignacio Pinazzo.

Visit the soaring 13th-century León Cathedral with stained glass from the 13th through to the 20th centuries. Then see the Basilica of San Isidoro, the most important Romanesque church of the Iberian Peninsula, featuring the Pantheon of Kings, known as the “Sistine Chapel of Romanesque Art.” Lunch is at Racimo de Oro, a restaurant in the city’s historic center that serves local specialties.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Approximate walking distance: 2.1 kilometers / 1.3 miles

Overnight: Parador de Leon

Meals: B, L

Today’s journey on the Camino ventures into the glorious open countryside of the páramo (treeless grassland) with its rich red earth.

Drive to Astorga, the crossroads of several major pilgrim routes. Admire Gaudí’s Bishop’s Palace, which features a museum devoted to the pilgrimage, before lunch. Continue to Ponferrada and the magnificent 12th-century Templar castle, which towers over the historic quarter of the town and houses the Templars’ Library. Stroll on the Camino as it winds within the medieval section of Ponferrada.

Dinner and overnight are at the Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo.

Approximate walking distance: 6.7 kilometers / 4.2 miles

Overnight: Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo

Meals: B, L, D

See the historic sights of Villafranca del Bierzo, including the Plaza Mayor, Calle del Agua, and Los Marqueses Castle, before driving to Monte do Gozo for lunch.

The spires of the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela will be visible as you join other pilgrims walking the last few miles of the Camino.

Then check into the San Francisco Hotel Monumento in the heart of Santiago de Compostela.

Later, an optional excursion is arranged to “the end of the Earth” at Cape Finisterre, once thought to be the westernmost point on the Iberian Peninsula. Enjoy the sunset from the cape with a glass of Cava.

Return to Santiago de Compostela for a free evening with dinner at leisure.

Approximate walking distance: 4.7 kilometers / 2.9 miles

Overnight: Hotel San Francisco Monumento

Meals: B, L

A morning walking tour includes the highlights of this UNESCO-listed historic town, which is the final destination of the St. James’ Way. Complete the pilgrim experience at the majestic cathedral’s noon Mass, where the famous Botafumeiro ritual will be performed.

Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure. Visit the Plaza del Obradoiro or Raxoi Palace, or stop at the city’s food market. You can also enjoy tapas on Franco or Reiña Streets before gathering tonight for our farewell dinner.

Rest day (only sightseeing walking)

Overnight: Hotel San Francisco Monumento

Meals: B, D

Depart the hotel and transfer to the Santiago de Compostela airport early this morning for the flight home with a connection through Madrid.

Meals: B