El Camino

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Madrid

Arrive in Madrid, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and begin exploring. You may want to start by sampling tapas at the little mesones in the Plaza Mayor.

Day 3: Sarria

This morning Madrid's rich heritage comes alive on a guided walking tour that showcases classic Spanish boulevards, grand plazas and the diverse architecture of modern-day Madrid. Highlights include the Teatro Real Opera House, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Neptune Fountain. You'll also go inside the magnificent Prado (skipping the lines with a timed reservation), one of the world's premier art museums. Here an expert will provide illuminating commentary about the artwork of Velázquez, Goya, Raphael, Rubens and Bosch. Even the 18th-century neo-classical building that houses the collection is stunning. In the afternoon take the train to Sarria, a popular starting point for pilgrims completing the last 100km of the French Way route on the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James.

Day 4: Portomarin

It’s Camino time! Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, depart for the first of your five days spent walking the renowned final stretch of the Camino de Santiago’s French Way from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. This multi-day transformative adventure will encapsulate the true historical, spiritual and cultural essence of the Camino as you connect with fellow pilgrims, experience local traditions, and marvel at the beautiful rolling hills and quaint hamlets of the Galician countryside. Each morning you’ll leave your luggage at the hotel reception so it can be transported for you to the next night’s accommodation. Today you should be prepared to walk around 33km/21mi to the village of Portomarín. Along the way you will spot many traditional Galician hórreos (elevated granaries historically used to store feed for the animals), and visit the charming village of Barbadelo. Arrive this evening in Portomarín, check into your hotel, and enjoy a well-earned dinner.

Day 5: Palas de Rei

After breakfast, depart for today’s journey on the Camino, a stretch of about 25km/16mi. Your route will cross the Miño River, Galicia’s longest, and pass through several lovely hamlets. The day’s final destination is Palas de Rei.

Day 6: Arzua

Following breakfast, prepare for today’s pilgrimage of about 28km/18mi. From Palas de Rei, the Camino trail continues downhill, passing the villages of Casanova and Leboreiro. You’ll cross several streams and wind along a forest path to the village of Boente, before finally arriving in Arzúa for the evening. If time permits before dinner, visit the Church of Santa María or Chapel of the Magdalena and seek out tastes of the town’s famed local cheese and honey.

Day 7: O Pino

After breakfast at your hotel, depart Arzúa for today’s Camino walk of about 20km/12mi. On this stage you will journey beneath the shade of pretty woods, past sleepy villages, across bubbling streams and through the quaint hamlet of A Rúa. Arrive in O Pino for the evening, the last overnight along the Camino before reaching Santiago de Compostela.

Day 8: Santiago De Compostela

Following breakfast, walk your final leg of the French Way, a distance of around 20km/12mi, and celebrate your achievement upon arrival in Santiago de Compostela. The Galician capital boasts one of the oldest universities in Spain and a beautiful, historic city center that combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture. The faithful recognize Santiago de Compostela as the burial site of St. James the Apostle, leading to its role as an important center for Christian traditions and as the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, pilgrimage route, which you have just traveled.

Day 9: Santiago De Compostela

A guided sightseeing walking tour in the morning shows you highlights such as the city’s lively market and Obradoiro Square, ending with a visit inside the famed Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, beneath which lies the tomb of St. James. Arrive there in time to concelebrate the Pilgrim’s Mass if you choose. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore more at your own pace.

Day 10: Departure

Depart for the USA.

Note: Days 4-8 of this itinerary offer a true Camino de Santiago trekking experience. Participants must be prepared with proper gear and able to walk for at least five hours daily along mostly flat but varying terrain. Please speak to your ACIS Program Consultant for more details.