14 Days Walking the Camino de Santiago from Denver, CO (DEN) - October 18 - 31, 2023 - The Rev. Jan Head & The Rev. Canon Greg Foraker

The Camino de Santiago, or the way of St. James, has many different routes, all uniting as one at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. This same path has been taken for hundreds of years by the faithful making their holy pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  The path was also used by Roman, Moor, and Saracen invaders, the Knights Templar, and the armies of Charlemagne and Napoleon.  Therefore, this journey is not only steeped in spiritual significance as you travel to the place believed to be the burial site of St. James, but it also has much historical and cultural significance.

DAY 1: Wednesday 18 October 2023

Depart the US for your overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Meals will be served on board the flight.

DAY 2: Thursday 19 October 2023

Arrival at Lisbon Airport, Portugal. - Upon arrival, your guide and driver will be at the airport waiting for you. Enjoy panoramic views and stops at some of Lisbon’s famous sights as we journey by bus to Fatima, our home for two nights. Overnight in Fatima

DAY 3: Friday 20 October 2023

After breakfast, our morning begins with a visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima, a world-renowned pilgrimage site

famous for appearances of the Virgin Mary to Lucia Santos and her 2 cousins Jacinta and Francisco in 1916. We will visit the museum and view a short video of the story of Fatima. After enjoying free time for lunch, we’ll take an afternoon walk along the Stations of the Cross and to the tiny village where the 3 young children lived. If the traditional torchlight procession is being held that evening, we’ll join the thousands who gather and pray in the sanctuary plaza.  Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

DAY 4: Saturday 21 October 2023

This will be a long day, beginning with a very early breakfast and check-out from the hotel. We will journey northward by bus for approximately 2.5 hours (200 km.)  In the area of Matosinhos, we make our first walking stop to experience a small portion (2 km) of the Portuguese Coastal Camino. From there we will travel by bus to the town of Vila do Conde where our main walk begins, approximately 14km to San Pedro de Rates. Once we have regrouped there is the option to walk a further 6km to Pedra Furada. This will be a beautiful day, with flat terrain and contrasting countryside. We’ll make a stop for refreshments in Barcelos before continuing to Pointe de Lima.  Overnight in Ponte de Lima.

DAY 5: Sunday 22 October 2023

After an early breakfast, we’ll take a short bus ride to the hillside location of Tamel, the starting point of our day’s walk. We’ll cover approximately 24km through mostly agricultural land, hamlets, and small villages to Ponte de Lima. Dinner and overnight in Ponte de Lima.

DAY 6: Monday 23 October 2023

Today’s walk begins at the door of our hotel as we continue walking through the countryside, but now we begin to see a change in the landscape. Today’s walk (approx.  20km) is one of the most challenging on the Camino Portugues as our path takes us up and over the Alto da Portela Grande de Labruja, a gradual uphill ending in a 2.5km steep climb before descending into Rubiaes. From Rubiaes our bus will take us on to Valenca do Minho, the last town in Portugal before we head into Spain. There will be free time in Valenca to get a late lunch/early dinner before we walk the 3km across the River Minho into Spain. Our destination is the village of Tui which is situated on the other side of the Minho River. Overnight in Tui.

DAY 7: Tuesday 24 October 2023

Today’s walk is from Tui to Mos, approximately 23km. We have already had 3 walking days so jet lag is well behind us and you will have found your pace and space. Once everyone arrives in Mos, due to the lack of accommodation on this Pilgrimage route, the bus will be taking us back to our hotel in Tui. The late afternoon will be free to discover Tui. Dinner and overnight Tui.

DAY 8: Wednesday 25 October 2023

We start with a very early breakfast and check out. The bus will take us to Mos, our ending point yesterday and starting point today. This day will be a challenge as it presents the longest daily walking distance of our pilgrimage. The tiredness and aches of our previous days are accumulating, and ahead lies a tough, hilly, 30km walk from Mos to Pontevedra. This feels like a helter-skelter walk as we pass through busy towns and coastal villages, uphill and down, before finally reaching the major city of Pontevedra. Dinner and overnight in Pontevedra.

DAY 9: Thursday 26 October 2023

After the storm comes the calm. We check out of the hotel after breakfast for a lighter walking day of 22km. With beautiful scenery, this day presents great moments to reflect and let your inner thoughts guide you. Our destination is Caldas de Rei, a small medieval spa town. Famous for its hot thermal springs, Caldas de Rei offers pilgrims a well-deserved treat for the feet. Overnight in Caldas de Rei.

DAY 10: Friday 27 October 2023

Check out after breakfast and a much shorter day awaits. We walk from Caldas de Rei to Padron, approx. 19km through hamlets, forests, and vineyards, a delightful day’s walk. Padron, our destination for the day, is one of the most emblematic sites on the Camino and in the history of the Camino de Santiago.  It is only the Camino Portuguese that passes through this historic place. Padron, then known as Iria Flavia, is the town where the boat, along with the body of St James, arrived after his death. This boat was moored to a 'pedron', stone, hence this name becoming more popular, and the town centuries ago became known as Padron. We are going to visit the church of St James, offering pilgrims time for reflection and prayer as we near Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and overnight in Padron.

DAY 11: Saturday 28 October 2023

On our final day of walking, we traverse the distance from Padron to Santiago de Compostela, approx. 25km. After a few days of shorter distances, the Camino raises its head to remind us that we are indeed on a pilgrimage. The light and energy of a million steps that have passed this way before us, and the knowledge that our destination will finally be reached, gives us the strength that we need. We started as a family; the path has been the same but the journey so different for every one of us. Awaiting us at the end of our day’s walk is the Obradoiro square, the Cathedral of Santiago, and emotions beyond words. Evening church service in Santa Susana Church. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela

DAY 12: Sunday 29 October 2023

We have reached our destination, but our pilgrimage has not ended. Together we will attend the Pilgrim Mass at the cathedral and experience the thrill of witnessing the ritual of the Botafumeira. The next stop is the Pilgrim office to collect our Compostela certificates. We’ll have a short break for coffee before visiting the Portico de la Gloria and Cathedral Rooftop. The afternoon is free for exploring Santiago de Compostela. We will gather at the end of the day for reflection time followed by dinner at the Parador. Overnight in Santiago de Compostela.

DAY 13: Monday 30 October 2023

After a free morning in Santiago, we will make an early afternoon excursion to Finisterre (Land’s End) where we will celebrate Holy Eucharist and watch the sunset at the lighthouse bringing our Pilgrimage to a close. Overnight in Santiago de Compostela.

DAY 14: Tuesday 31 October 2023

- Departure for the Santiago Airport for our return home