Camino de Santiago with FR. RAMON JADE LICUANAN

Arrival in Barcelona in the evening. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight. 

After breakfast, have a guided tour to visit the Basilica De La Sagrada Familia (entrance tickets are extremely difficult to confirm; subject to availability). View of the Plaza Espana, Plaza Reial, Plaza Cataluna, Olympic Stadium, Monument Christopher Columbus, Arch of Triumph. Then drive to Montserrat to see Monastir de Montserrat, a Benedictine abbey located on the mountain. Visit the Royal Basilica, one of Spain’s most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, due to its famous 12^th century Romanesque carving of the Virgen Moroneta, the Black Virgin. Return to Barcelona. Have dinner at an international restaurant. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Have a long-distance drive to Zaragoza. Have a short-guided tour to visit the Basilica Del Pilar. Continue driving to Pamplona.  Proceed to your hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive a long distance to Sarria. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at Sarria, then begin the Sarria-Portomarin stage of the St. James pilgrimage. The length of our journey is roughly 25 kilometers or 4-5 hours of walking. En route, enjoy the green hills of Galicia. You will also find the traditional small Galician villages, numerous chestnut and oak forests. The mythical KM100 and Romantic churches such as Santiago de Barbadelos and Iglesia de Santa Maria de Ferreiros. Stop for lunch along the way at a typical Spanish café. Once in Portomarin, guests can explore the town until dinner time. You can visit the Church of San Nicolas de Portomarin which is open in the afternoon, see also the bridge of Ponte Novo. You may divert to see the Castro de Castromaoior which may be described as remnants of the past civilization. Check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Lugo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the Portomarin-Palas de Rei leg of the pilgrimage. This stage is roughly 25 kilometers or 5-6 hours walking time. The way goes through paths, many of them close to the roads and paved areas. From Portomarin, you will view the Castro de Castromaior. Discover small Camino villages while ascending the mountains of Ligonde, then descend through Lestedo to reach Palas de Rei. Along this route, the group will find the famous “cruceiros” (crosses) such as the Cruceiro of Lameiros and Cruceiro of Ligonde. You will also see the Vilar de Donas Monastery. Picnic lunch during the walk. Upon arrival at Palas de Rei, you may visit the Church of Santiago de Alba. The history of Palas de Rei appears closely linked to military culture, which retains many of the archaeological remains (dolmens and forts) from a remote settlement. Have dinner and overnight at the hotel in Lugo.

Breakfast and check-out at your hotel, then begin the Palas de Rei-Melide phase of the pilgrimage. Today’s journey is roughly 15 kilometers or 3-4 hours walking time. Today is an easy day, apart from the length of the route, it is easy under foot and there are no long steep accents or descents. The Spanish call this section the “leg breaker” not due to the surface, but due to the length. It is the start of the countdown to Santiago de Compostela. Shortly after Coto, there are stone markers at the side of the path with the distance to Santiago marked. You will see in this journey medieval bridges such as Leboreiro and Furelos. Pass through beautiful stone bridges on your way to Melide where lunch will be served. Much of the day is shaded and shortly after Melide you will walk through Oak and Eucalyptus Forest with the wonderful smell. Melide is where the Camino Primitivo joins with the Camino Frances. Check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Melide.

Breakfast and check-out at your hotel. Begin the Palas de Rei-Melide phase of the pilgrimage. Today’s journey is roughly 15 kilometers or 3-4 hours walking time. Continue walking through the Galician countryside until you arrive Arzua. You may visit the chapel of Magdalena; the Parish Church of Santiago; the Centre for Information on cheese and honey; the reservoir of Portodemouros; Fervenza das Hortas, a waterfall of more than 30 meters in height. Check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Arzua.

Breakfast at your hotel, then continue walking along the forests and rural paths leading to the hamlet of Rua. The length of our journey is roughly 19 kilometers or 4-5 hours walking time. Our walk will enable us to take fantastic photos of Spain’s natural landscapes. Stop by for lunch to try authentic Spanish countryside cuisine, then continue walking until you reach Rua. Rest and free time. Have dinner and overnight at the hotel in Arzua.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. The last leg of our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela spans a distance of 21 kilometers or 4-5 hours walking from O Pedrouzo. The group will be passing Monte do Gozo (Mountain of Joy) located in the city outskirts, where the Cathedral of Santiago is within sight. The group can enjoy free time upon arrival to explore the magnificent El Obradoiro Square comprising buildings which represent a thousand years of history and architecture. Dominating the Square is The Obradoiro Façade, the main cathedral front built by the architect Fernando de Casa y Novoa. Check-in. dinner and overnight at the hotel in Santiago de Compostela. 

After breakfast, the local tourist guide will show the pilgrims around Santiago. Highlight will be the tour of the Cathedral, through the Portico de la Gloria or Gateway to Glory. Pilgrims will receive a certificate once they show proof of their 100-kilometer journey, through their stamps. Visit the crypt which contains the remains of St. James the Apostle, and the Baroque altar of the main chapel. Observe the transept nave, the most solemn part of the cathedral where the Botafumeiroor enormous censer swings spectacularly during days of solemn celebration. Photo stops at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Plaza del Obradoiro, Monasterio de San Martin Pinario, Convento de San Francisco, Fuente de Los Caballos and Palacio de Raxoi. We will visit the old town, Universidad de Santiago and the Hostel of the Catholic Kings, now Parador. Have dinner at an international restaurant before returning to the hotel for overnight stay. 

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Transfer to the Santiago de Compostela train station for your train ride to Madrid. Have some free time before transfer to Madrid airport to catch your flight back to Manila. 

“HOME SWEET HOME!!!”