Soak up the rich history and cultures of northern Spain as you explore scenic local paths and highlights from the Camino de Santiago. Our local team has selected from over 50,000 miles of trails lacing the Iberian Peninsula to curate the very best of this trail network. Starting in the heart of Basque Country, a walk along the Camino’s Northen Way brings you the spectacular coastal scenery of Cantabria—returning each evening to relax in historic accommodations. Walk the most idyllic segments of the Camino’s French Way, visiting the charming, thatched huts of O Cebreiro, tasting traditional Galician orujo, and exploring a local vineyard perched above the Ribeira Sacra Canyon. Enjoy a scenic slice of the Camino’s Finisterre Way as you walk among fragrant pines and eucalyptus into the city of Santiago de Compostela—where you’ll spend an opulent evening at the incomparable Hostal dos Reis Católicos, located on the Plaza del Obradoiro next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, your local Country Walkers leaders will enthrall you with tales of the Camino de Santiago and the ancient cultures of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, and beyond.
Stay in historic Spanish paradors for your entire trip, richly historic landmark buildings converted into luxury hotels with spacious rooms.
Walk among a remarkably diverse array of landscapes, from rural coastal fields and cliffs to mountain villages and deep valleys and gorges.
Hike the steep vineyard-laden slopes in Ribeira Sacra’s spectacular Canyon de Sil, then enjoy a wine tasting and lunch with the family that runs the winery.
See how a local shepherd and his border collie corral their rare Xalda sheep during a fascinating sheep-herding demonstration.
Sample the beloved beverages of Galicia, including distilled apple cider and the Celtic-influenced Queimada, and learn how they are prepared.
Positive Impact
Country Walkers is proud to support Wine to Water with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Wine to Water is an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions. We believe in giving back to the places that have enriched the lives of our guests. We’re committed to identifying and supporting sustainable initiatives in a variety of areas including education, world health, economic equality, safe drinking water, the environment, and the preservation of cultural traditions.
On all Guided Adventures you can count on...
Expert local leaders to introduce you to the best of your destination
Off-the-beaten-path places you’d never find on your own
Delicious multi-course meals—a majority are included
A maximum of 18 fun-loving fellow travelers to share the journey
Gracious accommodations that are a clean, comfortable home away from home
Experts to handle all the details
Air Packages include plane tickets, airport shuttles, and pre- and post-tour accommodations
Terrain Description for Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago
This tour is one of our Guided Walking Adventures, rated easy to moderate (with challenging sections) with an average of 4 to 10 miles per day. Maximum elevation gains and losses during the walks range from 500 to 1,900 feet. There are daily ascents and descents that can be steep in sections and challenging due to uneven footing. The terrain is varied— dirt roads, paved, cobbled street, sandy and rocky coastal paths, and single-track hiking trails with loose stones or gravel, rocks, and roots. Some trails are exposed to the sun, making the level of difficulty more challenging during warmer weather.
Miles and Elevation for Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago
Summary of the activity level of the tour Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago
, broken down by day and available options.
Tour Day
Choose Your Route Options
Miles per Option
Hours per Option**
Elevation per Option***
Activity Level
1
Walk
3
2:00
easy-moderate
2
ShortLong
59
2:305:00
+600
easy-moderateeasy-moderate
3
ShortLong
46
2:153:15
easy-moderatemoderate
4
ShortLong
58
2:304:00
-1200+550/-1500
easy-moderateeasy-moderate
5
ShortLong
25
1:303:15
+800+2000
easy-moderatemoderate
6
Walk
5
02:30
+900/-900
easy-moderate
7
Walk
5
2:15
+600
easy-moderate
*Alternate options available **Route mileage, hours, and elevation gain/loss are all approximate ***Elevation gain/loss indicated if greater than 500 feet
Start off your first day in Bilbao right by having a Country Walkers representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this vibrant city at your leisure.
Costa Quebrada. 3 miles, easy to moderate. Travel to Santallina del Mar
After breakfast, there may be time for you to visit the Guggenheim Museum before you meet your leaders at 12:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby. Please have lunch before we meet or get some quick tapas at the tabernas close to our hotel, as lunch today is on your own.
Your leaders will be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking. Hiking shoes are required.
Travel one hour and 20 minutes to the outskirts of Santander and the heart of the Natural Park of Costa Quebrada in Spain’s stunning Cantabria region. Here, dramatic cliffs, arches, islets, and coves tell a dramatic and unique story of the interplay of coastal rock formations and the ebb and flow of the tides. This is a spectacularly scenic corner of Spain.
Begin your Spanish amble on an easy scenic coastal trail along open pastures on a gravel road. Soon, the breathtaking Covacho beach appears, where crystalline waters kiss at a spit of sand that reaches out to a rocky islet. There’ll be time to admire this remarkable vista before continuing to the Playa de Arnia. Here, magnificent rock formations rise just offshore. Some form parallel striations just above water and others rise up to massive walls.
Your walk traces a single-track pathway along one the most impressive coastal vistas in Northern Spain, the Senda del Litoral. This stunning trail is an alternative route to the Camino Norte, one of the many pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela from points north.
At trail’s end, you travel to one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, Santillana del Mar, rubbing shoulders with many Camino pilgrims who overnight here. After settling into your first parador – part of Spain’s network of historic buildings gloriously restored into stunning hotels – join an illuminating walking tour of this eighth-century town. Stroll among the ochre-hued mansions and palaces as your leader regales you with legend and lore.
Back at your parador, get acquainted with your travel companions over a welcome drink. Then, head to the hotel’s formal restaurant for a dinner of delectable regional specialties, paired with local wine.
Coastal Camino Norte; 5-9 miles, easy to moderate, 600-ft. elevation gain and 400-ft. elevation loss
After a hearty breakfast, travel 40 minutes to one of the most magnificent coastal regions of the Principality of Asturias. Here, you follow an invigorating footpath along the Camino Norte, one of the most spectacular segments of the Camino. Your seaside route traces open pastures and a series of cliffs, where you might meet sheep, cows, and horses. As your walk gets underway on flat trails, you pass several green pastures and tiny villages before arriving at an overlook that affords sweeping views of the sea. Continuing on, pause for lunch at a local taberna in Puertas de Vidiago. Here, owners Tensi and Manolo tend to sheep and cows and make cheese the traditional way. You sample some during a cozy, intimate lunch, and savor their homemade cheesecake for dessert.
Sounds of the sea accompany you today as you keep an eye out for the many seabirds that reside here. If there’s time, avid walkers may continue about two hours to the Mirador de la Boriza, a concrete “stairway to nowhere.” Climb the steps for fantastic vistas. You pass the beloved Bufones de Arenillas sea geysers. If you’re lucky, the tides will be strong enough in the caves below to shoot water upward through holes in the rock. Alternately, take a short ride to Llanes, a charming village overseen by the long, limestone ridge of the spectacular Sierra del Cuera. Explore on your own here, perhaps seeing the town’s medieval tower and the Gothic Santa María del Conceyu church.
Later, gather at your next stunning parador in Cangas de Onís, gateway to the soaring mountains known as the Picos de Europa. Enjoy local Asturian dishes and Spanish wine for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Cangas de Onís; 4-6 miles, easy to moderate. 4 miles, easy, optional loop above Cangas de Onís; 1.5 miles, moderate
Start your day with a pleasant, easy walk along the Sella River, perhaps catching glimpses of morning kayakers or swimmers in the waters below. Your destination is the center of Cangas de Onís, renowned for its perfectly preserved Roman arched bridge. This was the site of the pivotal Battle of Covadonga in 722, the conflict that jumpstarted the Reconquista and established the Kingdom of Asturia. If you wish, take an optional 1.5-mile walk above the village through forests and tiny hamlets.
After lunch on your own, you retrace your steps back to the parador to meet a local shepherd, his border collie, and their rare Xalda sheep. Your new friends demonstrate the fine art of sheep-herding, showing you how these highly trained dogs communicate with man and sheep.
After, there’ll be time to explore your historic parador and its beautiful natural setting. Perhaps you might also take a dip in the river. This evening, learn about the local distilled cider produced from the abundant apple orchards around town. Then savor dinner together in Cangas de Onís.
Camino Norte; 5-8 miles, easy to moderate, 540-ft. elevation gain and 1,480-ft. loss. Travel to Villafranca de Bierzo
After a bountiful breakfast, travel to a gorgeous overlook to admire panoramas of mountains and sea. From here, you descend to the beach through misty pine groves, lush heather, and fields strewn with rocks. If weather allows, enjoy a beach picnic to close out the morning. Then, travel to Castilla and León. We’ll break up the three-hour drive with scenic stops along the way.
Arrive in Villafranca de Bierzo, the region’s “Little Compostela.” Dripping with medieval and Jacobean character, this charming town is one of Spain’s official Assets of Cultural Interest for its enormous monumental complex. It has also historically welcomed pilgrims who are too ill or injured to continue to Santiago de Compostela. During a walk with your leaders, discover its 16th-century castle and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria. At the Church of Santiago the Apostle, step through the Door of Forgiveness, which offers those injured pilgrims the same indulgence they receive at the door at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
The remainder of the day is free for you to relax by the pool, take a sauna, or unwind with a glass of wine on an outdoor terrace. Enjoy local dishes from Castilla and León, accompanied with local wine from Bierzo at your leisure in the hotel restaurant.
Las Herrerías to O Cebreiro; 5 miles, moderate, 2,000-ft. elevation gain. Travel to Monforte de Lemos
After breakfast, travel to your next trailhead in the hamlet of Las Herrerías. Today’s walk along the Camino Frances delivers you to the spectacularly scenic and culture-rich region of Galicia, where you leave behind Mediterranean vegetation for countryside that evokes the British Isles – verdant pastures and ancient gray granite stone. Begin on the flat terrain of a lush valley. Then ascend up gentle slopes along a path bordered by moss-covered stone walls and shaded by chestnut trees. After you pass through the village of Fada, the wooded area opens to vistas of forest along the Atlantic coast.
Walk through the village of Laguna de Castilla and, soon after, cross the border from the province of Léon into Galicia. Your walk ends in the town of O Cebreiro, with its panoramic views over the province and the Royal Saint Mary’s Church, built on the foundations of a pre-Romanesque church. Perhaps most importantly, you pause for a lunch of Galician specialties at an ancient hostelry. A Roman road predated the Camino here, and the pallozas—prehistoric stone homes—provide evidence of earlier people in the region.
After lunch on your own, the stunning snowcapped mountains of Léon serenade you as you travel to Monforte de Lemos. Upon arrival at your next parador, take time to stroll the beautiful gardens or have a swim in the pool. This evening, gather to learn about the Celtic tradition of Queimada, a blend of distilled spirit and citrus that is sometimes served with an incantation. Later, retreat to a private room in the parador and dine on exquisite Galician cuisine with an excellent wine from the Ribeira Sacra wine growing region.
Canyon de Sil; 5 miles, 800-ft. elevation gain and loss, easy to moderate
After a leisurely breakfast, take a short drive to the Canyon de Sil, a deep, dramatic gorge considered the most spectacular vista in Galicia. Its walls soar some 1,500 feet above its river, creating a unique micro-climate that allows olive trees and grape vines to grow in abundance. Your walk begins above the cliffs through ancient chestnut and oak forests, then traverses the pathways of steep vineyards. Pavement, steps, and ramps point the way as you explore an environment where it’s as challenging to prune the vines as it is to harvest the grapes. Machinery cannot manage these slopes, so it is all done by hand.
After a revitalizing hike, you tour the family-run winery of Adega, concluding your visit with a tasting of one of the most prestigious wines in Spain, accompanied by local farm products. Later, return to your parador to unwind before you reconvene for a walk to Monforte de Lemos. Here, explore with your leader the old Jewish Quarter, a warren of cobbled lanes where craftsmen and men of letters kept shops and offices on streets such as Calle Zapaterías. Dinner is on your own this evening, perhaps in town after your tour concludes.
Arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Camino Finisterre to Cathedral; 5 miles, easy to moderate, 600 ft. elevation gain and 400 ft. elevation loss
After breakfast, travel west past Santiago de Compostela. You arrive in Roxos to begin your final walk to the revered city, the most beautiful approach for its Fluvial Path along a tranquil stream and its well-preserved ancient mills. The Camino Finisterre leads you through Galicia at its most remote. You pass through fragrant eucalyptus forest, traverse rolling pastures and open fields, and stroll through tiny villages unchanged by time. Though you are surrounded by such sylvan beauty, the city and its sublime Cathedral are not far away.
Once in Santiago de Compostela, you make your way through the Old Town to the venerated Cathedral. Narrow granite-cobbled streets loop past the Plaza de Cervantes with its small statue of the writer, and on to the Plaza de Obradeiros, overlooked by the Cathedral’s main façade. The grand plaza is crowded with pilgrims who have walked for weeks or even months. After time to absorb the ornate splendor, you step into your final parador, the spectacular Hostal de Reies Catolicos, with its privileged location right on the plaza. Once you settle in, lunch is on your own in the lively pedestrian Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in its entirety for its wealth of historical buildings.
If you wish, you may plan to attend the daily mass at the Cathedral, a breathtaking gathering, both for the Cathedral’s grandeur and for the sense of accomplishment and emotion in the pilgrims who have arrived here from the many Camino routes. The peregrinos’ final steps lead to the statue of Saint James at the Cathedral’s entrance.
This evening, gather at your parador for a very special farewell dinner in an elegant private room we’ve reserved for the occasion. Toast your spectacular week in Northern Spain and dine on a delectable meal of local specialties.
After breakfast, meet a local guide for a walking tour of Santiago de Compostela, including entrance to the Cathedral. Construction of this Cathedral, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, began in 1075 over the remains of a pre-Romanesque church. Expansion and embellishment continued from the 16th through the 18th centuries as it gained importance as an Episcopal see and place of pilgrimage—the third most important destination for Christians after Rome and Jerusalem.
The remainder of the day is yours to explore this captivating city and its splendid Cathedral. We provide you city information to help you plan your time.
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation will be provided to Santiago de Compostela Airport based on your departure time.
Costa Quebrada. 3 miles, easy to moderate. Travel to Santallina del Mar
If you arrive in Bilbao early, there may be time for you to visit the Guggenheim Museum before you meet your leaders at 12:00 p.m. They will be in the lobby of Hotel Miro, Mazarredo Zumarkalea, 77, Abando, 48009 in Bilbao, Spain. Please have lunch before we meet or get some quick tapas at the tabernas close to our hotel, as lunch today is on your own.
Your leaders will be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking. Hiking shoes are required.
Travel one hour and 20 minutes to the outskirts of Santander and the heart of the Natural Park of Costa Quebrada in Spain’s stunning Cantabria region. Here, dramatic cliffs, arches, islets, and coves tell a dramatic and unique story of the interplay of coastal rock formations and the ebb and flow of the tides. This is a spectacularly scenic corner of Spain.
Begin your Spanish amble on an easy scenic coastal trail along open pastures on a gravel road. Soon, the breathtaking Covacho beach appears, where crystalline waters kiss at a spit of sand that reaches out to a rocky islet. There’ll be time to admire this remarkable vista before continuing to the Playa de Arnia. Here, magnificent rock formations rise just offshore. Some form parallel striations just above water and others rise up to massive walls.
Your walk traces a single-track pathway along one the most impressive coastal vistas in Northern Spain, the Senda del Litoral. This stunning trail is an alternative route to the Camino Norte, one of the many pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela from points north.
At trail’s end, you travel to one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, Santillana del Mar, rubbing shoulders with many Camino pilgrims who overnight here. After settling into your first parador – part of Spain’s network of historic buildings gloriously restored into stunning hotels – join an illuminating walking tour of this eighth-century town. Stroll among the ochre-hued mansions and palaces as your leader regales you with legend and lore.
Back at your parador, get acquainted with your travel companions over a welcome drink. Then, head to the hotel’s formal restaurant for a dinner of delectable regional specialties, paired with local wine.
Coastal Camino Norte; 5-9 miles, easy to moderate, 600-ft. elevation gain and 400-ft. elevation loss
After a hearty breakfast, travel 40 minutes to one of the most magnificent coastal regions of the Principality of Asturias. Here, you follow an invigorating footpath along the Camino Norte, one of the most spectacular segments of the Camino. Your seaside route traces open pastures and a series of cliffs, where you might meet sheep, cows, and horses. As your walk gets underway on flat trails, you pass several green pastures and tiny villages before arriving at an overlook that affords sweeping views of the sea. Continuing on, pause for lunch at a local taberna in Puertas de Vidiago. Here, owners Tensi and Manolo tend to sheep and cows and make cheese the traditional way. You sample some during a cozy, intimate lunch, and savor their homemade cheesecake for dessert.
Sounds of the sea accompany you today as you keep an eye out for the many seabirds that reside here. If there’s time, avid walkers may continue about two hours to the Mirador de la Boriza, a concrete “stairway to nowhere.” Climb the steps for fantastic vistas. You pass the beloved Bufones de Arenillas sea geysers. If you’re lucky, the tides will be strong enough in the caves below to shoot water upward through holes in the rock. Alternately, take a short ride to Llanes, a charming village overseen by the long, limestone ridge of the spectacular Sierra del Cuera. Explore on your own here, perhaps seeing the town’s medieval tower and the Gothic Santa María del Conceyu church.
Later, gather at your next stunning parador in Cangas de Onís, gateway to the soaring mountains known as the Picos de Europa. Enjoy local Asturian dishes and Spanish wine for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Cangas de Onís; 4-6 miles, easy to moderate. 4 miles, easy, optional loop above Cangas de Onís; 1.5 miles, moderate
Start your day with a pleasant, easy walk along the Sella River, perhaps catching glimpses of morning kayakers or swimmers in the waters below. Your destination is the center of Cangas de Onís, renowned for its perfectly preserved Roman arched bridge. This was the site of the pivotal Battle of Covadonga in 722, the conflict that jumpstarted the Reconquista and established the Kingdom of Asturia. If you wish, take an optional 1.5-mile walk above the village through forests and tiny hamlets.
After lunch on your own, you retrace your steps back to the parador to meet a local shepherd, his border collie, and their rare Xalda sheep. Your new friends demonstrate the fine art of sheep-herding, showing you how these highly trained dogs communicate with man and sheep.
After, there’ll be time to explore your historic parador and its beautiful natural setting. Perhaps you might also take a dip in the river. This evening, learn about the local distilled cider produced from the abundant apple orchards around town. Then savor dinner together in Cangas de Onís.
Camino Norte; 5-8 miles, easy to moderate, 540-ft. elevation gain and 1,480-ft. loss. Travel to Villafranca de Bierzo
After a bountiful breakfast, travel to a gorgeous overlook to admire panoramas of mountains and sea. From here, you descend to the beach through misty pine groves, lush heather, and fields strewn with rocks. If weather allows, enjoy a beach picnic to close out the morning. Then, travel to Castilla and León. We’ll break up the three-hour drive with scenic stops along the way.
Arrive in Villafranca de Bierzo, the region’s “Little Compostela.” Dripping with medieval and Jacobean character, this charming town is one of Spain’s official Assets of Cultural Interest for its enormous monumental complex. It has also historically welcomed pilgrims who are too ill or injured to continue to Santiago de Compostela. During a walk with your leaders, discover its 16th-century castle and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria. At the Church of Santiago the Apostle, step through the Door of Forgiveness, which offers those injured pilgrims the same indulgence they receive at the door at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
The remainder of the day is free for you to relax by the pool, take a sauna, or unwind with a glass of wine on an outdoor terrace. Enjoy local dishes from Castilla and León, accompanied with local wine from Bierzo at your leisure in the hotel restaurant.
Las Herrerías to O Cebreiro; 5 miles, moderate, 2,000-ft. elevation gain. Travel to Monforte de Lemos
After breakfast, travel to your next trailhead in the hamlet of Las Herrerías. Today’s walk along the Camino Frances delivers you to the spectacularly scenic and culture-rich region of Galicia, where you leave behind Mediterranean vegetation for countryside that evokes the British Isles – verdant pastures and ancient gray granite stone. Begin on the flat terrain of a lush valley. Then ascend up gentle slopes along a path bordered by moss-covered stone walls and shaded by chestnut trees. After you pass through the village of Fada, the wooded area opens to vistas of forest along the Atlantic coast.
Walk through the village of Laguna de Castilla and, soon after, cross the border from the province of Léon into Galicia. Your walk ends in the town of O Cebreiro, with its panoramic views over the province and the Royal Saint Mary’s Church, built on the foundations of a pre-Romanesque church. Perhaps most importantly, you pause for a lunch of Galician specialties at an ancient hostelry. A Roman road predated the Camino here, and the pallozas—prehistoric stone homes—provide evidence of earlier people in the region.
After lunch on your own, the stunning snowcapped mountains of Léon serenade you as you travel to Monforte de Lemos. Upon arrival at your next parador, take time to stroll the beautiful gardens or have a swim in the pool. This evening, gather to learn about the Celtic tradition of Queimada, a blend of distilled spirit and citrus that is sometimes served with an incantation. Later, retreat to a private room in the parador and dine on exquisite Galician cuisine with an excellent wine from the Ribeira Sacra wine growing region.
Canyon de Sil; 5 miles, 800-ft. elevation gain and loss, easy to moderate
After a leisurely breakfast, take a short drive to the Canyon de Sil, a deep, dramatic gorge considered the most spectacular vista in Galicia. Its walls soar some 1,500 feet above its river, creating a unique micro-climate that allows olive trees and grape vines to grow in abundance. Your walk begins above the cliffs through ancient chestnut and oak forests, then traverses the pathways of steep vineyards. Pavement, steps, and ramps point the way as you explore an environment where it’s as challenging to prune the vines as it is to harvest the grapes. Machinery cannot manage these slopes, so it is all done by hand.
After a revitalizing hike, you tour the family-run winery of Adega, concluding your visit with a tasting of one of the most prestigious wines in Spain, accompanied by local farm products. Later, return to your parador to unwind before you reconvene for a walk to Monforte de Lemos. Here, explore with your leader the old Jewish Quarter, a warren of cobbled lanes where craftsmen and men of letters kept shops and offices on streets such as Calle Zapaterías. Dinner is on your own this evening, perhaps in town after your tour concludes.
Arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Camino Finisterre to Cathedral; 5 miles, easy to moderate, 600 ft. elevation gain and 400 ft. elevation loss
After breakfast, travel west past Santiago de Compostela. You arrive in Roxos to begin your final walk to the revered city, the most beautiful approach for its Fluvial Path along a tranquil stream and its well-preserved ancient mills. The Camino Finisterre leads you through Galicia at its most remote. You pass through fragrant eucalyptus forest, traverse rolling pastures and open fields, and stroll through tiny villages unchanged by time. Though you are surrounded by such sylvan beauty, the city and its sublime Cathedral are not far away.
Once in Santiago de Compostela, you make your way through the Old Town to the venerated Cathedral. Narrow granite-cobbled streets loop past the Plaza de Cervantes with its small statue of the writer, and on to the Plaza de Obradeiros, overlooked by the Cathedral’s main façade. The grand plaza is crowded with pilgrims who have walked for weeks or even months. After time to absorb the ornate splendor, you step into your final parador, the spectacular Hostal de Reies Catolicos, with its privileged location right on the plaza. Once you settle in, lunch is on your own in the lively pedestrian Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in its entirety for its wealth of historical buildings.
If you wish, you may plan to attend the daily mass at the Cathedral, a breathtaking gathering, both for the Cathedral’s grandeur and for the sense of accomplishment and emotion in the pilgrims who have arrived here from the many Camino routes. The peregrinos’ final steps lead to the statue of Saint James at the Cathedral’s entrance.
This evening, gather at your parador for a very special farewell dinner in an elegant private room we’ve reserved for the occasion. Toast your spectacular week in Northern Spain and dine on a delectable meal of local specialties.
After breakfast, meet a local guide for a walking tour of Santiago de Compostela, including entrance to the Cathedral. Construction of this Cathedral, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, began in 1075 over the remains of a pre-Romanesque church. Expansion and embellishment continued from the 16th through the 18th centuries as it gained importance as an Episcopal see and place of pilgrimage—the third most important destination for Christians after Rome and Jerusalem.
After the tour, bid farewell to your travel companions and depart at your leisure. The hotel can assist with transportation arrangements.
Located between the Guggenheim and Fine Arts Museum, the exquisite, 4-star boutique Miró Hotel Bilbao is ideal for exploring Bilbao. Created by fashion designer Antonio Miró, its artful spaces are complemented by a magnificent collection of contemporary photography. In the lobby library, cozy up with a book on art, Bilbao, and its environs. Before heading out to dinner, enjoy a relaxing drink at the bar, exclusive and complimentary for hotel guests. Each elegant guest room is functional and contemporary in design and offers views of the magnificent Guggenheim Museum and city.
In the heart of Santillana del Mar, a town declared a National Monument, stands the Parador de Santillana Gil Blas, a magnificent 17th-century mansion with an attractive stone façade. This 28-room property offers all the elegance of a fine city hotel, graced with hardwood floors, comfortable rooms, air conditioning, and complimentary WiFi throughout. Right outside your door, you will find a charming town of narrow streets, historic buildings, and a rich cultural heritage.
Situated in a Benedictine monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva, one of the oldest in Asturias, the Parador de Cangas de Onís will not disappoint. This boutique hotel offers excellent service and a mix of modern design and old-world charm, complete with a sanctuary of Asturian cuisine. Each spacious room features spectacular stone and wood decorated in a warm and traditional way. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning and complimentary WiFi.
Villafranca del Bierzo is known for being a passage on the Camino de Santiago, and where the Parador of the same name is located. The rooms, decorated in a rustic style, along with the contemporary building, that houses the spacious restaurant, cafeteria, guest lounge, and terrace are a testimony to its namesake. The hotel is also equipped with two swimming pools, multipurpose rooms, a sauna, air conditioning, and complimentary internet access throughout.
Built in a 17th century Benedictine monastery, the Parador de Monforte de Lemos offers panoramic views of the city and the Ribeira Sacra region of Galicia. Your luxurious and spacious room is decorated in keeping with the neoclassical style and offers all the amenities you’ll need after a rewarding day of hiking. Hotel amenities include a covered terrace overlooking the garden, fitness center, swimming pool, hot tub, an onsite restaurant, plus air conditioning and WiFi.
History, art, tradition, and modern amenities converge at the Parador de Santiago, known to many as the Hostal dos Reis Católicos. One of the most luxurious hotels in the Paradores chain, it is perfectly situated on Obradoiro Square, next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The building was constructed as a royal hospital in 1499 to accommodate pilgrims traveling to Santiago, making it one of the oldest hotels in the world. Elegant, air-conditioned rooms, four beautiful cloisters, and a stunning vaulted dining room serving Galician-style cuisine combine to make this into a truly memorable stay.
A Country Walkers representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this vibrant city at your leisure.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Located between the Guggenheim and Fine Arts Museum, the exquisite, 4-star boutique Miró Hotel Bilbao is ideal for exploring Bilbao. Created by fashion designer Antonio Miró, its artful spaces are complemented by a magnificent collection of contemporary photography. In the lobby library, cozy up with a book on art, Bilbao, and its environs. Before heading out to dinner, enjoy a relaxing drink at the bar, exclusive and complimentary for hotel guests. Each elegant guest room is functional and contemporary in design and offers views of the magnificent Guggenheim Museum and city.
After a delicious included breakfast, travel to Santiago de Compostela Airport for a short flight to Madrid. On arrival at Madrid Airport, you are whisked to your centrally located hotel. Country Walkers provides city information to guide your discoveries.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information to guide your discoveries.
The Radisson Blu Madrid Prado is perfectly situated for exploring Madrid’s top attractions such as the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and Retiro Park. Once the private residence of Spanish nobles, the property has been completely renovated to reflect its grand history while introducing modern amenities including an onsite restaurant and an Asian wellness spa. The intimate guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning and WiFi throughout.
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Expert Local Leaders
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Alberto Iglesias
Alberto Iglesias is a biologist, nature photographer, traveler, and sports lover. With an eclectic mix of skills and interests, Alberto has taught both geology and biology with a focus on underwater environments. An experienced mountain guide, Alberto is also an accomplished skier, climber, and mountaineer. He has guided mountain treks across the globe-including 12 years leading photo-safaris in Africa. With experience traveling in over 50 countries, and five continents, Alberto is passionate about meeting people who share his interests in travel and the natural environment.
Manuel Fonseca
Born and raised between Spain and Portugal, this passionate lover of both cultures proudly defines himself as Iberian. Initially trained as a Forestry Engineer, Manu soon discovered his true calling as an environmental educator. However, his insatiable curiosity for the world, and adventurous spirit, drove him to dedicate himself entirely to travel and exploration. Throughout his career, Manu has lived and worked as an ecotourism guide in several countries across multiple continents, blending his passion for adventure, nature, culture, sports, and gastronomy. Cycling and trekking are his greatest passions, which he skillfully integrates into his work. Additionally, he is a talented writer, capable of capturing his experiences and reflections in captivating texts, and an excellent chef who finds in cooking another way to connect with the cultures he deeply admires. Today, he continues to make his passion his profession, guiding groups through unique destinations where adventure, nature, and gastronomy come together to create unforgettable experiences.
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Terrain Description for Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago
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