God Within Us
Pilgrimage to El Camino de Santiago
Generations of pilgrims have traveled this same trail, listening to God’s voice amid the Spanish countryside. Walking through small towns, sharing the journey with other pilgrims, and reflecting on their lives as they log mile after mile.
That same opportunity is waiting for you.
It’s a retreat from the pressures of modern life, a chance to become grounded in the earth around you, and path of self-discovery.
Discover it For Yourself
Rolling hills, green landscapes, and Spanish villages greet you each day on your journey. These gorgeous vistas are the backdrop for miles of walking, talking, and listening.
To know someone who’s walked the Camino is to meet someone who’s had a personal, spiritual experience. Away from the distractions of everyday living, and dropped in the middle of relative quiet that stretches for miles, the Camino is an opportunity to literally walk with God.
Connected by a unique, even once-in-a-lifetime experience, you’ll encounter people of all types, backgrounds, and faiths. And without day-to-day distractions, the conversations run deeper and more meaningful. You may even make a few lifelong friends.
What’s
Included
- A dedicated pilgrimage director, supplemented with local guide(s)
- Catholic chaplain and daily Mass
- Private transportation on motorcoach
- Online prep webinar and emailed prep materials
- Simple accommodations with private facilities
- Breakfast and dinner every day, plus wine with dinners
- Custom booklet for each pilgrim
- All tickets and donations for included activities listed on itinerary
Want to learn more?
Standard Itinerary
(Itinerary shown does not include flights to/from pilgrimage.)
Prepare for the Journey Ahead
- Santiago de Compostela, Sarria
Your pilgrimage journey begins on day one when you depart from your home airport en route to Spain. When you arrive the next day, you’ll drive to Sarria where you’ll settle down for the evening and meet your fellow pilgrims for a Welcome Mass and dinner in a local restaurant.
On this pilgrimage, you will walk the last 100km of the Camino (the final leg of the Camino Francés). Once you complete the hike and arrive in Santiago de Compostela, you’ll be eligible to receive the official Pilgrim Certificate – Compostela. That means you’ll walk about 10-20 miles every day.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Hotel Oca Villa de Sarria or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Alfonso IX or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
Starting Off
-
Sarria to Portomarín
(21.6km ~13.5mi)
Begin your hiking journey in Sarria, Spain, where you may walk by the church of Santa Marina with its pilgrim murals and the Church of St. Saviour (Iglesia de San Salvador) with its tympanum of Christ in Majesty and Tree of Life above its doors. Cross the Ponte Aspera and journey down woodland paths and gravel tracks, with plenty of cafes to stop at along the way. At the end of the day you will arrive in Portomarín for a pilgrim Mass, dinner, and then back to your hotel.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Hotel Villajardin or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Alfonso IX or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
Peace and Reflection Along the Path
-
Portomarín to Palas de Rei
(25 km ~15.5 mi)
Embark on your pilgrimage once again from Portomarín, with a day of varied terrain. Start on a peaceful woodland path and journey into the city of Gonzar.Continue on with the opportunity to catch Capela de Magdalene and the great stone cross of Lameiros. If you’re up for it, take a short detour off the trail in order to see Vilar de Donas, a historical monument and ancient seat of the Knights of Santiago. The afternoon on the trail will provide opportunities for afternoon journaling and reflection. Check out Palas de Rei that evening, with a chance to celebrate Mass, eat dinner, and explore the town.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Hotel Mica or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Alfonso IX or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
See the Spanish Sights
-
Palas de Rei to Melide
(15 km ~9.3 mi)
Eat breakfast in Palas de Rei and continue your journey down more woodland paths, crossing six shallow river valleys. Journey through to the O Coto crossroads hamlet that offers several cafes for food and refreshments. Some pilgrims opt to sample the local delicacy pulpo a la gallega (octopus of Galicia) in Melide and see the Romanesque Igrexa Santa Maria de Melide. Explore Igrexa Santiago and see the famous image of St. James above the altar. Check into the hotel in Melide and enjoy dinner.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Pension Posasa Chiquitin or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Alfonso IX or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
Woodland Paradise
-
Melide to Arzúa
(14.3 km ~8.9 mi)
As you depart from Melide, today’s path is mainly natural woodlands with good shade offered by the eucalyptus trees lining the trail. Today two other Camino routes join this path, so the trail becomes much busier. Journey to Arzua, a town known for its local cheese and cheese fair held annually in March. The beautiful woodland trails offer ample time for reflection, with opportunities to journal along the way. Overnight in Arzua with dinner at your hotel.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Hotel Suiza or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Arzua or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
Almost There: Country and Cafes
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Arzúa to Rúa
(19.4 km ~12.1 mi)
Depart Arzúa, once again journeying down woodland paths lined with eucalyptus trees. Pass through several cities with ample opportunity to stop at cafes for refreshments and explore the local cultures. Arrive in Rúa, where you will check into your hotel, eat dinner, and rest for the evening.
Accommodations
Simple Accommodations: Hotel O Pino or similar
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Arzua or similar
*Lodging options along the Camino trail are very limited. Verso Ministries secures the best accommodations available, many of which are quaint, family-owned pilgrim houses with lots of history, character, and charm. All properties are vetted by our team and include private restrooms.
The Final Leg
-
Rúa to Santiago de Compostela
(19 km ~11.8 mi)
Depart Rúa early, starting along the familiar eucalyptus lined paths which give way to paved road as we approach Santiago de Compostela. Pass through Lavacolla, where traditionally pilgrims would do ritual cleansing before entering the city. Along the way visit Capilla de San Marcos and view the monument to the visit of St. John Paul II. The Cruceiro de San Pedro heralds pilgrims’ arrival into the city, and finally we arrive at the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. Explore the city and check into your hotel for the night.
Accommodations
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Gelmirez or similar
Premium Accommodations: Parador Reyes Catolicos or similar
Explore and Depart
- Santiago de Compostela
Enjoy a full day exploring Santiago de Compostela. Attend the pilgrim mass, where you may catch the Botafumeiro, a giant incense burner that has been used for centuries, and receive your certificate for completing the Camino de Santiago. During the morning, a local guide will illuminate the Old City sites during a half-day tour. Spend the afternoon discovering the hidden secrets of Santiago on your own before celebrating with your fellow pilgrims at a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant. Wake up refreshed the next morning, ready to begin your journey back towards home.
Accommodations
Standard Accommodations: Hotel Gelmirez or similar
Premium Accommodations: Parador Reyes Catolicos or similar
Optional Extension — Explore The Spanish Coast
After successfully hiking 100km on The Camino, take a breather and relax as you tour the Spanish coast (with much less walking involved!). Pilgrims have been making this trek since medieval times, but rather than doing this additional 90km by foot, we’ll travel the countryside by bus.
A relatively well-kept secret, you’ll see enchanting coastal sights with few tourists to mar the beautiful landscapes. Plus, enjoy local wines and fresh seafood as you reflect with your fellow travelers on your Camino experience.
Extension includes:
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Private transportation
- All tickets for included activities listed on itinerary, including winery tour and tasting
- Breakfast daily at hotel
To the End of The World
- Cape Finisterre, Costa da Morte
Continue eastward along the traditional medieval Camino route to the coast of Spain, which ancients thought of as the literal end of the world. Certainly, the rough seas, rugged cliffs, and shipwrecks (it’s the reason Costa de Morte translates to “Death Coast”) give it an air of mystery and unique beauty. But it’s as tranquil and quaint as it is mysterious, which you’ll experience as you tour small towns, pass by dozens of monasteries, and stop in at local restaurants.
Accommodations
Standard Accommodations: Parador Reyes Catolicos or similar
Tastes of Spanish Wine Country
- Ribeira Sacra Region
A winery visit and tasting are a must when visiting the area of Galicia. The Ribeira Sacra region is an ancient wine country, originally managed by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Set among steep hills of the region’s canyons and valleys, the vineyards grow on terraces and produce some stunning red and white wines. Pair your wine with traditional Spanish tapas (appetizers) like pulpo a la gallega – a favorite of the Galicia region that features cooked octopus with boiled potatoes, sweet Spanish paprika, and olive oil
Accommodations
Standard Accommodations: Parador Reyes Catolicos or similar
Returning Home
- Santiago de Compostela
Wake up for your final moments in Santiago de Compostela to have breakfast, say your goodbyes, and catch your flight home. We encourage you, if you haven’t already done so, to capture some thoughts, prayers, and takeaways in your journal as this journey comes to a close.
Prepare
Once you register, we’ll help you prepare for the journey, logistically and spiritually. In the meantime:
Upcoming Departures
Why Travel With Verso?
- We believe everything is sacred. Not just just the saints and sacraments, the Pope or parishes. God’s present in the city, the country, the food, and the conversation. And we get to explore it all.
- As a ministry, we’re here with expertise in travel, planning, and spiritual direction, to help pilgrims explore the sacred. And everything is sacred.
- Join us to do true Catholic pilgrimage by experiencing everything to its fullest.
