The Way to to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included Upon arrival in Madrid, you need to get to starting point. Check options/times/prices for train or bus. Train from Madrid to Ponferrada or Sarria Train: www.renfe.com Bus from Madrid to Ponferrada or Sarria Bus: www.alsa.es

1 May 10 Arrive in Ponferrada, Hostal Rio Selmo D Saturday Today is designed to allow arrival in Spain (usually via www.hostalrioselmo.es/ Local bar Madrid in the morning) and find your way to Ponferrada by Pension‐style hostal with double bus or train. We’ll meet at 6:00 p.m. for orientation, castle and single rooms; cost included. visit, and a Spanish tapas dinner together.

Stock up on snacks or supplies today; tomorrow (Sunday)

will find shops closed.

Included visit to Castillo de los Templarios, a magnificent 12th century Templar castle now a national monument. It was built over a Visigoth fort, which was built over a Roman www.ponferrada.org/ponferrada/c fort that was built over a pre‐Roman castro. m/setLocale?dvRegLocale=en_UK Included entrance fee; open 10‐2 Included welcome dinner together at a local bar in and 4:30‐8:30 (May‐September) Ponferrada. 2 May 11 In Ponferrada Hostal Rio Selmo B Enjoy a relaxing day of sightseeing in Ponferrada, or join the Hostal or Sunday Pension‐style hostal with double optional tour, before we begin our walk tomorrow. local bar and single rooms; cost included.

www.fundacionlasmedulas.com/in Optional tour to Las Médulas, a historical site which was dex.jsp?idioma=en the most important mine in the . Las

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 1 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by the UNESCO as one Travel by train and taxi, $28. of the World Heritage Sites. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the Archeological information center, ruina montium, a Roman technique described by 1.20€. in 77 AD. The technique employed was a type of which involved undermining a Guided tours are available. mountain with large quantities of water. At least seven long Self‐guided walk (3 hrs) available. aqueducts tapped the streams of the La Cabrera district at a range of altitudes. The same aqueducts were used to wash the extensive gold deposits.

D Included dinner together at a local bar in Ponferrada. Local bar 3 May 12 Walk Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo Albergue de la Piedra B Monday 24 km (15 mi), easy B hiking, 300’ elevation gain www.alberguedelapiedra.com Local bar Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared After leaving Ponferrada’s urban area, the trail soon enters co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. the Bierzo region with its temperate microclimate—perfect

for viviculture. The scenery is green with vineyards, cherry orchards, wildflowers and trees. The mountains of Galicia [Private and shared rooms available from 24€; loom in the distance, and Villafranca del Bierzo (one of the most beautiful towns on the Camino) lies nestled among the Cost for accommodation

foothills that line the Rio Burbia. upgrades/changes not included.] D Included dinner together at a local bar in Villafranca. Local bar

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 2 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included 4 May 13 Walk Villafranca del Bierzo to Las Herrerias Albergue Myriam B Tuesday 22 km (13.8 mi), moderate C hiking, 1000’ elevation www.facebook.com/alberguelove Albergue gain/loss over Camino Dura Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared or local

co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. bar Leaving Villafranca, we take the more challenging but beautiful “Camino Dura” where our efforts are rewarded with stunning views and earthen paths. [Note that this route is initially quite steep, flattens out for most of the way, then descends steeply on and off a paved road.] Vegetarian dinner available at the

albergue; there is also a bar in the Dinner on your own in Las Hererias. village. 5 May 14 Walk Las Herrerias to Fonfria Albergue A Reboleira B Wednesday 20 km (12.5 mi), moderate C hiking, 1900’ elevation gain to www.albergueareboleira.blogspot.c Albergue climb O Cebreiro (over 5 miles—easier than it sounds!) om

Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared Today we leave the peaceful valley of Iron and into the co‐ed “dorm”; cost included. province of Galicia. We’ll have a challenging climb of O

Cebreiro, where we are rewarded with breathtaking mountain views and some of the most stunning scenery on [Private rooms available, 26‐28€;

the Camino. We pass through traditional Galician villages as Cost for accommodation we make our way to the small town of Fonfria. upgrades/changes not included.] D Albergue Included large group dinner at the albergue’s restaurant.

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 3 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included 6 May 15 Walk Fonfria to A Balsa Albergue Ecologicio El Beso B Thursday 12 km (7.5 mi), moderate B hiking, 1700’ descent www.facebook.com/albergue.ecolo Albergue gico.el.beso bar Today we’ll take a short walk to the peaceful village of A Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared Balsa, a hamlet of 18 persons. Along the way we’ll descend co‐ed “dorm”; cost included. steeply from the mountains of Galicia into , where we’ll encounter a massive 800‐year old chestnut tree. Stock up on snacks and other necessities, eat a good Note this is a small private albergue lunch and see a few sights before walking the last few with one toilet and one shower

kilometers into A Balsa for a relaxing afternoon and (don’t worry—plenty of hot water). evening. D Included vegetarian dinner at the albergue. Albergue

7 May 16 Walk A Balsa to Barbedelo Casa Barbadelo B Friday 20 km (12.5 mi), easy B hiking, 800’ elevation gain www.barbadelo.com Albergue Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared Today we’ll take the rural wooded, natural paths that co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. Some include a climb up to Alto de Riocabo with its splendid rooms have a smaller number of

views. We’ll pass through lovely hamlets and beautiful single beds with an en suite bath.

countryside. We’ll pass through the town of Sarria, where many pilgrims join the Camino.

Optional (if time and interest allow) diversion to Cristal

Exposicion, the home of “The Alchemist.” See unusual art works made of ground crystals and a unique collection of

crystals and minerals.

D Included dinner together in the hotel/albergue bar. Hotel bar

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 4 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included 8 May 17 Walk Barbadelo to Portomarin Pension El Caminante or Porto B Saturday 18 km (11.2 mi), easy B hiking, 300’ elevation gain, 800’ loss Santiago Hotel bar

Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared Today’s route is equally spread between quiet country co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. roads and natural paths. We’ll climb to Alto to Paramo, then

dip down to the riverside town of Portomarin. [Private rooms available, 25‐35€;

Cost for accommodation Stock up on snacks or supplies today; tomorrow (Sunday) upgrades/changes not included.] will find shops closed.

Dinner on your own in Portomarin. 9 May 18 Walk Portomarin to Eirexe Pension Meson Eirexe B 17 km (10.6 mi), moderate B hiking, 1200’ elevation gain Sunday A combination of albergue‐style Hotel bar

bunk beds, single and double rooms Today’s walk is a gradual uphill (over 15 km to the top) over with private or shared bath. Cost varied terrain, including woodlands, to gain the ridge of included. Sierra Ligonde before going gently downhill to the small

hamlet of Eirexe.

Included dinner together in the hotel/albergue bar. D Local bar

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 5 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included 10 May 19 Walk Eirexe to O Coto Pension Die Zwei Deutschen B Monday 16 km (10 mi), easy B hiking, 200’ elevation loss Local bar

Single or double room with private Today we’ll walk over gently rolling hills, alternating bath; cost included. between dirt tracks and quiet country roads to arrive at the tiny hamlet of O Coto. D Pension or village

Included dinner together in the pension or village bar. bar

11 May 20 Walk O Coto to Arzua Albergue Santiago Apostle B Tuesday 20 km (12.5 mi), easy B hiking, 370’ elevation loss www.alberguesantiagoapostol.com (Next

Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared village or Today we pass into the province of A Coruna, firmly in the co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. Melide, seafood zone where octopus is the claim to fame. Our walk 6km) is over undulating hills and river valleys on quiet country roads or tracks. We’ll stop in Melide, where we may get our first taste of pulpo Galega, the renowned octopus that Breakfast at local bar if open. makes the region famous.

Dinner on your own in Arzua. 12 May 21 Walk Arzua to Arca O Pino Albergue Porto de Santiago B Wednesday 18 km (11.2 mi), easy B hiking, 150’ elevation loss and gain www.portadesantiago.com Local bar

Albergue‐style bunk beds in shared Constant ups and downs with eucalyptus groves providing co‐ed “dorms”; cost included. plenty of shade. D Included dinner together at a local bar in Arca O Pino. Local bar

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 6 Itinerary The Way to Santiago de Compostela Ponferrada to Santiago, 200 km, May 10‐24, 2014 (15 days/14 nights, fit B or C hiker)

Day Date Activity (distances are approximate) Accommodation, Notes Meals Included 13 May 22 Walk Arca O Pino to Santiago de Compostela Hotel Hospederia San Martin B Thursday 20 km (12.5 mi), easy B hiking, 220’ elevation gain, 300’ loss Pinario Albergue

www.hsanmartinpinario.com/index The first part of our walk today takes us through tall stands .html of peaceful eucalyptus trees and several small villages to Single and double rooms with arrive at Monte Gozo and head downhill into Santiago. The private bath; cost included. last 5 km of our walk are through the city, to arrive at the

Cathedral and our celebration of a great walk!!

Arrive at Cathedral, take photos, celebrate!

Get Compostela.

Visit Cathedral.

Tour of Cathedral roof. Mass 7:30 p.m. D Included dinner together at a local bar in Santiago Local bar 14 May 23 In Santiago de Compostela Hotel Hospederia San Martin B Friday Pinario Hotel

Single and double rooms with Pilgrim’s Mass 12:00 p.m. private bath; cost included. Visit museums, etc. on your own. Reflect on your journey.

D Included farewell dinner together at a local bar in Santiago. Local bar

15 May 24 Depart for home B Saturday Hotel

The Way to Santiago de Compostela Page 7 Itinerary