Name: 14-Night Spiritual Retreat (Primitivo)
SKU: Saavedra-OVD-SAN_
Price: 200.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Duration
14 nights, 12 walking days (+1 rest day in Lugo)
Distance
300 km (186 miles)

Registration Deadline
March 1st
Early Bird Discount Until
December 1st

Program

This 14-night spiritual retreat on the Camino Primitivo will introduce spiritual formation practices that will deepen your intimacy with God. A typical day will look like this:

Morning: Pilgrims usually rise shortly after daybreak to enjoy the crisp morning air. Breakfast will be taken on your own, based on your own needs and desired departure time. The morning will be spent walking, with rests and lunch along the way. A self-guided devotional will be provided for your use throughout the day.

Afternoon: After walking 4-6 hours (averaging 25 km each day), you will arrive at your overnight destination sometime in early to mid-afternoon. Everyone is permitted to walk at their own pace, with or without a companion. Afternoons will be spent showering, resting, journaling or doing laundry. Before dinner, you will have the opportunity to debrief the day with the group over drinks and tapas, if desired.

Evening: You may choose to eat dinner with our cohort, a smaller group, or on your own. Dinner in Spain is typically much later than in other countries (after 8 pm). Due to the rigorous exercise of the Camino, most albergues will require lights out at 10:00 pm. So, we will aim to eat dinner on the earlier side.

The program above describes a typical day and the opportunities that will be available to you. While we hope you will participate in some of the group sessions to enrich the experience of others, it is not required because we realize that every person’s pilgrimage is unique. Each person comes with different questions, hopes and needs. We want to respect and honor where each person is at. The intent of the program is to provide a basic rhythm that pilgrims can follow as desired.

Inclusives

On a continuum of travel preferences, one end represents independent (self-guided) travelers while the opposite extreme represents travelers who want full-service. We sit in the middle. We provide a guide yet allow some customization so you have control over certain costs like meals and lodging. We want to give you the flexibility to travel how you prefer. Our guided retreats allow you to customize the experience based on your budget while still providing you with the peace of mind that an experienced guide is nearby at all times should you need it.

The registration fee for this walking retreat includes the following:

an experienced guide who will make sure you get from point A to point B
a facilitator who is available for listening, coaching, debriefing, spiritual companionship or direction (sometimes the same person as the guide)
one-on-one orientation call before the trip to aid preparation
lodging and meal recommendations based on your preferences (we can make the reservations)
training schedule and packing list
carefully selected meditations and devotionals
daily debriefing and sharing sessions
recommended thought-provoking reading or podcasts for inspiration before, during and after the experience
a written guide highlighting points of interest along the way
special pilgrim masses in historic churches
like-minded pilgrims to travel with!

Not included in the price:

meals
lodging
air or ground transportation
luggage transfer
personal, medical or trip insurance (recommended)
laundry services
visa for Spain (if required)

In keeping with the spirit of the Camino, and to minimize costs so that as many people as possible may experience the blessings of pilgrimage, the guide has chosen to work on a donation basis for this particular retreat. You will be given an opportunity at the end of the trip to donate based on what you have received and experienced. We suggest a minimum of USD $50 per day but it is ultimately up to you based on the value of the experience.

Food & Lodging

As a guided retreat, we will be there on the ground every step of the way for support but you get to customize your trip based on your budget and travel preferences.

Lodging: Options include everything from shared bunks to single rooms. We will provide you with hand-picked recommendations based on your sleeping preference and budget. And because our guides have walked the trail before, we’ll steer you toward the highest quality facilities your budget can buy. During the trip we will make sure that you get to your destination every night and troubleshoot any complications that may arise.

If you are looking for the authentic pilgrim experience at a very reasonable cost, we recommend staying in albergues which are communal and designed specifically for pilgrims. Each room will have 4-10 bunks in a shared sleeping area; men and women will be in the same room, although bathrooms are separate. While this may be initially odd for some people, it’s easy to get used to and contributes to the sense of community and bonding. Such an authentic experience is worth the small inconveniences. And since pilgrims look after one another, there are no significant safety concerns, especially when combined with a few standard precautions. However, not all albergues are created equal and we will direct you to the best values, the ones with greatest comfort, convenience and location.

The retreat will begin in Oviedo and end in Santiago de Compostela. Both cities are worth at least one extra day to appreciate the history and culture. If you can spare the time, we recommend either arriving one day early and/or departing one day later than the planned program. Such lodging and sightseeing plans will have to be made separately.

Budget guidance: USD $15-50 per night

Food and Drinks: Due to the nature of the pilgrimage, it’s best that each participant make their own arrangements to meet personalized dietary preferences. We want to put the control of when, where and what you eat into your hands, which is why the price listed is not inclusive of food. Instead, you will be able to control how much you spend. You will also be able to purchase food that suits your taste and energy requirements; each person will have different caloric requirements based on the rigor of the journey. Again, we will be there to provide you with restaurant recommendations based on our experience. In many cases, we will direct you to three-course community meals where wine is inclusive. It will be local . . . and delicious!

Dietary restrictions: Please know that due to the more isolated nature of this pilgrimage food options will be considerably reduced. Since specialized diets can’t be guaranteed, you may want to pack food to supplement local meals. Many lodging arrangements will have a small community kitchen where you can prepare your own food. Otherwise, if you are an adventurous eater and want to indulge the local culture, you won’t be disappointed!

Breakfast: if not provided by the host, you will be able to find cafes not far from the overnight location.
Lunch: some hosts are willing to pack a light lunch for you. Otherwise, you will find small eateries in quaint villages along the way.
Dinner: most villages will have several small restaurants you can choose from (or a convenience store). In more isolated areas, you will be offered a community meal.

Budget guidance: USD $30-45 per day

Budget

Below is budget guidance for a mid-range traveler. In summary, for this 14-night retreat, your cost will range from $760 – 1460 USD based on your personal preferences, plus international airfare.

One-time costs:

Airfare (please use your preferred provider):
- International: TBD based on your location
- National: Madrid-Oviedo; Santiago de Compostela-Madrid: $95-125
Ground transportation (e.g.; airport transfers): $30-35
Pilgrim Ways registration fee: $100

Daily costs:

Between the beginning and end of the trail, your out-of-pocket costs will range from $45 – 95 per day, based on your travel preferences:

Lodging: $15-50 per night (shared bunk to single room, not luxury 5-star)
Food: $30-45 per day
Miscellaneous (e.g.; laundry, souvenirs, pilgrim’s passport, museums): $0-5 per day
Luggage transfer (optional): $0-5 per day
Donation for your facilitator-guide (optional): $50 per day (suggested minimum)

Facilitator-Guide

Steve Saavedra’s ancestral roots are in Galicia, home to Saint James’ remains. Having visited over 50 countries, he is an experienced bilingual (English/Spanish) traveler but always loves returning to Spain to share the experience with others. With a degree in Christian Education and a certificate from Renovare Institute’s two-year program in Christian spiritual formation, his passion is participating first-hand in developmental and transformational processes. He loves to engage in meaningful conversations and is a keen listener. As an executive at several international non-profit organizations, he has had many opportunities to lead workshops and retreats around the world. He understands at a deeply personal level the challenges of leadership, including burnout, but also knows the life-giving possibilities of retreat. Steve enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle and lives in Ecuador with his family.

Camino Primitivo 14-Night Spiritual Retreat – Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela

This extraordinary spiritual retreat starts at the Cathedral of Oviedo, passes through the UNESCO World Heritage City of Lugo and finishes at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. This is the complete Primitivo trail and it passes through two provinces—Asturias and Galicia—and offers a stunning natural experience combined with sufficient infrastructure. It is a land of luscious rolling hills, misty mountains, tumbling creeks, peaceful forests and verdant meadows. It has a rich rural heritage, with original and small batch wines and cider accompanied masterfully by flavorful artisanal cheeses. The last two days coincide with the Camino Frances where you will meet many new pilgrims to enhance the social aspect of the experience.

This is a guided spiritual retreat. Please read the tabs to the left for details about what is included.

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SKU: Saavedra-OVD-SAN_ Category: Spain

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