Join us as we Travel on Purpose in
Portugal & Spain
September 25 - October 6, 2024
$2900 per person
Have you ever envisioned walking the transformative Camino de Santiago in Spain?
Does the idea of a purposeful journey, one that enriches your soul and offers a pause from the busyness of life appeal to you?
If so, we invite you to join us this September for an 11-night expedition through Portugal and Spain. This immersive experience encompasses a stay at O Refugio Retreat Center in the serene Vinho Verde wine region of Northern Portugal, followed by eight nights in Spain dedicated to walking the ancient Way of St. James. We will begin our journey in the charming city of Porto.
This Travel on Purpose™ small group tour is for all women (18 and older) who want to experience a faith pilgrimage, connect with other women and enjoy the beauty of northern Portugal and the Galicia region of Spain.
Does the idea of a purposeful journey, one that enriches your soul and offers a pause from the busyness of life appeal to you?
If so, we invite you to join us this September for an 11-night expedition through Portugal and Spain. This immersive experience encompasses a stay at O Refugio Retreat Center in the serene Vinho Verde wine region of Northern Portugal, followed by eight nights in Spain dedicated to walking the ancient Way of St. James. We will begin our journey in the charming city of Porto.
This Travel on Purpose™ small group tour is for all women (18 and older) who want to experience a faith pilgrimage, connect with other women and enjoy the beauty of northern Portugal and the Galicia region of Spain.
What's included:
- One night in the heart of Porto at a luxury-boutique hotel
- A captivating walking tour of Porto to immerse you in the city's charm
- A two-night stay at O Refugio Retreat Center
- Creation care art classes and personal time dedicated to rest and reflection
- Eight nights at boutique hotels along the Camino, including a two-night stay in Santiago
- Convenient luggage porter service between locations on the Camino
- Ground transportation throughout Portugal and Spain
- All breakfasts, dinners, and select lunches included
- A welcome gift and a journal to capture your memorable moments
- Pre-trip materials designed to assist you in both physical and spiritual preparation for this unique journey
What's not
included:
included:
- International flights to and from Portugal
- Lunches while on the Camino
- Souvenir shopping
- Travel insurance
- Upgrade to have a private room
- Additional travel should you plan to arrive early or journey onward
Our journey will begin in Porto, renowned for its stunning riverfront, historic architecture, and vibrant culture. Porto captivates visitors with its rich heritage, delectable cuisine, and world-famous Port wine, making it an irresistible destination for those seeking a blend of tradition and charm.
Welcome to Cocorico Luxury House - our home in Porto
Itinerary Highlights
Community
While much of this experience is dedicated to personal rest and reflection, the community among travelers on the Camino de Santiago undoubtedly will stand out as a highlight. A profound sense of community is created as diverse pilgrims navigate its ancient paths. Through shared meals and moments, many steps and communal rest, the Camino becomes an experience of community that resonates long after the journey's end.
Rest
The Camino de Santiago offers a sanctuary of rest amid its captivating trails. Through rhythmic steps and scenic vistas, a tranquil atmosphere is created, inviting your soul to take a pause. Away from the hustle of daily life, the pilgrimage becomes a meditative journey, allowing minds to unwind and find clarity.
Reflection
Historically, this a sacred journey, offering pilgrims a profound opportunity for quiet introspection, spiritual reflection, and a place to find solace to delve into their inner selves. Whether walking in solitude or sharing stories with fellow travelers, the Camino provides a unique environment for spiritual growth, opening a door to self-discovery and a deeper connection with God.
“Most of us are more tired than we know at the soul level. We are teetering on the brink of dangerous exhaustion, and we cannot do anything else until we have gotten some rest...we can't really engage [any spiritual disciplines] until solitude becomes a place of rest for us rather than another place for human striving and hard work.”
― Ruth Haley Barton, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation
― Ruth Haley Barton, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation
Itinerary
September 24: Depart the US.
September 25: Arrive in Porto, Portugal by mid-day. Transfer to our boutique luxury hotel in the city center and meet the group. We will fend off jet lag by heading out on a walking tour with a local guide. This insider tour will give us a glimpse of real life in this charming city. We'll enjoy an early dinner and head to bed for a good night of rest.
September 26: After breakfast, enjoy a free morning to explore more of Porto on your own. Return to some of the favorite spots from yesterday's walking tour, or venture out to Livraria Lello or the Porto Cathedral. We'll finish our time in Porto with a traditional lunch accompanied by local wine on the waterfront. Then we'll collect our things and meet our driver to depart for O Refugio, a farm and retreat center in the Vinho Verde wine region of Portugal. We'll get settled into our comfortable accommodations, meet our hosts, Brandon and Kirsten Dickerson, and enjoy dinner together.
September 27: Today we'll get a chance to catch our breath, slow our cadence, and settle into a contemplative lifestyle. Brandon will lead sessions to help us get ready for the journey ahead. We will start our day with a morning lectio, nature walk, and lesson on nature journaling. In the afternoon Kirsten will host a creative arts workshop and we will have free time for personal reflection in response to what we've learned. Weather permitting, we will enjoy some star gazing and a bonfire after dinner. The meals at O Refúgio will be vegetarian and feature organic produce from the garden and local community.
September 28: We will begin our morning with a guided lectio and final session with Brandon, including a warm up Camino experience in the village. In the afternoon, we'll say goodbye to our friends at O Refugio and drive north to the small border town of Valenca, Portugal, visiting a small family-owned winery along the way. We'll check in to our boutique hotel, enjoy dinner together, and head to bed as we prepare for our first day on the Camino.
September 29: It's the first morning on the Camino! Following breakfast, we'll turn in our luggage to the porter and head out. Today's walk will take us across the Mingo River and into Spain, heading north to O Porriño. Lunch will be on your own. Choose a village cafe or grocery store along the way. Walk with friends from the tour, meet new friends making a similar journey, or choose to walk alone in solitude. Arrive in O Porriño in the early afternoon. Check-in at the next hotel, rest and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. We will have a group dinner together, listening as friends share memorable moments and discoveries. Walking distance: 20 km / 12.8 Miles
The next five days will follow a similar pattern as we make our way north, walking in the footsteps of 12th-century pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Each day will be a unique experience as we collect our stamps along the way and pass through villages, historical points of interest and open spaces. Share meaningful conversations, savor personal moments of clarity, and enjoy sweet communion with the Creator and you journey one step at a time.
September 30: North to Redondela. Walking distance: 16 Km / 10 miles.
October 1: North to Pontevedra. Walking distance: 23 Km / 14.2 miles.
October 2: North to Caldas de Reis. Walking distance: 22 km / 13.6 miles.
October 3: North to Padrón. Walking distance: 19 km / 11.7 miles.
October 4: Today we'll make our final walk north to Santiago de Compostela. The sense of accomplishment is sure to ignite celebration as we get our first glimpse of the Cathedral Santiago de Compostela. We'll collect our official stamp in the Pilgrim's Reception Office and capture a group photo. Then we'll settle into our pension in an old stone building, just a minute walk from the cathedral. Hot showers and a delicious dinner will round out our day. Walking distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles.
October 5: After breakfast, we'll meet up with a local guide for an insider tour of the cathedral. We'll get to know its Romanesque architecture, learn about the construction throughout the centuries and admire the Chapel of Relics, the Royal Pantheon, the Chapter Library and the famous Botafumeiro. With one full day in Santiago, we'll have plenty of free time to explore the winding old town streets, soak in the rooftop views and sit with our journals in solitude or in community. Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Santiago's traditional Spanish restaurants, celebrating new friendships and memorable takeaways.
October 6: After breakfast, we'll checkout and head back to Porto via train. Plan for your international flight home in the afternoon or a journey onward.
September 25: Arrive in Porto, Portugal by mid-day. Transfer to our boutique luxury hotel in the city center and meet the group. We will fend off jet lag by heading out on a walking tour with a local guide. This insider tour will give us a glimpse of real life in this charming city. We'll enjoy an early dinner and head to bed for a good night of rest.
September 26: After breakfast, enjoy a free morning to explore more of Porto on your own. Return to some of the favorite spots from yesterday's walking tour, or venture out to Livraria Lello or the Porto Cathedral. We'll finish our time in Porto with a traditional lunch accompanied by local wine on the waterfront. Then we'll collect our things and meet our driver to depart for O Refugio, a farm and retreat center in the Vinho Verde wine region of Portugal. We'll get settled into our comfortable accommodations, meet our hosts, Brandon and Kirsten Dickerson, and enjoy dinner together.
September 27: Today we'll get a chance to catch our breath, slow our cadence, and settle into a contemplative lifestyle. Brandon will lead sessions to help us get ready for the journey ahead. We will start our day with a morning lectio, nature walk, and lesson on nature journaling. In the afternoon Kirsten will host a creative arts workshop and we will have free time for personal reflection in response to what we've learned. Weather permitting, we will enjoy some star gazing and a bonfire after dinner. The meals at O Refúgio will be vegetarian and feature organic produce from the garden and local community.
September 28: We will begin our morning with a guided lectio and final session with Brandon, including a warm up Camino experience in the village. In the afternoon, we'll say goodbye to our friends at O Refugio and drive north to the small border town of Valenca, Portugal, visiting a small family-owned winery along the way. We'll check in to our boutique hotel, enjoy dinner together, and head to bed as we prepare for our first day on the Camino.
September 29: It's the first morning on the Camino! Following breakfast, we'll turn in our luggage to the porter and head out. Today's walk will take us across the Mingo River and into Spain, heading north to O Porriño. Lunch will be on your own. Choose a village cafe or grocery store along the way. Walk with friends from the tour, meet new friends making a similar journey, or choose to walk alone in solitude. Arrive in O Porriño in the early afternoon. Check-in at the next hotel, rest and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. We will have a group dinner together, listening as friends share memorable moments and discoveries. Walking distance: 20 km / 12.8 Miles
The next five days will follow a similar pattern as we make our way north, walking in the footsteps of 12th-century pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Each day will be a unique experience as we collect our stamps along the way and pass through villages, historical points of interest and open spaces. Share meaningful conversations, savor personal moments of clarity, and enjoy sweet communion with the Creator and you journey one step at a time.
September 30: North to Redondela. Walking distance: 16 Km / 10 miles.
October 1: North to Pontevedra. Walking distance: 23 Km / 14.2 miles.
October 2: North to Caldas de Reis. Walking distance: 22 km / 13.6 miles.
October 3: North to Padrón. Walking distance: 19 km / 11.7 miles.
October 4: Today we'll make our final walk north to Santiago de Compostela. The sense of accomplishment is sure to ignite celebration as we get our first glimpse of the Cathedral Santiago de Compostela. We'll collect our official stamp in the Pilgrim's Reception Office and capture a group photo. Then we'll settle into our pension in an old stone building, just a minute walk from the cathedral. Hot showers and a delicious dinner will round out our day. Walking distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles.
October 5: After breakfast, we'll meet up with a local guide for an insider tour of the cathedral. We'll get to know its Romanesque architecture, learn about the construction throughout the centuries and admire the Chapel of Relics, the Royal Pantheon, the Chapter Library and the famous Botafumeiro. With one full day in Santiago, we'll have plenty of free time to explore the winding old town streets, soak in the rooftop views and sit with our journals in solitude or in community. Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Santiago's traditional Spanish restaurants, celebrating new friendships and memorable takeaways.
October 6: After breakfast, we'll checkout and head back to Porto via train. Plan for your international flight home in the afternoon or a journey onward.
Itinerary is subject to change based on availability and weather. Details are not confirmed until paid in full.
Travel to Portugal and Spain for US citizens requires a valid passport for a minimum of three months beyond the length of your stay, and two blank pages.
“Noticing leads to wonder, and wonder leads to gratitude.”
— MOTTO OF O REFÚGIO
Accommodations along the Camino include boutique hotels, modest guest houses and historic pensions.
The Travel on Purpose™ commitment
We ensure that our time and resources benefit the places we visit and the people we spend time with. To that end, our promise is that your travel experience will include time with do-good partners, changemakers, and local leaders who are making a difference in their community. This unique itinerary includes time with local guides, small locally owned hotels, and O Refugio, a contemplative Christian retreat center, farm, and vineyard above the Douro River in Northern Portugal - inviting people locally and globally to slow down and dwell in the moment to encounter restoration and renewal.
Payment Schedule & other details
Payment
Schedule
Schedule
Total Cost per person: $2900
$500 deposit is due at time of booking to hold your spot
Choose a Payment plan that works for you
Two-payments:
- $1200 on March 10
- $1200 on June 10
Four-payments:
- $600 on March 10
- $600 on April 10
- $600 on May 10
- $600 on June 10
Terms
& Conditions
& Conditions
The itinerary is subject to change based on availability and weather, and the price is not confirmed until paid in full.
This trip has a minimum participation of 8. If the minimum is not met by April 1, you will receive a refund. Do not purchase your flight until the trip is confirmed. The maximum tour size is 12.
Travel
Insurance
Insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommended to project your investment. If you have to cancel your trip, and aren't eligible for a refund due to the cancellation policy, you will be refunded through the insurance company. Travel on Purpose can provide you with a quote for a travel insurance policy.
Cancellations
& Refunds
& Refunds
If you decide to cancel within the first 30 days of signing up, you will receive a 100% refund. Following the thirty days of signing up, there will be NO refunds for cancellations, including illness. However, if unforeseen circumstances arise and Travel on Purpose must cancel the trip, you will either be refunded for the entire amount you have paid for the tour or the tour will be rescheduled for a mutually agreed upon time in 2025. Additionally, there will be no refunds 90 days prior to the departure of the trip, if you sign up within that time frame.
Travel for Good!
We believe that at it's best travel is about relationships, community and making connections. With that in mind, Travel on Purpose trips benefit both the people we meet and the places we visit.
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What travelers
are saying.
are saying.
"If you're looking for a travel experience that will take you off the beaten path and include unique places and activities, I highly recommend Dianne and Travel on Purpose."
- Koreena E.
"Dianne put together and led an intentional and fun experience that I will never forget."
- Jen B.
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Pilgrimage is a rare opportunity to engage your physical, mental, emotional,
and spiritual well-being one step at a time.
and spiritual well-being one step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this trip for?
A: Women (minimum age is 18)
Q: What is the cost?
A: $2900 per person
Q: What is the rooming situation like?
A: Prices are based on two people sharing a room. Every place we stay will have comfortable beds with plenty of space.
Q: Is it possible to have my own room?
A: Yes. Contact us, and we will provide you with a price adjustment for a private room.
Q: Can TOP book my airfare and help me with travel insurance?
A: Yes! We will recommend a flight that is best from your area. And if you need help booking, we can do that.
Q: When should I arrive in Porto? When does the tour officially begin?
A: Arrive by mid-day on September 25, 2024. The tour will officially begin with checking into our hotel and heading out on a walking tour at 3pm.
Q: When is the tour officially over? What is the earliest I can book my departure flight?
A: We will arrive back in Porto on October 6 around noon. The earliest departure you should plan on is 3pm.
Q: Can I arrive in Portugal earlier and stay longer?
A: Absolutely! If you have the time and resources, we think it's a great idea! Let us know if we can suggest an itinerary for you. If you would like to arrive in Porto a day or two earlier, let us know right away and we can book you in the lovely Cocorico Luxury House.
Q: Do I have to be a Christian to participate?
A: No. As with all Travel on Purpose trips, everyone is welcome. Regardless of your faith background or beliefs, everyone is invited on this special journey.
Q: I have dietary restrictions. Will I find enough to eat?
A: Yes! Every place we will eat has lots of options. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free can all be accommodated.
Q: Can I get a refund if I cancel?
A: Women (minimum age is 18)
Q: What is the cost?
A: $2900 per person
Q: What is the rooming situation like?
A: Prices are based on two people sharing a room. Every place we stay will have comfortable beds with plenty of space.
Q: Is it possible to have my own room?
A: Yes. Contact us, and we will provide you with a price adjustment for a private room.
Q: Can TOP book my airfare and help me with travel insurance?
A: Yes! We will recommend a flight that is best from your area. And if you need help booking, we can do that.
Q: When should I arrive in Porto? When does the tour officially begin?
A: Arrive by mid-day on September 25, 2024. The tour will officially begin with checking into our hotel and heading out on a walking tour at 3pm.
Q: When is the tour officially over? What is the earliest I can book my departure flight?
A: We will arrive back in Porto on October 6 around noon. The earliest departure you should plan on is 3pm.
Q: Can I arrive in Portugal earlier and stay longer?
A: Absolutely! If you have the time and resources, we think it's a great idea! Let us know if we can suggest an itinerary for you. If you would like to arrive in Porto a day or two earlier, let us know right away and we can book you in the lovely Cocorico Luxury House.
Q: Do I have to be a Christian to participate?
A: No. As with all Travel on Purpose trips, everyone is welcome. Regardless of your faith background or beliefs, everyone is invited on this special journey.
Q: I have dietary restrictions. Will I find enough to eat?
A: Yes! Every place we will eat has lots of options. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free can all be accommodated.
Q: Can I get a refund if I cancel?
A: If you decide to cancel within the first 30 days of signing up, you will receive a 100% refund. Following the thirty days of signing up, there will be NO refunds for cancellations, including illness. However, if unforeseen circumstances arise and Travel on Purpose must cancel the trip, you will either be refunded for the entire amount you have paid for the tour or the tour will be rescheduled for a mutually agreed upon time in 2025. Additionally, there will be no refunds 90 days prior to the departure of the trip, if you sign up within that time frame.
www.travelonpurpose.com