Santiago Archives - Cruisin with the Colemans

Samos to Santiago, Spain: 2026 Group Travel Experience Details

Posted on August 10, 2025 by CruisinColemans

This trip is sold out, but don’t stress, click here to join the waitlist!

Join us on a life-changing journey as we walk the final, most scenic stretch of the Camino de Santiago—starting in the peaceful monastery town of Samos and ending at the mystical shores of Finisterre, once thought to be the “end of the world.” Our group pilgrimage follows the historic Camino Francés, winding through the vibrant Galician villages of northern Spain.

The trip itself is the perfect blend of what we are best known for – walking and getting to know the area and food where we travel. You will have seven walking days, a day to explore Santiago de Compostela, a day to enjoy the peaceful seaside village of Finisterre, and an optional second day to explore Santiago further before returning to the reality of home.

If you want to see our videos from our 2025 group, click here.
If you want to see our videos from the last 100 kms (the section our group walks) from our 2023 Camino, click here.

July 6, 2026, Day 1: Fly into Madrid and Travel to Samos
We will arrange your travel from Madrid (the city you should fly into) to Samos, the town that will be our home base for the first couple of days. We will spend the evening getting to know each other, preparing for the adventure ahead, and adjusting to the time change.

We will be taking photos/videos throughout the trip, posting them to our social media channels for the ultimate memory book of your trip.

July 7, 2026, Day 2: A Rest Day in Samos
We will begin in the tranquil embrace of the Benedictine Monastery of Samos, where pilgrims have found rest and meaning for centuries. We’ll set intentions and gather for a communal welcome. This is where we will officially begin our walk and have our shell ceremony. Everyone will receive their pilgrim credential and shell on this day. We will enjoy a tour of the monastery, wander through the quiet village to settle our minds, and enjoy our first pilgrim dinner before the labor of walking begins tomorrow.

July 8, 2026, Day 3: Samos to Sarria
The most popular starting point for the Camino, this bustling town brings fresh energy as we join pilgrims from all over the world walking the final 100 km to Santiago. Most groups who are only walking 100 km begin here, but after today, you will quickly realize why we chose to start in Samos.
Mileage: 14.5 kilometers

July 9, 2026, Day 4: Sarria to Portomarín
This will be one of two challenging days. This will be your hilliest day, with tomorrow being your longest day. Today’s walk will be filled with people, shops, and plenty of snacks! At the end of the day, we will cross the Miño River into a picturesque town rebuilt stone by stone after the old village was flooded. We’ll relax over a hearty Galician meal and take in views from the church square.
Mileage: 22.1 kilometers

July 10, 2026, Day 5: Portomarín to Palas de Rei
This is your longest day (but don’t worry, you will have the option to taxi ahead if needed), and it’s definitely less hilly than yesterday. This area is the rural heartland of Galicia with ancient Roman roots. We’ll enjoy scenic woodland paths and the ruins of Castro Castromaior. This is a small detour on the route, and we will help ensure you don’t miss it!
Mileage: 24.5 kilometers

July 11, 2026, Day 6: Palas de Rei to Melide
After two longer walking days, the next two days will be quite a trip as we slow back down to take in the scenery! Melide is a lively town known as the pulpo (octopus) capital of Galicia. We’ll encourage you to gather at a local pulpería at lunch for an unforgettable shared meal.
Mileage: 15 kilometers

July 12, 2026, Day 7: Melide to Arzua
Today, we encourage everyone to pack snacks and sit down at one of the many picnic benches along the walk to watch the pilgrims go by. Shortly before Arzua, we will encourage everyone to dip their feet in the water under the last Roman bridge of the Camino. Famous for its creamy cheese and rolling landscapes, Arzúa offers quiet countryside paths and cozy evening reflections. Tonight we will enjoy pizza at one of our favorite spots in Arzua.
Mileage: 13.9 kilometers

July 13, 2026, Day 8: Arzua to O Pedrouzo
The final stop before Santiago, where anticipation builds, and we’ll take time to honor the journey and prepare for the emotional arrival.
Mileage: 19.1 kilometers

July 14, 2026, Day 9: O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela
Walk together into the grand Plaza del Obradoiro, where the majestic cathedral welcomes pilgrims with open arms. Celebrate your accomplishment, attend the Pilgrim’s Mass, and explore this vibrant, spiritual city. If we’re lucky, we will see the famous Botofumeira swing at Mass!
Mileage: 20 kilometers

July 15, 2026, Day 10: Rest Day in Santiago de Compostela
This will be a busy “rest day” with much to see and do. We will start our day getting our compostelas, then head over to hear the stories at the Portal of Glory, followed by a rooftop tour of the cathedral. There is a mass at noon for pilgrims, where you can stick around afterwards to tour the inside of the cathedral. Tonight will be dinner and a show as we witness a demonstration of a traditional Galician dinner and listen to a presentation about the history of the region and its relationship with the Camino by a local expert. After dinner, we will enjoy a traditional Quimnada ceremony and find the shadow pilgrim who only comes out after dark. This will be a late night as it’s still light out at 10:00 p.m.!

The Zero Kilometer Marker at Cape Finisterre

July 16, 2026, Day 11-12: A Bus Trip to the Seaside Village of Finisterre
To complete our pilgrimage, we travel west by bus to the Atlantic coast and the legendary Cape Finisterre. Here, pilgrims have long come to burn old clothes, reflect, and symbolically begin anew at the edge of the world. But please don’t burn your clothes as it’s illegal now! We will hunt for scallop shells on the beach and enjoy some shopping in the village. At 5:30 p.m., we will walk together the final 3 kilometers to the lighthouse to see the zero-kilometer marker and enjoy a final meal together. After dinner, we will watch the sunset and then walk the 3 kilometers back to the village. Tomorrow we will transport you back to Santiago, where you can enjoy one more day of tourism and shopping, or you can catch a flight home. We will arrive in Santiago at about noon.

July 17, 2026, Day 12: Supplemental Day in Santiago de Compostela ($250 supplemental)
We will arrive back in Santiago at about noon, where we will arrange your transportation to either the train station, airport, or hotel. If you want to spend one final day in Santiago with us, it’s going to be a good one! Tonight is the first night of the festival, so there will be lots of parties in the park and the various plazas. If you didn’t see the Botafumeira swing at the pilgrims’ Mass, it’s likely to swing tonight, as it’s the first night of the festival. Today, we will explore Abastos Market (the traditional fresh market and features Michelin-rated restaurants), tour the pilgrims museum (on your own), have more time to tour the cathedral museums, and enjoy a tapas dinner.

This journey is more than a walk—it’s a shared experience of connection, contemplation, and discovery. Whether you’re walking for personal growth, spiritual renewal, or adventure, this group pilgrimage offers space for all. Come with your questions, your hopes, your stories—and leave with something deeper.

What’s Included in the Trip:
– Transportation to the start of our walk and back to the airport at the end of our trip.
– Lodging in private rooms of two people per room with private bathrooms (though if we stay in a house, you may share bathrooms with other members of our group). Check-in is typically about 3 p.m. You can expect a range of lodging experiences from us. We will place you in accommodations close to the action so you won’t spend your time traveling or walking into the city. We cannot ever guarantee air conditioning, and even when it’s included, we cannot ensure its quality. It’s Europe where air conditioning is not the standard.
– All breakfasts, which are pretty simple in Europe, typically include a pastry, coffee, and juice.
– All dinners with multiple courses. Water and wine are included with dinner. A typical European dinner begins at 8 p.m. and typically takes about two hours. We encourage you to eat a late lunch, enjoy a restful siesta, and have an afternoon snack.
– The optional opportunity to attend mass every day.
– Daily luggage transfer. Luggage is limited to 30 pounds and a bag/suitcase no larger than 25″ tall. You will receive a document with a suggested packing list and will be encouraged to hand-wash your laundry throughout the trip. Washing machines are rarely available.
– Taxi transfer on any day you are struggling and need to move ahead to walk fewer kilometers. Plans for the taxi are made the night before by 8 p.m.
– A local expert to talk about the region and the significance of the Camino de Santiago.
– Your pilgrim shell (the symbol of this pilgrimage) and your credential.
– Your Compostela at the end of your pilgrimage.
– Participation in a food demonstration class in Santiago.
– Tour the Museum, Portal of Glory, and enjoy a rooftop tour in Santiago.
– A special gift from us.
– Three Zoom sessions with your group, help with securing your airfare, and on-demand phone or Zoom calls with us.
– We will be filming both video and photos throughout the trip so loved ones can follow you on our social media channels. You will receive a Google Drive link after the trip with all the pictures and videos we took.

What’s Not Included in the Trip:
– Airfare
– Lunch and snacks throughout the day

Cost of the Trip:
– $2700 per person in a double occupancy room with a $200 discount if you sign up before October 1, 2025
– After the early bird discount, you can get a $100 discount for referring a friend (that is $100 off for you and $100 off for your friend).
– Payment plans will be arranged and agreed upon, with the final payment due by April 1, 2026
– This trip is capped at twelve people.

To Secure Your Spot:
If you are interested in this trip, the first step is to please complete our group travel interest form. Once we have ensured you are a good fit for our group travel experiences, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required.

Would you like to see the other trip we are offering in 2026? Please read about our June trip as we walk in Italy from Greccio to Rome, by clicking here.

From Travel Blog/Vloggers to Tour Guides

Posted on February 21, 2025 by CruisinColemans

When we started this blog in 2018, we had a long-term goal of leading groups* on adventure travel. Initially, we envisioned this goal for after retirement. However, the time has now come for us to pursue it. We have been inspired and are ready to lean into this new direction. But before I share more about that, let me provide some background on our story. When we started this blog in 2018, we had a long-term goal of leading groups on adventure travel. Initially, we envisioned this goal for after retirement. However, the time has now come for us to pursue it. We have been inspired and are ready to lean into this new direction. But before I share more about that, let me provide some background on our story. Brian and I used to lead sedentary lifestyles. When we met and got married, we both weighed over 300 pounds. Although we both enjoyed traveling, we never imagined the adventures we’d had since then. The photo from the mud run (above) was a huge leap for us. We used to joke, “If we’re running, it must be because something bad is happening—like a bear is chasing us!” Haha! We started walking our neighborhood because we had put on even more weight after a year of dating and planning a wedding. I remember when the scale surpassed 300 pounds. I was mortified and needed a change. I was extremely fortunate to be with a man who was up for any crazy idea I had. We started walking our neighborhood, which led to fad diets but a bit of hope that change was possible. This hope led to trying more realistic diets; we did Weight Watchers and transitioned from walking to hiking in local parks. By 2012, we had both lost over 100 pounds. We spent our time tent camping and hiking epic trails all over the country. Our passion for travel had always been present, but we fully committed to planning significant trips, taking advantage of our ability as teachers to travel for a couple of months at a time.

June 2017 – the moment that changed us forever

In 2017, we embarked on our first Camino de Santiago, backpacking 500 miles across Spain from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela and continuing on to Finisterre. This experience was life-changing, igniting a passion for travel that grew in ways we never anticipated. In fact, the lessons we learned on that first Camino are still unfolding for us. Less than a week after completing the Camino, we purchased an RV for more travel adventures. Since then, we have RV’d over 50,000 miles through 36 states. We have walked five more Caminos, including the Camino Portuguese, the Camino del Norte, and the Via Francigena. In 2018, during our first major RV road trip through Ohio, Michigan, Canada, and New York, we launched this blog. We also established our brand, Cruisin’ with the Colemans, because we anticipated that one day—though a long time from now—we would lead group trips. Given our background as teachers and experience leading groups, this felt like a natural progression for us. We have taken students abroad, on cruises, and to New York City, so pursuing this long-term goal seemed like a perfect fit. Foreward to now, Brian is only a couple of years from retirement, and my retirement date depends on our financial stability. But more importantly, we have typically made our summer plans by this time of the year. It’s not for a lack of trying, but nothing felt right. This week, we were honored to host Bill Bennett and his beautiful wife, Jennifer Cluff. We had an outstanding time talking about Camino, travel, and our mutual interests. By the last day, on our last drive together, during a conversation about destinations we should explore, Jennifer asked why we were not leading groups. Our answer has always been, “Because we are waiting until we retire.” I need to reflect on what I just typed. I realized that my previous statement is the complete opposite of everything we stand for. It’s a revelation for me. We’re not about waiting for retirement but about taking action and starting now. Ok, back on track. Our travel plans for 2025 are taking shape, and it is time for you to join us on our first group travel experience*. This will be a 12-day trip walking the Camino de Santiago from Samos to Santiago de Compostela, where you can walk the full 120 kilometers from Sarria to Santiago to earn a Compostela.

Finalized trip details can be found in this more recent blog.

Here is what you can expect on this trip from us:

You will have the option to walk all day, every day. If you don’t want to earn the Compostela, you can walk part of the day with less mileage. If you want to bike, okay, we have you covered (this will not earn you a Compostela). You don’t have to walk at all. There will be plenty to do for people of varying physical abilities.
The walk will be about 17-25 kilometers or 10-15 miles per day; you can do as much or as little as you want
Light continental breakfast, typically coffee and a pastry
Communal dinner every night, including multiple courses and wine
Private or semi-private (with another group member) rooms that fit your needs. If you want to save a bit of money here, we can work with you on the other types of room/bed accommodations
Daily luggage transfer, so all you have to worry about is carrying a light pack with just your snacks and water
Transfer to/from Santiago airport at the start of the trip
Daytime transfer if you need to skip a part of the walk or just don’t want to walk that much in a day
Rest day at the beginning of the trip in Samos to explore the Monastery of San Xulián de Samos, built in the sixth century
Rest day near the end of the trip in Santiago de Compostela
On the rest day in Santiago, we will explore the Cathedral and do a rooftop tour of the church
Enjoy a traditional guiemada ceremony after dinner in Santiago de Compostela
Group bus trip to Finisterre to walk to the lighthouse for sunset and celebratory dinner
Transfer back to Santiago de Compostela for the end of the trip
Advance support for planning your trip
Camino 101 Zoom sessions to get ready and get familiar with those you will be traveling with
Help to make travel arrangements to/from Spain, including suggested flights from the US to Spain
Credential, pilgrim shell, and travel wallet to carry your pilgrim credential and passport
Thumb drive of photos and completed summary videos of your trip

When is this happening? July 2025, shortly after the 4th of July holiday. The trip will be 12 days, so with your travel days, you are well within a solid two-week vacation. We will have a lot more details very soon.

How much will this cost? We will have details about the final cost of the trip very soon. Your only additional costs will be airfare to/from Spain, lunch, snacks, and personal equipment. We aim to keep this trip around $3,000 per person. From our research, we feel quite good about that number, but we need just a bit more time for a solid number. A deposit of $500 will be due shortly after the trip announcement. We are limiting participation to 12 people. A payment plan will be arranged, with the total amount due 10 days before departure.

This trip will not include:

Church or museum admissions outside of Santiago
Lunches and snacks
Travel insurance (but you are required to show proof of personal medical and travel insurance)
Transportation to and from Santiago
Personal equipment, such as backpacks, hiking poles, etc.

What’s the next step? Honestly, be ready to make a deposit. We expect the 12 slots will fill fast. We anticipate making the complete announcement next week. We have a few details to implement to ensure the highest quality trip possible. If you go Cruisin’ with the Colemans, you are going in style! Thank you for following this blog adventure to the end. Our goal remains the same—we want to inspire you to take adventures, but even more so, we want you to take an adventure with us this year!!

Do you have questions? Do you want to make a deposit? Do you want me to know that you are considering making a deposit? Whatever your questions, our email address is cruisinwiththecolemans@gmail.com—we would love to hear from you!

*We are not certified travel agents, but we are experienced travelers and educators with over 25 years of leading group experiences. We organize travel experiences to destinations we know well from our own journeys. However, we do not claim to be experts on the various cultures or locations we visit. We may hire a local expert to enhance your travel experience if available.

You can subscribe to our email list right here. We promise not to spam you and will not share your email with anyone!

Recipe of the Month – Basque Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Cruisin Brian

Today we are sleeping in as we prepare to begin walking our Camino, leaving from Leon, Spain, tomorrow morning. I don’t know what we will find to eat today in Leon, but if we can’t find anything inspiring we know of a fine little Mexican restaurant called King Kong near the Cathedral.

On our 2017 Camino, the first real meal that we ate on the Way was a Pilgrim’s dinner in a small restaurant in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the night before we started walking. We didn’t know it at the time, but the meal was the classic Poulet a la Basque or Basque Chicken. It was so tender, piquant, salty, and oh-so-good that I had to figure out the recipe. On my birthday later that year, Michelle bought me Yosmar Martinez’s Tastes of the Camino Cookbook. The first recipe is for Basque Chicken. Her recipe is not exactly like the one we had in SJPdP, but it gave me a jumping off point. So with Yosmar’s forgiveness for “borrowing” parts of her recipe, here is my version of Basque chicken. This version will serve 2-3 people.

Begin by seasoning one and a half pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs with salt and pepper and browning it in a pan with olive oil. It does not need to be cooked through. Set the chicken aside.

Add sliced onion, red and yellow pepper, four cloves of minced garlic, and a cup of petite diced tomatoes to the pan and cook until everything is softened, about ten minutes.

Add half a cup of dry white wine and cover to simmer on low for thirty minutes. Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper if needed but be careful to not make the dish salty due to the garnish later. Also, a small amount of sugar may be added if the tomatoes are particularly acidic. Add the chicken back in and continue to simmer on low for an additional 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly falling apart.

During the simmer, prepare the potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400º and cut fingerling potatoes in halves or quarters depending on size. Toss them in some olive oil and salt and place them in a roasting pan or cookie sheet. Roast for fifteen minutes, tossing several times to make sure they get browned evenly.

Meanwhile, for the garnish, cut four ounces of Serrano ham (I used Prosciutto) into thin strips and cook over medium-high heat in a skillet. There is no need to add oil as the ham will render some fat quickly. Cook until the strips begin to brown and get crispy. Roughly chop some flat leaf parsley for additional garnish. Don’t skip this, the green brightens the final dish and lightens the flavor too.

Spoon the sauce into a large serving bowl and place the chicken on top. Garnish with the ham strips and parsley. Serve the potatoes on the side. Don’t forget the white wine!

Basque Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

1-1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs
4 T olive oil, divided
1 large onion sliced
4 cloves of minced garlic
1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 c petite diced tomatoes
1/2 c dry white wine
4 oz Serrano ham
2 sprigs flat leaf parsley
1 pound of fingerling potatoes
optional sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Begin by seasoning the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and browning it in a pan with half of the olive oil. It does not need to be cooked through. Set the chicken aside.

Add onion, red and yellow pepper, minced garlic, and diced tomatoes to the pan and cook until everything is softened, about ten minutes.

Add wine and cover to simmer on low for thirty minutes. Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper if needed but be careful to not make the dish salty due to the garnish later. Also, a small amount of sugar may be added if the tomatoes are particularly acidic. Add the chicken back in and continue to simmer on low for an additional 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly falling apart.

During the simmer, prepare the potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400º and cut potatoes in halves or quarters depending on size. Toss them in the remaining olive oil and salt and place them in a roasting pan or cookie sheet. Roast for 15 minutes, tossing several times to make sure they get browned evenly.

Meanwhile, for the garnish, cut the ham (I used Prosciutto) into thin strips and cook over medium-high heat in a skillet. There is no need to add oil as the ham will render some fat quickly. Cook until the strips begin to brown and get crispy. Roughly chop some flat leaf parsley for additional garnish.

Spoon the sauce into a large serving bowl and place the chicken on top. Garnish with the ham strips and parsley. Serve the potatoes on the side.

On a side note…

We hope you enjoy following us along our journey across Spain and Portugal in the coming weeks. Hit subscribe for up to date blog posts, and make sure that you check out our Instagram feed for real-time, up to the minute posts along the Way. Our goal is to post on Instagram daily, and YouTube and blog at least once a week. Thanks for coming on this adventure with us! Our July recipe will be for Tarta de Santiago, an almond cake that is popular across Spain but especially in Galicia. Buen Camino!