The Artsy Way combines walking Inn-to-Inn on the historic Camino de Santiago in Spain with extra time for travel journaling and practicing watercolor techniques that can be mastered by anyone.
| August 31 – September 15, 2025 | 16 Days | 60 miles | Creative Rejuvenation |
SEE A DETAILED ITINERARY and PHOTOS of EACH DAY
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 16 days of adventure travel/15 nights in unique inns and hotels
- Ancient pathways on the French Route of the Camino de Santiago, steeped in history from pre-Celtic tribal peoples, Romans, and historic pilgrims
- Locals living and working along the Camino and pilgrims from all over the world
- Two guides and a community of creative pilgrims, supporting each other along the Way
- Unique sites and instruction for daily sketching, journaling, and exploring
- Creative travel journal recording your unique Camino pilgrimage experience
- Private luggage transport and pilgrim assistance, if needed
- Pilgrim passport & certificate of completion of the Camino de Santiago, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and spiritual significance
- Optional post trip day to coastal Finisterre, historically regarded as the end of the earth
TRIP AT A GLANCE: Mileage is approximate; all mileage can be shortened by riding with our private driver. We also stop to sketch, rest and eat often during each walking day.
Map of our Route Along the French Route of the Camino de Santiago
DAY 1 (8/31/25) Arrive midday at Santiago de Compostela airport for group bus transfer. Welcome, trip orientation, and introduction to watercolor at our rural Villa sen Vento, O Pino. Walk about 1 mile.
DAY 2 (9/1/25) Creative layover day with art instruction, Camino prep, and personal time (pool, rural walk, rest). Walk and sketch about 3 miles.
DAY 3 (9/2/25) Historic landmark day in village of Samos; 1-hour private bus, visit 6th century Monasterio de San Julian, watercolor instruction at our rural inn, Casa Oteiro, Samos.
DAY 4 (9/3/25) Hike near La Faba to O Cebreiro Pass; 1-hour private bus. Walk 5 miles to historic Celtic village and Hotel O Cebreiro.
DAY 5 (9/4/25) Start of our inn-to-inn Camino at km 104 near Peruscalla; 1.5-hour private bus. Walk 8 miles to the small town of Portomarín, Hotel Pousada de Portomarín.
DAY 6 (9/5/25) Creative layover day in Portomarín for sketching workshop and free aftenoon for massage, exploration, or more art instruction. Pilgrim mass at the 12th century fortress church of San Nicolas.
DAY 7 (9/6/25) Walk 12 miles to Os Valos and our rural inn Hostería Calixtino with sketch stops at the pre-Celtic village of Castromaior and the Cruceiro de Lameiros, two highlights on the entire Camino.
DAY 8 (9/7/25) Creative layover day at Calixtino with watercolor practice, personal time and walking about 3 miles in a rural area.
DAY 9 (9/8/25) Walk 12 miles to Melide, the largest town on our Camino and our Hotel Lux Melide.
DAY 10 (9/9/25) Walk 7 miles to our rural inn Pension Ribadíso.
DAY 11 (9/10/25) Creative layover day in Ribadiso.
DAY 12 (9/11/25) Walk 14 miles to rural Vila Sen Vento Arzúa.
DAY 13 (9/12/25) Walk 9 miles to our rural inn Casa de Amancio.
Day 14 (9/13/25) Walk 6 miles to the walled city of Santiago de Compostela and our pilgrim hotel Hospedería Seminario Mayor San Martín Pinario.
Day 15 (9/14/25) Historic landmark day, walking tour of Santiago, and celebration dinner.
Day 16: Monday (9/15/25) Trip end or optional historic tour to Finisterre and Muxia ($200 cost includes hotel, private transport and guides).
Costs and Inclusions
- $5,580 for double occupancy accommodations. If you don’t have a roommate in mind we will offer to pair you with one.
- $1,100 extra for a single supplement (total cost: $6,680). We have 4 single supplements available, first come, first served.
- $200 for post trip extension to Finisterre on September 16.
- Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy
What’s Included:
- Two expert guides who manage all trip logistics, provide hiking support, language & cultural interpretation and travel sketching/watercolor instruction.
- A small journal and watercolor sketch kit with professional grade watercolors and brush.
- Fifteen nights lodging in boutique hotels and inns with double occupancy.
- Eight hiking days on the Camino de Santiago (French route) beginning 104 kilometers/60 miles from Santiago de Compostela, plus one day on the Camino leading to O Cebreiro Pass.
- Seven creative or historic landmark days with sketching and watercolor instruction/practice, personal time for writing, yoga, massage, etc. and tours of Santiago de Compostela and St. Julian Monastery in Samos.
- Breakfast and dinner daily, with the exception of two dinners.
- All transportation during the described trip itinerary, including a private bus service from the Santiago airport to our first hotel if you arrive with the group.
- Luggage transfer between lodgings. Our private driver can also provide transport in case you don’t want to hike for part of a day.
- A pilgrim passport be stamped 2x/day along the 100 km journey, qualifying you for your certificate on arrival in Santiago.
- Fitness/training suggestions to prepare you for this trip.
- Community and connection with a creative, adventurous group of travelers.
- Multiple opportunities for challenge, deep relaxation, personal insight, pleasure, adventure and joy.
- Extra option to Finisterre on September 16 includes lodging, private transportation and guided walks to the places listed in the itinerary.
What’s Not Included:
- Travel to and from Santiago de Compostela
- Two dinners and all lunches
- Personal items such as souvenirs, snacks, taxis, laundry
- Beverages and alcoholic drinks
- Travel Insurance
- (required in case you need to cancel after the deadline for refunds or have an emergency during the trip)
- Medical expenses
- (for example, costs of Covid tests or quarantine expenses, i.e. extra hotels and meals, if needed)
- Optional tips for local staff and guides
- Anything additional not included in the itinerary
Size of Trip: Limit 12 participants and 2 guides
Watercolor Instruction & Travel Sketching
MEET YOUR GUIDES:
André Mallinger
André Mallinger is a skilled hiking guide who has led adventure travel trips all over the U.S., Cuba, Portugal and the Camino over the last ten years. André’s pursuits have taken her on many extended personal expeditions, including sea kayaking the length of Baja, trekking in Nepal, rafting the Grand Canyon, and pedaling her recumbent trike on a 3-month cycling tour through Portugal. With an M.A. in cultural anthropology, Andre travels with an open heart and an inquisitive mind that draw her to different cultures, languages, and the world’s creative and philosophical traditions. On The Artsy Way, André will share her knowledge about the history of the Camino, Galicia and the cultures that have shaped this land. Andé’s colorful career has included more than 30 years of teaching, performing and directing music education programs. She lives in a small mountain town in Colorado with her husband, John, and loves exploring the mountains of her backyard year-round, preferably with a good dog by her side.
Brenda Porter
Brenda Porter is a passionate world traveler. Just out of high school she traveled to India on a Girl Scout exchange and fell in love with experiencing other cultures. After college, she worked with women’s groups and lived in rural Honduras as a Peace Corps volunteer where she learned Spanish. She has guided adventure travel trips across the world for more than 20 years from Everest Base Camp to Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. The Camino de Santiago is one of her favorite destinations. Brenda is a watercolor artist and her secret goal on most trips is catching moments to sketch and encouraging others to do the same, while forging connections with nature. In the photo above she is filling ArtToolKit palettes with watercolor paint colors chosen to match the Camino’s colors for a previous trip. She teaches plein aire watercolor classes for REI Experiences in Colorado and has led Hike and Sketch trips all over the world. Brenda lives with her wife, Jen, in a co-housing community in Colorado.
