Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James, is the epic pilgrimage route of Europe. For 2022, we offer two hidden gem pilgrimage options: Portuguese Coast Camino, and Asturias Art & Adventure Camino, our kindest and gentlest Camino. Both the Portuguese Coast Camino and the Asturias Art & Adventure Camino, Walk in Beauty Pilgrimage combine the stunning beauty of El Camino de Santiago, Spain with the Center for Courage & Renewal® Approach to reflect on your inner capacity to lead a more authentic, meaningful, and resilient life. The Approach includes spacious time in solitude and in community, journaling, and reflection with poetry and prose to life’s big questions. In these exclusive, small group pilgrimages, you are spoiled by breathtaking natural beauty of the sun-drenched north coast of Spain and Portugal, magnificent accommodations, and exquisite food.
The crown jewel of Spanish walking trails, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela began as an act of faith as Europeans crossed Spain to visit the sacred tomb of the Apostle Saint James. One thousand years later, the Camino continues to draw spiritual seekers worldwide to enjoy the beauty of green rolling hills, stunning coastal views, and small hamlets of northern Spain. Come be part of this magical trail.
About the Asturias Art & Adventure Camino
Our kindest, gentlest Camino, ever!
Grab your paint brush, camera, a good novel, and your hiking shoes and join us on this unique pilgrimage in the coastline, beautiful beaches, and small fishing ports of Asturias in Northern Spain. In this our kindest and gentlest Camino, you’ve got options.
Named by National Geographic’s Best Trip for 2020, Asturias boasts a backdrop of the stunning mountainscape of Picos de Europa and hundreds of beaches tucked away along the rugged, emerald-green coastline and gorgeous villages. You’ll settle into our 15th century lovingly restored rural hotel for 10 days of painting, photography, reading, writing, and walking the famed Camino Primitivo, the oldest Camino trail and the Camino del Norte, following coastal paths and ocean views.
In this kind and gentle Camino, you’ll unpack your luggage once and return each day to the same hotel without the need to move to another hotel along El Camino. Instead, our country hotel becomes your home base for 10 full days while in the heart of Asturias. You’ll savor regional-delicious, chef-prepared, hearty meals served with warmth and hospitality.
Each day you have the option to enjoy creative arts in and around our rural hotel or walk 5 to twelve miles, following local hiking trails along established tranquil footpaths, ancient trade routes, through narrow canyons, over mountain passes, along the Senda del Oso, a converted rail track, and walk on the famed Camino Primitivo and the Camino del Norte along the coast. We offer flexibility with distances and choice of walks for each day, according to the needs of the group.
Unwind with fellow pilgrims to share evening reflections and a sumptuous dinner. All breakfasts and all dinners are included. Lunches are not included to offer you flexibility to sample local fare. A special bonus is an exclusive and fun cooking demonstration to learn how to prepare regional favorites.
Walk in Beauty Pilgrimage Ethos
We believe that traveling under your own power and at your own pace with a supportive community opens up an opportunity to connect more meaningfully with the world. Our mission is to provide not just a travel experience but rather a pilgrimage journey so transformative that it becomes a defining moment in your life. We provide amazing support on meticulously planned itineraries with superb accommodations and regional-delicious cuisine so you can be totally present enjoying “your Camino, your Way.”
We welcome and support people from diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, languages, ages, abilities, immigration and socio-economic status, and spiritual practices.
About the Courage & Renewal® Approach to Reflection, Discernment, and Community
Walk in Beauty offers a distinctive opportunity for you to reflect intentionally and purposefully on the ‘big questions’ of your life before, during, and after the pilgrimage. We help you prepare for the pilgrimage with materials designed to support your reflection about your core values, your life meaning and purpose. Our exclusive Camino Community Video Conference Calls allow you to get to know fellow pilgrims and to build community. In other words, you arrive in Spain not with strangers, but with friends. And, since the experience of El Camino is powerfully transformational and non-linear, you’ll be supported in reflection and discernment after you return home.
What to Expect with the Courage & Renewal® Approach
Based on the work of Quaker educator and writer, Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal, Walk in Beauty Pilgrimage is a ‘moveable retreat’, which distinguishes this pilgrimage apart from all others. You’ll explore what is most meaningful to you, have space and time to listen to your own inner wisdom, reconnect who you are with what you do, and cultivate the courage to lean into action. Guided by core principles and practices, which include the belief that everyone has an ‘inner teacher’, an inner source of truth, the pilgrimage engages contemplative practices to support personal and societal transformation.
As a capstone experience, a version of the Quaker Clearness Committees, a process of individual discernment in community, will be offered during the pilgrimage to support life and vocational issues or dilemmas. Explore Courage & Renewal® reflective practices to deepen your experience, allowing this ancient pilgrimage road to be a metaphor for your transformational life journey.
About the Landscape & Hotel
Asturias, Spain’s hidden gem, is a magnificent area where the sea, sheer mountains, and green pastures abound. To the north are the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Sea. To the south are the mountainscape of the Picos de Europa. Bucolic valleys and meadows are dotted with grazing sheep and goats, whose milk produces local artisan cheeses which are unique to the area. Settled by the Celts, the cool and contemporary capital city of Oviedo offers hearty, regional food, and restaurants, specializing in exceptional local cuisine and fresh ingredients.
Set on a hillside in a lovely, green valley in Las Ubiñas-La Mesa, Biosphere Reserve Natural Park, our lovingly restored country farmhouse hotel is a rural gem, offering peace and tranquility as our home base for this 10-day Art & Adventure Camino.
Regional Delicious Cuisine
Carefully selected hearty breakfasts and locally-sourced and delicious dinners served with exceptional hospitality and ambiance are included in our Asturias Art & Adventure Camino. Lunches are not included to provide more flexibility during your walk to sample local foods in the quaint towns at the end of the daily stage. All breakfasts and dinners are included. Vegetarians, vegans, or those with a special diet (e.g. gluten-free) can always find suitable options.
Private Van Support & Guides
Private van support and luggage transfer, an essential feature of the Walk in Beauty Pilgrimages.
Our fully supported private van, loaded with healthy snacks, water, medicine, and first aid kits, sets this pilgrimage apart and makes it accessible to all. A vehicle and guide for logistical support is available during the entire pilgrimage route to assist you, to transport luggage, and to address any other needs. This means you can enjoy the scenery and not worry about the unexpected!
With checkpoints along the way, our support vehicle is waiting with healthy snacks and cold drinks, or other assistance. If you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle at the next checkpoint.
In this customized pilgrimage, our ground support has signals in places where some people take the wrong turn to ensure you’re on the right path. After the daily walk, and after you’ve had lunch you’ll return to the hotel to shower, freshen up, enjoy well-deserved rest, reflect on the day, and savor a delicious-regionally sourced dinner.
Luggage Support
For the pilgrimage you need only carry a small/medium backpack for your essentials, and leave the rest to us! (Please review luggage requirements under Frequently Asked Questions.)
Walk at Your Own Pace
Everyone walks at their own pace and you will be met by our guides and support vehicle at various checkpoints along each stage. At the checkpoints you can enjoy a snack, fruit and cold beverages and our guides will assist you in case you need anything else. We also offer assistance for any emergencies or simply to relieve muscular pain or cure blisters.
If for any reason you do not want to continue walking, our support vehicle is at your disposal. You won’t have to worry about not finding your way as there will always be yellow arrows to point the way. You will never feel alone on the Camino as there will be other pilgrims on the way. After the walk and lunch we will go back to our rural hotel to freshen up and enjoy some well-deserved rest.
One Day 7 of this Camino an optional rest day, time of leisure to reflect and integrate this once in a lifetime experience: read, journal, draw, paint, whatever you choose….or join a walk.
Preparation in Body, Mind, & Spirit
Soulful preparation is key to Walk in Beauty pilgrimage experience. We understand that a pilgrimage is different from a ‘hiking vacation’ and we assist you with not only physical training, but soulful training, to open the heart, mind, and spirit. Resources include Pilgrim Newsletters, Pilgrim Training Schedule, maps, comprehensive Pilgrimage Resource Guide, and packing list with recommendations on what to bring, as well as Camino Community Conference Calls via video-conference to get to know fellow pilgrims and build a supportive community.
What People Are Saying About Walk in Beauty
“Wow…is the first word that comes to mind. This pilgrimage was all that it promised to be and more.”
“I came to the experience unaware of the depth and breadth of Walk in Beauty. Thank you for helping me to open my eyes and look more clearly inward and outward.”
“I am seeing and hearing and walking differently. And it’s glorious.”
“Thank you. Thank you. To be split wide open by life!”
“My heart is filled with gratitude”
“The Camino my way! Curiosity, Courage, Laughter, Community, Contemplation, Reflection.”
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