Hola and Bienvenidos!
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines -
Sail away from the safe harbor -
Catch the trade winds in your sails -
Explore! Dream! Discover!
Mark Twain
Have you dreamed of walking the Camino Santiago
but don't know where to begin?
Could you use a little help planning?
but don't know where to begin?
Could you use a little help planning?
THE BEST OF BOTH
SJPP to Santiago
April 30-May 23
24 days and 23 nights
$3200 USD/ private room*
*(Note: Due to shortage of rooms in the first nights from SJPP to Pamplona, we will all be sleeping in Gites or Auberges and sharing space. The rest of the trip private bedrooms are available.)
Walk with Annie
FULL
$200 NONREFUNDABLE deosit will hold your spot
Lodging and Pack Transport Included!
(Scroll down for more)
THE BEST OF BOTH
SJPP to Santiago
Spring 2024
Walk with Joe
May 1 - 24
FULL
$3200 USD/ private room*
*(Note: Due to shortage of rooms in the first nights from SJPP to Pamplona, we will all be sleeping in Gites or Auberges and sharing space. The rest of the trip private bedrooms will be available.)
$200 NONREFUNDABLE deposit will hold your spot
Lodging and Pack Transport Included!
(Scroll down for more)
SJPP to Santiago
Spring 2024
Walk with Joe
May 1 - 24
FULL
$3200 USD/ private room*
*(Note: Due to shortage of rooms in the first nights from SJPP to Pamplona, we will all be sleeping in Gites or Auberges and sharing space. The rest of the trip private bedrooms will be available.)
$200 NONREFUNDABLE deposit will hold your spot
Lodging and Pack Transport Included!
(Scroll down for more)
Prices include:
Land transfer from Santiago airport to Sarria (if you're walking Sarria-Santiago only)
Lodging while on trip
Backpack transport
Buffet breakfasts in Santiago
Preparatory Information
Detailed packing list
List of Hotels with contacts for family/friends
Personal help with planning
Pilgrim shell and Credential
Experienced Group Leader
Digital Walking Booklet
Land transfer from Santiago airport to Sarria (if you're walking Sarria-Santiago only)
Lodging while on trip
Backpack transport
Buffet breakfasts in Santiago
Preparatory Information
Detailed packing list
List of Hotels with contacts for family/friends
Personal help with planning
Pilgrim shell and Credential
Experienced Group Leader
Digital Walking Booklet
NOT Included in Price
Your flight and airport taxes
Visas and passports
Medical expenses
Insurance
Meals, drinks, tips
Taxis between Villages except where noted
Daily expenses
Transfer to and from airports unless otherwise noted
Equipment
Your flight and airport taxes
Visas and passports
Medical expenses
Insurance
Meals, drinks, tips
Taxis between Villages except where noted
Daily expenses
Transfer to and from airports unless otherwise noted
Equipment
T E S T I M O N I A L S
from
Happy Pilgrims
Karen Bowler - 2022
One day my friend Kellie said to me, "Would you like to walk the Camino trail in Spain with me? I know a couple that makes arrangements for your walk".
We contacted Annie and were happy that there was space for us. Our travel agent booked our flights and our train travel.
So, in the spring of 2022 we flew to Pamplona and met up with Joe. This was the start of our adventure. We were part of a group of 8 interesting and fun people. Sometimes we walked together and sometimes Kellie and I were on our own. We always felt safe.
Our walk was simply amazing, there were so many beautiful cities and villages, wonderful people we met (both locals and other perigrinos) lots of hills and valleys and fabulous food and wine.
We did some training for our Camino, a couple of 20 km walks with some hills.
The Camino was a challenge but by the time we arrived in Santiago we were in such good shape that the hills were a piece of cake.
Annie and Joe were instrumental in making this the trip of a lifetime.
Our accommodations were all prearranged and prepaid. Our luggage was transported every walking day for us.
We purchased a Spanish sim card for our phones so we were able to contact Joe if we needed him but we walked on our own or with others and met up with Joe each night at our new accommodations. He made sure we knew how to get there. All our accommodations were excellent and they varied from hostels to alberges to condos to houses to apartments, even renovated monks' cells.
I am a former travel agent and booking our trip through Annie and Joe was the most sensible and safe way to plan and execute our holiday. It was truly the best way to get the most out of an amazing holiday/ walk/pilgrimage or what ever the Camino is for you.
Many, many thanks to Joe and Annie. I will always cherish the memories that I made walking the Camino.
Paula and Gil Greenwood - 2022
"After 5 months of walking at least 5 miles everyday,
it was time for the adventure to begin.
Gil and I were so excited but a little scared too.
Gil at 72 and myself at 66, we didn’t know if we could walk
the full distance without injury.
Our group met up in Pamplona
and after we had all made our introductions over coffee and breakfast
we went by private bus to the start of our journey in SJPP.
The first night together as a group was so much fun as we pooled our food we had picked up at local stores and had dinner together.
Lots of talking, laughing and a little bit nervous
about the start of our individual treks.
Annie was so amazing! She kept us informed of each days trek,
fixed minor problems and let us just explore. Her experience and knowledge gave us such comfort and let us all relax and enjoy what may come.
It felt as if we were on a nation building excursion as we met people from all walks of life and countries, each with the same goal in mind. There was nothing but respect and kindness among all the pilgrims we met along the way.
We shared our stories and said “Buen Camino” and went on our way.
When our journey came to the end ,
we were proud of what we had accomplished
and wondered what route we could do next!
Buen Camino!"
Paula and Gil Greenwood
Vancouver Wa
Spring 2022
"It has been an amazing adventure in so many ways, I’m so grateful to Annie for making it happen and to our group for giving me something that I never could have imagined and will cherish for ever. Another pilgrimage is definitely a possibility for me."
Linda Gleason
Autumn 2022
"It has been an amazing adventure in so many ways, I’m so grateful to Annie for making it happen and to our group for giving me something that I never could have imagined and will cherish for ever. Another pilgrimage is definitely a possibility for me."
Linda Gleason
Autumn 2022
"I was so thrilled to find you on Facebook and to be able to join the September walking group. Understandably your plans changed as personal and professional issues arose in the spring, and you cancelled the walks. Thankfully six women decided to continue as a group with your much needed and appreciated assistance. We so much appreciate your trust in our ability to complete the walk and were successful by using your daily walking notes and your frequent texts. We always knew you had our backs and were our ‘invisible but invincible guide’. the end of all our journeys were highly successful because of you. I know you encourage walkers to be ready for the long days of walking and took your advice to train, I hope future walkers take this seriously. Your advice on items we should bring, and the detail and directions to get them was invaluable.I feel I’ve also made a friend even though we’ve never met, but we will one day I’m sure."
Namaste
Dana Goedbloed, EdD
Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023
When I walked the camino I was recovering from a series of choices that turned my world upside down. I needed the healing power of meditative walking and fresh air to come to grips with the life i gave away. I needed to be near joyous people but alone in my mind so I could mourn. Under the protection of the Spanish government and Annie's itinerary I came to realize that as nice as my life was before, life is much more dimensional than that one i left. Annie's itinerary made it possible for me to travel with a friendly vetted group of people, and with the peace of mind knowing i had a place to sleep that night and the night after that. She always booked our housing in the safe and scenic parts of towns, with cafes, groceries, and bakeries close by and right off the Camino....many of which she had stayed in herself. I became a kinder, less competitive person on the Camino. It taught me all of us are all pilgrims finding our way to our own inner truths, and the only way to be is to be kind to one another. Hopefully my path will be sprinkled with long walks and pilgrimages in the future. But, if not, I'm very grateful to Annie for creating a way for me to walk the Camino, the greatest pilgrimage in the world.
Lisa Middleton
Spring 2022
Lisa Middleton
Spring 2022
Holy moly ! Your years on the Camino have paid off in leasing you to the most charming friendly places to lay our weary heads. Absolutely delightful! The owners of these places are clearly fond of you & your own delightful nature. Every day- better than the day before. Debra OConnor Autumn 2022 Pat & Paul (2014)
We want to thank you for the kinship we have shared, the memories which are priceless, and the most amazing experience and journey of our lives! Our special thanks to Joe, whose company we thoroughly enjoyed! 
Lee (2014)
Thank you Annie, and thank you to Joe. He allowed each and every one of us to make our own Camino, express it in our own way and made it safe for us as we did.. 
Gary (2014) 
Nick (2014)
In short, it was an unforgettable experience and goes down in history as a great holiday! 
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Jan (2014)
I think that during the lead-up to the walk
I was quite effusive about your attention to detail,
and the comprehensive amount of information
that you supplied before we left home.
With Annie Carvalho and John Brierley as my advisors
there was nothing that was lacking
to help me prepare for the Camino.
I also really want to thank Joe for the way he shepherded us over the Pyrenees.
If I have any advice for pilgrims it would be to walk at your own pace,
even if it's not the pace that you thought was normal yesterday.
Today's pace is the pace for today.
I think that during the lead-up to the walk
I was quite effusive about your attention to detail,
and the comprehensive amount of information
that you supplied before we left home.
With Annie Carvalho and John Brierley as my advisors
there was nothing that was lacking
to help me prepare for the Camino.
I also really want to thank Joe for the way he shepherded us over the Pyrenees.
If I have any advice for pilgrims it would be to walk at your own pace,
even if it's not the pace that you thought was normal yesterday.
Today's pace is the pace for today.
Gerry - (2014)
"My Camino, under the advice and guidance of Annie Carvalho,
was a resounding success for me.
Annie's knowledge of the Camino, its highs and lows,
is legendary and any walker will benefit greatly from this.
Her selection of a mix of Albergues,
private apartments and small hotels was excellent
and having a room booked each night was a great relief for a weary traveler.
I have no hesitation in recommending Annie to any potential Peregrinos."
"My Camino, under the advice and guidance of Annie Carvalho,
was a resounding success for me.
Annie's knowledge of the Camino, its highs and lows,
is legendary and any walker will benefit greatly from this.
Her selection of a mix of Albergues,
private apartments and small hotels was excellent
and having a room booked each night was a great relief for a weary traveler.
I have no hesitation in recommending Annie to any potential Peregrinos."
Father Jeffrey Edmunds (2012):
Last September, as some of you know, I flew to Spain and spent a month walking the great medieval pilgrim’s path to the Shrine of St. James, the Camino de Santiago. It was an extraordinary experience -- life-enhancing, and faith-affirming! If you find and watch the 2010 Martin Sheen feature film The Way, you'll get a fairly decent idea of what the experience can be like…. But if you see the film then you might think that you, too, should walk the Camino!
There are many ways to experience the Camino. Some folks walk just the last leg from Sarria to Santiago, which takes less than a week. They really don't get the pilgrim experience. Not even close. Far more physical/emotional/spiritual investment is called for than that! You shouldn't even even consider doing that! On the other hand, I doubt that many of you will have the time to walk the entire 800 kilometers -- five or six weeks -- any more than I did. Or the inclination to do it alone. Or to sleep in the snore-racked dorm rooms of the albergues.
Is there a middle option? There is! Annie Carvalho has devised a do-able and affordable middle option -- and having done it I can assure you that it works splendidly!
Now, to walk with Annie you need to be healthy (you don't need to be an athlete!), flexible, and determined: the group goes forward rain or shine, hot or cold...! The Camino experience is not a "tour," and Annie is not a "tour guide." She functions more as a facilitator, as a knowledgeable fellow pilgrim.... If you walk with her I can assure you that it will be your Camino, not hers! The bed & breakfast accommodations she books are perfectly adequate, considering the modest price. And her walkers more than satisfy the requirements for Santiago pilgrim's certificates: I'd love to show you mine!
You can enjoy as much or as little camaraderie along the Camino as you want: I made friends I will never forget. My group included Americans, Australians and South Africans. The youngest was in her 20s; the oldest was 70.... Sometimes I walked or ate with others; often I walked or ate alone. I was always and entirely free to do what I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted. I was religiously motivated, myself, but most of my fellow peregrinos were not -- they were simply out to savor the finest walking holiday in the world....
In the end everyone in my group made it to Santiago successfully -- 370 kilometers (230 miles)on foot -- and everyone of us finished knowing that we'd done something grand.
Annie's small group walks start in the south of France, take three weeks to cover about half the full distance, and include all the best bits! I commend her to you and to all those you know. Enthusiastically!
Last September, as some of you know, I flew to Spain and spent a month walking the great medieval pilgrim’s path to the Shrine of St. James, the Camino de Santiago. It was an extraordinary experience -- life-enhancing, and faith-affirming! If you find and watch the 2010 Martin Sheen feature film The Way, you'll get a fairly decent idea of what the experience can be like…. But if you see the film then you might think that you, too, should walk the Camino!
There are many ways to experience the Camino. Some folks walk just the last leg from Sarria to Santiago, which takes less than a week. They really don't get the pilgrim experience. Not even close. Far more physical/emotional/spiritual investment is called for than that! You shouldn't even even consider doing that! On the other hand, I doubt that many of you will have the time to walk the entire 800 kilometers -- five or six weeks -- any more than I did. Or the inclination to do it alone. Or to sleep in the snore-racked dorm rooms of the albergues.
Is there a middle option? There is! Annie Carvalho has devised a do-able and affordable middle option -- and having done it I can assure you that it works splendidly!
Now, to walk with Annie you need to be healthy (you don't need to be an athlete!), flexible, and determined: the group goes forward rain or shine, hot or cold...! The Camino experience is not a "tour," and Annie is not a "tour guide." She functions more as a facilitator, as a knowledgeable fellow pilgrim.... If you walk with her I can assure you that it will be your Camino, not hers! The bed & breakfast accommodations she books are perfectly adequate, considering the modest price. And her walkers more than satisfy the requirements for Santiago pilgrim's certificates: I'd love to show you mine!
You can enjoy as much or as little camaraderie along the Camino as you want: I made friends I will never forget. My group included Americans, Australians and South Africans. The youngest was in her 20s; the oldest was 70.... Sometimes I walked or ate with others; often I walked or ate alone. I was always and entirely free to do what I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted. I was religiously motivated, myself, but most of my fellow peregrinos were not -- they were simply out to savor the finest walking holiday in the world....
In the end everyone in my group made it to Santiago successfully -- 370 kilometers (230 miles)on foot -- and everyone of us finished knowing that we'd done something grand.
Annie's small group walks start in the south of France, take three weeks to cover about half the full distance, and include all the best bits! I commend her to you and to all those you know. Enthusiastically!
Patricia Moak (2012)
I highly recommend this group.
It's a great way to walk on the Camino, especially if you have limited time.
The trip was exactly as advertised, with no surprises.
I'm going on my own this year,
thanks to the education and experience I got with Annie.
Highly recommended!
Linda Hendricks (2012)
This group, above all others appealed to me the most because:
1) it was well priced amongst its competitors, especially for the duration it offered--22 days--most only offered two weeks.
2) it started from St. Jean pied de port, where I specifically wanted to start. All others I researched did not.
3) it was clearly advertised as a no-frills trip, the rooms promised would be clean and in good order, but not superior or deluxe. There are many photos and description of rooms and room/types provided on the website, so one may get a good idea of the kind of accommodation to expect.
4) Our group leader and her assistant were in communication with us daily, sometimes several times a day to provide information we needed to get to the next town. We had a meeting every night to discuss the next day's agenda.
It is not a guided trip; but on the website and in meetings with the group it was often mentioned that if anyone wanted to walk with the group leader, they were welcome to ask and make arrangements. it was the perfect trip for me because I wanted a certain level of independence so I could walk how I wanted, and not have to be part of a group, or be tethered to a group leader at all times.
In my opinion, this lady fulfilled her end of the bargain quite well. I am a satisfied customer, and had a marvelous Camino experience!
This group, above all others appealed to me the most because:
1) it was well priced amongst its competitors, especially for the duration it offered--22 days--most only offered two weeks.
2) it started from St. Jean pied de port, where I specifically wanted to start. All others I researched did not.
3) it was clearly advertised as a no-frills trip, the rooms promised would be clean and in good order, but not superior or deluxe. There are many photos and description of rooms and room/types provided on the website, so one may get a good idea of the kind of accommodation to expect.
4) Our group leader and her assistant were in communication with us daily, sometimes several times a day to provide information we needed to get to the next town. We had a meeting every night to discuss the next day's agenda.
It is not a guided trip; but on the website and in meetings with the group it was often mentioned that if anyone wanted to walk with the group leader, they were welcome to ask and make arrangements. it was the perfect trip for me because I wanted a certain level of independence so I could walk how I wanted, and not have to be part of a group, or be tethered to a group leader at all times.
In my opinion, this lady fulfilled her end of the bargain quite well. I am a satisfied customer, and had a marvelous Camino experience!
Bob and Evette Hackman (2012)
You did what your literature stated and the price was right. We loved our trip so much that we returned the following year and we hope there is more to come.
Initially, I was concerned that we might end up with an odd group of people, but we really enjoyed our group and have kept in contact with many of them.
You did what your literature stated and the price was right. We loved our trip so much that we returned the following year and we hope there is more to come.
Initially, I was concerned that we might end up with an odd group of people, but we really enjoyed our group and have kept in contact with many of them.
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