June 5-11, 2024

Join us and get to know the Camino Francés and part of the Camino del Ebro as they pass through La Rioja. Members of American Pilgrims on the Camino will share seven days with fellow peregrinos from the following associations:

Friends of the Amigos del Camino de Santiago de La Rioja,
Cofradía del Santo (Santo Domingo de la Calzada),
Peregrinos del Señor Santiago de Calahorra, and
Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Alfaro

Itinerary (subject to change)

DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 – ARRIVAL DAY – LOGROÑO

Arrive Logroño at your leisure, La Rioja’s principal city where the history-laden Ebro River courses through this capital of wine and extraordinary food. Accommodation for seven nights in Old Town at the Hotel FG Logroño (Avenida de Viana, 2-6). Welcome event at either Logroño City Hall (Ayuntamiento) or Espacio Lagares followed by an aperitif dinner.

Day 2 – THURSDAY, JUNE 6 – CALAHORRA – ALFARO – MURILLO DE RIO LEZA

Depart by motorcoach to Calahorra, an ancient hilltop city of the 4th century BCE, conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE. Remnants of its Roman history are still visible. Tour the city, including the Gothic Cathedral of El Salvador, which has Romanesque origins. Reception at the imposing Town Hall. Visit the albergue. Continue toward Alfaro with its churches and palaces, witnesses to its ancient splendor and centuries of history.

Tour the Colegiata de San Miguel Arcángel, Mirador de las Cigüeñas, and the City Hall. The Colegiata is famous for the more than 400 storks nesting on its ancient roof. We'll visit the local albergue before lunch.

On the return to Logroño, stop in Murillo de Rio Leza. Visit the Paco Garcia Winery, one of La Rioja’s most prominent winemakers and known for its unique artisanal preparation, offering wines unique in the region. Look forward to a tour of their facilities and a guided tasting accompanied by aperitifs. Return to Logroño with free time and dinner on your own.

DAY 3 – FRIDAY, JUNE 7 – SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA – EZCARAY – NAVARRETE

Departure by motorcoach to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a jewel of the Camino Francés with its splendid medieval architecture built on a Roman road around the Hospital de Peregrinos founded by St. Domingo himself in the 11th century. Tour the cathedral, which was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Visit the Albergue Cofradía del Santo, and the City Hall dominating the Plaza Mayor. Continue by motorcoach to picturesque Ezcaray nestled in the Sierra de la Demanda mountains on the banks of the Río Oja. Ezcaray is famous for its jazz festivals and a multitude of medieval festivals throughout the year. Tour the town with its church of Santa María la Major, built between the 12th and 14th centuries in Aragonés Gothic style, unique in La Rioja. Walk along the Rio Oja, from which the region takes its name.

Visit Mantas Ezcaray - a well-known blanket factory. Lunch at Echaurren Hotel, famed for its high level of gastronomy. On the way back to Logroño, pass through beautiful Navarrete, perched on a hillside. Its palaces and noble houses bear coats of arms, as witnesses to its glorious past. The steep, winding streets lead to the ruins of the Hospital de San Juan de Acre. Visit the stunning Church of the Assumption and other sites in the historic center, as well as the Municipal Albergue and the City Hall. Return to Logroño. Remainder of the afternoon free and dinner on your own.

DAY 4 – SATURDAY, JUNE 8 – BRIONES – HARO – CENICERO

Depart by motorcoach to Briones, a quaint medieval village famous for its high-quality Rioja wines. Visit the world-famous Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture devoted to valuing the relationship between man and wine through more than 8,000 years of history. Continue to Haro with its famous historic center and maze of narrow streets leading to hidden plazas and architectural gems. Visit the town quarter of wineries, called El Barrio de la Estación, home to important La Rioja winemakers with tours of selected wine houses. Lunch.

On the way back to Logroño stop in Cenicero with its heroic past. Tour Bodegas Riojanas with its century-old tradition of winemaking imbued with a unique sense of history and passion for quality. Return to Logroño with the remaining afternoon free and dinner on your own.

DAY 5 – SUNDAY, JUNE 9 – EL CIEGO – LAGUARDIA

Departure by motorcoach to El Ciego with its streets lined with traditional Basque houses and noted since Roman times for its tempranillo wines. Visit the prestigious Marqués de Riscal winery designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Walk to Laguardia, considered one of Spain's most beautiful villages. Tour this 10th-century walled city, a fortress for the kings of Navarra. Continue to the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria de los Reyes with its unique polychrome portico and spectacular altarpiece. Return to Logroño for lunch. Afternoon free. Dinner on your own.

DAY 6, MONDAY, JUNE 10 – SAN MILLÁN DE LA COGOLLA – NÁJERA – SAN VICENTE DE LA SONSIERRA

Departure by motorcoach to San Millán, hidden in the Cárdenas River Valley. Visit the Monasteries of San Millán de Cogolla, Suso, and Yuso with construction dates ranging from the 6th century (Visigoth period) to much later, the 11th century! Continue on to Nájera, a nexus on the Camino Francés between Logroño and Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Visit the local albergue.

Tour the Monastery of Santa María la Real, founded by the monarch García Sanchez III of Nájera. Continuing his father's work, he inaugurated the monastery's building in 1052 CE and transferred important relics to the site to encourage pilgrimages. Visit the albergue. Return to Logroño with a stop at San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Nestled among rolling hills and vineyard-covered landscapes, San Vicente de la Sonsierra offers breathtaking views and a charming medieval atmosphere.

Tour of the famous winery Hacienda López de Haro. The winery is located at the edge of the Sierra de Cantabria and has spectacular views. Wine tastings are done directly from the barrel. Lunch.

DAY 7 – TUESDAY, JUNE 11 – LOGROÑO

All day in the city of Logroño, capital of La Rioja. Enjoy this stately wine-growing town. Wander the tree-lined plazas, enjoy the pintxos and remember that Logroño is fast becoming a culinary center for Spain. Wine tasting and lunch at the Cofradía del Pez. Guided tour of Logroño. Farewell dinner.

DAY 8 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 – DEPARTURE DAY

Depart after breakfast for your onward journey.

NOTES: All accommodations will be at the Hotel FG Logroño (Avenida de Viana, 2-6) in Logroño's Old Town. The hotel is centrally located and close to the Municipal Albergue. Price per person per day includes seven nights accommodation, all breakfasts, visits/tours/entrance fees, and motorcoach transportation. Each participant is responsible for transportation to/from Logroño. The farewell dinner is included but other dinners are on your own.

COST:

Double Occupancy: $1,300.00
Single Occupancy: $1,575.00

How to Register:

Follow this link to register for the La Rioja cultural journey.

¡Buen Camino!

Rev. 12/04/2023

Neon CRM by Neon One