2024 Regis Jesuit Spain Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | June 11, 2024 - June 24, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
|
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: |
$3,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,598 |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Denver - Madrid | Today the group will travel from USA to Madrid, Spain. | Airplane |
| June 12 | Madrid | After arriving to Madrid and settling into our rooms, we'll do a bit of exploring and get our first glimpse of Plaza Mayor, where we'll have dinner. Afterwards, we'll hold an orientation meeting to discuss the details of the days ahead. | Sterling Hotel |
| June 13 | Madrid | Today we explore with our friendly local guide! Prado Museum, which boasts one of the most renowned collections of art in the world. We will marvel at several Spanish masterpieces, including another version of the Gioconda (Mona Lisa), also known as “La Gioconda del Prado.” In the afternoon we will visit Parque del Retiro, once the king's private hunting grounds, before enjoying dinner in the neighborhood. | Sterling Hotel |
| June 14 | Madrid | After a Spanish breakfast, First, we will first have a panoramic tour of the city by bus. Then, we will explore visit the Royal Palace and then the Almudena Cathedral, the Roman Catholic cathedral in the heart of the city which also happens to be the largest crypt in Spain. After lunch, we will visit Reina Sofia Museum which showcases Spanish contemporary and modern art, including the famous painting La Guernica by Pablo Picasso. In the evening we will have time to continue exploring the city on our way to dinner at a local restaurant. | Sterling Hotel |
| June 15 | Madrid - Segovia | This morning we depart Madrid and make the short trip to Segovia, stopping on the way to see the Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, an early 18th-century Royal residence of King Philip V, the first Bourbon king to rule Spain. In the afternoon we explore Segovia city and its emblematic Aqueduct, one of the most characteristic works that the Romans have left us and which has a total of 166 granite stone arches. We will continue to the Cathedral, presiding over the city from above. We end the day by walking next to the Alcázar, an impressive fortress at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, which sits on a rocky outcropping shaped like a bow. We will have dinner near the hotel tonight. | Corregidor Hotel |
| June 16 | Segovia - Manresa | Today is our longest drive of the trip as we travel ~six hours to Manresa, an idyllic small town on the outskirts of Barcelona. Upon arrival we'll check into our hotel before venturing out to do some exploring. | Urbi Apartments Manresa |
| June 17 | Manresa - Monserrat - Barcelona | This morning it's on to Moserrat, a settlement nestled in dramatic mountains that is more than 1000 years old! We'll visit an abbey of the same name which has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. We'll hike around the area to better appreciate the spectacular views; It's truly a remarkable visit! In the afternoon, we drive on to Barcelona, another one fo the world's great cities. | Campanile Barcelona Cornella |
| June 18 | Barcelona | Today we encounter the Sagrada Familia, a basilica without equal and one of the most unique works of architecture known to man. Designed by Gaudi, this 19th-century church, which is still under construction, is an architectural marvel and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll visit with a local guide to make the most of our time. After lunch, we'll take in the sights, sounds, and human statues of Las Ramblas before having dinner at La Boquería, Barcelona's famous food market. | Campanile Barcelona Cornella |
| June 19 | Barcelona - Lloret de Mar | After breakfast, we head to Parque Güell, named after Eusebi Güell, a wealthy entrepreneur and aristocrat who had a great passion for Gaudi’s work and became his patron. In the afternoon, we travel up the coast to Lloret to Mar for some of the most beautiful beaches you've seen! After checking into our hotel, we will head to a local beach to soak up the sun and good vibes! | Marsol Hotel |
| June 20 | Lloret de Mar - Figueres | This morning it's on to Figueres, Salvador Dali's hometown. Upon arrival we will visit Sant Ferran Castle. This large military fortress was built in the eighteenth century and is the largest monument in Catalonia. After a delicious lunch we'll visit Dali Museum, designed by the man himself. This museum is described as “the world's largest Surrealist object”, and showcases all aspects of its subject's eccentric and brilliant art. It includes some of the painter’s greatest masterpieces and spans the entirety of his career. Then we continue our journey to the city of Girona, a lovely city on the banks of the River Onyar where we will stay for 3 nights. | Best Western Premier CMC Girona |
| June 21 | Figueres - Girona | Today we continue exploring Girona with our local guide. We will get to see Passeig Arqueològic and the Passeig de la Muralla which overlook the city and provide one of the best views of Girona. After lunch, we will break up into smaller groups and continue exploring. We'll take time tonight to reflect on the synergy between art, religion and history as the program nears its end. | Best Western Premier CMC Girona |
| June 22 | Girona | After breakfast we will visit some picturesque towns that surround Girona. First we will stop at Besalu, an old town that retains its unique medieval charm. Students will walk through the city center which has stood for centuries. We will also wander the Jewish Quarter and make time for visits to the Church of San Vicente de Besalú. | Best Western Premier CMC Girona |
| June 23 | Girona - Madrid | After breakfast, we will pack up bags and take a train back to Madrid where we will spend our last night in the country. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel. In the afternoon, we will spend our last few hours doing some last minute shopping and strolling around the city to check some other interesting neighborhoods. We end our day with a celebratory final dinner before heading back to our hotel to prepare for out international departure tomorrow. | Sterling Hotel |
| June 24 | Madrid - Denver | Hasta luego! Today we will head to the airport to take our flight back to the US. | Your own bed, eventually! |
Fundraising
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Hotel Sterling
Conveniently located just off Gran Via and 200 m from Santo Domingo Metro station, this hotel offers simple accommodation in central Madrid. Both Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace are just 10 minutes’ walk away. All spacious rooms have private bathrooms and air conditioning, TV, safe and work desk. A daily breakfast is available, and gluten-free products are available on request. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Hotel Corregidor Segovia
Located within just a few minutes walk of the city center, Hotel Corregidor is the perfect location for our group in Segovia. There is free, fast WiFi throughout the property and air conditioning in all rooms.
Urbi Apartments Manresa
Located in a fully restored 18th Century building in the historic center of Manresa, Urbi Apartments will be the prefect retreat for our group after exploring the city. The building has won the Biennial Architecture Award for Best Restoration in the Historic Center of Manresa City. There is fast WiFi throughout the property, air conditioning and small kitchenettes in each room.
Campanile Barcelona Cornella
Campanile Barcelona South is set outside central Barcelona, in Cornellà, just 10 minutes’ drive from El Prat Airport. Each of the Campanile’s rooms is brightly decorated and features contemporary design. All rooms are air conditioned and have tea and coffee making facilities. There is also free WiFi available throughout the property.
Marsol Hotel
Just 50 meters from the beach, next to the Town Hall, Hotel Marsol is a 4 * Hotel on the seafront on the Costa Brava, ideally located in the historic center of Lloret de Mar and in front of the seafront with extraordinary views over the Mediterranean sea. All rooms have WiFi, air conditioning and flat screen TVs.
Hotel CMC Girona
Hotel CMC Girona is the perfect option for discovering Girona, thanks to its easy access and excellent communication with any point in the city, its complete facilities and the quality of its services. Each room has fast speed WiFi, air conditioning and flat screen TVs.
Group Flight
| Type | Carrier Name | Carrier Code | Flight Number | Departure Airport & City | Departure Date and Time | Arrival Airport & City | Arrival Date and Time |
|
Outbound
|
Air Canada
|
AC
|
1040
|
DEN – Denver International Airport, Denver, United States
|
June 11, 2024 at 11:15 AM
|
YYZ – Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada
|
June 11, 2024 at 04:28 PM
|
|
Outbound
|
Air Canada
|
AC
|
824
|
YYZ – Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada
|
June 11, 2024 at 09:55 PM
|
MAD – Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
|
June 12, 2024 at 11:15 AM
|
|
Inbound
|
Air Canada
|
AC
|
825
|
MAD – Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
|
June 24, 2024 at 12:45 PM
|
YYZ – Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada
|
June 24, 2024 at 03:05 PM
|
|
Inbound
|
Air Canada
|
AC
|
1041
|
YYZ – Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada
|
June 24, 2024 at 06:45 PM
|
DEN – Denver International Airport, Denver, United States
|
June 24, 2024 at 08:26 PM
|
Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.
Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination.
CLOTHES :
- Underwear
- Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
- Shorts
- Light-weight pants
- T-shirts (some quick dry)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Light-weight sweater/sweatshirt
- Rain jacket
- Nicer outfit for dinner, mass
- Durable athletic/walking shoes
- Sandals
- Hat/s, sun protection
TOILETRIES:
- Your basics
- Sunscreen
- Basic first aid
- Hand Sanitizer
- Medication in properly marked original container
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Passport
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book/s
- Power adapter
- Spending money, ~$100-$200 in USD, Euro or debit/credit card
- Durable water bottle
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Deck of cards or other portable games
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Hillary Mora Vargas
Country Director
Escuela Liceo la Virgen; Escuela Chilamate
Hillary was born in Sarapiqui, a small town with a rich culture in the heart of Costa Rica. Growing up in Costa Rica gave her the opportunity to be in touch with nature and in close contact with animals in their habitat. Since an early age she was passionate about exploring the world and everything in it, but it wasn’t until she finished high school that she realized she loved to teach and communicate to others about the environment and the world we live in. Since then, Hillary has worked as a guide in nature reserves in the region she grew up and has also directed collaborative environmental education projects with students, including some of her own design. Hillary currently resides in Galicia, Spain, where she lives with her partner, and continues to pursue her passion of exploring the world and helping others to do so as well. She currently works in local tourism and facilitates programs for Walking Tree Travel as the Spain Country Director.
Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History
During college, Luke spent a semester living and traveling in rural Mexico. His experience sparked a fascination with Latin America and a commitment to community service that continues to this day. Upon graduating from college, he joined WorldTeach and lived with a local family in a small village in Costa Rica while teaching elementary English. After this experience, he moved to San José, the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and wrote for The Tico Times newspaper. Luke has since traveled to over 60 countries on five different continents. Now settled in Denver with his family, he continues to crave massive helpings of rice and beans.
Enrique Parrales
Southend-On-Sea College, UK – Counselling/Psychology
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Abigail Frei
- 2 Annalise Focht
- 3 Asher Stansel
- 4 Bela Crance
- 5 Bryan Bruno
- 6 Campbell Avery
- 7 Christina Vela
- 8 Harry Sorensen
- 9 Jameson Davis
- 10 Jasmine Munn
- 11 Jenna Kim
- 12 Lawson Douglas
- 13 Luke Zonca
- 14 Melody Prado
- 15 Miles Herrera
- 16 Paige Furgason
- 17 Sebastian Mejia
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families bak home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Spain website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.