2026 Ida B Wells Spain Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: |
June 19, 2026 -
July 1, 2026
Dates are tentative until flight are secured
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,890 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,887 |
| Deadline(s): | November 30, 2025 |
Spain Cultural Journey North
The smell of paella, the rhythmic tapping of flamenco, the rugged peaks of the Pyrenees, the soft waves of the Mediterranean, the world class museums, the Moorish palaces, the medieval villages, and the people who seem to have more lust and passion for life than anywhere else; this is Spain! You will access all of this and more as you improve your Spanish language skills and escape the tourist path. We have carefully developed programs that include spending days hiking along the epic Camino de Santiago, learning to make olive oil at an old-world grove, enjoying tapas, exploring the colorful streets of Barcelona, and sketching our own versions of Dalí.
The above is a general description of activities on our programs in Spain. Please consult your itinerary for exactly what you all will be doing on your adventure.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Learn to make traditional Spanish cuisine during a cooking class
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-Jun | USA--Madrid | Today the group will travel from the USA to Madrid, Spain, arriving the next day. | Airplane |
| 20-Jun | Madrid | After arriving and getting settled, we'll check out Madrid and get our first taste of local cuisine in one of the capital city's vibrant neighborhoods. In the evening, we'll discuss the upcoming trip in detail and have a chance to enjoy ice cream after dinner in nearby Plaza de Espana, with its beautiful park and towering statue of Cervantes looking over us. | Madrid Hotel |
| 21-Jun | Madrid - Oviedo | We'll have a relaxing morning to rest and have free time to explore, walk through the city to Retiro Park for a picnic. Formerly the hunting grounds of Spanish monarchs, the park is now a tranquil oasis in the middle of the bustling city. After the park, we'll head to another of Madrid's unique neighborhoods for lunch and to visit the History of Madrid museum, filled with mementos of Madrid's cultural transition through the years. In the evening, we'll grab dinner before heading to the hotel to get our bags and go to the airport to head north! | Oviedo Hotel |
| 22-Jun | Oviedo | After breakfast, we'll take a private bus to the town of Arriondas to take a calm 7km kayak trip along the Rio Sella to get our first taste of the region's stunning natural surroundings. Our kayak trip will include a relaxing stop for a picnic and swim in the river. We'll have a traditional dinner when we return to Oviedo. | Oviedo Hotel |
| 23-Jun | Cangas de Onis & Picos de Europa | Today we'll take our private bus to the beautiful, historic town Cangas de Onis, the original capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, to get a taste of small-town Spain life. We'll drop our bags and go by public transportation to the majestic Picos de Europa. At the entrance, we'll meet our guide who will take us to the Lagos de Covadonga, a set of lakes reachable by a short hike and where we'll have stunning views for our picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we'll have some free time in town before gathering back together for dinner. | Canas de Onis Hotel |
| 24-Jun | Cangas de Onis--Gijon | Today we wave goodbye to the mountains to go to the coast. We'll spend the day in Gijon, the region's biggest seaside town, exploring the Cimadevilla (old town center) and we'll have the option to visit the Asturian People Museum to learn more about the region's history. | Gijon Hotel |
| 25-Jun | Gijon | Beach day! To start, we'll soak up sea while taking a surf class. Professionals will show us the ropes (or boards) before we carve some waves. We'll return to the beach after lunch for some relaxing in the sand. We'll have the option to visit the Botanical Garden in the evening. | Gijon Hotel |
| 26-Jun | Gijon--As Catedrais--Lugo -- Melide | After a relaxing morning, we'll say be saying goodbye to "pueblo life" for now and head with our private bus to our next region: Galicia. We'll spend a few hours at our second beach of the trip, the incredible As Catedrais beach, before we go back in time to Lugo. We'll get an overview of the city by walking along its intact Roman walls and bridge and exploring the mosaic museum. From Lugo, we make our way to Melide, where we will turn in for the evening ahead of our hike tomorrow. | Melide Hotel |
| 27-Jun | Melide--Arzua | Today marks our first day on the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage walk. We'll ease into the Camino with a 14km walk through the Galician countryside. We'll walk until Arzua, where we'll have a chance to visit their cheese and honey center to learn more about local products. | Arzua Hotel |
| 28-Jun | Arzua-O Pedrouzo | For day 2 of the Camino we'll walk a total of 20km. Along the way we'll pass the Santa Irene Fountain, also known as a Fountain of Youth. We'll end in O Pedrouzo, a small town known for its roosters. We'll have time this evening for reflection about our personal pilgrimage and journey so far. | O Pedrouzo Hotel |
| 29-Jun | O Pedrouzo--Santiago de Compostela | The majority of our walk today will take us through pine forests and we'll notice more urban areas as we get closer to our final stop. Our third and final day of the Camino brings our last hike, our final 20km taking us all the way into Santiago de Compostela and its famous Cathedral, marking the end of our pilgrimage. We'll visit the Cathedral and settle into the city before dinner and watching the sunset over the city over Alameda Park. | Santiago Hotel |
| 30-Jun | Santiago de Compostela -- Madrid | Today after breakfast we will have free time to shop and visit the Pilgrim's Mass at the Cathedral for anyone who would like to go. If the group is interested we can visit the Pobo Galego Museum to learn more about Galicia before having a farewell dinner to soak up the last of the northern atmosphere. After dinner we'll head to the airport to go back to Spain's incredible capital. | Madrid Hotel |
| 1-Jul | Madrid --USA | Today we'll head to the airport and board our international flight home. ¡Hasta luego! | Your own bed eventually! |
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.
Pensión Casa Elena – Arzúa
Pensión Casa Elena is a three star hotel located in the heart of Arzúa. All rooms have access to high speed wifi, central heat and air conditioning.
Albergue Amodiño – Arzua
This family-run hotel located in Arzua is catered mostly to pilgrims from the Camino de Santiago. Clean, comfortable and simple, Albergue Amodiño offers a glimpse into authentic Galician life. There is wifi throughout the property as well as central heat.
Espahotel Gran Via – Madrid
This three star hotel is located on Gran Via, on one of the most iconic boulevards in central Madrid, offering the perfect location for us to explore the capitol on foot. All rooms have air conditioning and central heat, and have access to high speed wifi.
Pensión 9 de Abril – O Pedrouzo
Located just off the Camino de Santiago, Pensión 9 de Abril is a family-run guesthouse located in the center of O Pedrouzo. All rooms have access to high speed wifi, central heat and air conditioning.
Hotel Hernán Cortéz – Gijón
This historic hotel is located in the center of Gijón, offering the perfect location for us to relax after a long day of sightseeing. This four star hotel has high speed wifi throughout the property as well as central heat and air conditioning in each room.
Hotel Granada – Cangas de Onís
This beautiful, four star hotel is located in the center of Cangas de Onís close to the famous Roman bridge. All rooms have central heat and air conditioning, as well as high speed wifi.
Hotel Campoamor – Oviedo
Hotel Campoamor is a four star hotel located next to Campo de San Francisco Park, the perfect location for our group in Oviedo. The hotel has heat and air conditioning in all rooms. There is also high speed wifi throughout the property.
Hotel Sterling – Madrid
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 Ciudad de Compostela – Santiago de Compostela
Located with walking distance of the center’s main attractions, Hotel Ciudad de Compostela is a three star hotel that offers a great location for our group. There is free wifi throughout the property and breakfast is included each morning.
Urban Pension – Melide
Located in the heart of Melide, Galicia, Urban Pension will be the perfect place to rest up before we begin our Camino de Santiago hike. This three star hotel has high speed wifi, air conditioning and complementary breakfast.
Hotel Lux – Melide
Located in the heart of Melide, Galicia, Hotel Lux will be the perfect place to rest up before we begin our Camino de Santiago hike. This three star hotel has high speed wifi, air conditioning and complementary breakfast.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
Everything was outstanding. The communication, organization, and experience was phenomenal. The program positively impacted my daughters confidence, independence, and maturity.
Suzanne
Parent of Kelsey, traveler on Costa Rica Surf and Service Program
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.