We had a wonderful time on the Camino de Santiago. From day one the meals were great, the luggage transfers were spot on and the accommodation was great. We would definitely use UTracks for our next Camino.
This trip is perfect for people who want a moderate amount of exercise but may not be up for a big hike. Apart from the Camino walk, I enjoyed our late afternoon/evening walks at the various towns along the way. Denis, our guide, provided deep insights in to the history and culture of Portugal and I felt we were lucky to have such a knowledgeable, and patient, guide. I loved everything about Portugal and would return in a heartbeat! Just watch out for the delicious Portuguese tarts. They are addictive!
Camino Frances - Sarria to Santiago de Compostela (Completed Camino on 10.28.2023) - Guide: Luis Peter Burmeister There are as many unique reasons to walk the Camino, as there are peregrinos. Mine was to honor my husband Roy’s beautiful life after his passing in 2022 and our extraordinary marriage together. The experience of completing the Camino was epic and life-changing for me; transformative. I would have never finished it, had it not been for the inspiration of my fellow peregrinos, friendships formed during my journey, who include our brilliant guide, Luis. I can speak from personal experience that my Camino venture was enriched by the knowledge, compassion and leadership of our guide. He went above and beyond to make each of us feel like we were part of a team and safe, as we traversed the 115 km to Santiago de Compostela from Sarria. Luis has been a Camino guide for almost two decades, having walked it hundreds of times. He knew every rocky incline, steep decline, turn, creek, and always maintained his professionalism throughout the entire hike. Luis observed each of our hiking skill levels early on and ensured that each of us was able to get through the day, at a healthy pace. We were severely affected by torrential rain and gale winds in the hills of northern Spain, as we made our trek to Compostela, and not once did I feel unsafe, due to our guide’s exceptional hiking abilities. Luis was called a “Shepard” by some of my cohorts, as he carefully maneuvered us out of forests and hills to each town and finally to the Cathedral. Along the way, our guide provided us with interesting historical facts and showed us Celtic ruins at one of the highest points of the Camino path. He also made “spot on” recommendations of local delicacies to try during our lunch time. As, I mentioned, Luis went above and beyond during our hike. At lunch on the day before arriving in Santiago, he surprised us all with a serenade of beautiful Celtic music on his bagpipes! This in my opinion earned him the highest rating of any guide that I have ever met in my many years of travel. He is a talented musician and treated us to several regional songs that brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. It was a wonderful way to end a long journey to Compostela. If you would like a truly memorable and unforgettable Camino experience, ask for a UTracks journey with Luis, as your guide. Your Camino will be forever imprinted in your heart, as it is in mine. Buen Camino! - Di Galvan San Antonio, Texas
