VCM Pilgrimage 2027 
Camino de santiago

Join VCM on our Spring Pilgrimage trip on the Camino de Santiago in Spain in May 2027!

 

What is the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago is one the oldest pilgrimage routes in the world. For over a thousand years, Christian pilgrims have journeyed on it to reach the purported resting place of St. James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela, a city in northwestern Spain. In the Middle Ages, this Pilgrimage was made as an act of devotion to God and a quest for spiritual transformation.  Today, pilgrims from around the world continue to walk the Camino each year. 

 

Where will we walk? 

The Camino de Santiago has a few variants, or routes, that pilgrims can take.  We will be walking the Portuguese Camino, which goes from Lisbon to Santiago. Walking the full Camino can take more than a month, which we sadly don’t have time to do.  For that reason, we will start our pilgrimage at the Portuguese/Spanish border and walk the final 125 kilometers to Santiago.

 

Why walk the Camino?

For centuries, pilgrims from around the world have travelled the Camino in search of the sacred and have been transformed in the process. We will follow in this tradition of pilgrimage, leaving the familiar and going on a long journey to encounter God, ourselves, and our neighbors more fully along this holy path. In contrast to our busy lives with school and in New York City, our purpose on this pilgrimage is not to learn, achieve, or do, but to walk, listen, pray, and be.  We pray that this trip will disorient us in the best ways and help refill what is depleted in our spirits so that we return home renewed in body and spirit.  

 

Dates:

May 21 – June 1, 2027

 

Itinerary Overview:

 

• Fly from NYC to Porto, Portugal

• Spend one day exploring Porto

• Take a train from Porto to Valenca, Portugal

• Walk 120 km from Valenca, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain over 7 days

• Take a train from Santiago to Madrid

• Spend a day exploring Madrid

• Fly from Madrid to NYC – or continue on in Europe on your own

 

Accommodations: 

We will stay in hostels in Porto and Madrid.  As we walk the Camino, we will stay in Albergues (pilgrim hostels) in villages along our route.  

 

Commitment:

Participants will take part in a mandatory small group in spring 2027, which will help us prepare ourselves for the pilgrimage experience both spiritually and logistically.

 

Cost:

$850/person, including airfare, lodging and most meals. If meeting this cost is challenging for you, please let us know and we can help you figure out ideas for fundraising. 

 

Deadlines & Deposits:

There are 7 spots available for this trip. The deadline to request a spot is October 20, 2026. If more than 7 people are interested, we will move to an application process at that point. Deposits of $300 are due on November 20, 2026.

​

Preference will be given to current students active in VCM but recent graduates are welcome to indicate interest in the event that there is space available.