+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Toledo above the Tagus, the cathedral spire rising over the old city

Carmelite Saints Pilgrimage

In the Footsteps of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross

Thirteen days through Castile and Andalusia in the footsteps of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, from Ávila and Alba de Tormes to Baeza, Granada, Sevilla and Toledo.

Departures

Current Tours to Spain

Upcoming departures to Spain. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eleven stops through Castile and Andalusia

Madrid, Segovia, Ávila, Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Baeza, Úbeda, Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba and Toledo, a clockwise circuit south from Castile and back.

Itinerary · EU_ES-13D-02

The Carmelite Pilgrimage Itinerary

Three nights in Ávila with days out to Segovia, Alba de Tormes and Salamanca, two in Baeza where St. John of the Cross taught, then south to Granada and Sevilla and back north by Córdoba to Toledo. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 5

Ávila and Castile

The medieval walls of Avila
The walls of Avila
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Madrid, the starting point of a journey through the Spain of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Madrid

Our guide and driver meet us in the arrivals hall and transfer us to our hotel. We gather in the evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Madrid.
Day 3

Segovia and Ávila

We drive to Segovia, set on a rock ridge and proudly Castilian, where Isabel la Católica was proclaimed Queen of Castile and where most of the remains of St. John of the Cross rest today. We celebrate Mass at his convent, then see the Roman aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alcázar before continuing to Ávila.Overnight in Ávila.
Day 4

Ávila

The city has changed little since St. Teresa’s day. We celebrate Mass at the Convento de Santa Teresa, built over her birthplace, and visit the Convento de la Encarnación, where she lived as a nun for nearly thirty years, the cathedral, and the Cuatro Postes, where at seven she was caught setting out to seek martyrdom.Overnight in Ávila.
Day 5

Alba de Tormes and Salamanca

At Alba de Tormes, where St. Teresa died in 1582, we celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Convent of the Annunciation and see her incorrupt heart and left arm. We continue to Salamanca, where St. John of the Cross studied and was ordained and where Teresa founded a convent in 1570, and walk its golden sandstone streets and Plaza Mayor.Overnight in Ávila.
Day 6 – 8

South into Andalusia

The Plaza de Espana in Seville
The Plaza de Espana, Seville
Day 6

Malagón and Baeza

We turn south out of Castile, stopping at Malagón for Mass at the Carmelite convent St. Teresa founded there in April 1568. The road crosses La Mancha and climbs into Andalusia, ending the day at Baeza.Overnight in Baeza.
Day 7

Baeza and Úbeda

St. John of the Cross taught at the university in Baeza and died at Úbeda in 1591. Both towns are UNESCO sites and keep their medieval and Renaissance buildings intact. At Beas de Segura we celebrate Mass at St. Teresa’s first Andalusian foundation, which holds relics of both doctors of the Church, and at Villanueva del Arzobispo we visit La Fuensanta, where St. John lived after escaping the jail at Toledo.Overnight in Baeza.
Day 8

Granada

St. John of the Cross was prior at Granada for several years, and we celebrate Mass at the Carmen de los Mártires, where he lived and wrote much of his major work. In the afternoon we visit the Alhambra, palace and citadel of the Nasrid sultans, and end at the San Nicolás viewpoint as the light falls on its walls.Overnight in Granada.
Day 9 – 11

Sevilla and Córdoba

The skyline of Cordoba above the Guadalquivir
Cordoba above the Guadalquivir
Day 9

Granada and Sevilla

We tour central Granada and celebrate Mass at the cathedral, whose Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand. In the afternoon we drive to Sevilla, where the old town on the Guadalquivir gathers around the Giralda, the cathedral and the Alcázar, and we walk the Barrio de Santa Cruz.Overnight in Sevilla.
Day 10

Sevilla

A half day in the Andalusian capital, home to the largest cathedral in Spain. St. Teresa established her eleventh foundation here in 1575, and the Carmelite Convent of St. Joseph keeps the autographed copy of her Interior Castle. We celebrate Mass at the convent.Overnight in Sevilla.
Day 11

Córdoba and Toledo

We set out north, stopping at Córdoba, once the largest city of Roman Spain and for three centuries the seat of the Moorish caliphate. We celebrate Mass in the cathedral built inside the Mezquita, then walk the Jewish quarter and visit its synagogue before continuing to Toledo.Overnight in Toledo.
Day 12 – 13

Toledo and Madrid

The Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace in Madrid
The Almudena Cathedral, Madrid
Day 12

Toledo and Madrid

Toledo stands on an outcrop inside a bend of the Tajo, stacked with churches, synagogues and mosques along a spiral of cobbled lanes, and it is where St. John of the Cross was imprisoned by the Inquisition. We celebrate Mass at the cathedral and visit Santo Tomé, the Tránsito and Santa María la Blanca synagogues and San Juan de los Reyes, then continue to Madrid.Overnight in Madrid.
Day 13

Return Home

We transfer to the airport for our return flight home, with hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Full-screen photograph
Ávila, the medieval walls
ÁvilaThe medieval walls of the city where St. Teresa was born.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The medieval walls of Avila
The walls of Avila
The Plaza de Espana in Seville
The Plaza de Espana, Seville
The skyline of Cordoba above the Guadalquivir
Cordoba above the Guadalquivir
The Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace in Madrid
The Almudena Cathedral, Madrid
Photograph
Córdoba, Andalusia
Photograph
Sevilla, Andalusia

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Spain?

Spring and autumn suit this route best. April through early June and late September through October give warm days in Castile and bearable ones in Andalusia. Sevilla, Córdoba and Baeza regularly pass 40 degrees in July and August, which is hard going on a pilgrimage that walks between churches for much of each day.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Spain?

A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, with blank pages for entry stamps. No visa is needed for a stay under 90 days. Entry requirements for US travellers to the Schengen area are changing, so we confirm what applies to your departure with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Spain?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

    You May Also Be Interested In