Pilgrimage of the Heart
September 13 - 19, 2025
A Journey to the End of the Earth
Pilgrimage offers a rare opportunity to slow down and allow the inner alchemy of introspection to unfold. Join us for 7 days on the Camino Finisterre, a pilgrimage route in Spain, as we hike to the "end of the earth" along northwestern Spain’s Galician coast. Each day, we'll walk between 7-15 miles (12-25 km), combining moments of silent reflection, guided meditation, and dharma talks.
Group limited to 10 people.
Journey Inward, Walk with Purpose
The Outer Journey
Pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place, and while many Camino de Santiago routes end in Santiago de Compostela at the final resting place of Saint James, our journey will begin here. From Santiago de Compostela, we will walk one of Europe’s oldest paths, the Camino Finisterre, which pre-dates the more well-known Caminos.
As we leave the bustling streets of Santiago de Compostela, we’ll make our way toward the Atlantic coast. Along the way, you’ll immerse yourself in the heart of Galician culture. You’ll hear the sounds of cowbells and shepherds tending to their sheep, and enjoy peaceful, introspective moments—our first two hours will be hiked in silence, allowing each of us to move at our own pace. Our journey ends at the iconic Finisterre lighthouse, where the dramatic cliffs and vast ocean views offer the perfect space to pause and reflect on the pilgrimage you've just completed.
The Inner Journey
A beloved word used in Theravada Buddhism is bhāvanā, a Pāli word translated as cultivation. Like nurturing a seed in a garden, the path of meditation shows us how to create the best conditions to support the prospering of wholesome qualities, leading us to freedom and ease. The Buddha’s teachings reveal four liberative seeds already rooted in the human heart - known as the brahmavihāras, divine abodes of the heart. By cultivating these transformative qualities, they can grow and blossom, creating a bridge between an inner sanctuary of peace and outer care and responsiveness to the world. Together on this pilgrimage, we will explore the teachings and practices that develop these four qualities: unconditional kindness (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), altruistic joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekkhā).
Pilgrimage has long been a journey not just across landscapes but into the depths of one's heart and mind—a journey of introspection and self discovery. Meditation and mindfulness are natural companions to pilgrimage, blending together in this ancient devotional ritual of sacred travel. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, healing from loss, or opening to a new chapter, pilgrimage offers space to pause and reconnect.
As we hike to Finisterre, a place once considered the "end of the world," we will engage in daily meditation and mindfulness practices, inhabiting intimacy with the present moment, each step becoming an invitation to listen deeply and fully.
The Sangha
Sangha, a Pāli word from Buddhist tradition, refers to a community that comes together with a shared purpose. During this pilgrimage, you will be a co-creator of our sangha, a supportive community bound by the shared journey. Together, we will practice daily meditation, reflect on tools to deepen our presence, and support each other through the challenges and beauty of pilgrimage. To further enrich your inner journey, there will be two hours of silent walking each morning, allowing for personal reflection, as well as opportunities for relational interaction and community sharing in the afternoons.
Gina, past Lotus Compass pilgrimage participant
“The experience was better than I imagined, and I think my time on this pilgrimage will continue to impact me positively for a long time.”
Elizabeth, past Lotus Compass pilgrimage participant
“It was an enriching, challenging, and truly amazing experience from the start until the end, and beyond.”
What to Expect
Terrain
This itinerary includes hikes of 4-6h per day on average. You’ll follow a mixture of dirt roads, woodland paths, minor roads and some busier roads as we leave Santiago de Compostela. The routes are well-marked with yellow arrows and the emblematic Camino shell. Your pilgrimage guide, Jamie, will brief you each morning on that day’s route.
Accommodations
Accommodation will be in comfortable, hand-picked hotels and guesthouses. To fully immerse ourselves in the spirit of the Camino, we will also stay in 1 or 2 traditional albergues, communal pilgrim’s accommodations (typically bunk bed in 4-6 person dorm) that have been part of the Camino’s history for centuries. Albergues were originally established to offer shelter to pilgrims traveling the Camino, creating a sense of community and shared experience. While these accommodations can be more modest than hotels, they offer a unique opportunity to connect with fellow pilgrims and embrace the deeper tradition of the journey.
When possible, single rooms are available at an additional cost. Please note this on your application and know that space is limited and not guaranteed.
Meals
Breakfast is included and is usually a simple breakfast with coffee or tea and toast/bread/croissant. Lunch is not included in the program price, yet there are restaurants and cafes along the route with pilgrim’s menus for around 12-15 euros. Dinner is included.
Please note: Lotus Compass offers pilgrimage journeys with a Buddhist lens, we encourage and will have vegetarian options available for each meal.
What’s Included
Accommodations: 6 nights in Camino accommodations, typically a shared double room with bathroom
Meals: Includes breakfast & dinners
An English-speaking bilingual pilgrimage guide for entire journey
A meditation facilitator who will help guide your inner journey
Daily group sangha gatherings (attendance required) with guided meditation, mindfulness instruction, dharma teaching, and optional check-ins
A 1:1 ‘walk & talk’ practice meeting with Gavrila, your meditation teacher, to discuss your meditation practice
Pre-trip Resources:
Two live orientation sessions to help prepare you for the trip and meet your Camino sangha
Support via email leading up to the trip for any Camino questions
Custom Lotus Compass Camino PDF guidebook including a packing list, training plan and a detailed itinerary
What’s Not Included
All International Flights
Travel Insurance - required!
Personal booking for arrival/departure to start and end points
All lunches
Hiking gear, souvenirs, any additional expenses not listed above
Transfer of your backpack to/from each accommodation (if you are unable to carry your pack, this is an option)
Price
Program Fee (Non-refundable $500 deposit due upon acceptance)
Benefactor Rate: $3,300 | By selecting this rate, you’re contributing $300 to supplement a Scholarship Rate. Thank you for your generosity!
Base Rate: $3,000
Scholarship Rate: $2,700 | A limited number of scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance, supported by contributions from benefactors.
Itinerary
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Saturday, September 13, 2025
Arrive in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Sunday, September 14, 2025
Starting in Santiago, we’ll hike through eucalyptus and pine forests, passing villages like Figueiras, Roxos, and Alto do Vento. Cross the Ponte Maceira bridge over the Tambre River and walk the wooded trail up to Negreira, with a notable climb before a gentle descent into town.
Distance: 22km (13.5 miles)
Elevation: 475 m ascent, 545 descent
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Monday, September 15, 2025
From Negreira, we’ll cross the Barcala River and continue along paths lined with cornfields, eucalyptus, and pine trees, passing by traditional granaries and the Romanesque church of Santa Mariña. The route takes us steadily uphill through forests of pine, chestnut, and oak before leading into more open countryside.
Distance: ~22 km
Elevation: 350m ascent, 250m descent
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Tuesday, September 16, 2025
The day’s route includes a steady climb through countryside, easing into a descent as we approach the village of Olveiroa.
Distance: ~12 km
Elevation: 250m ascent, 150m descent
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Wednesday, September 17, 2025
From Olveiroa, we follow the Xallas and Hospital Rivers toward Logoso, passing the Nosa Señora Chapel. The route then gently descends through pine groves of Alto do Cruceiro da Armada, winding between forests and mountains, with views of windmills. After reaching the peak of San Pedro, we descend into the coastal village of Cee, where the Atlantic Ocean greets us with sandy coves and vibrant fishing boats.
This stage contains gentle elevation changes, except for the steeper descent into Cee.
Distance: 19 km (~12 miles)
Elevation: 200m ascent, 480m descent
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Thursday, September 18, 2025
Our last day of walking! This final stage of the Camino takes you along the wild Atlantic coastline, beginning with a walk through the historic town of Corcubión. After climbing to Campo de San Roque, you'll continue through the village of Vilar, then follow the coastline.
A short climb leads you to the lighthouse at Cape Finisterre. This stunning spot marks the end of your Camino, offering a moment of reflection and gratitude for the journey completed, as you look out over the vast, endless ocean.
Distance: 16 km (~10 miles)
Elevation: 310m ascent, 245m descent
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Friday, September 19, 2025
Departing from Finisterre, Spain
~3 hrs by bus from Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Your Guides
Gavrila Abramson
Meditation Teacher
Gavrila (she/her) is a dedicated dhamma practitioner, singer, and contemplative dreamer. Her journey through grief and the complexities of being human inspired her to study suffering and its cessation, leading her to teach mindfulness for over a decade and become a somatic psychotherapist. Working with diverse individuals, she believes that embodiment and mindfulness are accessible to everyone. Gavrila emphasizes awareness, ancestral wisdom, and innate wholeness in her collaborative approach to transformation. She co-founded the Trauma Aware Mindfulness Collective, teaches youth at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and is a guest teacher for various sanghas. Gavrila identifies as a queer, Ashkenazi Jewess. For more on Gavrila's therapeutic work visit connectedrootstherapy.com. For more on her available trainings and writing, visit wholecompleteperfect.com.
Jamie Shimizu-Jones
Pilgrimage Guide
Jamie (she/her) has been a longtime researcher and advocate of the power of pilgrimage. She is the founder of Lotus Compass, where she blends her love for nature and mindfulness into transformative pilgrimage retreats. As a Buddhist Eco-Chaplain, Jamie leads nature connection workshops and meditation sessions that encourage deep connections with the self and the natural world. Additionally, Jamie has worked for various meditation retreat centers and attends annual silent meditation retreats to inform and inspire her work and life.
Jamie currently calls the Central Coast of California home, where she lives with her partner Sam and their dog, Bodhi. Beyond her love for walking pilgrimages, she finds joy in various creative pursuits such as writing, photography, and permaculture design.