Spain and Portugal II

DAY 1: NEWARK (FOR THOSE WHO OPT TO TAKE THE GROUP FLIGHT)

As the group flight takes off, the trip officially begins!

DAYS 2 – 5: LISBON

We begin our travels in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city. We’ll tour this fantastic old city, sampling its food, visiting its museums, and enjoying its hospitality as we get to know the customs and history of this unique country. Climb or take a tram to a castle overlooking the city, go to the city’s world renowned aquarium, and dance the night away at Los Docas – a string of upscale clubs along the Lisbon harbor. We'll also venture just outside the city to Sintra, where we'll explore an enormous castle on a hill (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) that has been used by Portuguese royalty as a vacation home for generations. You'll visit what was once dubbed the "End of the Earth", which is the western most point of Europe. We'll also visit the small town of Cascais to shop, eat lunch, and lay out on the beach.

DAYS 5 – 9: GALICIA

We say goodbye to Portugal and journey up the coast to Galicia, a particularly distinctive region because of its mixture of Spanish and Celtic cultures. It is here we begin the most unique aspect of the trip, exploring the path less traveled in a place not yet known to or overrun by tourists. Our hotel is just steps from the beach, where the views across the water to Portugal are fabulous! Play beach soccer, paddle ball, and volleyball games in the afternoons when we're not exploring the nearby towns of La Guardia, Baiona, Entrimo or Las Islas Cies, named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by The Guardian Magazine in 2007! Behind our hotel is a pool, tennis court, and hot tub. You'll get to know the friendly waiters where we eat lunch and dinner most days at an outdoor restaurant on the beach overlooking the ocean! On some nights we'll relax under the stars on the beach, make a fire, play tournaments of ping pong and, for those who are interested, head into town for clubbing with local teens.

DAYS 9 – 13: BARCELONA

The last leg of our journey takes us to Barcelona, where we stay in a central hotel right off La Rambla, a bustling avenue unlike any street you have ever seen. Our time in Barcelona will be an exciting departure from the more laid back atmosphere in Galicia; we’ll take a bike tour through the city, cruise along the coast on a catamaran with beautiful views from the Mediterranean, head up to Gaudi’s Park Guell, learn to make paella and different kinds of tapas, and see a flamenco show! You can also check out the Picasso Museum or a Dali exhibit, take an extensive tour of the Camp Nou stadium, lay out on the glorious Barceloneta beach, or shop the hundreds of trendy shops located within a half mile of our hotel. For our final night of the trip we’ll dine at a rooftop restaurant on La Rambla for an out of this world final Spanish meal.