Tabor in Spain

Location: San Sebastián, Spain and surrounding towns; St. Patrick’s English School 

Dates: June 4-14, 2026

Program Leader: Laura Espinel

Chaperones: Matt Ferguson & Corey Bike 

Description: The Basque Country is unique among Spain’s 17 autonomous communities. With its fascinating pre-Indo-European language (hola = kaixo), world-famous gastronomy, rich folkloric traditions, fast-paced sports, and widespread embrace of mother nature, it has something to offer everyone! We will explore Euskadi in the seaside city of San Sebastián, living and learning alongside new friends at St. Patrick’s English School. During one week of homestays and school-based learning and cultural activities, such as playing traditional Basque sports, doing a river clean-up via kayak, and discovering 50-million year-old cliffs from the sea, we will begin our adventure along the Camino del Norte, one of the paths of the Way of St. James (or Camino de Santiago), a pilgrimage dating back to the 9th century leading to the shrine of St. James the apostle in Santiago de Compostela. Starting in San Sebastián, we will hike 34.6 km (~21.5 mi) over two days (4-6 hours per day, guided), staying overnight in Zarautz and Deba. We will take a train from Deba to Bilbao and enjoy a final day together in the historic yet avant-garde city.  

Join us to: 

1. Engage in dialogue about national vs. regional identity at your host family’s dinner table. 
2. Sit in the President’s box of one of Spain’s most beloved soccer teams. 
3. Hike along Spain’s glorious coastline on the 1000-year-old Camino de Santiago. 

Itinerary: 

• Day 1: Thursday, June 4 
  • Depart Boston Logan Airport (BOS) in evening 
• Day 2: Friday, June 5 
  • Arrive in Bilbao (BIO) 
  • Bus transfer to St. Patrick’s English School in Donostia-San Sebastián 
  • Welcome from school partners and hosts 
  • Tour of school from hosts 
  • Lunch 
  • Basque language and culture crash course 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• Day 3: Saturday, June 6 
  • Family day with homestay families or group social activity TBD 
• Day 4: Sunday, June 7 
  • Family day with homestay families or group social activity TBD 
• Day 5: Monday, June 8 
  • Reflection time at nearby café 
  • Bus to Orio, a town known for its strong rowing culture 
  • Kayaking activity along River Oria, collecting and categorizing rubbish as part of regional project 
  • Picnic lunch at Orio beach 
  • Reflection time at SPES 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• Day 6: Tuesday, June 9 
  • Bus to Zumaia to see Flysch cliffs 
  • Boat excursion to observe the Flysch from the sea, as well as more of the northern Basque coast 
  • Time on Itzurún beach to explore and document wildlife  
  • Picnic lunch at Parque de Aiete near SPES 
  • Play traditional Basque sports with SPES students 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• Day 7: Wednesday, June 10 
  • Reflection time at nearby café 
  • Walk to Reale Arena (stadium of Real Sociedad Football Club) 
  • Guided tour of stadium and Real Sociedad Foundation, which is committed to the preservation of Basque language and culture 
  • Time to explore la Parte Vieja in downtown Donostia 
  • Pintxos lunch  
  • Final afternoon at SPES 
  • Dinner and final evening with homestay families 
• Day 8: Thursday, June 11 
  • Farewell form SPES host families,  friends and school leaders 
  • Begin journey along Camino de Santiago 
  • Walk along Camino from San Sebastián to Zarautz  
  • Rest and bathe at Playa de Zarautz 
  • Pintxos dinner in Zarautz 
• Day 9: Friday, June 12 
  • Family-style breakfast in Zarautz 
  • Train from Zarautz to Zumaia 
  • Walk along Camino from Zumaia to Deba 
  • Pilgrim lunch (menú del día) along the Camino 
  • Family-style dinner at Deba hotel 
  • Evening in Deba 
• Day 10: Saturday, June 13 
  • Family-style breakfast in Deba 
  • Train from Deba to Bilbao 
  • Guided visit at Guggenheim Museum 
  • Pintxos lunch in Caso Viejo neighborhood 
  • Time to explore Bilbao 
  • Celebratory final dinner 
• Day 11: Sunday, June 14 
  • Early bus transfer to Bilbao Airport 
  • Return flight to BOS or other destination  
  • Arrive BOS 

Please note: All itineraries are subject to change and modification as challenges and opportunities arise; substitutions will be considered carefully and embrace the spirit of the original plan. 

Requirements: A passport valid for 6 months after the conclusion of the program; certain countries may require a visa for entry. Students must have passed the Tabor swim test in order to participate in water-based activities. Students must have at least one year of high school-level Spanish (or the equivalent). This program requires sustained physical activity (walking) for 4-6 hours per day for the two days hiking along the Camino de Santiago. Students must be in good academic and community life standing to participate. Students will be covered by school trip and travelers’ insurance that covers emergency care and evacuation, although they must also have personal health insurance. Students are expected to participate in all pre- and post-travel (March programs only) orientation and reflection sessions. They will create a learning artifact to share with the Tabor community after their travel experience.