Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Terry Ingram, Hallmark’s ‘Journey to You’ is a DaySpring romance movie that takes the spiritual route to love. We follow Monica, a hard-working nurse who hasn’t had any vacation in the last four years. Her frustration hits a new high after she doesn’t get a much-anticipated promotion. Seeing this, her religious mother suggests she go on a spiritual pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, AKA “The Way of St. James,” in Galicia, Spain.
Monica reluctantly agrees and sets off on her journey without expecting much from it. However, once on the path, she meets a man named Luis, a recently divorced father who is hoping to repair his relationship with his family. As the two initiate a conversation searching for inner peace, a surprising attraction turns to an unexpected romance, setting the stage for a faith-powered drama. Since the movie deals with a faith-based narrative, the production team chose real locations to film it, making it feel more palpable to the eyes, mind, and heart.
Where Was Journey to You Filmed?
‘Journey to You’ was filmed almost entirely on location in Spain, specifically in the town of Buitrago del Lozoya, an autonomous community of Madrid. It is the first Hallmark movie to be shot there. Principal photography seemingly began in late January 2025 and took place over several weeks before wrapping up in the following month. Throughout the shooting process, the crew captured gorgeous visuals, including the picturesque towns and the lush greenery, to highlight the faith-based aesthetic.
Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain
Most of the movie was filmed in Buitrago del Lozoya, a municipality situated in the Spanish autonomous community of Madrid. Known for its historical buildings and stone walls that date back to the 11th century, the location carries a religious weight, which parallels the themes of ‘Journey to You.’ The town also offers hills, waterfalls, and other natural spots, some of which have been captured to complement the romantic aspect. The Lozoya River, which surrounds the peninsula on which Buitrago del Lozoya stands, has also been used to enrich the background.
The Camino de Santiago route leads the pilgrims to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. However, Buitrago del Lozoya doesn’t have any Camino routes. So, the crew might have doubled the surrounding areas and pathways as the ancient path, which indeed runs for many miles across Spain. This may have enabled the team to capture bits and pieces of the route based on the filming schedule.
Journey to You Cast Details
‘ Journey to You’ is headlined by Erin Cahill and Erik Valdez. Cahill is a Hallmark veteran, with ‘Journey to You’ being her 12th production with the company. Into dancing since she was four years old, she won the Miss Pre-Teen Virginia in 1991 at the age of 11 and eventually ventured into professional acting at the age of 19. She is a student of Marymount Manhattan College in New York and does a lot of social work. Erik Valdez is a Texas native, and besides acting, he is into cars and golf. His love for acting began in high school, and he has been working nonstop in film and TV ever since he shifted to Los Angeles in 2004. In stark contrast to Erin, ‘Journey to You’ is Erik’s first Hallmark project.
Erin Cahill as Monica Miller
Erin Cahill plays the protagonist Monica Miller in ‘Journey to You,’ providing warmth and charm to her character with ease while carrying an exhausted vibe. One of her first primary roles was portraying the pink Power Ranger in Fox Kids’ Power Rangers Time Force.’ Her first Hallmark movie is ‘Sleigh Bells Ring,’ where she plays Laurel. A common face in TV shows, she plays Heather in ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ Cassandra in ‘General Hospital,’ Beth Yates in ‘Blue Ridge,’ and Stephanie Fisher in ‘Stitchers.’ Her notable roles in films include Isobel Chase in ‘Cut to the Chase,’ Denise in ‘Loren & Rose,’ and Emma in ‘The Watcher.’ She also has credits for voicing video games, like ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ (Chloe “Karma” Lynch) and ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ (Agent Nurls Yorksin, Anspi’shel, and other characters).
Erik Valdez as Luis
Erik Valdez plays Luis, Monica’s counterpart. While Monica comes off as someone a little restless, Luis brings calmness to his character, leading to a successful opposites-attract approach. He made his acting debut at 25, playing Chad in ‘Gilmore Girls.’ He, too, is a TV regular, with roles in many successful shows to his name, including Kyle Cushing in ‘Superman & Lois,’ Carlito Solano in ‘Graceland,’ Trey Mitchell in ‘General Hospital,’ and D. Bag in ‘New Girl.’ He ventured into feature film with the movie ‘Paint It Black,’ where he plays Officer Valducci. His only other feature film role is Carlos in ‘Confidential Informant.’ You can also hear his voice in the video games ‘Syndicate’ (Subverter) and ‘Far Cry 6′ (General José Castillo).
The supporting cast of the faith-based drama is packed with a bunch of talented actors. Bilingual actress Pamela Field plays Monica’s mother, Dot, young Solal Bellaiche plays Luis’ son, Mateo, and Pep Tosar plays Luis’ father, Ernesto. While they constitute the main cast, the extended cast includes Yvette Filanc as Olivia, Rosa Nicolás as María, Isabelle Bres as Consuelo, and Eva García Montiel as the Hostel Owner.
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