El Camino was built on a simple belief: travel should feel human.

After nearly a decade of designing journeys around the world, we’ve learned that what people remember most isn’t the hotel or the itinerary—it’s how they felt moving through a place, and who they met along the way. That belief continues to guide everything we do.

We are intentionally not for everyone.
That choice allows us to do our best work.

We offer a limited number of trips each year so we can remain deeply involved in every journey we design.

This approach allows our founder and team to dive in on behalf of our travelers—thinking through details, context, and relationships that don’t show up on a standard itinerary. It also ensures we attract travelers who genuinely value immersive, thoughtful, and culturally grounded experiences.

Think of us like your favorite bartender—the one who knows your drink, your preferences, and when to suggest something new. We want to know our travelers personally, becoming a long-term travel partner and trusted advisor. That level of care is only possible by limiting scale.

For us, hospitality isn’t a hobby or a side project.
It’s our profession—and we take it seriously.

There are two ways to travel with El Camino:

Private Trip Planning

Designed for travelers who want a fully custom journey shaped around their interests, pace, and priorities. These trips are built from the ground up and reflect your travel history, curiosities, and non-negotiables.

Small Group Trips

A limited number of thoughtfully designed group journeys each year. These itineraries are created for travelers who value shared experience and connection—without sacrificing depth, access, or care.

Both options are rooted in the same philosophy: intentional design, meaningful connection, and exceptional hospitality. We work with a small number of travelers each year so we can stay hands-on, responsive, and deeply involved from start to finish.

El Camino operates as an application-only travel company.

Before traveling with us—whether through Private Trip Planning or a Small Group Trip—travelers must apply. This isn’t about exclusivity for its own sake. It’s about alignment.

Our application process allows us to understand how you travel, what you value, and whether we’re the right fit for your needs. It also ensures that every journey is built with care, intention, and shared expectations—from the travelers on the trip to the local partners we work alongside.

We review applications thoughtfully and accept a limited number of travelers each year so we can remain deeply involved at every stage of the journey.

There is no cost to apply or to be part of the El Camino community. However, acceptance is intended for travelers who plan to travel with us within the upcoming year—either through a private trip or a small group journey.

The value of the community comes from access—built on trust, relationships, and years of experience.

As an accepted traveler, you receive:

Access built on trust and expertise
Over the past decade, we’ve cultivated long-standing relationships with exceptional guides, creatives, and hospitality leaders around the world. Every partner we work with is personally vetted by our team. As part of our community, you gain access to this global network—opening doors most travelers never even know exist.

A deep understanding of your travel style
Once accepted, you’ll complete a detailed intake so we can understand your interests, preferences, and rhythm. From there, you’ll have a personal call to talk through ideas, destinations, and opportunities—whether that’s a private itinerary or an upcoming small group trip that aligns with how you like to travel.

Insider access to what’s shaping travel
Because of our reputation and industry network, we’re often in rooms and conversations where new ideas, destinations, and concepts emerge first. Our community receives exclusive dispatches and insider updates—before trends hit the mainstream.

Personalized recommendations, shared proactively
As new experiences, destinations, or opportunities surface that align with your interests, we’ll reach out directly—no pressure to book, just thoughtful intel so you’re always informed.

Quarterly community calls
Each quarter, we host a live call for accepted travelers to connect, ask questions, and stay tapped into what’s happening in travel. Topics are shaped by the community—what you’re curious about, where you’re thinking of going, and what you want to explore next.

In-person gatherings
We also bring the community together offline through intimate dinners, panels, and conversations with some of the most interesting voices in travel, culture, and hospitality.

At its core, this model allows us to actively put our relationships, access, and insight to work on behalf of travelers who are ready to move from inspiration to action.

Our style of travel isn’t for everyone—and that’s by design.

We’re best suited for curious, open-minded travelers who seek deeper connections with people and places. Our travelers are comfortable venturing into destinations that can feel more complex or less straightforward, and they value experiences that respect local communities rather than contribute to overtourism.

They don’t arrive with rigid expectations of what a place should be. They’re open to being surprised, challenged, and changed by the journey.

They also understand that travel—especially meaningful travel—can be unpredictable. While we work hard to create seamless experiences, those who appreciate our work most are adaptable, patient, and willing to collaborate when things require flexibility.

We often say we have two customers: our travelers and our local partners.

We aim to be an exceptional travel company for the people who travel with us—and just as importantly, a trusted, respectful partner to the local operators, guides, creatives, and hosts we work alongside.

Over the past decade, we’ve invested deeply in these relationships. Our partners are entrepreneurs and experts who care about their craft and their communities. They’re not looking for charity or shortcuts—they want collaborators who respect their work and believe in their potential.

As a founder, I understand that instinct deeply. El Camino was built the same way—through belief, persistence, and people taking a chance on something thoughtful.

Our small group trips are not mass-market tours.

Each itinerary is designed from the ground up in close collaboration with long-standing local partners. Groups are intentionally small to allow for flexibility, access, and real connection—both within the group and with the people we meet along the way.

These trips are for travelers who want the ease of a well-designed journey without sacrificing depth, curiosity, or care.

All our small group trips include a professional photographer.

This isn’t about content creation or social media—it’s about presence. Having a photographer allows travelers to fully experience the moment without feeling pressure to document it themselves.

The photographers we work with are highly respected professionals who know how to move quietly, capture real moments, and tell the story of a journey with sensitivity and care.

For private trips, a photographer can be added upon request when it aligns with the journey and the budget. We’ll only recommend it if it meaningfully enhances the experience.

We’re obsessed with what we do.

Destinations evolve. New talent emerges. Perspectives shift. We stay closely connected with our partners and continue doing our own deep research to ensure what we offer remains relevant, thoughtful, and aligned with our values.

El Camino isn’t about catering to the masses—and it never will be. It’s about creating meaningful travel that respects the places we visit, supports the people we work with, and offers experiences that stay with you long after the trip ends.

That kind of work requires intention, humility, and care—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.