Celebrating Women’s History Month

By Kat Harrison, El Camino Travel contributor. Originally published March 28, 2022. Updated March 1, 2023.

El Camino Travel is committed to sustainable, responsible travel that brings more women to new places. More specifically, they are focused on:

• Keeping it local: Working directly with local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

• Responsible tourism: Ensuring tourism dollars go directly back to the community.

• Sustainability: Contributing to a thriving and sustainable creative economy in the destinations we visit.

At the heart of each of these values are women. From the female entrepreneurs and local artisans who share their works and worlds with us to the bold female travelers who are open to listening and learning—El Camino uplifts women at every turn. 

Here are a few examples of how El Camino celebrates women:

#1: Female-Founded 

Colombian-American Co-founder and CEO, Katalina Mayorga, started El Camino Travel in 2014 with the goal of empowering more women to experience new cultures in places that would otherwise be difficult to access on their own.

#2: Majority-Female Team 

El Camino’s team is over 80% female. In fact, Co-founder and CMO, Justin Bridges, was the company’s first male hire. Justin said it best—majority-women teams are still “rarer than we would like to see.”

#3: Invests in Women Entrepreneurs 

Since the company’s inception, El Camino has worked with countless women entrepreneurs across 10+ countries. This is one of the ways they ensure that more tourism dollars go directly back to the communities that host us. 

#4: Promotes Success of Women Entrepreneurs 

In addition to supporting women on the ground in the destinations they visit, this majority-female team loves to spotlight the ingenuity of women artists, creators, and entrepreneurs such as Brazilian painter Heloisa Hariadne, Puerto Rican business owner Maria Antonina Cay, Mexican-American designer Brenda Equihua, female-founded Colombia clothing brand Lamarie Design, Ghanaian handbag designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, and the all-women Brazilian samba circle Samba Que Elas Querem.

#5: Amplifies Women’s Voices 

El Camino collaborates with local and indigenous women who are social leaders and provides a platform for them to tell their stories. Yesi, born in a small community outside of Oaxaca, has found her passion within the local tourism scene. She loves to share all of the wonders of her home and the warmth of the Oaxacan people with the El Camino community. In addition to hosting the Oaxaca trips, Yesi runs a local coffee shop and is a first-generation college student, expected to graduate this year. 

#6: Cultivates Community, Connection, and Networking for Women

During unforgettable trips and the friendships that are made during them, as well as in The ECT Clubhouse, El Camino helps women form meaningful, lasting bonds. The Clubhouse serves as a dedicated space for women to share, inspire, and be inspired by like-minded adventurers. 

What do you think are the most meaningful ways companies can celebrate and uplift women? We would love to hear from you below in the comments.