By Kat Harrison, contributor. Originally published April 15, 2022

I decided to travel with El Camino after pretty thorough vetting: I followed their Instagram for a couple of years, read dozens of testimonials, and even spoke with a friend who loved the Colombia trip. Given my due diligence and El Camino’s informative website, I had a very clear idea of what the trip would entail. Even so, the trip far exceeded my expectations and also surprised me in a few ways. 

Expectation #1: I thought I would be roughing it a little bit. 

Because El Camino promises a trip “off the beaten path,” I thought that could mean “off the grid entirely.” I was prepared to do without a lot of my usual comforts and conveniences. Although I was game, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with what off-the-beaten-path looks like in practice. As someone who had only traveled traditionally (i.e. tourist locations, chain hotels) and backpacked (on a budget), I didn’t realize that El Camino’s signature “off the beaten path” style is an entirely new way to travel, which is why El Camino’s trip philosophy encourages its travelers to “look beyond everything you thought travel was, and embrace something new.” 

Reality: The trip was immersive without sacrificing quality. 

“Off the beaten path” does not require roughing it. El Camino provides an immersive experience without cutting any corners. They brilliantly curate experiences that you won’t find on a “Top 10 Things to Do in Oaxaca” list, yet ensure that the nuisances of travel are as minimal as possible. Think: You won’t be walking 4-miles just for the sake of saving money on an Uber, but you will travel outside the city to have a traditional dinner prepared by a local family. You will have adventures, meals, and interactions that are unique to the destination rather than a cookie-cutter trip. 

Expectation #2: I thought the group would be friendly but not necessarily friends. 

Although I felt confident that El Camino would attract interesting, open-minded travelers, I still expected surface-level friendliness and a fair amount of awkward small talk throughout the week. Having never traveled with a group of strangers before, I downplayed the “group” aspect of the trip and thought that it would have a neutral impact on my experience, if any. 

Reality: I made meaningful connections that will last far beyond the trip. 

El Camino doesn’t just plan activities—they curate experiences. Part of that is ensuring the group avoids any initial get-to-know-you awkwardness. Honestly, this was so well done on my trip that I didn’t even notice until a few days in that El Camino helped us skip over the small talk phase. Through an intimate welcome dinner, facilitated by our local host, as well as a few other tricks El Camino had up their sleeves (i.e. daily ice breaker questions that were anything but cheesy, plus unique experiences that truly promote meaningful convos) we zoomed past the pleasantries to deep discussions. 

Expectation #3: I thought I would need to plan activities for my leisure time. 

I knew extra time was built into the itinerary so that we could delve into our personal interests (for me, I wanted to try all the coffee shops) or simply rest up for the next event. Because I’m so used to planning my own trips, I was prepared to research and schedule activities for my free time. I figured I would need to dedicate *at least* a few hours before my trip to identify where I wanted to go to ensure that it would be unique, authentic, safe, and accessible. 

Reality: El Camino provided a thoroughly scouted list of recommendations. 

I ended up saving those hours that I would normally spend researching because El Camino crafted and shared a robust list of suggested free-time activities—with a little something for everyone. In addition to referencing the list for added fun, most of our off-the-itinerary adventures happened naturally. For example, we met a woman who owned a local brewery, so our group had a nightcap there after dinner one evening. We were also staying in a prime location, so by simply walking out of the hotel, we could find the city center, a beautiful cathedral dating back to 1535, and plenty of coffee shops, to my delight. 

Expectation #4: I thought I would have more expenses during the trip. 

El Camino provided a clear list of what was included in the total cost of the trip, as well as a list of expected expenses upon arrival (tips for the host and photographer, free time activities, etc.). Even with that information, I still anticipated unforeseen costs. I figured expensive, unplanned activities might pop up, or that I would feel pressure to buy tons of souvenirs from the workshops we visited. 

Reality: The big expenses were covered; additional costs were minimal. 

The trip cost covered all of the big expenses––namely, accommodations, most of our food, and all of the activities. Everything that was included was carefully planned to provide a well-rounded, immersive experience, so that any additional expenses didn’t need to be grand. When I’ve traveled previously, I typically only planned one or two big ~splurge~ experiences, but the benefit of traveling with a group is that the expenses are divided, so we were able to do more for less. Every single one of the experiences felt like a splurge. I felt like I got more than my money’s worth––I was able to see and do more with El Camino than I could have by myself for that price. The extra costs were really up to me––the few things I purchased were treats like coffee, dessert, and happy hour, and a few exceptional, hand-crafted gifts.

Overall, El Camino set my expectations well––and consistently over-delivered. After experiencing the trip firsthand, I understand why El Camino has only 5-star reviews.