The Camino was never meant to be rushed. After crossing paths with large tour groups on the Camino Inglés and Portuguese Camino, I found myself reflecting deeply on why I intentionally keep my own retreats small. This isn’t about exclusivity or luxury for the sake of it — it’s about creating space to truly experience the Camino. The quiet villages, spontaneous conversations, long lunches, aching legs, church bells, wine stops, moments of silence and unexpected emotion.