I’ve had the Camino de Santiago on my bucket list ever since my friend Erica Alioto shared her experience in a Q&A Guest Post on Hiking the Camino de Santiago. She’d walked the Camino in October 2024 with a group of close girlfriends, and something about the way she described it — the rhythm of the days, the simplicity, the beauty — lodged itself in my brain. I remember thinking, “Okay… one day, I’m doing this!”
So when I sat down with another friend from that same crew, Sofie Dolan, to hear about her two Camino journeys (most recently with her college friends in October ‘25), that little spark flared again. Listening to her talk about ancient stone paths, magical forests, tiny villages and the strangers-turned-fellow-travelers she met along the way, I felt that familiar tug. Not the “I should do this someday” kind — the “Oh, this is calling me” kind. And I think it will call you too.
The Camino is absolutely a bucket-list adventure, but not in the loud, check-the-box way. It’s a pilgrimage people have been walking for centuries — slow, intentional, grounding and profoundly human.
To quote Sofie:
“Some people love pickleball. I think I just love the Camino.”
What followed was one of my favorite conversations I’ve had on the podcast — all about slow movement, ancient routes, magical woods, humble villages, and the quiet joy of arriving in Santiago de Compostela, a place pilgrims have been walking toward for hundreds of years.
🎧 Click on the above link to listen to the interview or listen on “Mixtape Travels” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
How Sofie’s First Camino Happened — and Why She Returned
Like many great adventures, Sofie’s first Camino started with a casual invitation from a friend. She said yes mostly because she trusted the person asking. She didn’t know much about the Camino beyond, “People walk. A lot.”
And then she went… and something in her shifted.
Her first trip was nine days on the Portuguese Way. Her second, two years later, was six days along the Portuguese Coastal Route. Different routes, different travel companions, same sense of peace and presence.
“It’s not really a vacation. Seeing everything on foot is just… incredible.”
She talked about the rhythm of it — waking with the sun, falling asleep with the moon, and spending your days walking through landscapes that look like they were sketched by someone with a very soft pencil.
She said the Camino has a way of quieting your mind without you really trying. You take that first step, then the next, and suddenly you’re moving through a world that feels slower, kinder and almost sacred.
Magical Woods, Centuries-Old Footpaths and the Gift of Going Slow
This is the part that hooked me.
There are stretches of the Camino where you walk through thick, lush forests that feel enchanted. Old stone walls covered in moss. Filtered light. Birds. The occasional cow. Absolute stillness except for your footsteps.
No rush. No traffic. Just movement.
People from all over the world walk these same paths — retirees, young adults, solo travelers, friend groups celebrating milestone birthdays, and more. Everyone’s there for a different reason, yet somehow you all belong to each other for a moment. You say hello, exchange smiles, share water, trade stories.
“You’re never alone on the Camino. There’s a whole community moving with you, even when you don’t see them.”
There’s something comforting about that — the idea that people have been walking these same trails for centuries, leaving their energy behind. You can feel it.
The Towns That Steal Your Heart
Sofie lit up talking about two places in particular:
Poio
A tiny waterside village with narrow medieval streets and old stone houses. She compared it to a flatter, less chaotic Cinque Terre. They walked in, found a little spot for lunch, stared at the water and basically said, “Is this even real?”
“We sat down and thought, ‘Where are we?’ It was that magical.”
O Cebreiro
A mountaintop village with thatched roofs, an old monastery and a timelessness that’s hard to explain. Basic accommodations, sure — but the kind that remind you comfort isn’t the point.
Each town feels like stepping into a chapter of a very long story.
Accommodations, Room Reveals and the Joy of the Unexpected
Part of the charm of the Camino is that every night feels like a surprise.
Sometimes you land somewhere spectacular — a 16th-century manor house, a modern hotel with a breakfast spread that makes you emotional, or a place where you can literally order your eggs.
Other times? A simple room with a simple bed and the simple hope that you’ll sleep well enough to do it again tomorrow.
Their group even made “room reveal” videos on Instagram, which honestly feel like a show Netflix should greenlight.
Food: The Camino Love Language
Sofie could’ve talked about food for an hour and I would’ve let her.
Highlights:
Tortilla española — the potato-egg miracle that could power a small nation
Tarta de Santiago — the almond-lemon cake every pilgrim deserves
Chocolate croissants — tiny pockets of happiness
Hot chocolate — thick, rich, and perfect on chilly mornings
Tapas and wine — the daily reminder you survived another day
“I’m a breakfast girl. Give me that Spanish Tortilla, a croissant and I’m happy.”
Same, Sofie.
The Cathedral: A Moment That Stays With You
When Sofie described arriving in Santiago de Compostela, she got quiet for a moment — which tells you everything.
After days of walking, sweating, laughing, complaining, photographing and eating your weight in tortilla, you suddenly turn a corner and see the cathedral.
Pilgrims have been having that moment for centuries. Thousands of feet have walked that plaza. Thousands of stories end in that square.
“It’s powerful. You’re tired, and then you see it — the cathedral — and it hits you all at once.”
She said it’s emotional in a way that sneaks up on you. You feel proud. Relieved. Connected to something ancient. Grateful for your body. Grateful for your people. Grateful for the journey that brought you there.
It’s not dramatic. It’s simple. And maybe that’s why it’s so moving.
Sofie’s Advice for Anyone Feeling the Pull
Work with Tee Travel to help design your route, book your accommodations and help transport your luggage each day
Train by walking regularly in your neighborhood or local park (it’s key that you enjoy walking!)
Foot care is crucial - don’t forget Vaseline!
Bring hiking poles, good shoes (Sofie loves Hoka Stinson), toe socks, “Darn Tough” socks, good pants, rain poncho - you can get everything you need at REI
Use the app AllTrails to confirm you are staying in the right path (download before heading out on the trail)
Write down the moments before they blur
Walk with people who make you laugh
Or walk alone and let your thoughts do their thing
Don’t rush — slow travel is the point
Let the Camino reveal itself
And above all…
“It’s a walking meditation. Enjoy the movement.”
So… When Is She Going Back?
October 2026. With her original crew. Plus maybe some new friends. And one day — maybe after retirement — she wants to walk the full 30-day route.
Why This Conversation Stayed With Me
Talking with Sofie reminded me that travel doesn’t always have to be big or flashy or perfectly planned. Sometimes the best trips are the ones where you spend your days walking through forests that feel enchanted, eating simple meals that taste like heaven, and talking to strangers who feel like old friends.
The Camino isn’t about checking things off. It’s about being fully present — step by step, mile by mile, town by town — until you arrive somewhere that feels bigger than yourself.
It’s ancient. It’s grounding. And it might be one of the most human travel experiences in the world.
So yes… someday I’ll walk it. And if this conversation stirred something in you too? Maybe you will as well.
Until then — buen camino, friends.
Meet Sofie Dolan
Sofie Dolan is the owner and creator of Flatbed Farm in Glen Ellen, Sonoma Valley. A community connector, Sofie has spent the last few years building a farmstand and gathering place that celebrates seasonal agriculture, regenerative farming, local makers, and the simple joy of what a small farm can produce. Whether she’s harvesting flowers, dreaming up new pantry goods with her chef partners, or organizing events that bring friends and neighbors together, Sofie blends creativity, hospitality, and a whole lot of heart into everything she does.
She’s a mother of three, an avid traveler, a lover of nature, and someone who often finds inspiration in her native Sweden. Originally an architecture major, Sofie has always been drawn to the way buildings and landscapes can evoke emotion. At the farm, she brings those sensibilities to life, using her design eye and creativity to create meaningful experiences on the property and to connect people through food, beauty, and community.
You can follow Flatbed Farm on Instagram.
Enjoy this interview? Please hit the ❤️ button, leave a comment below, and/or share this post with your friends and encourage them to subscribe to The Gomes Guide and listen to the Mixtape Travels podcast (available on Apple Podcasts & Spotify).
Cheers,
