About Insider's Camino

Pilgrimage journeys on the Camino de Santiago for church groups

We believe pilgrimage is about more than walking from one place to another. It's about opening yourself to a journey that changes you—through the rhythm of footsteps, the company of fellow pilgrims, and the encounters that only happen when you slow down enough to notice.

At Insider's Camino, we create pilgrimage experiences for church groups that honour the sacred alongside the practical. We take care of the logistics—the hotels, the coaches, the daily details—so church leaders can focus on their people and pilgrims can focus on the journey itself.

We know Spain and Portugal intimately. We've walked these routes many times over. We understand what it means to arrive footsore in Santiago, to navigate a group through Galician rain, to find the quiet chapel when you need it and the lively restaurant when the moment calls for celebration.

Our pilgrimages are rooted in worship, walking and shared life. They make space for prayer and laughter, for silence and conversation, for physical challenge and spiritual discovery. Whether you're a confident walker or someone who needs the coach more often than not, there's a place for you on the Way.

We want you to return home changed—not because we've manufactured an experience, but because you've encountered something real: the beauty of northern Spain, the kindness of strangers, the presence of God on an ancient path, and the gift of walking alongside your church community through it all.

Meet Our Team

The people who walk with you, take care of you, and bring these pilgrimages to life.

Joanna Wivell

Founder & Director

I want to connect you with the real Spain and Portugal I know and love.

Our tours aim to take you by the hand and say: "look at this; feel this; taste this; relax and drink it all in."

If you're a ravenous foodie, an art buff, a wine aficionado or a nature lover, or all of those and you enjoy people, we will immerse you in the essence of Spain and Portugal as they are lived by their people.

You will meet characters like Angeles, who has been cooking paella in her family's restaurant for 26 years; Alberto, whose two great loves are an incongruous pair, jamón and tennis; Lauren who tends tirelessly to the grapes in his hilltop vineyard, bursting with sunshine and personality; or Cristina, who learned to clap flamenco with her palms before she could even walk. There are so many great people and places ready to welcome us; it's just a question of having the time to fit them all in!

Our tours, in small groups for up-close experiences with experts in their cultural field, give you the time to relax with your friends, family and colleagues and take the risk element out of trip planning.

I want you to feel you have been a part of these countries, met its people, seen its beauty but most of all, that you have felt its soul.

Originally from Yorkshire, I've been based in Spain for over 20 years and have walked multiple Camino routes since 2004. I combine my love of walking, Spanish culture, food and music to create pilgrimages that are joyful, deeply rooted and pastorally sensitive.

Gerard McCullough

Booking Manager & Camino Guide

I relish the logistical challenge of piecing together the elements that make our biggest tours into a fun, relaxing experience. Because at root I'm a pragmatist, I'm always looking for ways to show off the hidden delights of Spain and Portugal with details which slip easily into the mix.

As a former British army officer, logistics and administration are my areas of expertise. I take real pride in bringing many and varied elements together—say, jamón with Picasso with flamenco guitar—to create a seamless experience.

Originally from Sussex, what has kept me in Spain is its earthiness and informality, the way people of all ages gather in bars enjoying each other's company over a quick, cold beer wherever you go. Even after living here for a long while, there's still something about the light and the glorious chaos that appeals to me.

One of my passions is my motorcycle and it gives me wonderful opportunities to explore new territory and discover hidden gems. There's a sense of freedom and adventure that comes with it, whether it's cruising through vast plains in Castilla y Leon or Andalusia, visiting small, picturesque towns like Sepulveda or immersing myself in the sensory delights of the rich countryside in the Duero region. I find joy in the journey itself as well as in new places.

Favourite cities: I have lived all over the world but it is hard to beat Valencia for its incredible rice dishes and the art, and it is probably an underrated city. I also love Oporto for the warmth of its people, its understated vibe and its fantastic port wine bodegas.

Gerard brings years of experience in logistics and group travel to Insider's Camino. He oversees bookings, coaches, hotels and on-the-ground problem-solving, so things run smoothly behind the scenes and church leaders can focus on their people.

Olga Bañon

Tour Manager

I joined Insider's Camino after coordinating group travel for Insider's Tailored Travel, where I developed a deep understanding of what makes a pilgrimage run smoothly—attention to detail, careful logistics, and genuine care for each person in the group.

Originally from Ubeda in Andalucía, I moved to Madrid to study tourism and discovered my passion for creating exceptional travel experiences. After university, I worked in five-star hotel hospitality at Eurostars Suites Mirasierra, where I learned the important of excellent client service alongside the practical skills of budgeting, invoicing and administration.

With Insider's Tailored Travel, I worked on developing itineraries for clients visiting all over Europe, then moved into costing, running and managing group tours across Spain. Now as Tour Manager for Insider's Camino, I bring all of that experience to our pilgrimage groups—making sure every detail is taken care of so pilgrims and church leaders can focus on the journey itself.

What drives me is knowing that when the logistics work seamlessly in the background, people are free to have the transformative experience they came for. Whether it's ensuring luggage arrives at the right hotel, coordinating with restaurants, or solving unexpected challenges on the ground, I'm here to make sure everything runs smoothly from the moment you arrive in Spain until you head home.

Aldridz Garduque

Digital Content & Operations Coordinator

I joined Insider's Camino to ensure that every detail of your pilgrimage experience—from the moment you first explore our website to the itinerary booklet you carry on the trail—is clear, beautiful and helpful.

Originally from Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, I studied Broadcasting at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, graduating Magna Cum Laude. My background in scriptwriting, content creation and digital media has given me the skills to translate complex travel logistics into clear, engaging materials that help pilgrims prepare well and feel confident before they even arrive in Spain.

At Insider's Camino, I'm responsible for our website content, designing and updating itineraries, and creating the detailed booklets that accompany each pilgrimage. I also work behind the scenes mapping out our internal processes to ensure everything runs smoothly—so when you receive your pre-trip information or reference your daily itinerary on the Camino, it's accurate, easy to follow and beautifully presented.

What motivates me is knowing that good communication and thoughtful design remove uncertainty and create confidence. When pilgrims have the information they need in a format that makes sense, they can focus on the journey itself rather than worrying about the details. That's what I'm here to make happen.

Georgie Wingfield-Hayes

Camino Guide

Georgie is a British biologist and writer who lives in Spain and has a lifelong love for its language, people, culture, landscapes and nature. When not guiding pilgrim groups on the Camino, she spends time in the wild mountains of Sanabria in north-western Spain, writing about the relationship between humans and nature.

She first walked and guided on the Camino in 2006 and never tires of accompanying pilgrims on their journeys. Georgie brings a deep knowledge of Galician ecology, history and culture to the trail, helping pilgrims notice the small details—the birds, the wildflowers, the ancient stone crosses—that make the Camino come alive.

Marc Watkins

Camino Host & Guide

Marc first came to Spain in the 1980s and the food, the people, the warmth and light have kept him coming back ever since. After fifteen years of working as a chef in Ibiza, he is now based back in the UK and takes every opportunity to return and share his love of Spain as a host and guide to Insider's Camino pilgrims.

Marc arrived in Barcelona by train in 1986 on the day the city was named as host to the 1992 Olympics. The city erupted in celebration and protest. Watching it all from a bar at the top of the Ramblas, he fell in love with the contradiction of Spain on the spot.

Having grown up in a hotel and worked in the food industry all his life, food and looking after people is what moves him. After decades of living in Spain, Marc is now based in Brighton, UK where he writes crime novels and works as a private chef. Whenever possible he shoots off to Spain to act as host to pilgrims for Insider's Camino.

Marc's chef background brings a special dimension to our pilgrimages—he knows where to find the best octopus in Galicia, which restaurant serves the most authentic local dishes, and how to help pilgrims experience Spanish food culture at its best.

Expert Contributors

We collaborate with leading voices in Spanish history, theology and culture to enrich specific pilgrimages.

Portrait of Bishop Don Carlos López Lozano

Bishop Carlos López Lozano

Episcopal Bishop of Spain and member of the Anglican Communion, theologian and architectural historian. Bishop Carlos brings profound insight into the church's story in Spain and helps pilgrims understand the spiritual and historical context of the Camino.

He joins specific French Way pilgrimages to share his knowledge of Spain's religious history, architecture and the ongoing work of the Anglican church in the country.

Giles Tremlett

British historian, author and journalist, known for Ghosts of Spain and other works on Spanish history. Giles joins groups in Madrid at the start of certain French Way pilgrimages to share his perspective on Spain's past and present.

His talks help pilgrims understand the complex layers of Spanish history, politics and culture they'll encounter as they walk through the country—from the legacy of the Civil War to the deep Catholic roots that shaped the Camino itself.