Who Are Camino Women?
We are building a community for curious women who are ready to grab life (and a pair of hiking poles) with both hands. You know you’re a true Camino Woman when you’re ready to say they’re afraid, and still go and tackle any challenge – in a small group of like-minded hikers who often turn into lifelong friends.
Our founders (and a couple of travel enthusiasts), Rebeca and Mat Newton, wanted for their women-only travel community, Patch Adventures, to have a twin-sister that’s a tad more active and wants to trek in the least-touristy trails.
We’re a tight-knit team spread across the globe, giving you insider knowledge on your new favourite destinations. Our trip design team whips up heart-stopping hiking trails, the ops legends make sure it all runs smoothly, while marketing is here to inspire you with awesome shots from our adventures.
Our booking managers, Sophie and Pippa, who’ll be there to support you, are both experienced hikers. Just don’t ask them about their favourite trek (if you don’t want that phone call to last for hours).
On your Camino Woman adventure, you’ll walk off the beaten path, into locals’ homes for a home-made dinner, alongside a local guide who knows the trails like the back of their hand.
Rebeca & Matthew Newton
Co-Founders
Rebeca:
Travel is in my blood – my very first job was with Avianca, the largest airline in Latin America. I never looked back. Later, I co-founded TourismTiger with Mat, working with tour operators around the world.
In 2019, I thought: why not use those connections to create truly unforgettable travel experiences? A few years after starting Patch Adventures, I decided to also build a community for women hikers who want to use their sense of adventure to trek way off the beaten track.
I wanted to take the Patchie sense of community, friendship and curiosity into the hiking world. So, I’ve built a network of expert guides and a team full of experienced hikers. Our small team will be there to inspire you and support you every step of the way.
Matthew:
I never expected to be running a women-only travel company – but life had other plans.
In 2020, we started Patch Adventures (now part of Leatherback Travel). Rebeca was the heart of the business and I was helping part-time – until she got sick. Suddenly, I was running things full time.
A man leading a women-only travel company is unexpected, but I fell in love with it.
I’ve always believed in the power of travel to shift perspectives, and with Patch and Camino Women, we get to do that every single day. We take adventurous women to places most companies won’t touch, with local teams who care about the experience, not tourist attractions. I’m often on the road, meeting partners, discovering stories, and working with our amazing team across Australia and Europe – the ones who make the adventure possible.
Olivia Martin
General Manager
“I once sold everything I owned for an epic journey through Asia, including surprise stops in China and a heart-warming visit back to my roots in Ireland.”
About Olivia.
“I live on the NSW coast, but I actually grew up on an Ireland Camino route! It connects pilgrims to the Spain Camino, by sea. I’ve done it myself and have my Santiago de Compostela certificate to prove it!”
The hiking obsession.
“It comes from trekking around Ireland as mum’s ‘training buddy’, who walked and hiked all over the world, while raising money for charity.
Hiking is my meditation, my zen – it keeps me sane. I enjoy the challenge of pushing myself physically and mentally, getting to the peak, looking out over the view and feeling absolutely unstoppable.
These days you’ll find me scaling a mountain, dangling off a cliff (safely, of course!), wandering into a rainforest with no GPS in sight, or surrounded by nature. That’s where I’m my happiest.
Favourite hike… maybe all of them?! [laughs] If I had to pick the two closest to my heart they would be the Ireland Celtic Camino, of course, and the Trilho do Vinho do Porto, Douro Valley Portugal (I got engaged on this trip)! ”
Why I love my job!
I love that rush of excitement when you land in a new country (in my case 27 so far) ready to devour local cuisine (I ate fried spiders’ legs once!) and wine – guilt-free! – and soak up the vibes! It’s like a shot of adrenaline for the soul.
I say every woman needs to experience the magic and I am more than just a tad passionate about this. That’s why I sprinted to Camino Women faster than Usain Bolt – I’m here to bring your travel dreams to life!”
Sophie Stansfield
Booking Manager
“Adventures that lead to unforgettable multi-day hikes where I’d sleep in caves, canyons and river banks are my favourite kinds of hikes – even better when there’s a culinary experience thrown in.”
About Sophie.
“I’m originally from Yorkshire, England, but home is now the Sunshine Coast in Queensland where I live with my family. Travel and hiking are huge loves of mine, but good food and wine are right up there as well. Different cuisines make their way out of my kitchen each week!”
My hiking obsession.
“It didn’t start out purely as hiking, but more recently I’ve steered towards outdoor adventure, trekking the jungles of South East Asia, the rainforests of Australia and the mountains of Western Europe, for those cave and canyon experiences. And the outdoor foodie bit too!
My favourite travel experience until now was taking our son to Sri Lanka. To experience it through his eyes was life-changing. It encourages us to travel as a family more and more.”
Why I love my job!
“I love how hiking can take you to areas you wouldn’t be able to get to otherwise!
I particularly love to explore those destinations off-the-beaten-track, or done differently, which I feel aligns really well with the purpose of Camino Women.
It is an absolute pleasure to manage itineraries for courageous women trekking around the world!”
Pippa Chisholm
Booking Manager
“I hope I will be able to inspire you to grab your precious life and travel as far and wide as you can.”
About Pippa.
“I’ve lived in multiple countries and visited over twenty-five, either on horseback or with hiking poles in hand.
I have three amazing children who all share my wanderlust. One is currently living in Thailand and one is starting a business in the US. I’m happy they too have found their wings.”
My hiking obsession.
“When I was 17, my mom encouraged me to travel to Nepal. I hiked Annapurna Sanctuary, visited Chitwan National Park, rafted down a river – and most importantly, I caught the travel bug and was instantly hooked on seeing the world.
I’m lucky to say that I’ve seen the views from Mount Kilimanjaro’s highest peak not once, but twice in my lifetime. Probably as special – each of the nine hundred kilometres of the Camino de Santiago that I trekked solo. Everest Base Camp had also found its way into my hiking adventures mix.”
Why I love my job!
“Landing my dream job feels surreal. Talking to brave women every day and swapping hiking stories with them really inspires me.
I am here to help with anything you need and I hope to see you on one (or many) of our fabulous adventures.”
