Along a rugged stretch of Spain’s Catalan coast, where forested hills meet the quiet rhythm of the Mediterranean, Jess and Zoe, two Macs Adventure Destination Experts, set out on their hike - and stumbled upon something unexpectedly magical. What began as an ordinary day turned into a story they’d carry with them long after the trail ended. Read Jess’s story... 

On June 11th, somewhere between the sun-dappled forests and the turquoise whispers of the Mediterranean Sea, Zoe and I were walking a trail from Calella de Palafrugell to La Fosca. It was one of those days where the world feels like it's quietly opening itself to you - every turn of the path revealing another untouched cove, like we’d wandered into a secret part of the world. 

As we headed down to one particularly secluded beach to put our shoes back on, something unusual caught our eye - a small, weather-worn fisherman’s house nestled between the rocks. It seemed abandoned at first, but as curiosity pulled us closer, we met Kiko. 

Kiko is the kind of person you don’t forget. Warm smile, kind eyes, and this calm, free-spirited energy that makes you feel instantly at ease. He greeted us like old friends and asked where we were from and if we were doing the Catalan Coast hike. Then, out of nowhere, he asked if we wanted to make a wish. 

“I collect them,” he said. “Everyone who passes by.” 

Inside his modest space, there’s a wall of wishes - scraps of paper with hopes, dreams, maybe even secrets - on a wall. And every year, on 31st December at exactly 11 PM, he burns them in a little ritual of release and renewal. It’s his way of sending everyone’s wishes out into the universe. 

Why 11? “It’s my number,” he smiled. “I was born on 11th July. It’s special to me.” 

But Kiko isn’t just about wishes. He lives simply, inspired by the values of the Apache and Sioux peoples - respect for nature, taking only what you need, giving back where you can. He said he feels people have lost something sacred since the pandemic - “They want too much now,” he said. “They’ve forgotten how to just be.” So, he’s made it his mission to spread a little more kindness.  

On the trail, he helps out however he can. Water, plasters, a word of encouragement - whatever someone might need. He describes himself as a “hipster spreading peace and love,” and honestly, he kind of is. But not in a cliché way. In a “this-is-what-the-world-needs-more-of” kind of way.  

Before we left, we asked him what message he’d want the world to hear. Without missing a beat, he looked at the sea and said: 

“Que la gente tendría que ser menos egoísta y haber más amor entre las personas.” 
 “People should be less selfish, and there should be more love between us.” 

That simple truth moved us and stayed with us ever since. 

If you ever find yourself walking the Catalan Coast, keep an eye out for the little fisherman’s house. You might just meet Kiko. You might write down a wish. And who knows – maybe, come New Year’s Eve, your wish will rise into the night sky, carried by fire and a bit of magic and come true. 

Because sometimes, the most unforgettable part of an adventure isn’t the view - it’s the people you meet along the way.