Volunteering in Ribadiso
Volunteering in Ribadiso
Pilgrims' hostel, Ribadiso de Abaixo, A Coruña province, Galicia, Spain.
Source Material: American Pilgrims on the Camino
Where is Ribadiso?
Ribadiso is located on the Camino Francés about 40 kilometers before Santiago de Compostela in the verdant Galician countryside.
Located on the River Iso, this municipal albergue is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful on the entire Camino Francés. Some refer to it as “Ribadiso Paraíso.” About 40 kilometers before Santiago de Compostela, the albergue has 60 beds plus an additional four beds reserved for pilgrims with disabilities.
Why American Pilgrims on the Camino?
American Pilgrims on the Camino has a special relationship with the Galician government to provide volunteers at the historic Ribadiso albergue, which originally was a 15th-century pilgrim hospital.
Serve your fellow pilgrims in Ribadiso. Volunteering at the historic albergue at Ribadiso, Spain, is a unique opportunity offered to members of American Pilgrims on the Camino by the Galician government.
The Main Purpose of Being at Ribadiso
Volunteers commit to a 15/16-day period of service, for the first or second half of the month.
Volunteers are expected to care for pilgrims by welcoming them to the albergue and being available to assist them during their stay. Because of the way albergues are managed in Galicia, volunteers have a fair amount of free time to engage with the local population, explore or work on their own projects.
Ribadiso volunteers welcome pilgrims to the albergue, offer them water, show them to their assigned bunks, provide information about the albergue’s facilities (showers, coin-operated washers and dryers, hand laundry sinks and clotheslines, common room) as well as tell them about the village. Ribadiso has a privately run albergue, a pensión, and a restaurant/bar adjacent to the municipal albergue.
Volunteers also offer information about the surrounding area. The nearest supermarket and pharmacy are in Arzúa, a three-kilometer walk away. Two additional bars are about a kilometer away from the albergue in either direction along the Camino. Answering questions, listening to pilgrims who want to discuss their Camino joys and sorrows, helping resolve problems such as locating a pilgrim’s backpack that was sent to Ribadiso but hasn’t arrived, are other aspects of this experience.
Volunteers also offer information about the surrounding area. The nearest supermarket and pharmacy are in Arzúa, a three-kilometer walk away. Two additional bars are about a kilometer away from the albergue in either direction along the Camino. Answering questions, listening to pilgrims who want to discuss their Camino joys and sorrows, helping resolve problems such as locating a pilgrim’s backpack that was sent to Ribadiso but hasn’t arrived, are other aspects of this experience.
What's a Ribadiso Volunteer's Day Like?
Pilgrims must leave the albergue by 8 a.m. Volunteers remove the disposable sheets, do light sweeping of the albergue, clean up the grounds, and collect anything left behind for the donativo shelf. These chores take minimal time. Until the albergue opens at 1 pm, volunteers are free to engage with the local population, explore the area, and work on their own projects.
Volunteers do not register pilgrims, collect fees, cook meals for pilgrims or conduct prayer services or other spiritual get-togethers. As part of the network of Galician albergues, Ribadiso has paid staff who register pilgrims, accept their fees and clean the albergue. The Xacobeo, the regional government agency in charge of Camino matters in that area, supervises the operation of the albergue.
How Does it Work?
Volunteers serve in pairs. The Ribadiso Welcome Service committee will match volunteers if you are not volunteering with someone you know.
Volunteers must be members of American Pilgrims on the Camino and be in good health and physical condition.
Hospitalero training and/or experience in serving pilgrims in the Pilgrim offices in St. Jean Pied de Port or Santiago de Compostela are helpful but not required.
Spanish language skills are highly recommended. The committee works to ensure that at least one volunteer is a Spanish speaker. Abilities in other languages are a plus.
American Pilgrims on the Camino provides volunteers from May 15 to October 31.
Volunteers are responsible for travel expenses to/from Ribadiso as well as food and incidentals while volunteering in Ribadiso.
American Pilgrims on the Camino provides each volunteer team with a small stipend to cover the costs of cups for water, wrapped hard candies and clothespins that the team makes available for pilgrims.
Volunteers have use of a furnished two-bedroom apartment with kitchen, bathroom, eating and living room areas at no cost to them.
Volunteers are expected to keep the apartment tidy and to leave it in good shape for the next team of volunteers. Only volunteers in the program may stay in the apartment and only during their time of service.
| Date | 25 June 2026 |
| Total All Caminos: | 2450 miles |
| Total Lodging: | |
| Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: | $ 1000 / $ 199 |
| Total Transportation: | $ 1000 |
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