The CSJ looks after two pilgrim hostels in Spain.  One is Refugio Gaucelmo in the village of Rabanal del Camino on the Camino Francés and the other is Albergue San Martín in the hamlet of Miraz on the Camino del Norte. 

We recruit and train volunteers from our members to run these hostels in groups of 3 or 4 for two weeks at a time. 

They are responsible for admitting and welcoming pilgrims, cleaning and maintaining the hostel and liaising with local people.  It is the ultimate way to give back to your experiences you had on your camino – by looking after those on theirs.

We are keen to recruit volunteer wardens with the ability to:

  • give pilgrims a warm welcome;
  • establish good working relationships with other wardens;
  • establish good relations with persons in the villages of Miraz and Rabanal;
  • be able to deal with the practical problems of a refugio;
  • project a presence which reflects positively on the aims and objects of the CSJ UK.

We do have selection criteria for our hospitaleros:

Hospitaleros should normally:

  • have done the pilgrimage themselves (so they fully understand the problems and experiences, both good and bad, of pilgrims);
  • be a member of the CSJ UK or equivalent pilgrim association of a different country;
  • have a reasonable command of Spanish (one of you should be able to hold a telephone conversation in this language);and
  • have attended a training day (before being a hospitalero for the first time).
  • be in good health and capable of coping with the physical and mental demands of a busy refugio (lots of early starts, cleaning, washing and maintenance chores, spending time attending to pilgrims)

Please contact the CSJ office and put for the attention of the hospitalero coordinator for your preferred hostel:

Refugio Gaucelmo, Rabanal – Julie Davies

Albergue San Martin, Miraz – Priscilla White

Hospitalero training is also available in:

USA. See the American Pilgrims on the Camino website for details.

Australia. See the Pilgrims in Sydney website for date and location of the next training session or contact Julie in their office for more information.