Life as a Hospitalero in Arres – Mark’s Camino Story of Service and Connection
Walking the Camino Aragones we arrive at Arres. Where we discover how is the life of a hospitalero. Listen to this amazing story if you wanna know more.
After completing multiple Caminos with his wife, Mark felt the pull to give back. They attended a hospitalero training course and were assigned to Arres, a quiet village on the Camino Aragonés. The placement offered a new perspective – not as walkers, but as caretakers of the pilgrim community, ensuring others could enjoy the same magic they had once received.
From Pilgrim to Host
Mark’s Camino journey began thanks to his wife, who first suggested they walk together. Over the years, they completed the Camino Francés three times and explored many routes in France. After retiring, Mark decided to start his pilgrimage the traditional way – from his own front door in Toulouse – walking 49 days to Santiago.
Answering the Call to Serve
Having walked as pilgrims, Mark and his wife wanted to give back. They trained as hospitaleros, learning the essentials of welcoming and caring for travelers. In Spain, they were placed in the donativo albergue in Arres, a small village along the Camino Aragonés. There, Mark greeted pilgrims and his wife cooked hearty meals – the perfect team.
A Day in Arres
Life as a hospitalero starts early. Breakfast is prepared at dawn, followed by cleaning, shopping in the nearest town 25 km away, and welcoming pilgrims from around the world. The albergue becomes a hub of connection, where stories are shared over dinner and bonds form between strangers on the same road. For Mark, the experience is not just about service but about becoming part of the Camino’s living heart.
Mark is a French pilgrim, hospitalero, and member of the Pilgrim Association in Toulouse, dedicated to supporting walkers on their way to Santiago.
In Episode 3 of El Camino People – The Podcast, host José Mariá meets Marc, a French pilgrim-turned-hospitalero, serving in one of the few donativo albergues on the Camino Aragonés. From walking thousands of kilometers with his wife to caring for weary pilgrims in Spain, Marc shares what it means to give back to the Camino.
From Pilgrim to Hospitalero
Marc has walked the Camino three times, always with his wife—beginning in France and extending to Santiago. Their most ambitious journey began at their doorstep in Toulouse, covering 49 days of walking across France and Spain. What started as his wife’s idea became a shared passion, eventually inspiring them to serve others on the trail.
The Work of a Hospitalero
Being a hospitalero isn’t just about hospitality—it’s a full-time commitment. Marc walks us through a typical day at the albergue in Arres:
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6:00 AM: Start the day preparing breakfast
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8:00 AM: See off the pilgrims
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Morning: Clean the facilities top to bottom
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Midday: Drive 25km for groceries
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Afternoon: Welcome new arrivals and prep dinner
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10:00 PM: Lights out
“It’s hard work, but rewarding,” Marc explains. His wife handles cooking while he connects with pilgrims—many of whom come from all corners of the world, including Korea, thanks to an unexpected cultural phenomenon involving a pop group’s Camino story.
Why Arres?
Marc’s current placement in Arres is part of a broader system run by an organization coordinating hospitalero volunteers across Spain. He and his wife were assigned the location, but they’ve fallen in love with the experience—and the town. “The villagers are incredibly welcoming. The Camino brings life to small towns like this.”
