WHO WE ARE
American Pilgrims on the Camino is the only US-based association for people interested in the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a network of ancient European pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer driven, organization consisting of more than 2,000 dues paying members from throughout the United States as well as several other countries.
Our Values
Our four values are rooted in our collective experiences as pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. We do our best to ensure that every decision we make and every action we take reflects these values:
- Community
- Service
- Gratitude
- Simplicity
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Follow this link to the full list.
- Registration for the 2020 Gathering of Pilgrims (in Lake Tahoe, NV) is now open! For more details click this link.
- Registration for hospitalero training inThe next hospitalero training session is March 10-12, 2020. Membership in American Pilgrims is required. Details on our Hospitalero Training page.
- Applications for the Ribadiso Welcome Service are being accepted! Volunteering at Ribadiso is a unique experience. 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. Sound interesting? Download the Ribadiso information sheet!
- Going to Europe in 2021? Changes are coming! Learn about ETIAS.
- Services at the Cathedral de Santiago are suspended due to renovations in the central nave. See the Full List of temporary locations of the services. The Cathedral is expected to be back in full service "early in 2020". Read the announcement in Español or in English.
WHAT WE DO
Support
Supporting Camino infrastructure is one way we give back to the Way. Your membership dues and generous donations allow us to award competitive grants each year to albergues and pilgrim associations in Spain, France and Portugal to fund projects that improve pilgrim accommodations and waymarking.
We train more than 75 volunteer hospitaleros annually who then serve our fellow pilgrims.
Gather
Bringing pilgrims together and creating community is core to our mission. Each year, we host a Gathering, which brings 200-300 pilgrims together to learn about the Camino and celebrate all the Camino has provided us.
In addition, we have more than 50 local chapters gathering pilgrims at the local level for hikes, mentoring, potlucks and movie nights, all in an effort to create a bit of Camino community here at home.
Inform
Providing information and encouragement to pilgrims is key to ensuring they expand their knowledge of the Camino and have a positive experience along the Way. We are the only American organization to issue pilgrim credentials. On our website you can learn about the Camino through history, statistics and route overviews, and find answers to your questions in our FAQs. In “La Concha” our member newsletter, we publish articles, book reviews, photographs and news about our organization, members and the Camino itself. You're invited to join our Facebook group to exchange info and ideas.
The Spirit of the Camino
Live in the moment
Welcome each day – its pleasures and its challenges
Make others feel welcome
Share
Feel the spirit of those who have gone before you
Imagine those who will follow you
Appreciate those who walk with you today
Rev 11/26/19