A Balsa

‘Come in, take a bed and have a shower. We’ll check you in later’

If only other Albergue’s and hostels did this.
Great Albergue, nice vegan meal.

Nicely in a forest on the San Xil route to Sarria.

I really recommend this Albergue

Super nice place to stay. Small forest behind the house with hammocks - almost fell asleep there to the sound of nature all around. Sturdy bunk beds without any shaking and clean rooms. The completely homemade dinner was delicious and definitely enough. Would stay here again gladly.

This is a hidden gem of the Camino, it is only 2.5 km further along the alternate Camino route from Triacastela, and in a gorgeous location. There is nothing else around but everything you need is in the albergue. It’s a very relaxed vibe, super friendly hosts and has a lovely garden with lots of seating (even hammocks and a tree swing!!) Dinner was delicious and very filling I really enjoyed it. Jessica is a great cook and was amazing to accommodate my nut allergy whilst cooking vegan food. It is the most gorgeous place to relax after a day on the Camino. I recommend everyone to stay here, there’s even a river nearby to dip your feet!!

This ecological albergue rests in a quiet green valley and comes as a very welcome change for anyone looking for some quiet time surrounded by nature! With their down to earth vibes, friendly check in with the Dutch host Marijn, hammocks in the forest, delicious communal dinner (partially sourced from their own garden and) cooked by the delightful Italian hostess Jessica, this place felt like a holiday on the Camino. We are not vegan but the three course meal was super tasty and very filling! They give the pilgrims space to land and be by themselves (or with each other) and only interact when it's time for checking in, dinner or if you have any questions. They're both super warm and helpful people! We arrived, picked a bed, had a lovely shower in the eco-lodge style bathrooms (stone walls with niches), did our laundry and headed straight for the hammocks before we even saw anyone. It felt so comfortable and homey (as opposed to a lot of the very structured albergues). The cool wooden bunks were comfy (nice to feel actual linen as opposed to the plastic sheets!) and they put out a basic self service breakfast for those who want (if you need more, you will find Terra de Luz with a big donativo buffet further up the hill). The location of El Beso is fantastic and the people are lovely so definitely choose to walk the extra 2km for something unique instead of stopping in Triacastela!

Stayed here in October 2023. Wonderfully relaxing place with lots of evidence of past recycling, beautiful vegan food, friendly but unintrusive hostess, unhurried exit time etc etc. Would certainly stay here again if I ever do another camino.

Just up the road from El Beso auberge is a wonderful surprise… an Art Gallery! The restored building grabs your attention & Arthur’s Camino watercolors are beautiful. You may even get your credential hand painted.

Don’t fear the la k of breakfast in Balsa. Pass through Montan and you’ll find the pilgrim rest stop on left with tons of fruit, snacks, juices and such. Run by Australians.

This place has it all. Friendly hosts, a delicious pilgrims meal, bunk beds that are funky and comfortable, and a place to relax in the woods out back. Even a trampoline for the kids. We were able to securely store our bikes.

We decided to walk slightly further past Triacastela to A Balsa, Albergue El Beso. We had an amazing stay. The albergue is beautiful - timber bunks and great showers, and a hammocks area out the back of the albergue. The owners Marijn and Jessica are vegans (we are not vegan ourselves), and we got served an amazing meal - one of the best we have had on the Camino! Highly highly recommend this as a place to stay.

It’s a very laid back albergue with a selection of hammocks in the woods at the back of the albergue.

The albergue had a hippy, chilled vibe with wooden bunks in one room and a smaller room with four beds nearest the kitchen.

We had dinner outside and all the windows and doors were left open - which led to a mosquito invasion once the lights were out. I’ve never experienced so many in one room, as they buzzed about my head, dive bombing me in the dark. I thought I was going to wake up the next morning looking like a well used pin cushion.

Insect dive bombing aside, this rustic hippie enclave should appeal to pilgrims keen to escape the municipal experience

This place was a delight. There are thoughtfully placed seating areas outside with gorgeous views of the valley. The owners are a couple who met on the Camino and now live on the Camino, sharing their eco-friendly worldview with pilgrims. Delicious vegan meal. Quiet solid bunks and dark room. One of my best sleeps on the Camino.

Très bel endroit, cool, ressemble à un refuge montagnard ! Délicieux repas végétarien.
Je recommande hautement ce gîte.

I stayed here in October. Family-run, home-cooked meal and breakfast options. Pleasant atmosphere creating good camaraderie among the pilgrims.

I have the pleasure of staying at this Albergue.

Accommodation was excellent the room was clean the shower I had plenty of hot water for all the pilgrims that stayed for the night.

The new management made us all feel welcome and didn’t rush just to either register and pay for our night is accommodation dinner and breakfast.

As always there was plenty of nature to sit at and appreciate under the old trees, in the Hammick‘s and also just being able to relax outside of the normal rat race of the general Camino.

Having stayed here now several times I would recommend it to anybody.

While the food is vegetarian it is plentiful tasteful well presented and totally enjoyable.

The beds were comfortable and due to the way the whole facility is put together allowed a good nights rest

excellent place and amazing garden.