The pilgrims who arrive in Ferrol these days to begin the Camino Inglés are encountering an unexpected problem: the city's public shelter has been closed for more than a week. As published this Monday Ferrol Diary, the closure would be related to the appearance of bed bugs in some beds, although Turismo de la Xunta officially limits itself to pointing out that maintenance work is being carried out.
The problem also arrives at one of the worst possible times.
August is traditionally the busiest month for the Ferrol hostel and thousands of pilgrims use the city as a starting point to tour the English Way towards Santiago de Compostela.
Those who arrive these days at Casa do Mar find the facility closed and a sign that only informs them that it remains inoperative. “for technical reasons”.
Bed bugs in some beds, according to published information
According to information published this August 17 by Ferrol Diary, the reason for the closure would be related to the detection of bed bugs in some of the beds in the establishment.
However, at the moment there is no official confirmation from Tourism of the Xunta about that specific cause.
The regional administration, responsible for the public network of shelters, has told the newspaper that the building will remain inactive while maintenance work is carried out, without offering more details about the work.
This difference is important: The closure is confirmed; The presence of bedbugs comes from information collected by the media and not from an official communication from the Xunta
The real problem: where do the pilgrims sleep now?
Beyond the cause of the closure, the situation is causing a very practical problem.
Finding alternative accommodation in Ferrol during August can be difficult due to high hotel occupancy. A list of other establishments in the city has also been posted at the door of the hostel to guide those who arrive looking for a bed.
The situation has caused complaints on social networks and even, according to the newspaper, some pilgrim would have spent the night outdoors next to the access to the hostel not finding an alternative.
Neda is also on the edge
And moving to the next public shelter does not guarantee a solution either.
The hostel of Neda, another of the references of the Camino Inglés, is registering a very high occupancy these days. From the facility itself they point out that the beds become exhausted during the early hours of the morning.
It cannot be said that this saturation is a direct consequence of the closure of Ferrol, because August is already usually one of the months with the highest demand.
But the coincidence complicates the situation even more.
A hostel with 60 beds at kilometer zero of the Camino Inglés
The closure has special importance due to Ferrol's strategic position.
The city is one of the main starting points of the Camino Inglés and the public hostel has 60 seats, two adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Furthermore, its use was growing strongly.
During 2025 they stayed there 3,719 pilgrims, compared to the 3,129 registered in 2024. Only in August of last year there were 815 overnight stays, the establishment's monthly historical record.
Precisely for this reason, the fact that it remains closed for more than a week in the middle of August represents a relevant impact for those who have organized their Camino counting on sleeping in Ferrol before starting to walk.
Attention if you are going to start the Camino Inglés now
The situation leaves a particularly important recommendation for pilgrims who plan to start the Camino Inglés from Ferrol during these days:
It is not advisable to arrive in the city assuming that there will be a place in the public shelter.
While it remains closed, it is advisable to check the available alternatives in advance and avoid relying solely on finding accommodation upon arrival, especially during this period of peak demand.
The Camino Inglés remains open.
But its kilometer zero has these days 60 fewer beds available just when they are needed most.
