Camping El Camino?

[Priscillian]

Here's a question I didn't expect to be asking and I'm sure it's been asked many times before. If so forgive me.
I am going to be driving from Finisterre through to Jaca along the Camino Frances/Aragones during July doing more research for the book I am currently writing. I hope to have the opportunity to stop into many albvergues and talk with hospitaleros etc, but obviously I will need somewhere else to stay. I'm not much one for hotels and anyway it can get pretty pricey so I have decided to take a tent. I'm a poor camper really but for the ease of it it seemed like a good idea. That is until I realised that I don't know a thing about campings/campsites on the Camino!
Can anyone give me any advice, a list, a website? I will have one car, a small tent, and me, not a motorhome!
Tracy Saunders
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.com

 

[CaminoJohn]

Hi Tracy!
I have camped along the camino both times I have walked. There are some really nice campgrounds along the route that have quiet clean bathrooms and restaurants. These campgrounds are close to the Albergues so you can socialize. I have even camped at albergues. The confraternity guide lists all, and since you have a car the distance from town is not too much of a challenge.
Here are some of the towns that have campgrounds in them that I have used:
Estella,Logrono,Najera (my favorite Camp in an old bull ring planted with fruit trees) the albergue En el Camino at Boadilla del Camino,Carrion de los Condes,Mansilla de las Mulas, Villadangos del Paramo, Hospital de Orbigo, the albergue Refugio Gaucelmo at Rabanal del Camino,the older albegue at Molinaseca, and Portomarin. I have also camped in the rough but you should be experienced for that.
Alternatives to hotels are casa rusticas, and hostals.
have a blast!
John

 

[Jochen_Schmidtke]

Re: List of Camping places along El Camino?

Hi Tracy.
Here you can download a list of camping sites along the Camino (eine Liste mit Zeltplätzen am Camino herunterladen).
Buen Camino
Jochen

 

[Priscillian]

Dear John and Jochen,
Estupendo! Fantastic, Unglaublich! That's a massive load off my shoulders. And good for developing my German too! It'll be odd being a motorised pilgrim after so many kilometers of foot leather, but I am really looking forward to meeting so many people connected with the Camino in different ways.
Thanks und danke,
Tracy
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.com
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.blogspot.com

 

[slometa]

Hi,
is it also possible only to put the sleeping back down and sleep under the sky? Would I have problems with that?
I also wonder if it is possible to get battery charger along the way. Mine is quite heavy, and cutting down the weight, I would love to leave it at home.
Coming soon... starting on 20th July!!!
Thanks,
Lana

 

[skilsaw]

Hi Lana,
The problem with just putting your sleeping bag down and sleeping where ever you find yourself is that you will become wet with the nightly dew. I would take some kind of waterproof cover for my sleeping bag if I intended to sleep outside like this.

As for battery chargers... different electronic devices have different plugs to their chargers. There are frequently others with cell phones, ipods, music machines, etc. but their battery chargers will probably not match your requirements.

I'm sure you will sort all these details out before you begin, but any issues left standing will sort themselves out on your journey.

Buen Camino,
David, Victoria, Canada

 

[Touristcub]

Past sarria, there are lots of little forrests and places/sites to sleep in, since if you do not make it to a albergue before 2pm, it might be your only choice. Just take a plastic sheet, light sleeping bag, extra food and water and be mentally available to the experience, you'll be fine.

 

[Steve.Belfast]

You'd probably need a bivouac bag to protect you and your sleeping bag from rain or dew.

 

[sillydoll]

Tracy - I have a post on my blog devoted to camping on the camino Frances.

http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2008/08/c ... ances.html

For a map of all the camping sites in Spain:
Zoom in to about 400% on the map on page one and look at the green tent icons.
You can also look at page two 'per autonomia' for camping locales.
http://elcaminosantiago.com/PDF/Map_Spain_Campings.pdf

 

[CaminoJohn]

Tracy, how was your camino?