Valerie Haberman
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- September/October (2017) Camino Frances
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I think you will be very happy with your decision.I'm in SJPdP now. At first as I was planning to bring my tent as I love camping, but I'm now glad I didn't as I'm mentally preparing to cross over the Pyrenees tomorrow and I feel my bag is already too heavy. I did compromise by taking a small light weight camping burner, but it is highly possible that I won't carry it all the way to Santiago. Buen Camino
People wanting to shower and sleep in their tent might be able to work out a deal with albergues to sleep in their yards (as some have mentioned above)...probably depends on their space, and any limits fire safety would have, and I'd investigate that with email or calls to the albergues during the planning portion of the trip. The right thing to do in such a situation is pay the same fee you would for a bed, as you are taking advantage of their facilities, utilities, security, etc and putting some wear and tear on their yard... and to meet safety and comfort issues (number of pilgrims per bathroom) they may need to keep one bed empty to allow for your presence in your tent.I finished a few weeks ago, I saw half a dozen people camping in the month I walked. It looked like a great option to the nightly snorefest, except for the whole not showering thing.
... they may need to keep one bed empty to allow for your presence in your tent....
so the limiting factor may just be how long they want the line for the bathroom to getNo, they won't. Insurance limits are per person in the building, not counting anybody in the garden. SY
"Bivouacking" is not directly named (thus vague), but the laws are quite precise. It has nothing to do with skirting them or whatever: camping in the Autonomous Communities along the CF is legal, if respecting the given dispositions. To each person the decision to camp or not.Not too sure if skirting vague Spanish laws on whether it is legal or not to camp along the CF is a good idea. That's like saying it's okay to criminal trespass because the landowner probably won't know you did it.
The Camino is not suited for camping. Much of the route passes through active agricultural areas where camping would involve damaging crops or setting up on cow patties. Surface water quality is suspect ... due to industrial farming ... so you'd have to carry your water for the time spent in campsites.
If you want to go hiking try looking for GR routes.
I think the point he was making was wild camping is illegal, and damaging to our host nation. Camping might be allowed at an albergue, but you should expect to pay the same fee as a bed fee so not really cheaper probably. perhaps consider saving more (delay trip) or not staying as long (less cost)
you may want to research the donativo (donation according to what you can pay) albergues, and map out a route using them as much as possible. You could contact them in advance via email or phone, to see if they allow camping on their grounds.Thanks you. I am considering doing less. This is the only time I will have two months to go off on a journey like this in the foreseeable future so I am trying to make it work the best I can while maximizing the opportunity. I definitely do not want to offend our host nation or cause and kind of damage. I appreciate all the tips. Thanks again.
I've done several Caninos in Spain and slept outside a lot. I've also met many people who only camped the whole way and had neither troubles or regrets. We all enjoyed it and had nice and comfortable nights...
Like said, there are not so many camping grounds. However, it's legally ok to wild-camp: there are just some rules to be aware of. I also disagree with the idea that the Camino is not suited for camping: it's a place like any other. It's always possible to find a decent and respectful spot to (wild-)camp; I found it not too hard to find such spots either.
As for gears, it's quite a matter... lots to say and think about it! But it's doable to have stuffs that are not too heavy or too expensive. (Ie. I've walked a Camino with a 6kg backpack that had everything I needed to comfortably sleep and cook outside).
Wild camping is very regulated in Spain and reference to bivouacking is vague. The topic is quite complex and gives Spanish people themselves quite a headache. A state law considers camping a gathering of tents in a 500m radius. It's "wild camping" when out of camping grounds and forbidden for more than 3 tents, 10 campers and 3 days in a row. So, legally and theoretically, bivouacking is ok. But each autonomous community can regulate their own area to their will and sames goes for municipalities: that's where things get messy.
To make it short and simple, on the CFrancés (Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y Leon and Galicia), if it's camping as 1 tent, 1 person, 1 night, it's legally and theoretically ok.
Note also that legally, one is supposed to respect the environment (basically, leave no trace), keep some distance with drinkable water and monuments, that camp fire are a touchy subject and that some areas are more regulated than others (natural parks, beaches...)
Of course, all of this doesn't necessarily keep you from eventual troubles or visits by the Guardia Civil in the middle of the night...
All that said, at the end, it's down to personal needs, preferences and choices. Like you say, there are lots of mixed information: seeking advice is good, but you'll have mixed ones too. The idea is to narrow the answers to find your own and unique truth. I think it's all about knowing yourself and answering questions...
Why do you want to camp? Is is for the fun/beauty/challenge/... of it, or to save money? How adventurous are you? What degree of (dis-)comfort can you stand? Are you ok to sleep in open spaces or do you need secured ones? Do you need a tent? Could you be happy with a tarp? ... And so on
Buen prep!
Here on the forum https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...lbergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/ is a PDF with all the albergues on the CF and their costs ;-)
The worst 'bed race' is over by Sep/Oct and you shouldn't have a problem to find an affordable bed in an albergue that has a kitchen (which allows you to prepare your own meals, alone or with others, which would be even cheaper).
A very basic camino (cheapest albergue, preparing always your own meals, no eating/drinking out etc.) can be done in my opinion at around ~20 Euro a day or a bit less. Buen Camino, SY
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