Mosquitos, ticks or other wild life on the CF

Corinne Lombardi

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2017

• Dec 10, 2017

• #1

I will be walking the CF in September next year. Should I plan on finding mosquito, tick or other little beasties along the route?

 

Rick M

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

April ('16,'18, '19, 22)
Sept ('21, '23)

• Dec 10, 2017

• #2

The beastie of choice on the Camino is bed bugs. Mosquitoes and ticks are not really an issue. In September though, you will probably have your first encounter with the night time visitors. To my knowledge, nobody has died from this yet. If you search the forum, you will find lots of advice about this, which won't change too much, but might make you feel better.

Buen Camino!

 

Sailor

Donante Vitalicio

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Infinito

• Dec 10, 2017

• #3

Walked in September and October this year. Bunch of flies in one small town in La Meseta, no other issues, I would not worry about carrying mosquito repellant. Feliz Navidad y que la luz de Dios alumbre su camino.

 

Allyson Hughes

just one more...

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances fall of 2017
Le Puy en Velay Aug-Sept 2019 and
Camino Frances Sept.-November 2019

• Dec 10, 2017

• #4

The biggest problem I encountered was flies on the meseta. Most of the albergues and businesses have beads hanging in their doors that keep the flies outside. They were annoying but not dangerous. Luckily I didn't encounter bedbugs, but talked to and saw a few folks who did.

 

Tincatinker

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012

• Dec 10, 2017

• #5

Corinne Lombardi said:

I will be walking the CF in September next year. Should I plan on finding mosquito, tick or other little beasties along the route?

Click to expand...

Corrine, welcome to the forum. You'll encounter all of the above but none to nuisance levels if you follow the excellent advices to be found here. The dread bed bug - our closest companion for the last million years - is around of course. Mosquitos & ticks are an occasional but rare nuisance. The usual, sensible, precautions will deal with them all.
The other things to be ware of: Smuggits and Platitudes abound, as do Bintheredonethats. None of these present any real threat so long as you walk your Camino for the reasons that you want to walk it.
Walk to Santiago, as many have - the little beasties can never stop you

 

ranthr

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

C Frances 2005, 2007
Le Puy en Velay -SdC 2009
Via de la Plata 2011
gr 653 from Oloron to Puente la Reina 2012
Gr65 from le Puy to Figeac 2013
Irun to Santander 2013
Porto to SdC 2014
Astorga to SdC 2015

• Dec 11, 2017

• #6

Why not bring a headnet to put over your caps if there are flies. Does not weigh or cost much. Have met some storms of flies on the meseta in september/october and envied those who have brought a net. Could be good at night too if there are mosquitos in the room

 

Trude

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Francais 2013 Finnestere, Muxia 2013, 2017
Norte 2014, Francais, 2015, 2016, VDLP 2017

• Dec 11, 2017

• #7

Never encountered anything not even a cockroach, coming from Australia it's a dream country.

 

JanelMcB

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF (2018)

• Dec 11, 2017

• #8

I've been told that auberges that have wood floors are the ones most likely to have bed bugs. To keep critters out of your pack, place it in a large plastic trash bag and tie it tight. Hope for the best for yourself in bed.

 

David

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

First one in 2005 from Moissac, France.

• Dec 12, 2017

• #9

Hi Corinne, good question. I have being going to Camino to offer first aid and pastoral care since I did my virgin Camino from Moissac in the year five - do you know, I don't think I have ever been mosquito bit, nor heard one whining by my ears, but that may be faulty memory. Wait, once in Fromista!! have also never personally encountered bed bugs, though the thought makes my skin crawl, but I have helped many who have had a strong allergic reaction to them.

As for tics, in the last twelve years I have never been concerned about these, not at all, until I contracted Lyme's disease from a really brief tic bite on the Meseta this spring. Not too pleasant and I am now totally wary!!!!

 

Last edited: Dec 12, 2017

Northernlights

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2016

• Apr 24, 2022

• #10

I didn’t see tics, flys or mosquitoes. I did see a big old wild boar, thankfully he was dead laying in the path and someone was coming to haul him away. I did unfortunately deal with bed bugs, once I did all of laundry in high heat after a few days with cream from the pharmacy all was good. Enjoy your walk, bugs and all.