Mosquitos

[John Phillips]

I am planning to start the Camino at the end of August. will there be mosquitoes?

 

[RJM]

I've done multiple Camino's, encountered zero mosquitoes.
Zero ticks.
Zero bedbugs.
Zero chiggers.
Zero fleas.
A few houseflies.
A few horseflies.
A few gnats.

 

[naplesdon]

The only time I encountered mosquitoes was working at San Anton during July when there was a dust storm dropping various insects and dirt on us from North Africa. The mosquitoes that were included in the dust were large and had articulated bodies, unlike a "normal" mosquito, their bites were very painful and long lasting.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I got badly bitten by mosquitos walking to Finisterre two years running. Second time my face was so swollen I could see out of one eye only partly. I carried on and got some anti histamine in the next town. I had been bitten during the night in an albergue, but I was the only pilgrim bitten, they must just like me! I also got bitten two years running on the Primitivo too. Now I always carry anti histamine!

Davey

 

[C clearly]

I had been bitten during the night in an albergue, but I was the only pilgrim bitten

Mosquitoes?

 

[Davey Boyd]

Mosquitoes?

Yes definitely. I heard them, saw them and felt them biting too. No bedbugs though!

 

[LakeMcD]

Mosquitoes or bedbugs, hmmmm what a choice, at least one of them is polite enough to let you sleep.

 

[JillGat]

A small pump bottle of DEET spray. Solved.

 

[Anamiri]

I started on 1 September. No mosquitos.

 

[Kanga]

DEET in a tube. Copes with both bedbugs and mosquitos.

 

[RJM]

I got badly bitten by mosquitos walking to Finisterre two years running. Second time my face was so swollen I could see out of one eye only partly. I carried on and got some anti histamine in the next town. I had been bitten during the night in an albergue, but I was the only pilgrim bitten, they must just like me! I also got bitten two years running on the Primitivo too. Now I always carry anti histamine!

Davey

Those must have been some uber mosquitoes.
I've lived and worked in the American south and in Asia where mosquitoes so thick you can grab handfuls in air. Literally. Never experienced or saw anyone have such a severe reaction as you describe.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Those must have been some uber mosquitoes.
I've lived and worked in the American south and in Asia where mosquitoes so thick you can grab handfuls in air. Literally. Never experienced or saw anyone have such a severe reaction as you describe.

Yeah I have never had such a reaction before either. Weirdly the only time I have was on the Camino Finisterre two years running, 2017 and 2016. When my face was swollen in 2017 the pharmacist said something about it was due to the amount I was bitten overiding mt body defences, though her English wasn't so good so maybe I got that wrong. Still, I was swollen badly, but in no pain or other discomfort and the anti histamine worked well.

Davey

 

[Davey Boyd]

Mosquitoes or bedbugs, hmmmm what a choice, at least one of them is polite enough to let you sleep.

I prefer mosquito's at least you can walk away from them and not take them with you!,

 

[Felice]

I got bitten in Sept walking out of Boadilla, next to the canal, as the sun came up! Heard them, felt them, and killed a few too, but not before some had eaten their breakfast off me!

 

[Kim Wright]

DEET in a tube. Copes with both bedbugs and mosquitos.

Hi...just wondering where you get DEET in a tube and what is the brand name? I respond badly to mosquito bites (and even more so to bed bug bites) so would like to try anything that helps. I don't like mosquito spray and have a liquid form of DEET but the DEET in a tube sounds like it would be easier to apply. My husband and I are off to India next week (I'm sure we could use it there) and then doing the Portuguese Way starting at the end of Aug or very beginning of September/2018. We did the Camino Frances in 2015 and had no problems with mosquito but did run into bedbugs. Thanks for any help.

 

[C clearly]

Hi...just wondering where you get DEET in a tube and what is the brand name?

You don't say where you are located. If you google "deet lotion", you will find various brands. I also prefer a lotion to the spray.

 

[tpmchugh]

I am planning to start the Camino at the end of August. will there be mosquitoes?

No mosquitos but flies can be a nuisance. They dont bite but they buzz around your ears and face. In areas where they bothered me, I pulled my neck buff up over my nose and ears. Best solution though, and I have never done this on the Camino, is the good old Australian bush hat and corks. Works a treat with Irelands horse flies