Where to swim?

[BombayBill]

As a Canadian who blithely swims most everywhere and anywhere and assumes the water looks lovely, where does one safely swim/dunk/ plunge on any of the Caminos? Other than the ocean I am a little skeptical of European lakes, reservoirs and rivers. There seems to be agricultural run off everywhere with the potential of giardia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giardiasis

So where does one swim?

 

[mspath]

Here is an earlier thread re swimming on the camino.

In addition here is another great pool--
Municipial Sports Centre "San Ginés"
31132, Calle Regueta, 2, 31132 Villatuerta, Navarra, Spain

Happy splashing and Buen camino.

 

[BombayBill]

Here is an earlier thread re swimming on the camino.

In addition here is another great pool--
Municipial Sports Centre "San Ginés"
31132, Calle Regueta, 2, 31132 Villatuerta, Navarra, Spain

Happy splashing and Buen camino.

I should have more specific. I meant swimming au naturel. Once in the Pyrenees I came across a signed area saying that the region had been protected from cattle and agriculture in order to preserve the watershed. Off came the clothes and into the lake I went.

 

[lt56ny]

You trust Oceans? So do I so you have got the Norte and the Coastal Portuguese to walk and swim. Trouble is one unmentionable part of your anatomy may take weeks to find after swimming in that cold water!!!!

 

[Deleted member 73526]

You trust Oceans? So do I so you have got the Norte and the Coastal Portuguese to walk and swim. Trouble is one unmentionable part of your anatomy may take weeks to find after swimming in that cold water!!!!

The family jewels will recover. The bigger issue to be aware of is riptides. Some beaches on the north coast are particularly notorious:

Lifeguards urge caution after 115 drown in Spain in July and August

Nearly half of fatalities on beaches and in pools this year have occurred in summer period

english.elpais.com

As for river and lake swimming, I have seen official bathing areas in some rivers. I assumed that European regulations would mean that the water at such official spots is monitored, but I don't know for sure. I have swum at Rionegro del Puente on the Camino Sanabres. Very nice.

Apparently, one of the 20 most beautiful spots in Spain is "Pozas de Mougás (Pontevedra)," at Mougas in the county of Oia, on the coastal Camino Portugues. It doesn't look too far from the camino ... mind you, since the camino goes along the coast, you have no shortage of swimming opportunities in the sea.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

Video here:

If you're serious about maximizing your opportunities to swim, perhaps you should consider buying this guide to wild swimming spots throughout Spain:

Wild Swimming Spain book digital pdf (also info on ebook and apps) - Wild Things Publishing

www.wildthingspublishing.com

The website for the hardback edition includes a preview, where you can see a map of the swimming spots in the general area that the Camino Frances passes through. There are also a few on the VDLP near Caceres / Plasencia. Some (most?) of these will require a significant detour from the camino, but that may be worthwhile if your passion is wild swimming:

Wild Swimming Spain - Wild Things Publishing

www.wildthingspublishing.com

 

[BombayBill]

Excellent resource that I had forgotten about.

 

[lt56ny]

The family jewels will recover. The bigger issue to be aware of is riptides. Some beaches on the north coast are particularly notorious:

Lifeguards urge caution after 115 drown in Spain in July and August

Nearly half of fatalities on beaches and in pools this year have occurred in summer period

english.elpais.com

As for river and lake swimming, I have seen official bathing areas in some rivers. I assumed that European regulations would mean that the water at such official spots is monitored, but I don't know for sure. I have swum at Rionegro del Puente on the Camino Sanabres. Very nice.

Apparently, one of the 20 most beautiful spots in Spain is "Pozas de Mougás (Pontevedra)," at Mougas in the county of Oia, on the coastal Camino Portugues. It doesn't look too far from the camino ... mind you, since the camino goes along the coast, you have no shortage of swimming opportunities in the sea.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

Video here:

If you're serious about maximizing your opportunities to swim, perhaps you should consider buying this guide to wild swimming spots throughout Spain:

Wild Swimming Spain book digital pdf (also info on ebook and apps) - Wild Things Publishing

www.wildthingspublishing.com

The website for the hardback edition includes a preview, where you can see a map of the swimming spots in the general area that the Camino Frances passes through. There are also a few on the VDLP near Caceres / Plasencia. Some (most?) of these will require a significant detour from the camino, but that may be worthwhile if your passion is wild swimming:

Wild Swimming Spain - Wild Things Publishing

www.wildthingspublishing.com

When I walked the Norte it was October and November. I dipped my toes in once or twice and stopped there. When the beach had nice packed sand I walked in it as often as I could. I know you are right that there are some pretty treacherous areas to swim. You can really see it clearly when you are walking up on the cliffs looking down at beach and ocean's edge. I guess all those surfers know exactly where to go.

 

[Tincatinker]

As a Canadian who blithely swims most everywhere and anywhere and assumes the water looks lovely, where does one safely swim/dunk/ plunge on any of the Caminos? Other than the ocean I am a little skeptical of European lakes, reservoirs and rivers. There seems to be agricultural run off everywhere with the potential of giardia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giardiasis

So where does one swim?

@BombayBill "motes and beams" comes to mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollution_in_Canada
but beyond that the soundest advice I ever received was "swim where the locals swim". There aren't many "wild-swimming" opportunities on the Frances but there are a couple. The Norte has plenty of beaches, some of which are safe. The https://www.clubfluviallugo.com/ on the Primitivo is remembered in this house with great affection. Lires between Muxia and Fisterra has fantastic swimming but be aware there is a fierce, and spectacular, maelstrom at certain states of the tide. Local information is crucial, so practice your Spanish. "Es seguro nadar aquí"

 

[BombayBill]

@BombayBill "motes and beams" comes to mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollution_in_Canada
but beyond that the soundest advice I ever received was "swim where the locals swim". There aren't many "wild-swimming" opportunities on the Frances but there are a couple. The Norte has plenty of beaches, some of which are safe. The https://www.clubfluviallugo.com/ on the Primitivo is remembered in this house with great affection. Lires between Muxia and Fisterra has fantastic swimming but be aware there is a fierce, and spectacular, maelstrom at certain states of the tide. Local information is crucial, so practice your Spanish. "Es seguro nadar aquí"

When my lived experience is to swim hundreds of times a year in clean water I can forget that this is not true of everyone and everywhere. So the error in my thinking is more Dunning Kruger Effect than Motes and Beams.

My goal was to seek the joy of skinny dipping as it is known here and I apologize for giving offense.

 

[Tincatinker]

Skinny dipping in Spain? They'll think you are a native

 

[Roland49]

On the CF:
Molinaseca - River (Piscina fluvial). Did this in summer 2019, very refreshing after descent from the Cruz de ferro, with tons of kids in the water (start of the summer holidays).

Villafranca del Bierzo - River (Playa fluvial). Very nice spot. Every year there is a weekend with a hippie-festival down on the river-banks and in the town.

HTH

BC
Roland

 

[trecile]

Molinaseca - River (Piscina fluvial). Did this in summer 2019, very refreshing after descent from the Cruz de ferro, with tons of kids in the water

However, probably not a good place to swim "au naturale."