Can you Camp on the Camino de Santiago?

On the Camino de Santiago, you can sleep in hostels or Albergues along the way. Camping is not the right fit in most circumstances when walking the Camino Frances or Portuguese. Let’s get into the reasons.

Infrastructure on the Camino is not meant for camping

When hiking with a tent, sleeping bag, mat, and all that goes with it you also need a campsite to sleep in. Campsites are often located far from the Camino trail and you will need to backtrack a bunch.

Wildcamping is not allowed in Spain and you will get fined accordingly depending on the location that your camping in. It is not impossible to stay in a tent and wild camp along the way, but you will have to be on your toes and be prepared to move and pay the fine when getting caught. Which can vary in cost, but may be as high as 3000 euros. I’m guessing you rather walk another Camino or two with Albergues and meals included for that kind of cash.

For that big reason, camping is not the recommend method of sleeping along the Camino de Santiago.

Other reasons include the following, which I hope will steer you towards Albergues.

The social aspect of Albergues

What you will miss out on the most when staying in a tent on the Camino is the social aspect of Albergues. Interacting with other pilgrims and locals is a big part of the Camino. Hearing each other’s stories, clinking glasses of cheap wine after a fatty menu del dia, sharing tips and information, and just enjoying being away from real life is a big draw to Albergues.

Yes, in Albergues you will have less privacy, more snoring, and generally rude people who make a racket a 6 in the morning. But everything is worth getting used to. Earplugs and sleeping masks are out there for the light sleepers. Chances are you should probably get up early as well.

Albergues are also only accessible by other Pilgrims with a Pilgrim Passport. So that is also not a worry.

I would recommend going the Albergue route even if you are not a social person. As was the case for me, hoist yourself up and put yourself in a new situation.

I ended up meeting my wife on the Camino Portuguese. So you never know what a Camino Provides.

Cheap cost of Albergues

Albergues are also affordable, prices range from anywhere from donativo (donate) to around 30 euros for a very fancy one. But most will ask around 15 euros a night. The ones from the government or Municipal Albergues will often be your cheapest bet, and will (most of the time) also have a minimal kitchen in there where you can opt for eating in if you want to further save on cost.

A quick trip to the Grocery store for a nice Baguette, Jamon, and cheese with a bottle of 2 euro wine, and save yourself some more money. But again, the social aspect comes up. Sharing meals with strangers is a great way to break the ice.

When walking in from afar

When you do the original Camino then you start from your front door, chances are, that you wont have access to Albergues and the needed infrastructure that comes later in France, Spain, and Portugal. Here comes the one exception to the no-tent rule.

If you are one of those Pilgrims who have the luxury to walk from your front door, then taking a tent is often a lifesaver. Here you are less reliant on hostels, Bed and Breakfasts, and hotels to get to Spain. I would recommend when you get to Spain, to send your camping gear back home. And switching to Albergues.

Pilgrims I met along the way who came all the way from Dortmund (Germany) did it that way and that makes perfect sense in my opinion. If you’re undertaking such a mountainous adventure, then you will have to be creative with sleeping arrangements. Contact local pilgrim and hiking clubs for more information and tips.

For further reading on the Camino take a look at the Category Camino’s on my site, or go straight to my pack list for Camino.

Happy Hiking and Hike for Purpose!

Buen Camino