How much water to carry on the Camino?

Water is vital on any hike, on the Camino de Santiago you have a bit more infrastructure than most other hikes. But even then, carrying your own water and refilling is necessary.

I recommend you take at least 1.5 liters of water with you. And refill as needed during the day. I also like to camel up at any water source (or drink extra and refill). But I am a (small) Dutch guy at 1.88 meters or ~ 6.2 feet. So I burn through a lot of water during the day on hikes.

Filling up your water along the Camino

All along the Camino, there are water fountains you can use to fill up your water bottle as needed, you can also ask any bar or cafe that you’re having a drink at to fill up your water bottle for you. As long as you buy something they usually don’t mind at all. Or they try to sell you a filled-up water bottle.

Is water safe to drink in Spain and Portugal?

Short answer, yes. Any water fountain you come across is generally marked with “Potable” or drinking water. Some natural springs you will see the local Spanish people drink from, but if you have a weak stomach then it’s better to stay away from those and fill up at the next one. I did drink from natural springs on some occasions, to see if it was a cause for concern. But I did not get sick—experiment at your own risk.

Any water at Albergues is pretty much always safe to drink, I did not encounter anywhere this was not the case. When in doubt, you can always ask the owner or other pilgrims.

Staying hydrated during the day

It’s important to drink something before you get thirsty, and it’s best to learn to take a sip of water every chance you get. Be it for pausing to take a picture, or waiting on a fellow pilgrim on the top of a hill. Or taking a break to look at the view. You can do this pretty easily with most backpacks, by putting your water bottle in a side pocket, or by carrying a camelbak or alternative hydration system. I personally always prefer having water bottles. Pure for convenience and not having to clean them so thoroughly.

When you hike with a Camino Tramily you can also employ the buddy system, and have one of them take your water bottle out for you. On the Camino Frances, we walked with three pilgrims and would form a triangle every time we took a water break, which was pretty funny and caused some comedic moments.

How to carry water on the Camino

As mentioned earlier in the article, I prefer carrying a water bottle, and for added water carrying capacity a water bladder without a hose attachment. That way you have a standard bottle you can comfortably drink from, and a backup liter of water that you can fill up and use as needed. I used a standard PET 1.5 liter bottle for this that I picked up in France. And the Platypus 1 liter water bladder that you can easily fold up and store. You can also check out my Camino Gear list for more information on what to take.

You can also choose 2 smaller bottles to have the weight more evenly distributed, which can be both ~0.8 liters to land you at 1.5 liters. I like the Klean Kanteen bottles, which will last for ages thanks to the stainless steel. And they easily slip into your side pouch. You can also find some smart water bottles, although I tend to find them in Europe in only half a liter size.

Happy hiking and Hike for Purpose!

Buen Camino