I'd like to know about people who has flown drones on the Camino.
I'm planning on doing the Camino, only in Spain. Thinking about taking with me a drone with camera that weights less than 250g.
Any suggestions?!
I am walking the Portuguese, Tui to Santiago and today I am in Padron. I saw no one with a drone or with anything other than mobile phone for photos (with exception of one person who had a DSLR camera).
I brought my Mavic Mini 4 and an Osmo Pocket 4. I flew my Mini some days because the weather was not always great.
Got fantastic shots in Tui, of the cathedral and river. Again on the route from Redondela to Arcade, where you see the sea for the first time. If the weather in Tui was better, I would have had so much fun with it, eg flying it under the bridge, over the fortezza etc.
Some thoughts:
The drone, controller, bag and one extra battery add to the weight of your backpack (I had my luggage transferred with one of the transport companies).
It’s not as easy to get it out and fly on a whim. Especially as you progress in your daily stage and are tired. If travelling with a companion, they will need to be understanding!
You don’t need any liability insurance unless you are flying it for commercial reasons.
You have every right to fly your drone in touristic attractions and parks, certainly in the countryside just remember not over crowds (and sorry to fellow pilgrims, but 10 groups of 2-3 pilgrims stretching over 500m does not constitute a crowd).
Your drone will buzz for 5 seconds until it reached 30m height where it will no longer be audible and unless you are specifically following it, it won’t be visible either unless you’re looking for it. Above that height, forget it, you can’t see much of a 250g drone. Flying from above it can certainly not catch any facial features or see through windows to be breaching any privacy.
There are more annoying things on the Camino than drones.
- Like cyclists who think you need to step aside as if you have rear vision, the ones who don’t have any bell but want to cycle fast and think everyone has the reflexes of The Flash (my 76y old dad does not).
- Like pilgrims with walking poles who don’t add the rubber end on the asphalt and you have to hear the constant scratching against the hard surface.
- Like pilgrims with walking poles who don’t know they need to adjust the height of their pole (I’m a skier so it bothers me, I mean HOW ANNOYING)
- Like walking next to a highway after spending two hours in the forest and being driven mad by the car noise and exhaust fumes.
-Like arriving at your destination around 3, checking into your accommodation, getting out to eat and finding that every restaurant is closed until 8.
Just take your pick of things to get mad at
I hope you have a fantastic time droning and capturing the world from above, it really is amazing. I love the difference in perspective.
Word of caution: seagulls don’t like drones. If you hear seagulls where you are, best not to take it up. If you see birds starting to circle your drone, bring it down quickly. You don’t want to hurt the bird or damage your drone.
Buen Camino.
@seasonsincolour