Camping Fee

[Torti]

Hello All,

My partner and I will be starting the Camino de Nortes (Via Camino Primitivo) very soon... And we have just purchased a nice little hiking tent.

We plan to camp as much as possible, and by reading other threads, I have found this to be a perfectly acceptable option (as far as the Spanish Public are concerned, and it suits us well)...

My question is...

Very roughly, what are the fee's to camp?

Obviously, if we find places to camp for free that would be a bonus, but if not, what would we expect to pay at camp grounds etc?

Thanks in advance

Tam

 

[Anne100]

Hi, Tam -

I found this web site helpful for researching campgrounds in Spain:

http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/spain/

Along the Camino del Norte most of the campgrounds aren't like the ones in U.S. parks and national forests. They're more like KOA "campgrounds" or seaside resorts with playgrounds, pools, snack bars, multiple restaurants, etc. Prices are correspondingly high, 30+ euros per night. Also note they aren't all open year round, many close in the fall and open in the spring. None of them are free, the only way to avoid the cost is to "wild camp" (which I know as "dispersed camping"). As I understand it it's illegal to wild camp within 1 km of an established campground. You need to get permission from the land owner to camp on private land but it seems doable if you ask politely. I'm a bit put off by the albergues and wild camping is how I plan to spend most of my camino.

 

[Torti]

wow, that is a bit more than I was expecting, considering that most albergues are about €5 to €20 a night... that's stupid...

I guess it'll be wild camping for me then

 

[mspath]

For past pilgrims' comments both pro and con regarding camping along the various caminos check out these earlier Forum threads.
Camping along the Camino Del Norte ;
Camping along the way;
wild camping en route; and
Camping on the camino.

Often while walking on the CF out of season in late autumn/winter I have passed remote locations which looked 'ideal' for ad hoc camping. However, such places slightly off the beaten path on level ground and hidden with a clump of trees are to be discovered; there is no handy list.

Happy searching and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camping-on-the-camino.10865/

 

[Anne100]

I have to admit I giggled a little at people being put off by rain, in some of the posts in the threads linked above. I have tented in rain, sleet, hail, snow... as long as it stays outside the tent it's all good!

I was surprised at the cost, too, until I realized they're vacation resorts. I agree that wild camping seems like a better option. You'll have to work out daily bathing and clothes washing but if you have wilderness hiking/camping experience you already know how to do that. You can always risk a night in an albergue to have a shower and do laundry. The point of walking with a tent is so that you always have options.

 

[Torti]

Thanks for the replies. Those threads are interesting. Still leading towards wild camping. Done a lot of hiking in New Zealand, so I'm used to the wet weather.