Sleeping under the stars!

[Jan_89]

Hi all!

I'm wondering.. Is there any problem if I'll sleep under the stars? I mean, will be disturb locals? Because I love this kind of sleep on the road..

And one last question. What about showers? I know there are in albergues.. But it is possible to meet a public shower or something like that?

I don't want to be dependent on the albergues..

Thanks a lot for your responses!

Jan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I never saw public showers, so albergues may be your only choice.

There are laws against camping on private property or within a couple of kilometers of a campground. However, I have seen only one camper confronted by the authorities. It was in Portomarin in a park, so he was in a city, not rural location.

 

[Tincatinker]

Apart from on private land, public land, national and local parks, designated areas of natural or cultural significance and within urban areas you can camp anywhere in Spain. You may notice that this will limit your prospects somewhat. However, discrete overnight camping avoiding crops, and please remember that both grassland and woodland are often crops, is possible. Provided local tolerance has not been overtested you should have an un disturbed night. Many do sleep in church porches and similar, from choice or necessity. My experience is as Falcon's I have not encountered public baths / shower facilities in Spain other than the very public showers dotting the beaches of the costas and in a few major rail stations.

 

[Tia Valeria]

We, like Tincatinker, have only seen shower facilities by a few of the beaches and some of those were open air and not heated. These were on the Norte and also (only open air) the Inglés. This is obviously not an option inland on the Francés.

 

[obinjatoo]

Apart from on private land, public land, national and local parks, designated areas of natural or cultural significance and within urban areas you can camp anywhere in Spain. You may notice that this will limit your prospects somewhat. However, discrete overnight camping avoiding crops, and please remember that both grassland and woodland are often crops, is possible. Provided local tolerance has not been overtested you should have an un disturbed night. Many do sleep in church porches and similar, from choice or necessity. My experience is as Falcon's I have not encountered public baths / shower facilities in Spain other than the very public showers dotting the beaches of the costas and in a few major rail stations.

That's interesting. I was told by more than one person and maybe even read it jna guide that wild camping in Spain is illegal no matter where you do it. I did it anyway but was always feeling like I was breaking the law. Obviously were I to ask about private property it would be different. I did in fact and never got a concrete answer from locals. I got some funny responses actually.
Do you know where i might verify this? It would be very useful.

 

[StuartM]

I was under the impression that it varied region to region. When I was researching my Salvador trip I found a very good guide on a motorcycle forum to local camping laws across Spain. Cant find the link though. If I remember right, Leon was legal but across the border into Asturias was illegal (or vice versa maybe).

 

[Jan_89]

Thank you so much for your answers, guys! I appreciate it!

But I didn't think camping, I thought bivouac, you know.. Somewhere out of the road to get some sleep and get out from there soon. No fire, tent and no noise.. Just sleeping bag and sleeping pad..

 

[Phillypilgrim]

In September 2013 I met a woman on the CF whose adult son was "hammock camping" along the trail! When she was faced with a night on the gym floor in Zubiri, she texted him and he appeared with his sleeping mat for her, before he took off for the trees!

 

[Kristin Johnson]

Are there enough trees along most of the route to make a hammoc possible most nights?
I too, am hoping to simply sleep outside most nights just me and my sleeping bag... also having very little success figuring out the logistics and legality.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I considered a hammock on my first Camino and was happy I left it home.
No, there are pretty much no places to hang.
Sorry

 

[Kristin Johnson]

Thanks Anniesantiago- I seem to remember limited trees when I lived in Northern Spain... glad to know my memory hasn't failed me yet. (caught myself dreaming about how much more comfortable this would be than the hard, damp ground) ::sigh::

Thanks for the help!