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Tips for wild/stealth camping along the camino?

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bryan138

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Portugués Central - November 2024
Hi everyone!

Probably more of a niche post but i’m starting my camino next week from Porto and i decided that i’ll be wild/stealth camping along my route. Packing my 1 person tent and sleeping gear, I know it’s not technically legal and it brings several complications but is something that really appeals to me and I’ve settled on. I’ve done enough backpacking for this to be something I’m comfortable with, for the greater sense of adventure, for the fun, for the challenge, for the privacy and solitude. I know peeps have done it before, so that’s enough for me c: I might be a bit over my head trying this in a new country and in a route where it’s not the usual, but that’s precisely part of the fun for me just thought i’d mention all this first since i know it can be a bit of a controversial topic.

That said, I post this to see if anyone that has done something like this before has any tips or recommendations, I’ve been thinking of mainly two areas:
  1. Camping spots. My plan is to find secluded spots on the outside of villages, avoid private land, set up at sun down, pack camp at sunrise, of course be respectful, discreet and leave no trace. Any recommendations on how/where to find camping spots? anything helps, i guess everyday will be different but if anyone has any tips, i would greatly appreciate it
  2. Showering. My past backpacking trips have been out in the backcountry and for shorter times, i just embrace the stink and shower once I finish the trip, of course that’s not going to work in the camino, plan is to ask albergues to pay just for shower use, maybe some nights ask them for the option to pay regular rate and pitch my tent on a lawn or backyard. Does this work? Are albergues generally open to such things? Worst case scenario I just stay as a regular guest in the albergue and shower that way every few nights, but would love to hear how others that have camped managed this aspect

And well, in general if anyone wants to talk about their experience camping the camino, i’d love to hear it all.

Thanks!
 
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I've not done it, nor could I recommend it - but like you say some do it.

I travelled the last few weeks of CF with people who were camping (one of them had a dog). My experience was that not many Albergues allow camping on their land (maybe legally they are not allowed), some were happy to allow a shower for a cost but some were not. You will also have the added complication of many Albergues been shut anyway to further narrow your options.

I'm sure you are also aware that the recent weather conditions have not been conducive to a pleasant camping experience.
 
@bryan138, welcome to the forum.
This is indeed a controversial topic, some hold (and unfortunately express) some extremely strong negative opinions.
Indeed wild camping as you have described it is done by pilgrims, I believe it is more common in Spain than Portugal. That could of course simply be a reflection of the numbers.
There are a handful of threads on the subject here on the forum.
Several members camp, for example @roving_rufus, @good_old_shoes, @Gerard Griffin.
(I enjoy wild camping but have yet to do so on the Camino - planned for next year).

Certainly in Spain reports are that a few Albergues will allow you to camp on the lawn and utilize the facilities, some take a token payment, some payment in full. A few people have reported that they successfully paid to use the showers.

I have not researched the situation in Portugal.

One issue you may come across is that many of the Albergues will now be closed for the season.

As to finding likely spots, I often use Google Maps or Mapy.cz (satellite view) to scan the area. I find mapy particularly useful because it shows me any paths, and then I look for small clearings in the vicinity.

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Thanks for the answer, good to hear allowing showers is not unheard of. I’ll try my luck with the open albergues

And yeah, I’m not new to hiking and camping in inclement weather but I’m definitely new to doing it in a long distance route and in Portugal/Spain, i find comfort in that if all fails I can always bail, either to a traditional albergue route or just bail altogether, really excited to give it a try though.
 
Yeah, I’ve been reading past posts in the forum, sad to see the negative sentiment, I’m optmistic in that being respectful of the land and the people, this can be a positive thing, maybe I won’t contribute as much money to albergues but i’ll do what i can in restaurants and I always have a garbage bag to collect trash when i hike, small way to contribute but hey, better than nothing. I’ll do my best to have a positive impact and I’ll try to report back here so others can use the info on camping the camino.

Good to hear confirmation on albergue lawn camping and shower use, thanks. And yeah, haven’t looked too deeply into how many albergues are now closed but i’ll try my luck, worst case scenario i guess i can look into private accommodations, hope it doesn’t get to it.

Appreciate the mapy.cz recc, haven’t heard of it, i’ll look into it.
 
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Hi Bryan, I cannot speak re Portugal - different systems, different police, but in Spain an obvious pilgrim seems to be given some leeway - go into any large town and get off the roads down to the main river and you will see how many immigrants live in tents, so a problem with a pilgrim staying one night? Would have to be a very bad tempered policeman.

You are already a wild camper so know how to find safe and hidden spots .. when to camp, when to leave - on the Camino Frances there are quite a few refugios that are happy for you to tent overnight maybe there are in Portugal too (if still open).
Mind you .. watch out for the weather, is weird down that way at the moment!

Re showering .. it isn't necessary, it is only a habit fostered by a multi-billion dollar profit industry. I don't take baths and probably shower only two times a year.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and is specifically designed to have a living protective microbial landscape on it - every time someone showers, especially using gels, they strip the skin so that it has no protection at all, nor can it give protection to the body.
We produce smell from only three places - armpits, groin, feet ... so all you need is a flannel, additive free soap, and some water (which doesn't need to be hot) .. soapy flannel those three areas, rinse .. rest of body just rub with the wet flannel. You will never be smelly and after a couple of months your skin will always be healthy and silky smooth.
 
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Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping, i’ll try to present myself as much of a pilgrim and as less of a vagrant as I can, hope any authority i might encounter is cool with it

All of my wild camping has been in remote routes in the US backcountry, where no one will bat an eye for a tent (there won’t be many eyes to begin with). I know this is different, this will be peoples villages, so i guess some adaptation will be in order, but i’m hoping some of the same principles apply. Weather wise, yeah, i’ll have to try my luck and hope for the best.

On showering, that’s a different perspective, i like the out of the box thinking! can’t say i’ve tried it long term, after a few days backpacking i’d definitely wouldn’t want to be someone hugging myself haha but i’ve done the smelly area rag cleanup when there are no lakes or rivers and that definitely helps! you present an interesting idea, if necessary i’ll see how it goes, but for now, one new thing at a time, i’ll probably do my best with the albergue showers. thanks for the idea and perspective!
 
Never walked the Portugal route, but on the Frances as well as the Primitivo there have been numerous places where i would think nobody would mind much if you put up your tent sundown to sunrise. Yes, not legal, you know that. Thinking of those well meant but deserted picnic areas, playgrounds or (for lack of a better word) fitness areas. Also once in a while you pass some old ruins from a church where one could easily find a place out of sight.
Guess you have to see once you're there. Might be it wont work every day, but with how off season we are now i can't imagine there being to many troubles finding a spot.
 
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