Camping on the Camino de Santiago
 

I have had such a great response to my question about train travel in Spain (thank you very much), that I thought I would also ask you seasoned espagna travellers whether you have any information at all about camping facilities or camping procedures or camping conditions on the Camino as an alternative to using the pilgrim hostels. Are there toilet and shower facilities? Is it expensive to use the pilgrim hostels just for this purpose? What do you think?
Thanks!

I haven't done this, but I attended a lecture on the subject last year. The camping facilities are usually a mile or two off the path, which is hard to take, perhaps, if you've been walking all day, but all right if you're biking. The pilgrim hostels cost somewhere in the range of 3 to 10 Euros per day if you stay there, so I can't imagine you'll save much camping, nor could it be that expensive to use the facilities. For the pilgrim hostels, you need your own bedding (like a sleepsheet).

The lecturers also wrote this book. I've heard it's very good, and based on the lecture, I don't doubt it.

http://www.pilipalapress.com/camino/index.html

We walked a portion of the Camino in May 05 and I must say that I did not see camping facilities at all. Many hostels (albergues) are not even open in the morning and then they start receiving people as the pilgrims start settling for the afternoon. I would think that their facilities would be dedicated to them at that point.

Camping on the Camino is a difficult deal because it adds a lot of gear to your packs (assuming that you mean tent camping). I walked alone and slept in albergues the whole way save a few nights in private homes (I was invited by villagers on 6 seperate occasions and as long as they were families and not single men, I was in). You certainly can camp near some larger places. Burgos, for example, has some camp grounds very near to the actual city (about a km away).

Remember that even if you go in summer, you are probably going to get really cold at night, so camping is often uncomfortable for the pilgrim. Also, use of camping facilities is often the same price as an algergue.

How it goes: the first thing you need to get is your pilgrim's passport, which will be stamped along the way and which entitles you to serious discounts on food and lodging. That can be used at campsites and hostels.

Claire

Suzanne,

When do you plan on walking the Camino? In the summer (late July / August), there are so many pilgrims on the trail that space in the public alberques fill up quickly. So much in fact, that the Spanish Army actually has to pitch giant tents and schools open their gyms to provide space for the overflow! However, you will also find a tremendous amount of private hostals that cater to pilgrims and offer a bed for as little as 5E.
If you plan on walking the trail, you'll have plenty to carry that the extra weight of a tent and gear may not be worth it. I've been guiding trips on the Camino for the last 5 years, and I've seen more people send their tents home in mail then actually use them!

That being said...You are going to have an amazing time, the Camino is an incredible experience! Buen Camino!