Doing the Camino de Santiago in a tent

Making the Camino de Santiago in a tent is possible, but only in campgrounds, designated areas, or with private permission. It offers adventure and savings, although it involves carrying more weight, less comfort, and strictly adhering to regulations to avoid penalties.

Many times it has been, and still is, that you, dear pilgrims, ask us this question: can you do the Camino de Santiago in a tent? An interesting question, as many of us enjoy everything related to camping, a way of traveling with a very important and fascinating adventure component as an advantage, although it also has its downsides. In this article, we will look into these and other questions, but first, we need to answer the question of whether or not it is possible to do the Camino de Santiago in a tent.

We’ve encountered the law

Well, yes, in these types of issues, it’s necessary to check the current regulations and see what the law says, which in Spain can vary from one Autonomous Community to another. First of all, it’s necessary to differentiate between camping in designated areas and wild camping. Of course, camping in designated areas is allowed, as this is the purpose of these areas, the campgrounds. On the Camino de Santiago, we can find many types of accommodation, such as hostels, guesthouses, hotels, etc., and even campgrounds, although we won’t always find them. On any specialized campground website, you can check the ones available depending on the route you will take. Therefore, the answer is yes, it is possible to do the Camino de Santiago in a tent.

Civil guard on horseback with pilgrims

As for wild camping, here the law, in general terms, is clear: wild and spontaneous camping is not allowed in an unauthorized area, which are generally all those that are not campgrounds. However, different municipalities may have a place or public space that, although not a campground, could be authorized for limited and controlled camping, which is the closest thing to wild camping. In other words, in this way and in general terms, it is not allowed, although there may be exceptions. Therefore, make sure to check carefully and consult the local authorities, you could risk a hefty fine.

The exception that proves the rule

Long live the Spanish proverb, which always gives us a new perspective. Another thing is to find a private space, such as the garden of an hostel or a private residence, the courtyard of a church, the land of a landowner, among others, where the owner or responsible person allows us to camp, sometimes for a fee and sometimes not. This happens often in public hostels, which are often independent buildings with some available land, and maybe the kind hospitalero will let us set up our tent there or maybe sleep under the stars. We’ve known cases where camping was allowed for a fee, thus granting access to the restrooms and kitchens of the hostel.

Private lodge kitchen

The stages of the Camino de Santiago generally start and end in rural or urban areas, although they are always inhabited. Although it is not possible either, an option that many pilgrims choose is to camp in forests or areas far from inhabited centers, although this option leaves us without nearby services and with a certain risk, as we are isolated.

What does camping imply?

We agree: camping is an exciting experience with a high adventure component, especially if it is wild camping; this is a first advantage, perhaps the main one, but camping also has some downsides.

Tent in the forest

Whether in a designated space or not, doing the Camino de Santiago with a tent means carrying the tent. On the market, we can find many models of tents, and if we want to pilgrim by foot, we should choose the lightest tent. The ideal would be a one-person tent, which should weigh between one kilogram and no more than two. It’s not hard to find a tent that meets this requirement, but you must also keep in mind that it might rain on the pilgrim nights, and the tent must be prepared for that. On the other hand, those who camp usually do so because they don’t have many financial resources and prefer to spend little, which also extends to food and other needs. If in addition to camping you must prepare your meals, you will have to also carry stoves, camping gas, and similar items, as well as all the necessary cooking utensils (dishes, food, etc…). This brings more weight and more load, and you will need to take that into account if, in addition to camping, you want to be completely self-sufficient. Moreover, if wild camping is prohibited, the same applies to lighting fires and using stoves anywhere, which for safety reasons is usually strictly forbidden. Once again, they can only be used in designated areas, and with regard to the risk of forest fires, especially in the summer months, you should be very aware of the regulations.

A tent in the mountains

Regarding hygiene, you can’t carry a shower and water heater. You will have to wash like an ancient pilgrim, in rivers or fountains, or pay to use a shower at a hostel, but for that, you’ll need to pay for a bed too, don’t you think?

Snail pilgrims

Whenever we walk the Camino de Santiago, we come across what we call snail pilgrims, walkers who live with their home on their back. They often carry tents, or awnings where they set up a small shelter in the forest, especially on the French Way of Santiago and the Camino de Santiago from Finisterre and Muxía. They are usually pilgrims who live along the route, generally accompanied by a pet or even a pack animal, like a donkey or a horse. We’ve spoken about them in this article, and they are not such strange cases, and they are still people who choose a very particular lifestyle. They often offer music, crafts, and even stamps, and make pilgrimage their way of life. However, even though they settle in forest areas and difficult-to-access places, they have probably had to answer to the authorities more than once for camping in unauthorized places. In conclusion, yes, it is possible to do the Camino de Santiago in a tent, but with the particularities we have mentioned. Get informed and look for campgrounds or designated camping areas, as we Galicians say about witches, "there are witches, there are!" Your pilgrimage experience will be greatly enriched and, just like you meet many people while pilgrimaging, in this way you will also have the opportunity to share much more with your new pilgrim friends camping: in addition to your tent, you will take with you many conversations, dinners, starry skies, and many emotions you will never forget.