Staying hydrated on the Camino is really important. This is especially true if you are walking in the heat and sweating a lot. But, how much water should you carry to stay hydrated on the trails? Read out to find out more.
- How much water should you carry on the Camino de Santiago?
- Where can you fill up water on the Camino de Santiago?
- Top tips for staying hydrated on the Camino de Santiago
- Best water bottles to carry on the Camino de Santiago?
How much water should you carry on the Camino de Santiago?
Staying hydrated on the Camino is really important. This is especially true if you are walking in the heat and sweating a lot. But, how much water should you carry to stay hydrated on the trails?
Personally, we aim to carry 1.5 to 2 litres of water each. However, many people only carry around 1 litre and manage fine. On the Frances particularly, water stops can be found frequently. But in our experience of other routes, particularly the Norte, there are some days when facilities are sparce. On these days, I would aim to carry 2 litres (70 fluid ounces) at least, preferably a little more.
If you know that you’re walking a daily stage with plenty of facilities, then 1 litre (35 fluid ounces) may be enough. Check the facilities in advance so that you can plan accordingly. Also, if it’s particularly hot, we would suggest planning to carry more water on the Camino than you would normally.
Where can you fill up water on the Camino de Santiago?
On the Camino de Santiago, there are generally plenty of places to fill up your water bottle. These include some drinking water fountains that have been specially placed for walkers.
You can also rely on cafes and bars along the way to buy water, or to ask to fill up your bottle with tap water. We often filled our bottles up in bathroom sinks in cafes and bars too. Supermarkets are frequently found on the route to buy water too if you’d rather avoid taps and fountains. Finally, all the albergues you stay at will have drinking water readily available.
Just look out to avoid any water fountains in rural areas that may not be for drinking water – “potable” means drinkable in Spanish, so look for any signage that suggests it is not drinkable!
Top tips for staying hydrated on the Camino de Santiago
Here are our top tips for staying hydrated on the Camino de Santiago.
- Carry plenty of water with you and make sure it’s accessible in your bag
- Keep track of how much water you are taking in and notice if you’re not drinking enough
- Know the signs of dehydration – look out for these
- Make a point of drinking water in the morning before you set off, during every break and when you arrive at your albergue in the morning
- If you’re drinking alcohol in the evening, punctuate this with a glass of water
- Check your route in advance so you can plan how much water to carry
Best water bottles to carry on the Camino de Santiago?
Here are some of the best options for water bottles and receptacles available on the market in 2023.
Water Bladder
A water bladder/ reservoir is a great option if you want to make sure that you can access water throughout the day without removing your backpack. This is an especially helpful option if you have a backpack, like the Osprey Tempest, which has a slot to put a water bladder in. This one also holds up to 3 litres.
Best for cold water
If you can’t stand the thought of tepid water, it’s best to go for a stainless steel insulated bottle that will remain cold all day as you hike the Camino de Santiago. Something like this one is great and comes in different size options to suit your needs on the Camino.
Best for keeping track
A bottle like this fun one is a great way to keep track of how much fluid you’ve consumed during the day. This great bottle is BPA free and shows you how much of your daily target you’ve hit.
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