LETS TALK ABOUT BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS ON THE CAMINO.
Are you planning to walk the Camino de Santiago? One of the questions you may have is whether there are bathrooms and showers on the Camino.
Ok, it’s not the most polite of topics – but they are called “necessaries” for a reason.
This is a frequently asked question that comes up time and time again. This short guide will hopefully answer your questions on all things Camino and bathroom.
First – showers. Whilst hygiene is not perhaps the primary thought when walking the Camino – it is important.
Can you shower on the Camino de Santiago?
Yes, you can definitely shower on the Camino de Santiago. Every albergue or hotel you stay in will have a shower of sorts. Some may be more basic than others, but most have good shower facilities.
I had one, very odd, experience finding a communal shower for both genders – as in, one large area with three showers and no walls! Eek. Otherwise, showers tend to be in individual cubicles and more often than not, divided by gender.
At busy times, there may be a slight queue for shared showers, but it’s always easy to get access to one eventually.
Are you allowed to shower in the morning on the Camino?
There’s a bit of a rumour on the Camino that it’s “not allowed” to shower in the morning. I think this comes from a concern that showering will disturb fellow pilgrims in the morning. Or, that somehow having a quick shower is selfish because it stops others getting in the bathroom.
Honestly, I don’t think either of these things are an issue. As long as you are courteous – don’t spend too long in the shower and don’t make too much noise getting your stuff together – showering in the morning is not a problem.
Most people shower at the end of the day after walking and I tend to find that the showers are always free in the morning! Personally I’ve always showered in the morning and evening on the Camino. Rarely have I found a queue in the morning.
If you want to find out more about albergues, we’ve written a guide here.
Where do you go to the bathroom on the Camino?
There are bathrooms on the Camino de Santiago. All albergues and accommodation will have bathrooms. In addition, it is relatively easy to find bathrooms during the day when you are walking if you go through towns and villages.
The majority of the Camino routes go frequently through towns and villages and built up areas. Most days you are likely to be walking through at least one or two built up areas, rather than on remote footpaths. In built up areas, you are likely to find cafes, restaurants or bars where you can buy a drink and use the bathroom.
That said, there are one or two days on all Camino routes, where you can expect more remote setting and you may not visit a town. Public bathrooms are fairly infrequent on the Camino route. Therefore, there may be times when you have to use “nature’s bathroom.” For this reason, we recommend packing wet-wipes and some small bags, so that you can collect any rubbish.
A small plea for anyone who has to to a nature wee on the Camino – please get out of sight of the path (I’m mainly talking to men here who think it’s OK to wee on the path in broad daylight). And, do collect any rubbish. Toilet roll left on the Camino has become a big problem in recent years and it really is sad to see.
My top tip is to just try to plan your day so that you know when you can take bathroom breaks. This way you can avoid using the “outdoor toilet.”
What are bathrooms like in albergues?
Honestly, bathrooms are generally very good in albergues. Over the last few years more and move private albergues have popped up and they tend to have great facilities – including posh bathrooms and showers.
Most often, albergues will have large bathrooms for men and women, split separately. Within the larger room, you’ll find individual cubicles for showers and bathrooms. Generally these are nice and clean, but at high traffic times, less so.
Some albergues have bathrooms more like you’d find in a house or hotel – i.e. individual rooms with the shower, sink and toilet in one place.
Remember – if you’re staying in albergues, you’ll need a towel for showering.
How frequent are the bathrooms on the Camino de Santiago?
Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use. This is especially true on the Camino Frances.
You will find one or two days of walking, particularly on the Camino del Norte, where amenities are not very prevalent and therefore you may not find a bathroom for some or all of the day.
You can of course use bathrooms in cafes on the Camino – but it’s best to make sure you buy something, a little rude to try to sneak in without it.
How do you manage a period on the Camino de Santiago?
One concern that I had before walking the Camino, was how to manage menstrual periods during the walk.
Firstly, roughly 50% of people walking the Camino are women! And if If you are someone who gets a menstrual period and you are walking one of the full Camino routes over 30 days, then it is likely that at some point on the walk you may have your period. This should provide a little reassurance, as many before you have walked the Camino with a period and been just fine.
However, there are a few considerations that you may want to make before walking the Camino.
Period products
One consideration before you walk if you’re expecting your period on the Camino, should be period products. Of course, you can buy sanitary products in Spain at pharmacies and supermarkets, but you may want to plan ahead and take some with you. One thing to keep in mind, is the space and weight of our bag if you are carrying sanitary products with you. Personally, I choose to use a moon cup, because I find this easier to carry in my backpack than more bulky sanitary products.
The second reason that I opt for a moon cup when I walk the Camino, or long-distance hikes, is that (as noted above) sometimes bathrooms aren’t always the easiest to come by. For me, I would prefer a moon cup, which does not need to be replaced during the day, to a tampon or sanitary pad which may need to be replaced every few hours.
Managing your walking around your period
The next thing you might want to consider is how you manage your walking around your period. Of course, this will depend on your own personal cycle and how impacts your energy levels and comfort levels. Perhaps consider whether you can hike slightly shorter days during your cycle at times when you have low energy. Or, if you suffer with period pain, you may also want to change up your walking routine to accommodate this.
Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Guide for Women
Emma from Lotus Eaters Travel has written a guide for every woman taking on the adventure of a lifetime and walking the Camino de Santiago for the first time.
This book is full of tips on what to pack, advice on preparing for your journey and important details to help you get the most from the Camino. Whilst it does not include maps, it does include itineraries for the main Camino routes, as well as daily stage guides for the last 100km of the walk. You can find a detailed training plan to help prepare you for the Camino as well as extensive information on what to expect when you walk.
Inside this book you will also find information specifically for women walking the Camino, including a chapter on women’s safety and the answers to frequently asked questions like “what are the toilets like on the Camino?” and “How to deal with bed bugs on the Camino?”
It is split into three sections: Preparing for the Camino (packing, training, budgeting, finding motivation), Walking the Camino (choosing who to walk with, meeting people, accommodation, staying healthy, staying safe) and After the Camino (what to do next.)
Would you like us to plan your walk for you?
Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Lotus Eaters Travel Planning, where we turn your dream of long-distance walking into a meticulously planned reality.
Our passion for exploration, love for diverse cultures, and commitment to providing an unparalleled experience drive us to offer personalized consultation services for some of the world’s most iconic walking trails
Looking for Camino souvenirs?
We wanted to create Camino merchandise that we would actually wear ourselves. On the trails, out and about or at home. Keep it classy.
You can find all our items in our Etsy store – Camino Nostalgia.
Santiago coordinates t-shirt – multiple colours.
Camino Class of ’24 & ’25 sweater – multiple colours.
Ladies Camino Class of ’24 Tee – multiple colours
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