Food and Water
Food and water along the Camino de Santiago.
Food and water are generally plentiful along the Camino. There are a few exceptions where you might need to carry a bit more food and water to prepare for longer sections that are unserviced by restaurants, stores or fonts.
There are hundreds of places to eat along the Camino.
Food and water are available at restaurants, cafes, and Albergues and they will prepare food for you. Grocery stores, deli’s, bakeries, and abarrotes (corner store) have basic food and water for you to purchase. Whether you want to prepare a do-it-yourself meal at the Albergue, put together a light meal and eat on the road, or just get a snack you never need to be short of food and water.
While there are a few stages where the next village may be hours away planning for the next day will be very important. Getting food and water the night before at the grocery store, having your Albergue prepare you a packed lunch (typically a bocadillo-sandwich), or picking something up in the morning for your day’s journey are all doable.
Cold cuts in vacuum packs, dried sausage, hard cheeses, bread, dried or fresh fruits, boiled eggs, and nuts will easily last the day wrapped up in your backpack and get you through the day.
Menu del Dia/Pilgrims Menu
This is offered pretty much across the Camino at Restaurants and Albergues that prepare food. It is both generous and economical consisting of three courses. Most often bread and wine are included but clarify beforehand especially if you like a second glass of wine with dinner. The menu del dia is an good deal for food and water on the Camino.
The meal is generally priced from 10 to 15 euro.
1st Course-One of the following:
- Soup
- Salad
- Pasta
2nd Course-One of the following with potatoes:
- chicken
- fish
- pork
- beef
3rd Course-One of the following:
- yogurt
- flan
- fruit
- custard
Every region across Spain has its own culinary specialties, with the soups being excellent. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to try the bean soup, the garlic soup, meat soup, ham and potato, and other regional favourites.
Spain is a country that loves its meat and is a carnivore’s dream. This might not be to everyone’s liking as fresh vegetables are not so plentiful across Spain as you might be used to. For veggie lovers, some Albergues and restaurants specialize or offer vegetarian meals but call in advance for availability.
Food and water at restaurants tend to be pricier than the menu del dia so be sure to check out the menu before ordering.
Food and Water Specialties To Look Out For
- Bean Soup
- Pinchos/Tapas
- A pincho pintxo or pinchu is a small snack, typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain … which an ingredient or mixture of ingredients is placed and fastened with a toothpick, which gives the food its name “pincho“, meaning “spike
- Free pincho with drinks (Logrono)
- Garlic soup
- Fabada-Bean stew
- Soft cheese with honey (Galicia)
- Idiazabal and Roncal cheese (Navarre)
More food and water Specialties To Look Out For
- Lamb roasted
- Paella
- Tino Primera
- Gazpacho
- Tortilla-Spanish omelet
- Pulpo estilo feira (Galician)
- Lodosa Piquillo Peppers
- Tudela artichokes
- Navaren Lamb
- White asparagus
- Rioja and Navarra wines
- Idiazabal and Roncal cheese (Navarre)
Water and Fonts Along the Camino
There is plenty of water available along the Camino whether it be from local fonts to water bottles found in abarrotes (stores).
Many of the fonts along the way are ancient and historical and tested either by the municipality or province. Take heed! If there is a sign that indicates NO POTABLE then do NOT drink from it.
There will be a few long stretches where there will be no fonts or abarrotes. So no food and water available. In those few instances, you will need to prepare in advance and carry a bit more water. It is as simple as grabbing a 500 ml or 1-litre disposable bottle of water from a local store. Drink that first so you can dispose of the bottle and lighten your load.
If you are leery about drinking from any fonts buy bottled water and fill up your water bladder or water bottle with that. In either case, you will not be without water.
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