Camping on the Camino....you gotta be kidding. In most of Spain it is illegal, but a few do it. But not normally Spaniards.
https://thespanishbiker.wordpress.co.../free-camping/
Spain – No with exceptions
Wild camping in Spain is complicated. There is a “mother law” Article 46.1 of the order for July 28th which states that:
“Apart from tourist camp sites no more than three tents of caravans may be placed at the same location, nor should there be more then 10 campers, nor may the camp be in place for more than three days. Tents and (caravans) within 500 meters of each other are considered to be part of the same group.”
The law also states that it is prohibited to free camp within 200 meters of the sea, within a few kilometers of military installations, within a few kilometers of a regular camp site, and in protected areas like national parks, natural parks, bird sanctuaries called ‘ZEPA’s, etc. However, there is the new law under the Spanish Constitution of 1978, which created seventeen ‘autonomous regions’ each with considerable, though varying, powers to make their own legal codes with their own territory. Under these new laws, wild camping in Spain is:
- These areas completely prohibit wild camping: Andalucía, Aragón, Asturias, Extremadura, Galicia, Navarra, Valencia.
- These areas have their own laws/permit requirements for wild camping: Cantabria, Murcia, La Rioja.
- These areas fall under national rules and wild camping is permitted: Basque Country, Cataluña, Madrid, Castilla y León, Castilla la Mancha. But you still can’t camp near the beach, in national parks, protected areas, etc. Also, a lot of the land is privately owned, so you’d have a hard time finding anywhere that would even fall into the permitted wild camping areas.
In all situations it is suggested to avoid making a fire while wild camping. The locals might turn a blind eye to wild campers in some areas, but the risk of forest fire is very real and a fire will likely attract police very quickly.
We read that the fine for illegal camping is 30 euros per square meter of space used, per day, however, other sources state that the fine is up to 5000 euros! If you are just looking for a place to camp for free but not necessarily wild, this article has some recommendations.