Do locals along the Camino welcome pilgrims?

Mostly, yes. 

But that could change if things continue the way they’re going.

The Spanish for the Camino podcast is back after the summer break. My plan was to start this new season with something light.

I was going to tell you how, even when I try to disconnect, the Camino de Santiago always seems to find me. No matter where I go, there’s always something that reminds me of it. When I was in Valencia, for instance, I spotted the shells marking the start of the Camino de Levante. I also met a few pilgrims that I hope to have on the podcast soon. But instead of diving into those stories, I feel the need to talk about something more serious.

Why?

Because of several news reports I’ve read and comments I’ve heard from local people recently.

While the Camino is often spoken about in positive terms, there’s a hidden side to it that doesn’t get as much attention.

You can listen, in Spanish, or you can continue reading in English.

The not-so-positive side of the Camino

This summer, I’ve seen too many videos and articles highlighting the negative side of the Camino. One video that went viral at the beginning of the summer featured a Galician woman expressing her frustration with the behaviour of some pilgrims once they arrive in Santiago. She pointed out that, to many of these visitors, the locals seem like part of the scenery. We, the people who live here, are often treated as though we aren’t real people with families, jobs, and daily responsibilities. It’s as if we’re just here to add some character or exotic flavour to their Camino.

After that, the news articles and blog posts started popping up. A couple of examples: “Santiago Residents Fed Up with Pilgrims” or “Compostela and Incivility: The Dark Side of the Camino de Santiago.”

Let me be clear—not all pilgrims act this way. But the fact that this type of behaviour is becoming more common is concerning.

Examples of disrespectful behaviour

Let me share some of the specific issues raised in these articles.

Some pilgrims have set up tents in the middle of Santiago’s Alameda park, while others have left old shoes behind (some hanging on the gates of the Holy Door, and others in front of the Obradoiro steps). People have had picnics right in the middle of the Obradoiro square, and in an extreme case, someone tried to use a camping stove to cook food in the middle of the street in Santiago’s historic centre.

The problem isn’t just in Santiago. In other parts of the Camino, locals have reported similar behaviours.

On the Portuguese route near Pontevedra, some residents say they are “bunkering” themselves in to protect against disrespectful pilgrims.

Apart from the noise, these locals complain that pilgrims are entering private properties, breaking fences, stealing fruits and vegetables from gardens, and leaving rubbish behind. In some cases, they’ve even used people’s yards as bathrooms or entered their homes.

One neighbour who used to leave water out for pilgrims says she’s is now building higher walls to keep them away.

And I’ve heard similar stories from people living along the French route.

There have been instances of pilgrims stealing from people’s homes, opening gates in areas with animals, risking the animals’ escape, mainly dogs and horses. In the case of dogs, they sometimes follow the pilgrims for miles and end up lost. If the dogs have microchips, their owners can be found, but when they don’t, things get complicated. Some pilgrims also feed animals along the way, which can make them sick. These are not potential issues. These are things that are happening at the moment.

The list of disrespectful behaviours could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

So please, if you’re planning to walk the Camino, act like a civilized person. Respect other people’s property, respect the environment, and remember that the people who live along the Camino are just like you. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities. We are not here to entertain you or add to your experience. We are not a prop.

Buen Camino