Vegetarian on the Camino in Spain

Five years ago, I became a pescetarian, a decision based on wanting to lessen my carbon footprint and help beautiful Mother Earth. Backpacking with this choice can sometimes be challenging, especially with needing to eat a lot of protein and having limited access to health food stores or vegan restaurants. Hiking on the Camino de Santiago in Spain was no exception.

While I was surprised by how prevalent eating meat was all over Spain, I did meet other vegetarians, pescetarians, and even vegans who were able to maintain their diets while on the trail. What's more, a lot of the food is grown locally, meaning it tastes fresh, supports local economies, and cuts back on a lot of plastic packaging and waste.

Here are a few things I learned about being vegetarian or pescetarian on the Camino (or in Spain in general):

--How to find vegetarian options

--Common meatless foods

--Buying from markets

--Spirit of acceptance

How to find vegetarian options on the Camino?

Silly as it may sound, several Facebook groups are dedicated to sharing the names of restaurants and even towns with more veggie and vegan options for pilgrims. While I didn't use it much, there is some good information here at "Vegetarians and Vegans on the Camino."

I had the most luck asking for recommendations for veggie-friendly restaurants by asking people in tourist information centers (there is a tourism office in most of the larger towns and cities along the Camino Frances).

For the most part, most small towns, and even most of the cities, mostly offer Spanish food, which is very meat-heavy. However, in Logroño, Burgos, Leon, and Santiago de Compostela, I found entirely vegetarian restaurants. I even lucked out with a vegan dinner on my birthday in Burgos at the restaurant Curcuma Green Food (I highly recommend eating here!)

But even in the smallest towns, I was almost always able to find something meatless. Here is a list of foods to look for!

Common meatless meals:

• Empanada with vegetables (empanada de verduras)

• Potato egg omelet (tortilla de patata)

• Vegetable paella (paella de verduras)

• Squash soup (

• Mixed salad (ensalada mixta) **often comes with tuna but it can be ordered without it

• Vegetable pizza (pizza de verduras)

• Pasta with veggies

• Veggie lasagna

• Lentil soup (sopa de lentejas) **check to see if it comes with pork

• Grilled vegetables (verduras a la plancha)

By eating my fair share of omelets and lentils, I got a fair amount of protein, however, eating fish helped me immensely as many restaurants serve pilgrims menus with a couple of options for lunch and many times a fish filet was my only option aside from a side salad.

If you are excited about eating in Spain's famous tapa bars, there are many in the larger cities along the Camino and I found that while the majority of these little plates have meat, a good go-to option is a bread topped with goat cheese and caramelized onion -- delicious!

Buying from markets:

The Camino Frances passes through many tiny Spanish towns, towns so tiny that often there may be only one small corner store. I made it a habit to pop into these stores for fruit, a chocolate bar, or bread as a hiking snack. I rarely found power bars such as those in the United States, but in some larger stores, I bought bars or veggie chips. Sometimes you can also find stands or locals selling fruit, snacks, or juice along the trail, often asking for donations.

Another thing I learned while in Spain is that most restaurants and grocery stores close around 2-5 for siesta. It is pretty common for pilgrims to arrive in town around that time, so it is smart to carry a snack in your pack in case you arrive when everything is closed, or if you come upon a restaurant that doesn't have any meatless options.

Spirit of acceptance

When I started doing my research about food options along the Camino, I was a bit nervous about how I could maintain my pescetarian diet. As an avid traveler, I never want to be culturally insensitive. I also value lowering my carbon footprint by not eating meat. Does anyone else feel this dilemma?

I needn't have worried. There were countless examples when a chef personally offered to take meat out of a dish or make me a homemade salad or pasta that wasn't on the menu. I didn't ask for others to accommodate me, however, I met so many people who insisted they wanted to prepare something for me. How incredibly kind!

There is such a spirit of welcoming difference on the Camino. People come to walk across Spain from all corners of the world, bringing with them their cultures, preferences, and beliefs. Embracing the spirit of the Camino, I found, is leaning into the traditions and cultural norms of Spain while also having the space to be authentically yourself.

I hope some of these tips are helpful in planning your Camino or any sort of long trek or trip to Spain. Buen Camino!

**This information is based on my experience on the French Route of the Camino (Camino Frances) that passes through the Spanish provinces of the Basque Country, La Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y Leon, and Galicia. There are many Camino routes, each of which will have its own food culture.