Here at Fresco Tours, we don’t want anyone to be held back from fulfilling their Camino dream because of dietary restrictions. We understand the challenges that come with allergies or intolerances, and we’re here to support you – indeed, several of our team members have food intolerances themselves. So it’s safe to say we can truly relate to your experience.
Luckily, Spain is a great country for people with dietary restrictions, as it’s required by law for restaurants to provide “allergen menus,” or cartas de alérgenos, indicating which dishes contain common allergens. If you’re on your own, just ask the restaurant for one. And if you’re on a guided tour, your tour leader will take care of it for you!
In general, Spanish restaurants are very sensitive to dietary needs and will go out of their way to make sure you are taken care of. Of course, it still helps to discuss your needs with your server and make sure – in more severe cases – that care is taken to avoid cross-contamination.
FULL-SERVICE, GUIDED TOURS
On our guided tours, all you have to do is indicate that you have a special diet on your Guest Questionnaire. We will make sure that the restaurants used on the tour can accommodate you. You may have also seen pictures of our gourmet picnic lunches on the trail. These are easy to adapt to people with dietary restrictions, and our guides will make sure their delicious salads and spreads offer you choices that are safe and healthy, while taking care to not cross-contaminate. If you’re nervous about traveling abroad with dietary restrictions in a country where you don’t speak the language, a guided, full-service tour is a great way for you to travel with ease.
INDEPENDENT, SELF-GUIDED TOURS
On our self-guided tours, all breakfasts are included, so it’s important to communicate your needs in your Guest Questionnaire. This allows us to ensure that hotels can provide suitable options for you (e.g., gluten-free bread or lactose-free milk). For lunches and dinners, however, you’ll be on your own. No need to worry, though—we recommend writing down a translation of your dietary requirements and keeping it handy. Your Tour Angel or a quick online search can help with this.
Fortunately, Spain generally offers plenty of choice. Bread is often served on the side rather than incorporated into dishes, and meat and fish are commonly pan-fried or baked without sauces. As for vegetarians, the Camino attracts an international crowd, so restaurants along the route are usually accustomed to accommodating these diets. Vegan options, however, are less common along the Camino, so those following a vegan diet may encounter a bit more of a challenge.
Lastly, a kind reminder to pack any meds you might need, it’s always better safe than sorry! And it’s a good idea to look up the Spanish words for your dietary needs before you go.
