Spain's Camino de Santiago, with long paths across western Europe that lead to the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela, appeals to travelers with its challenging terrain, religious importance and nature.
But if and when that nature calls, locals along the trail have just one message for tourists and pilgrims alike: Please, no pooping.
Ya os vale. pic.twitter.com/5tpMpXZjK9— Ander Iñaki (@anderinaki) April 9, 2015
Signs warning against improper pooping along Spain's Camino de Santiago trail "are everywhere," reportedly becoming a tourist attraction in their own right.
Lastres, a village on the northern coast of Spain on the way to Santiago de Compostela, is the latest municipality to call attention to the issue.
It is unclear who posted the signs in the Spanish town, but resentment over the passersby unwelcome piles has been steaming there for year, according to the Spanish website La Voz de Galicia.
The problem, both in Lastres and all along the Camino, is that public toilets are few and far between.
[DIRECTO] Otros turistas que reciben un recadito son los del camino de Santiago http://t.co/BMgHNC9F5q pic.twitter.com/ov0XOEp5zf— Más Vale Tarde (@MVTARDE) April 10, 2015
"It isn't logical that the public infrastructure is not there for tourists on such a long journey," asked Julio Gallego, the mayor of the village of Samos, to La Voz de Galicia. "It is a great failure of the Camino ... and both the locals and the pilgrims end up paying."
The Camino de Santiago has become more popular with tourists in recent years, and what was once a journey for the devoted is now also an opportunity for people looking for a challenging hike, which can take weeks to complete.
Aprendiendo nuevas #señales... Prohibido dejar lastres por el camino... :D #CaminodeSantiago #SemanaSanta #peregrino pic.twitter.com/jkNHupWwHt— Xose Martín (@xosemartin) March 29, 2015
In 2014, about 240,000 people traversed one of the routes of the Camino, an increase of 20,000 over 2013.
The waste problem is a reminder to residents of the challenges of being a popular destination for visitors. Local authorities boast about the welcoming atmosphere of the Camino, but of course there's always a limit to hospitality.
Some of the residents have even painted their own versions of the "no pooping" sign on errant wood planks.
Unfortunately, there are not great options for handling bodily waste on parts of the Camino.
There have long been forum discussions about how to properly deal with toilet paper (hint: don't leave it on the trail), but without more public toilets the pooping problems remain.