Acampar gratis en Canada /Free camping in Canada

Dear reader, after almost 3 years travelling and writing this blog, this is my first post in english. As you may notice, I am a spanish native speaker. I expect you will forgive me for the grammar or spelling mistakes in the follow document. Thanks for reading me!

Are you ready for an outdoors adventure? Keep reading!

Durante los 4 meses de vacaciones en tierras canadienses, jamás hemos pagado un camping u hostel. Aprendimos a afinar el ojo, y después de un poco de lectura cibernética, podemos dar algunos datos sobre cómo acampanar gratis en BC y AB cuando se viaja en la modalidad turrata/During our holidays in Canada, we have never paid for a camping site or hostel. We learnt to sharp the eye (find places) and after a few reading on the internet, we can give you some tips about how to camp for free in BC and AB if you are travelling on a budget like us.

Kootenay National Park

-puedes dormir gratis en cualquier estacionamiento donde no figure algún letrero: NO OVERNIGHT PARKING/ONLY DAY USE AREA, a veces nos hemos quedado en lugares donde el letrero dice NO CAMPING, y nos hemos quedado usando la lógica de que no estamos haciendo camping (entiéndase poner una carpa) sino que durmiendo en el auto... quien sabe/ you can sleep for free at any parking lot unless it says: NO OVERNIGHT PARKING/ONLY DAY USE. Sometimes we've slept  in places where the signboard says NO CAMPING with the reason that we are not doing camping, just sleeping in the car...

No camping, no trailers, no fire! Better to keep looking for another place

-RECREATIONAL AREAS, situadas alrededor de parques nacionales o provinciales, ofrecen la mejor alternativa para acampar gratis. Generalmente cuentan con un baño compostero (u hoyo negro en lenguaje chileno) y no tienen agua potable. A veces, puedes encontrar mesas de picnic e incluso aros para hacer fuego. Lamentablemente en los mapas no figuran, pero puedes encontrarlas en este sitio web http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/default.aspx/ 

RECREATIONAL AREAS, located around national or provincial parks, it’s the best place to camp for free. Usually you will find a pit toilet, but no water for drink. Sometimes they have also a picnic table and fire ring... honestly, can you ask for more? These areas are not in the maps, but you can go to this website and find them http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/default.aspx

Camping sites for free next to Jones Lake Recreational Area (Highway 1 between Vancouver and Hope) https://www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/jones_lake.html

Sleeping next to the Highway in the way to Vancouver

Parking lot Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, the cariboo woke up us at 7 in the morning ahahaha

-wallmarts, o estacionamientos de restaurantes de comida rápida donde se atienda 24 horas (siempre que no tengan el famoso letrero de FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY, MAX 20 MIN PARKING, ETC) usualmente nos quedamos en wallmart cuando estamos en cuidades grandes/ parking lots of walmarts or fast food restaurants with 24 hours service (check the signboard, sometimes is not allowed to park more than 20 min or the parking is reserve for customers only) we usually choose walmarts in the big cities.

-puedes estacionar en calles después de la hora de cobro del parquímetro, entre 10pm y 9:30pm/you can park on the streets after 10pm and before 9:30am next day

- REST AREAS o zonas de descanso, a un lado de la carretera/ rest areas next to the highway

En provincias como BC, la tierra pertenece a la Corona Británica, por ende sus habitantes pueden usarla a su discresión, siempre y cuando no se perturbe el disfrute de terceros/ In provinces like BC, some lands belong to the British Crown. The crown land can be used by everyone. Usually the recreational areas are crown land or the places next to the highways, rivers or lakes where is no signboard, you can park there and sleep it's ok!

Crown land next to the Kootneay National Park highway, we stay for 2 nights

Como ducharse/ How to get a shower

Para la ducha hemos optado por recreational centers o piscinas públicas donde pagas entre 5 a 10 dólares, generalmente cuentan con piscina caliente y helada, sauna y steam room para hacer tu experiencia duchística inolvidable… cualquier rio es una ducha en potencia, ten cuidado y báñate donde el agua corra y no esté estancada /If you need a shower, a good option is to find a recreational center or aquatic center, where you will pay up to 10 dollars, usually they have a hot tub, sauna and steam room to make your “shower experience” unforgettable … every river is a potential shower, just be careful and choose places where the water is running and don't use toxic shampoo or soap, the river doesn't need your cosmetics!

El canadiense es conocido por su amabilidad, siempre y cuando no te pillen tirando basura o haciendo escándalo después de la hora de silencio (10pm) la policía no te va a molestar. De ser el caso, te van a solicitar moverte del lugar e incluso puede que te pidan hasta disculpas ;) /Canadians are well known for their kindness, if you don't litter or make noise after the quiet time (10 pm) the police or the rangers will not to chase you. In the worst case, they will ask you to move the car and even they will say sorry for that ;)

Recuerden que la naturaleza es de todos y es nuestro deber mantener y dejar limpio los lugares de camping. No dejen rastro de su estadía y obedezcan las restricciones (no hacer fuego, no pescar) Evítale un mal rato a quienes están a tu alrededor y de pasada cuidas el medioambiente/Remember nature belongs to everyone and our duty is to remain and keep clean the camping areas. Don't leave trace of your staying and follow the restrictions (don't make fire or don't fishing) Take care of the environment.

Buenos viajes para tod@s/Good trips to everyone