Farmacia in Spain?

[J Willhaus]

I am told that there are Farmacias even in the smaller towns along the Caminos. Can one buy health and beauty products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste or are sales limited more to health and treatment items and pharmaceuticals? Will I need to stock up in the bigger cities or can I replace essentials in most small towns?

 

[koilife]

You can get it all in the farmacias.

 

[Anniesantiago]

And in the DIA markets are cheaper, and in the tiny tiendas, and in the China stores . . . Everywhere. No problem.

 

[SabsP]

I am told that there are Farmacias even in the smaller towns along the Caminos. Can one buy health and beauty products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste or are sales limited more to health and treatment items and pharmaceuticals? Will I need to stock up in the bigger cities or can I replace essentials in most small towns?

They have it all. And more importantly the Spanish pharmacists are very informed and professional.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I am told that there are Farmacias even in the smaller towns along the Caminos. Can one buy health and beauty products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste or are sales limited more to health and treatment items and pharmaceuticals? Will I need to stock up in the bigger cities or can I replace essentials in most small towns?

Yep, but supermarkets are cheaper

 

[J Willhaus]

OK, Thanks. Planning to take only small amounts in bottles or containers I can easily refill or replace. My pack weight is currently at 12 pounds (5 1/2 kg) without water and I don't want to add to that with "last minute" things I did not consider (like big shampoo bottles) I can buy a bigger bottle, refill my little one and share with some other pilgrims if I can restock more often. I am less concerned about the cost than letting the weight creep up...little things do add up!

 

[KinkyOne]

OK, Thanks. Planning to take only small amounts in bottles or containers I can easily refill or replace. My pack weight is currently at 12 pounds (5 1/2 kg) without water and I don't want to add to that with "last minute" things I did not consider (like big shampoo bottles) I can buy a bigger bottle, refill my little one and share with some other pilgrims if I can restock more often. I am less concerned about the cost than letting the weight creep up...little things do add up!

Or you might just leave rest of that shampoo in an albergue if it's too much weight and nobody wants to restock. People coming days after you will be very gratefull

 

[natefaith]

The pharmacies in Spain tend to have shampoo, toothpaste, and soap at higher prices than the supermarkets will. Some supermarkets that you'll find throughout Spain are:
Dia
Froiz
Mercadona
Eroski
Familia
Aliprox
Claudio/ Babilonia
Covirán

If you see any of those they'll have what you need. And in bigger cities you'll find Alcampo, Carrefour, and Hiper Eroskis and in those you'll have a good chance of finding travel-size toiletries if you need to replace your small bottles.

Buen Camino! Have a great one!
Faith

 

[natefaith]

I will say, too, that the pharmacies ARE great for blister care and prevention (like Compeed bandages and balms). The supermarkets won't necessarily have that.

 

[J Willhaus]

Or you might just leave rest of that shampoo in an albergue if it's too much weight and nobody wants to restock. People coming days after you will be very gratefull

Yes, great idea!

The pharmacies in Spain tend to have shampoo, toothpaste, and soap at higher prices than the supermarkets will. Some supermarkets that you'll find throughout Spain are:
Dia
Froiz
Mercadona
Eroski
Familia
Aliprox
Claudio/ Babilonia
Covirán

If you see any of those they'll have what you need. And in bigger cities you'll find Alcampo, Carrefour, and Hiper Eroskis and in those you'll have a good chance of finding travel-size toiletries if you need to replace your small bottles.

I will keep an eye out for these. I am teaching myself some Spanish so I can ask for various items. Not sure how to ask for "travel-sized" though?

I will say, too, that the pharmacies ARE great for blister care and prevention (like Compeed bandages and balms). The supermarkets won't necessarily have that.

Hope I won't need any, but good to know. A friend who finished the CF last summer said there were even a few random vending machines that carried blister treatment products out in the middle of no where!

 

[soozansings]

Yes, great idea!



I will keep an eye out for these. I am teaching myself some Spanish so I can ask for various items. Not sure how to ask for "travel-sized" though?


Hope I won't need any, but good to know. A friend who finished the CF last summer said there were even a few random vending machines that carried blister treatment products out in the middle of no where!

J....I downloaded google translate with language packs for Spain and the other countries I'm going to. It's free. If you have an iphone I assume you can also find it. You just type in the words you want translated and it will show you and/or say it outloud.

 

[J Willhaus]

J....I downloaded google translate with language packs for Spain and the other countries I'm going to. It's free. If you have an iphone I assume you can also find it. You just type in the words you want translated and it will show you and/or say it outloud.

I do have a translation app my 6 inch Kindle that works both on and offline. I will make my husband download it for our phone, too. We have T-Mobile so we can get free texts and data in both Spain and France. Do you have to online for the Google Translate to work or will it work offline too?

 

[trecile]

I do have a translation app my 6 inch Kindle that works both on and offline. I will make my husband download it for our phone, too. We have T-Mobile so we can get free texts and data in both Spain and France. Do you have to online for the Google Translate to work or will it work offline too?

It will work offline if you have downloaded the language pack.
While you are online you can actually use the camera option on a sign or a menu, and it translates right on the camera screen. It's pretty cool and saves some typing.

 

[Wandershot]

Some of the tinier towns do not have a farmacia. But you'll pass through a larger town every fews days or so. So just manage your quantity accordingly

 

[hsabs]

supplies are plentiful and even found travel size products in shops in relatively small villages etc, You will be fine