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Farmacia in Spain?

J Willhaus

Veteran Member
Donating Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, planned 2025
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?
 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
You can get it all in the farmacias.
 
And in the DIA markets are cheaper, and in the tiny tiendas, and in the China stores . . . Everywhere. No problem.
 
Last edited:
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

They have it all. And more importantly the Spanish pharmacists are very informed and professional.
 
Yep, but supermarkets are cheaper
 
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!
 
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Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
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
 
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
 
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.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
KinkyOne said:
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
Click to expand...
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?

natefaith said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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?
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
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.
 
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
 
supplies are plentiful and even found travel size products in shops in relatively small villages etc, You will be fine
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
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