First Spanish SIM card availability on Camino Frances?

[Roger Deee]

I am starting the Camino Frances next month starting in SJPDP.
I will not to have the opportunity to purchase a Spanish SIM cards until I enter Spain, pre purchasing on online is possible but shipping it to Australia is extremely expensive.
I am interested to know exactly where is the first possible place to purchased the SIM card.
Someone out there must have gone thru to same situation and can tell me where I can buy one. I don't want to be walking around towns looking for shops, so an exact location would be much appreciated.

 

[Kanga]

Which way are you going Roger? Through Madrid, or Paris?

 

[Roger Deee]

actually, Frankfurt -> Lyon -> Biarritz -> SJPDP,,
sounds a strange way but there is a good reason for this

 

[Kanga]

Then I think the first place to get a Spanish sim card is Pamplona, and you will pass plenty of shops selling sim cards on the Camino route through the outskirts and in the main town (after you pass the wonderful gate in the city walls). If you have any trouble ask someone for directions to El Cortes Ingles, the big department store, they sell most major brands. I bought an Orange prepaid last time.

I don't think any of the villages before Pamplona will have sim cards, although the garage in Zubriri might have some.

SJPDP is no good because it only has French sim cards. There was talk of a Europe wide sim, but I think it is only on a contract and not prepaid. BTW you will need a Spanish address (as well as your passport for ID) - I used my hotel address and that was fine.

 

[Roger Deee]

now have a plan of attack, thanks loads,

 

[Kanga]

And buen camino! I'm heading off from Sydney on 10th May.

 

[Roger Deee]

and buen Camino too, I'm heading off 20th May from Melbourne, start walking 23rd may.
Looking forward to it!!

 

[Walli Walker]

Welcome to the forum, Roger, and buen Camino. Jacki.

 

[CdnDreamer]

Last year I stopped at Vodafone in Burlada. It was on the main street walking towards Pamplona. They were great - spoke English and were helping lots of pilgrims get a SIM card. My phone didn't work with their internet and they took the time to find the codes, and enter them into my phone so it would work with their system. The exact address is: Calle Mayor, 29, 31600 Burlada, Navarra, Spain.

 

[Roger Deee]

fantastic, this is exactly the info I was hoping for, thanks for this now I can go directly there and not aimlessly wander around.
Also Vodafone is my preferred carrier.
Thanks for you assistance

 

[aussiedave]

fantastic, this is exactly the info I was hoping for, thanks for this now I can go directly there and not aimlessly wander around.
Also Vodafone is my preferred carrier.
Thanks for you assistance

I found Vodafone v expensive, and in fact the Vodafone shop assistant sent me down the road to get a Lebara SIM. Fantastic. Worked everywhere and lasted from Estella, where I bought it until I went home 4 weeks later. 20 Euros. Most mobile phone shops sell them.

 

[AJ]

And buen camino! I'm heading off from Sydney on 10th May.

So am I!!

 

[William Kim]

I am starting the Camino Frances next month starting in SJPDP.
I will not to have the opportunity to purchase a Spanish SIM cards until I enter Spain, pre purchasing on online is possible but shipping it to Australia is extremely expensive.
I am interested to know exactly where is the first possible place to purchased the SIM card.
Someone out there must have gone thru to same situation and can tell me where I can buy one. I don't want to be walking around towns looking for shops, so an exact location would be much appreciated.

 

[William Kim]

Hi Roger, you may want look at following website. They will deliver SIM card to the place where you stay in French Way. But I don't know their charge. I myself also looking for a solution. Good luck. Bill

http://blog.caminofacil.net/en/2015...ccess-if-you-are-in-spain-walking-the-camino/

 

[Greg Ludford]

Hi Roger
Confirm there is an Orange Espana shop in Pamplona in the city centre. I bought a data only sim (iPad mini) in Oct last year. They were excellent, installed & set it up etc in about 30 minutes. It makes you appreciate how insanely expensive telecom services are in Australia. From memory 2GB data for 10 or 15 euro. Used it for Viber calls (local & int) navigation, email, media etc when out of wireless or in slow wireless range. I can't recall anywhere on the Camino where there was no 3G reception & 99% of bars & albergues have free wireless access (though sometimes not too flash). Buen Camino, Greg

 

[SYates]

... BTW you will need a Spanish address (as well as your passport for ID) - I used my hotel address and that was fine.

Last two times when I bought a Spanish SIM the shops simply used their own shop address to register the SIM. I am still wondering how many pilgrims 'live' in that shop
Buen Camino, SY

 

[CdnDreamer]

I found Vodafone inexpensive - they still have a 15 euro plan for visitors. It covers 60 minutes of calls - including international and 1.5 gb data for one month.

 

[lbpierce]

When I bought my first Spanish SIM card in 2013, I bought Moviestar and it had excellent coverage on the entire CF. My husband says Vodaphone seems to be the most favored in Spain, but I wonder about specific coverage on the CF. Have people used Vodaphone on the CF with good coverage?

 

[Maroussia]

Hi all, I am so grateful for this forum as I've Ben trying to work out the same questions regarding SIM cards. I am in Paris & heading off to St Jean de Pied today. So, this information is helpful. Do any of you bother about getting 2 cards? One for evphone & the other for the iPad
buen Camino one & all

 

[long trails]

Can recommend Orange Shop in Pamplona New Town. The shop staff speak excellent English and got more than enough GBytes for EUR 20