eSIM for Camino de Santiago

Camino de Santiago: what to know before you go

The routes

The Camino Francés starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, crosses the Pyrenees into Spain and runs about 800 km. Other routes start in Portugal and along the north coast.

Apps and offline maps

Pilgrims use a route app with an offline map for stages and albergue (hostel) distances. Download the whole route before you start.

Charging

A phone running maps all day drains fast. A power bank matters more than extra data.

Booking

In busy months many people book the next night by message or app. A data plan makes that easy from the trail.

How much data you need

A few weeks on the trail takes about 10 GB or less, since most of it is maps and messages.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Camino de Santiago: when people go

31 December 2026 to 31 December 2027: Holy Year

2027 is a Holy Year, so the Holy Door at Santiago cathedral opens on 31 December 2026 and stays open until 31 December 2027. More pilgrims than usual are expected in a Holy Year, so beds and rooms fill earlier along every route, and a photo of your credencial on your phone is a useful backup.

24 and 25 July 2027: feast of Saint James

Santiago celebrates its patron on 25 July, with a fireworks display and light projections on the cathedral facade the night before and the botafumeiro ceremony on the day, and the festivities begin about ten days earlier. The 2027 programme is still to be confirmed, and 25 July falls on a Sunday that year, which is why it is a Holy Year, so book rooms in Santiago early.

May to September 2027: busiest months on the trail

In 2019 the pilgrim office counted about 62,800 arrivals in Santiago in August, 53,300 in July, 49,100 in June and 46,700 in May, against about 1,700 in January. The Holy Year is expected to bring more, so download the whole route before you start.

1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027: Pyrenees route closed

The Napoleon route over Lepoeder is closed from 1 November to 31 March, and pilgrims must take the Valcarlos route along the valley. Winter is quiet, with only a couple of thousand arrivals a month in Santiago, so check that your albergue is open before you walk to it.

Spain eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

10 plans, from $2.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $23.99 (50 GB, 30 days). Networks: Movistar 5G and Orange 5G.

Network

Movistar 5G, Orange 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 500 Kbps

Updated November 12, 2026

Questions about Camino de Santiago

Does the plan work in both France and Spain?

Plans are per country, so install the one for each country you pass through. The French start and the Spanish stages are different countries.

How much does an eSIM for Camino de Santiago cost?

Camino de Santiago uses the Spain plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 10 plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Camino de Santiago?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Camino de Santiago?

If your SIM is from the EU, roaming here costs the same as at home, within the data your plan allows abroad. The eSIM helps when that allowance runs out, or when your line is from outside the EU: then your carrier usually charges by the day or by the megabyte.

Which networks does the Camino de Santiago eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to Movistar and Orange, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (500 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.