OBSOLETE COVID THREAD US-bound travelers: 5 Euro COVID test in Santiago!

[BobY333]

FYI - I just tested here last Thursday, May 26 for my flight to the USA on Friday, May 27. 5 euros and done in 20 minutes!! They use the identical 3 euro test kit that they sell - they just watch you swab yourself and they do the rest.

They provided both an email and physical certificate in this timeframe.

I had to show the physical certificate in both Santiago and Madrid.

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez
Rúa da República Arxentina, 43

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez · Rúa da República Arxentina, 43, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain​

 

[El Cascayal]

Great news! It’s genius! I sure hope pharmacies in Madrid get on board. Thanks, Bob, and have a great trip home!

 

[natefaith]

Great! Were the results in English and/or Spanish? I know some other pharmacies only give their results in Gallego, which isn’t accepted for flying.

 

[BobY333]

It was provided in Spanish on the official Xunta de Galicia Consellería de Sanidad certificate.

It was accepted without issue at both the Santiago check-in and the Madrid pre-boarding check point.

What a bargain! It's a small walk...but without a mochilla

You may want to call ahead. They're open 24 hours, but can only do the test when they have two staff there.

 

[Holly West]

FYI - I just tested here last Thursday, May 26 for my flight to the USA on Friday, May 27. 5 euros and done in 20 minutes!! They use the identical 3 euro test kit that they sell - they just watch you swab yourself and they do the rest.

They provided both an email and physical certificate in this timeframe.

I had to show the physical certificate in both Santiago and Madrid.

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez
Rúa da República Arxentina, 43

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez · Rúa da República Arxentina, 43, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain​

Thank you for that good information.

 

[Jim]

FYI - I just tested here last Thursday, May 26 for my flight to the USA on Friday, May 27. 5 euros and done in 20 minutes!! They use the identical 3 euro test kit that they sell - they just watch you swab yourself and they do the rest.

They provided both an email and physical certificate in this timeframe.

I had to show the physical certificate in both Santiago and Madrid.

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez
Rúa da República Arxentina, 43

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez · Rúa da República Arxentina, 43, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain​

I had to interrupt my Camino as I fell and sustained a fracture of the humerus on the afternoon of May 26th. I was seen in a clinic in Betanzos on the Ingles route. Covid tests not done there, but figured that I could get it done at SCQ airport (Santiago)-- the hours were only from 10 AM to 2 PM and my initial flight was departing at 9:20 a.m. I had arrived at the airport at 6:30 a.m. hoping to get a walk-in covid test. I advised the airport staff & they directed me to a waiting taxi and yes, the pharmacy charged only 5€ for this service. Once the test was completed a few minutes later, the pharmacist directed me to get back in the taxi-- she would have results in my inbox before I made it back to the airport! Made my flights back to the U.S. where I have family to assist me with all the functions I couldn't do when minus the use of one arm, plus my docs who know my complete medical profile. Camino angels all over the place to assist me turn a tragedy into a tolerable situation! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Santiago! Thank you, good people of Spain!

 

[Holly West]

I had to interrupt my Camino as I fell and sustained a fracture of the humerus on the afternoon of May 26th. I was seen in a clinic in Betanzos on the Ingles route. Covid tests not done there, but figured that I could get it done at SCQ airport (Santiago)-- the hours were only from 10 AM to 2 PM and my initial flight was departing at 9:20 a.m. I had arrived at the airport at 6:30 a.m. hoping to get a walk-in covid test. I advised the airport staff & they directed me to a waiting taxi and yes, the pharmacy charged only 5€ for this service. Once the test was completed a few minutes later, the pharmacist directed me to get back in the taxi-- she would have results in my inbox before I made it back to the airport! Made my flights back to the U.S. where I have family to assist me with all the functions I couldn't do when minus the use of one arm, plus my docs who know my complete medical profile. Camino angels all over the place to assist me turn a tragedy into a tolerable situation! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Santiago! Thank you, good people of Spain!

So sorry that happened. Glad you found angels there though and I hope you go back and finish your camino another time.

 

[Jim]

So sorry that happened. Glad you found angels there though and I hope you go back and finish your camino another time.

Most definitely will be going back next year!

 

[jalluisi]

FYI - I just tested here last Thursday, May 26 for my flight to the USA on Friday, May 27. 5 euros and done in 20 minutes!! They use the identical 3 euro test kit that they sell - they just watch you swab yourself and they do the rest.

They provided both an email and physical certificate in this timeframe.

I had to show the physical certificate in both Santiago and Madrid.

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez
Rúa da República Arxentina, 43

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez · Rúa da República Arxentina, 43, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain​

Thanks!! Did you call ahead to check they had two people?

 

[BobY333]

I walked down on Ascension Day around 10, but had to return at 12 because there was only one person. It was a holiday, so that probably affected it. Not a big deal at all.

 

[Pilgrino21]

FYI - I just tested here last Thursday, May 26 for my flight to the USA on Friday, May 27. 5 euros and done in 20 minutes!! They use the identical 3 euro test kit that they sell - they just watch you swab yourself and they do the rest.

They provided both an email and physical certificate in this timeframe.

I had to show the physical certificate in both Santiago and Madrid.

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez
Rúa da República Arxentina, 43

Farmacia Vázquez Suárez · Rúa da República Arxentina, 43, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain​

Bob:

Thanks so much for posting this as it came very timely for my flight this past Monday 06 June. I can confirm that they do test on a Sunday (it is a 24h pharmacy after all). I did mine around 2:30 pm so was a bit worried about siesta getting in the way. I requested both email and printed copy of results. Nice guys working there. I think one speaks crazy Galegan coz I started off in Spanish and I couldn't recognize a word that was spoken back to me. So had to resort to English.

I also called the day before to see about getting an appointment and it seems like it's walk-in. At the time was told the test was available from 12 noon onwards, but saw someone sitting in a chair before noon. So may depends if they have a second person to administer the test. The photo I took was me lining up around 11:30 am and wasn't moving so decided to come back later.

This was a lifesaver and saved me the extra trips in Madrid for testing. I hope this service continues but hoping they won't get inundated they will have to take it away, esp for €5.