eSIM for Costa Rica

Viasimo's Costa Rica eSIM runs on Claro and Liberty with 4G LTE where available. Every plan arrives by email in minutes and installs from your phone's settings, with no app.

Works everywhere in Costa Rica

Alajuela Province
Cartago Province
Guanacaste Province
Heredia Province
Limón Province
Puntarenas Province
San José

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Network

Which networks does the Costa Rica eSIM use?

Host networks: Claro / Liberty

Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.

Speed: 4G LTE
Hotspot / tethering: Supported on most devices
Activation: Automatic on arrival
Speed management: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced

Setting up Buy, scan the QR code we email you, and switch on the travel line when you land. How it works

What a week abroad costs

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Charged per day

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A SIM at the airport

One off price

Viasimo, one bundle

Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.

About this eSIM

Costa Rica is easy to travel and harder to stay connected in than its reputation suggests. The Central Valley and the main beach towns are fine; the volcanoes, cloud forest and the Osa Peninsula are where your bars disappear. Knowing which of those you are heading into on a given day is most of the battle.

Getting online when you land

Get the profile onto your phone before you leave home. Installation needs wifi, and while both Juan Santamaria near San Jose and Daniel Oduber at Liberia have airport wifi, relying on an airport network to set up the connection you need at that airport is a plan with an obvious flaw.

After landing, switch the profile on and turn on data roaming for it. Give it a couple of minutes while you clear immigration. By the time you reach the rental car desk you should have a working map, which is exactly when you need one, because Costa Rican road signage is sparse and destinations are frequently described as "two hundred metres north of the old fig tree" rather than by street address.

Your home SIM can stay in place for calls. Car rental companies, lodges and shuttle operators will use the number on your booking, and you want it live.

The networks you'll be on

Claro carries this eSIM in Costa Rica, on 4G LTE.

The practical reading: your best experience comes when your handset is on 4G, and there will be places and moments where it is not. A 3G connection is a real connection and it will carry messaging, a map tile, a webpage and a voice note perfectly well. It will struggle with a video call, a large photo upload or streaming.

Do not expect 5G, and do not treat its absence as a problem with the eSIM.

If the connection feels slow rather than dead, check which generation your phone is showing before assuming anything is wrong. Nine times out of ten you have simply dropped a tier, and the fix is patience or a hundred metres of walking, not troubleshooting.

Where coverage holds, and where it thins

Dependable: San Jose and the Central Valley including Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago; the Pan-American highway spine; the Guanacaste beach towns of Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo and Playas del Coco; Jaco and Quepos on the central Pacific; La Fortuna town at the base of Arenal; and the Puerto Viejo strip on the Caribbean side.

Thin or absent: the cloud forest around Monteverde and Santa Elena, where terrain does most of the blocking; the mountain roads over the Cerro de la Muerte between San Jose and San Isidro; the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado, which is genuinely remote; Tortuguero, reachable only by boat or small plane and connected accordingly; the higher slopes of Chirripo; and most of the interior of any national park you walk into.

Two specifics worth planning around. The gravel back roads of Nicoya and Santa Teresa lose signal well before they lose their potholes, so do not set off on one without your route already cached. And hanging bridge walks, canopy tours and river trips are all designed to put you deep in vegetation, which is exactly where the connection goes.

What you'll actually use data for here

Navigation, more than anything. Waze is the tool of choice locally and the route it gives you will often differ from a paper plan for good reasons, including river crossings and unpaved shortcuts you should not take in a two-wheel-drive car.

After that: WhatsApp for confirming tours, shuttles and lodges, since almost every operator in the country runs their bookings through it; weather radar, which matters enormously in green season when an afternoon storm decides whether a hike happens; and translation for the places where English thins out, which is sooner than the tourist brochures imply.

You will also want data for the small administrative things that catch travellers out: filling in an online entry or exit form, checking a shuttle pickup window, and confirming a card transaction that your bank flags because it came from a country you do not usually spend in.

Before you fly

Cache offline maps for the whole country rather than city by city. Costa Rica is small enough that this is cheap in storage and it covers you for every mountain road you did not plan to be on.

Screenshot your lodge directions exactly as the lodge writes them, landmarks and all, plus a pinned coordinate if they give one. Coordinates are far more useful than addresses here.

Take a power bank and a waterproof pouch. Humidity, rain and heat are constant, and a phone that spends the day searching for a weak signal will not last until dinner.

Finally, decide in advance which days are offline days. Booking a Corcovado trip or a Tortuguero stay and telling people at home that you will be out of contact turns a coverage gap into a plan rather than a problem.

Before you buy

Important to know

This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
The eSIM selects a host network automatically. You cannot pick or switch between them.

Looking for more information?

Frequently asked questions

Does an eSIM work in Costa Rica?

Yes. Your Costa Rica eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are Claro, Liberty. Coverage runs on 4G LTE. There is no 5G on our host network in Costa Rica yet.

Do I get 5G in Costa Rica?

No. Claro, Liberty do not yet offer 5G to visitors in Costa Rica, so your eSIM connects over 4G LTE or slower. Anyone claiming 5G for this destination is quoting a spec sheet, not the network you will actually get.

Which mobile network is best in Costa Rica?

It depends on where you go. Opensignal's December 2023 report found Claro fastest, at about 25 Mbps, and on 4G nearly 90% of the time, while state-owned Kölbi scored highest for coverage experience. Liberty was in between. Our eSIM uses Claro, which suits towns, beaches and highways; remote valleys are where Kölbi's wider but slower footprint shows.

Is there 5G in Costa Rica?

Yes, since 2025. Claro launched 5G in September 2025 across 41 cantons and said it reached over 1.8 million people by May 2026, mostly around San José. Liberty has a smaller 5G service and Kölbi was still piloting. Our eSIM connects to Claro on 4G/LTE only, so you will use 4G even in areas where 5G exists.

How do I spot an official taxi at San José airport?

Official taxis in Costa Rica are red, or orange at the airport, with a triangular sticker on the door and a roof box showing the company name and number. The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding unofficial taxis piratas, checking the driver's ID is on the dashboard and making sure the meter is used. Radio-dispatched taxis or a pre-booked transfer are safer choices.

Is it safe to visit Poás Volcano?

Check before you go. The UK Foreign Office reports an increasing and significant series of eruptions at Poás, and advises checking news and local advice before visiting any volcanic area, avoiding them during or just after heavy rain, and taking care with ash if you have breathing problems. Look up the latest park status on the morning of your visit.

Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →

Know before you go

Costa Rica: what to know before you land

Costa Rica has three mobile networks: state-owned Kölbi, Claro and Liberty. Claro, the network our eSIM uses, measured fastest and kept users on 4G most of the time in Opensignal's tests, while Kölbi reaches furthest. 5G arrived in 2025 but this eSIM stays on 4G. The useful extras are knowing which airport taxis are official and checking volcano and road alerts.

Emergency: 911
Plugs: AB 120V
Currency: Costa Rican colón (CRC)

Main airports

SJO Juan Santamaría International Airport (San José)
LIR Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (Liberia)

Apps worth having WazeWhatsAppUber

Kölbi, Claro and Liberty: speed versus reach

The three networks trade strengths. In Opensignal's December 2023 report, based on August to October 2023 data:

Claro was fastest, averaging about 25 Mbps, and had the highest 4G availability, with users on 4G nearly 90% of the time. It won seven of the nine categories outright.
Kölbi, run by the state utility ICE, scored highest for coverage experience (7.8 out of 10) and overall availability, but its users spent only about two-thirds of their time on 4G.
Liberty, the former Movistar network, sat in between on most measures.

For a visitor that means Claro is the better network wherever it has a mast, and Kölbi is more likely to give you some signal, often 3G, in remote valleys and small towns. All three kept users connected around 97% of the time, so the difference shows mainly in the back country.

Our eSIM uses Claro only. Expect quick 4G in the Central Valley, Guanacaste beach towns and along main highways, and plan offline maps for gravel roads and park interiors, where even Kölbi struggles.

Costa Rica's 5G launch in 2025, and why this eSIM stays on 4G

Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to auction 5G spectrum. In January 2025 the regulator SUTEL awarded blocks to Claro and Liberty, each committing to 1,552 new base stations.

Claro switched on 5G in September 2025, using a non-standalone design built on its 4G network, initially across 41 cantons in all seven provinces. By May 2026 it said 5G reached more than 1.8 million people, mostly in the Greater Metropolitan Area around San José, with growing use in Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón. Liberty had offered a limited 5G service since mid-2024 and planned a wider standalone network from 2026. Kölbi was still running a pilot in late 2025.

Our eSIM is 4G/LTE on Claro, so you will not see the 5G icon even where Claro has it. That rarely matters: 5G is concentrated in the capital, while the places that challenge any connection, such as Monteverde, the Osa Peninsula and Tortuguero, are areas where the limit is the terrain and distance from masts, not the generation of network.

Taxis at Juan Santamaría: orange cabs and taxis piratas

Arriving at Juan Santamaría (SJO) or Liberia's Daniel Oduber (LIR), you will be offered rides the moment you leave baggage reclaim. The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding unofficial taxis, known as taxis piratas. Official taxis are red, or orange at the airport, with a triangular sticker on the door and a roof sign showing the company name and number. The driver's ID should be visible on the dashboard and the meter should be running. Radio-dispatched taxis are recommended.

Having data the moment you land lets you book a ride through an app or the transfer company you arranged, and share your trip with someone. If you are picking up a hire car, it also helps with the other common problem: car crime. The FCDO describes thieves slashing a tyre, offering help, then having an accomplice empty the car, and staged collisions used to stop drivers. If something like that happens, keep driving to a police station or petrol station and call 911 from there.

Never leave luggage in a parked car, even in the boot, and keep your phone on you rather than in a mount when you stop at viewpoints or beaches.

Poás Volcano, rip currents and rainy-season road closures

Several alerts are worth following on your phone in Costa Rica.

Volcanoes. The country has 16 volcanoes, several active. The UK Foreign Office reports a significant and increasing series of eruptions at Poás, a popular day trip from San José. Check news and park updates on the morning you go, avoid volcanic areas during or just after heavy rain, and be aware that ash can affect air quality.

Beaches. Rip currents are very common and many beaches have no lifeguards. Drownings average 50 to 60 a year, and around a third of those who drown are tourists. Crocodiles are regularly seen on the Pacific coast between Playa Azul and Playa Esterillos. Ask locally before swimming.

Weather. June to November is both hurricane season and the peak rainy season. Flooding and landslides close roads, especially mountain routes, so check the route on Waze before you leave and allow extra time. Small earthquakes are frequent but seldom cause widespread damage.

Emergency services on 911 cover ambulance, fire and police. Our eSIM is data only, so that call goes through your home SIM or a local phone.

Researched October 2026 · 7 sources

insights.opensignal.com Costa Rica, December 2023, Mobile Network Experience - Opensignal
mobiletime.com.br Costa Rica 5G auction results - Mobile Time
semanariouniversidad.com Claro golpea la mesa con lanzamiento inmediato de 5G - Semanario Universidad
delfino.cr Cobertura 5G de Claro se expande en Costa Rica - Delfino
gov.uk Costa Rica travel advice: safety and security - GOV.UK
gov.uk Costa Rica travel advice: getting help - GOV.UK
royalbrinkman.com Voltage, frequency and plug type per country - Royal Brinkman

7-day itinerary

Seven days in Costa Rica: San José, Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio

A classic first-timer's loop for wildlife and volcano views: a night in San José, two days around Arenal and La Fortuna, the cloud forest at Monteverde, then the Pacific coast and rainforest at Manuel Antonio before heading back to the capital.

Length: 7 days
Bases: 4

When to go December to April is the dry season on the Pacific side and the busiest time for parks; May to November is greener and quieter but brings afternoon downpours, and September and October can close mountain roads with landslides.

Day 1 San José

San José: arrive and get your bearings

SJO airport to central San José takes about 30–45 minutes by road.

Land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) and take an official orange airport taxi or your booked transfer into the city. If you arrive early, visit the Gold Museum beneath the Plaza de la Cultura and look at the National Theatre facing it, then walk up Avenida Central to the National Museum in the former Bellavista barracks. Use the evening to buy any SINAC park tickets you still need.

Signal Claro 4G is strong across central San José and at the airport. This eSIM runs on Claro 4G, which is plenty for maps and ticket bookings.
Day 2 La Fortuna

To La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

San José to La Fortuna by shuttle or car, roughly 3–3.5 hours over the mountains.

Drive or take a shuttle north-west to La Fortuna, the town beneath Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon walk the trails of Arenal Volcano National Park, which cross old lava flows with views of the cone when the cloud lifts. End the day in one of the hot springs fed by the volcano's geothermal water around town.

Signal Expect gaps on the winding mountain stretches past San Ramón. Claro 4G works in La Fortuna town, but thins on the park's lava-flow trails.
Day 3 La Fortuna

La Fortuna waterfall and the hanging bridges

Start early at the La Fortuna waterfall, reached by several hundred steps down into the river gorge, and swim in the pool below if the current allows. Later visit a set of hanging bridges in the forest near Lake Arenal, where you walk at canopy height and often see toucans, sloths and monkeys. Book an evening wildlife walk for frogs and snakes.

Signal Signal drops in the waterfall gorge and on the lower sections of the hanging-bridge trails. Coverage returns at the visitor centres and back in La Fortuna.
Day 4 Monteverde (Santa Elena)

Across Lake Arenal to Monteverde

Jeep-boat-jeep from La Fortuna, about 3 hours in total.

Take the jeep-boat-jeep transfer: a short drive to Lake Arenal, a boat across the lake under the volcano, and a minibus up rough roads to Santa Elena, the village that serves Monteverde. In the afternoon stroll the village, then book a guided night walk in one of the private reserves, where guides spot tarantulas, sleeping birds and tree frogs by torchlight.

Signal Expect no signal on parts of the lake crossing and on the gravel road climbing to Monteverde. Claro 4G works in Santa Elena, though the cloud forest itself is much weaker.
Day 5 Monteverde (Santa Elena)

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Go in at opening time to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve with a guide, who will help you find quetzals, bellbirds and hummingbirds in the moss-hung forest. Walk to the hanging bridge inside the reserve and the continental divide viewpoint. In the afternoon visit a coffee farm on the lower slopes, or the smaller Santa Elena reserve if you want more forest.

Signal Signal is weak or absent on many trails in the cloud forest reserve, even near the entrance. Download your route and show tickets offline before you leave Santa Elena.
Day 6 Manuel Antonio (Quepos)

Down to the Pacific at Manuel Antonio

Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, roughly 4–4.5 hours by road.

Drive or take a shuttle down the mountain to the Pacific Highway and south past Jacó to Quepos. Spend the afternoon on Playa Espadilla, the public beach just outside the national park, and watch the sunset from the ridge road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Swim with care: rip currents are common and many beaches have no lifeguard.

Signal Signal is poor on the descent from Monteverde, then good along the Pacific Highway. Claro 4G is strong in Quepos and along the Manuel Antonio road.
Day 7 San José

Manuel Antonio National Park, then back to San José

Manuel Antonio to San José, about 3–3.5 hours by road via Jacó.

Enter Manuel Antonio National Park when it opens at 7am, with a ticket bought online in advance through SINAC; the park is closed on Tuesdays, so plan your days around that. Walk the main trail to Playa Manuel Antonio, then the loop round Punta Catedral, watching for sloths, capuchins and squirrel monkeys. Leave by early afternoon for the drive back to San José.

Signal Coverage inside the park is patchy, especially on the forested headland trails. Have your SINAC ticket saved offline, as there is no ticket sale at the gate.

Staying connected on this route

Buy Manuel Antonio tickets on the SINAC site at least a day ahead and save them as screenshots, since you cannot buy at the gate.
Download offline maps for the Monteverde roads and the Arenal lake crossing, where Claro has no signal.
Check Waze and park updates each morning in the rainy season, when landslides close mountain routes.
Use radio-dispatched or app-booked rides from the airport rather than the unofficial taxis piratas.