# eSIM for South America Viasimo's South America eSIM starts at $5.00 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on local 5G networks where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app. Canonical page: https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/ ## South America eSIM prices | Plan | Data | Days | Price | Price per GB | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Unlimited, 3 days | Unlimited | 3 | $27.99 | - | | Unlimited, 5 days | Unlimited | 5 | $42.99 | - | | 1 GB, 7 days | 1 GB | 7 | $5.00 | $5.00 | | Unlimited, 7 days | Unlimited | 7 | $59.99 | - | | Unlimited, 10 days | Unlimited | 10 | $81.99 | - | | 3 GB, 15 days | 3 GB | 15 | $12.99 | $4.33 | | Unlimited, 15 days | Unlimited | 15 | $129.99 | - | | 3 GB, 30 days | 3 GB | 30 | $13.99 | $4.66 | | 5 GB, 30 days | 5 GB | 30 | $20.99 | $4.20 | | 10 GB, 30 days | 10 GB | 30 | $36.99 | $3.70 | | 20 GB, 30 days | 20 GB | 30 | $72.99 | $3.65 | | 30 GB, 30 days | 30 GB | 30 | $78.00 | $2.60 | | Unlimited, 30 days | Unlimited | 30 | $229.99 | - | | Unlimited, 60 days | Unlimited | 60 | $449.99 | - | | Unlimited, 90 days | Unlimited | 90 | $674.99 | - | | 50 GB, 180 days | 50 GB | 180 | $159.99 | $3.20 | | Unlimited, 180 days | Unlimited | 180 | $1,344.99 | - | ## Which networks does the South America eSIM use? The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive. ## eSIM Details - **Data**: 1 GB – 50 GB or unlimited - **Validity**: 3–180 days - **Speed**: 4G LTE / 5G - **Hotspot / tethering**: Supported on most devices - **Activation**: Starts when you first connect in your destination - **Speed management**: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced - **Top-ups**: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires - **Text messages (SMS)**: Data only: use an app for verification codes - **Unused validity**: 180 days before it must be installed ## South America: what to know before you land Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/#destination-guide · Researched October 2026 by Viasimo This plan covers most of South America plus much of Central America, so one eSIM can carry you from Cartagena to Patagonia or from Costa Rica to Peru. Partners include Claro, Movistar, Vivo, TIM, Tigo, Personal and WOM. Cities have good 4G, but the Andes, Patagonia, the Amazon and the salt flats have long stretches without any signal. ### South America: quick facts | Fact | South America | | --- | --- | | Emergency number | Varies: 911 in Argentina, Costa Rica and Panama; 190 (police) in Brazil; 123 in Colombia; 133 (police) in Chile; 105 (police) in Peru | | Main airports | São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU); El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá (BOG); Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima (LIM); Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires (EZE); Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Santiago (SCL); Tocumen International Airport, Panama City (PTY) | | Plug types | Type A, C, I, L, N (110–220V depending on country) | | Currency | Local currency in each country; US dollar in Ecuador, El Salvador and Panama | | Apps worth having | WhatsApp, Uber, DiDi, Cabify, inDrive, Google Maps | ### Iguazú Falls and the triple frontier (South America · https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/#guide-iguazu-falls-and-the-triple-frontier) At Iguazú Falls, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet. Many visitors stay in Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side or Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, visit both sides of the falls, and sometimes cross to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. All three countries are on this plan. Because the borders are so close, your phone may connect to Brazilian, Argentine or Paraguayan networks, sometimes changing several times in a day. With this plan that is not a problem, as data continues in all three. If data stops working after a crossing, toggle airplane mode once. Inside the national parks on both sides, coverage is generally available around visitor centres and the main walkways, but can be weaker on the jungle trails. Save your park tickets offline, as you may need to show them at the entrance. The UK Foreign Office notes that Argentina's Misiones province, where Puerto Iguazú is located, is used for smuggling, and advises seeking local customs advice before driving in the area. ### Uyuni, the Atacama and the high Andes crossings (South America · https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/#guide-uyuni-the-atacama-and-the-high-andes-crossings) The multi-day tour between Uyuni in Bolivia and San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is one of the region's classic overland routes. Both countries are covered, but for most of the trip across the Salar de Uyuni and the high-altitude lagoons you will have no signal. Basic lodges on the route may have limited wifi or none. The UK Foreign Office says salt flat tours have no official minimum standards, so use reputable companies, and warns that travellers can be stranded in high, remote areas by floods and landslides, so carry food, water and warm clothing. Similarly, the high mountain passes between Argentina and Chile, such as the road between Mendoza and Santiago, cross remote terrain with little coverage. Weather can close these passes, so check conditions before travelling. In Peru, Cusco and Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, have coverage, but the Inca Trail, the Salkantay route and the high Cordillera Blanca around Huaraz are largely offline. The Foreign Office advises checking with iPeru in Huaraz before hiking there. ### Patagonia, the Galápagos and Antarctic cruises (South America · https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/#guide-patagonia-the-galapagos-and-antarctic-cruises) Patagonia's highlights are some of the most remote places on this plan. El Calafate, El Chaltén, Puerto Natales and Ushuaia have coverage in town, but the trails in Torres del Paine and around Fitz Roy and the long roads between them have long stretches without signal. Many refugios and estancias have limited wifi. Download offline maps and trail information, and carry printed or saved copies of park and campsite reservations. The Galápagos Islands are part of Ecuador and covered by this plan, but coverage is limited to the main towns, such as Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal. On liveaboard cruises, you will be offline most of the time. Antarctic cruises from Ushuaia leave land coverage within hours of departure. There is no mobile network in the Drake Passage or Antarctica, so the eSIM will not work until you return. Ships usually offer paid satellite wifi. Turn off data roaming on the eSIM while at sea to avoid connecting to a ship's maritime network by accident. ### Sources for the South America guide - [Peru travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/safety-and-security) - [Bolivia travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bolivia/safety-and-security) - [Argentina travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/safety-and-security) ## Twelve days in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay: Rio, Iguazú Falls, Buenos Aires, Colonia and Montevideo Multi-country route · 12 days · Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/south-america/#itinerary A three-country route around the River Plate for first-time visitors: Rio de Janeiro, both sides of Iguazú Falls across the Brazil–Argentina border, a few days in Buenos Aires, then the ferry over the river to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo. **When to go:** March to May and September to November are best: warm but not stifling in Rio, comfortable for walking at Iguazú, and spring or autumn in Buenos Aires and Montevideo; December to February is hot and busy, and Iguazú's flow is highest in the rainy months. ### Day 1 in South America: Rio de Janeiro: Sugarloaf and Copacabana - **Base:** Rio de Janeiro - **Plan:** Take the cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain via Morro da Urca for the view over Guanabara Bay. In the afternoon, walk the promenade from Copacabana to Ipanema, past the forts at Arpoador, and watch the sunset from the Arpoador rock. Carry only what you need and keep your phone out of sight on busy beaches. - **Mobile signal:** Strong 4G and 5G on Vivo, Claro or TIM along the beaches and at Sugarloaf. ### Day 2 in South America: Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Santa Teresa - **Base:** Rio de Janeiro - **Plan:** Take the cog train up Corcovado through the Tijuca Forest to the Christ the Redeemer statue, going early before clouds build. In the afternoon, visit the Selarón Steps in Lapa, ride the tram up to Santa Teresa's hillside streets, and walk through the Botanical Garden if you have time. - **Mobile signal:** Good at the Christ statue and in Lapa; weaker inside the Tijuca Forest on the way up. ### Day 3 in South America: Rio: the centre and the Museum of Tomorrow - **Base:** Rio de Janeiro - **Plan:** Explore Rio's historic centre: the Theatro Municipal, the Confeitaria Colombo and the São Bento Monastery. Walk along the revitalised port area to the Museum of Tomorrow and the Olympic Boulevard murals. In the evening, listen to samba in Lapa or at the Pedra do Sal in the old port district. - **Mobile signal:** Good across the centre and the port area; save a ride-hailing booking before heading out at night. ### Day 4 in South America: Fly to Iguaçu: the Brazilian side - **Base:** Foz do Iguaçu - **Getting there:** Flight Rio to Foz do Iguaçu, about 2 hours. - **Plan:** Fly to Foz do Iguaçu. In the afternoon, visit Iguaçu National Park on the Brazilian side, walking the trail along the gorge for the panoramic view of the falls and out onto the walkway towards the Devil's Throat. Book the Macuco Safari boat ride under the falls if you want to get soaked. - **Mobile signal:** Good in Foz do Iguaçu and at the park visitor centre; patchy along the gorge trail. ### Day 5 in South America: Across the border: the Argentine side - **Base:** Puerto Iguazú - **Getting there:** About 45 minutes from Foz do Iguaçu to the Argentine park, plus border time. - **Plan:** Cross the Tancredo Neves bridge into Argentina by taxi or bus, clearing both border posts. At Iguazú National Park, take the small train to the Devil's Throat walkway, then walk the Upper and Lower Circuits for close views of the falls. Stay overnight in Puerto Iguazú. - **Mobile signal:** Your phone switches from a Brazilian network to Personal, Movistar or Claro Argentina near the bridge. Signal is weak or absent on parts of the park's walkways. ### Day 6 in South America: Fly to Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo - **Base:** Buenos Aires - **Getting there:** Flight Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires Aeroparque, about 2 hours. - **Plan:** Fly to Buenos Aires. In the afternoon, visit the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada and the Metropolitan Cathedral, then walk south into San Telmo's cobbled streets and the old market hall. In the evening, have dinner at a parrilla and stay up late: Argentines eat after 9pm. - **Mobile signal:** Good 4G and 5G across central Buenos Aires and on the Subte. ### Day 7 in South America: Buenos Aires: Recoleta and Palermo - **Base:** Buenos Aires - **Plan:** Walk through Recoleta Cemetery to find Eva Perón's family tomb, then visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes nearby. In the afternoon, walk through the Palermo parks and the Japanese Garden, then explore Palermo Soho's streets and cafés. Book a tango show or a milonga for the evening. - **Mobile signal:** Strong coverage in Recoleta, Palermo and on the Subte lines between them. ### Day 8 in South America: Buenos Aires: La Boca and Puerto Madero - **Base:** Buenos Aires - **Plan:** Visit La Boca for the coloured houses of Caminito and La Bombonera stadium, sticking to the main tourist streets in daylight. In the afternoon, walk the docks of Puerto Madero and cross the Puente de la Mujer. If it is a Sunday, the San Telmo street market fills Defensa Street. - **Mobile signal:** Good in La Boca's main streets and Puerto Madero. ### Day 9 in South America: Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento - **Base:** Colonia del Sacramento - **Getting there:** Buquebus or Colonia Express from Buenos Aires to Colonia, about 1 to 1.5 hours on the fast ferries. - **Plan:** Take a morning fast ferry across the River Plate to Uruguay, clearing Argentine and Uruguayan immigration together at the Buenos Aires terminal. Walk Colonia's UNESCO-listed old quarter: the cobbled Calle de los Suspiros, the lighthouse beside the convent ruins and the reconstructed Portuguese city gate. Hire a golf cart or bike for the riverside road, and watch the sunset from the waterfront. - **Mobile signal:** Expect a gap mid-river; your phone switches to Antel, Claro or Movistar in Uruguay as you approach Colonia. Good 4G in town. ### Day 10 in South America: Bus to Montevideo - **Base:** Montevideo - **Getting there:** Bus from Colonia to Montevideo, about 2.5 to 3 hours. - **Plan:** Take the bus along the coast to Montevideo. Walk the Ciudad Vieja from the Plaza Independencia and the Salvo Palace to the Mercado del Puerto for grilled meat at its counters. In the evening, walk part of the Rambla, the long promenade along the river. - **Mobile signal:** Good along Route 1 with a few gaps; strong across central Montevideo. ### Day 11 in South America: Montevideo: the Rambla and Pocitos - **Base:** Montevideo - **Plan:** Rent a bike or walk the Rambla east to the Pocitos beach and the Montevideo sign. Visit the Teatro Solís and the Andes 1972 Museum on the plane crash survivors. In the afternoon, visit the Estadio Centenario, host of the first football World Cup final. - **Mobile signal:** Strong coverage along the Rambla and in Pocitos. ### Day 12 in South America: Punta del Este day trip - **Base:** Montevideo - **Getting there:** Coach from Montevideo to Punta del Este, about 2 hours. - **Plan:** Take a coach east to Punta del Este. See La Mano, the hand sculpture rising from the sand at Playa Brava, walk the peninsula and the port, and visit Casapueblo, the artist Carlos Páez Vilaró's white house above the sea at Punta Ballena. Return to Montevideo for your flight. - **Mobile signal:** Good along the coast road and in Punta del Este; weaker on the headland at Punta Ballena. ### Staying connected on this South America route - Download offline maps of both Iguazú parks; the walkways and trails have weak or no signal. - Save your Buquebus or Colonia Express ticket offline before boarding; the middle of the River Plate has no land signal. - Install a ride-hailing app and use it rather than hailing cars at night in Rio and Buenos Aires. ### Sources for the South America itinerary - [UNESCO: Iguaçu National Park](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/355/) - [UNESCO: Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/747/) - [Buquebus](https://www.buquebus.com/) - [GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice, Brazil](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil) - [Visit Brasil: Embratur](https://visitbrasil.com/en/) ## About this eSIM ### Arriving in Bogotá, Lima, São Paulo or Buenos Aires Most trips start at one of the big hubs: São Paulo (GRU), Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Santiago (SCL) or Panama City (PTY). Turn off airplane mode as you taxi in and the eSIM will attach to a local partner. Having data on arrival is a safety tool here, not just a convenience. The UK Foreign Office warns that fake taxi drivers target arriving passengers at Lima's Jorge Chávez airport and bus terminals, and advises using licensed app-based or official taxis rather than hailing in the street. In Argentina it recommends booking taxis in advance or using radio taxis with a clear logo, and in Bolivia it reports an increase in taxi-related robberies in Santa Cruz, La Paz and Rurrenabaque. A ride-hailing app with the driver's details and route shown on screen helps avoid those risks. ### Which countries and networks The plan reaches well beyond South America: it includes much of Central America, from Guatemala to Panama, as well as Puerto Rico and some French Caribbean islands. Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are not on the list, and nor are Mexico and Belize, so check routes that cross those borders. The partner networks are the region's big players. Claro and Movistar operate in many countries, Vivo and TIM are major Brazilian operators, Tigo is widespread in Central America, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia, Personal is in Argentina and Paraguay, WOM in Chile and Colombia, and Antel in Uruguay. Your phone will show different names as you move. That reach makes this plan a good fit for the long overland trips the region is known for: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia on the Gringo Trail, or Costa Rica and Panama before a flight to Bogotá. There is no road through the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia, so that leg is a flight or a boat trip via the San Blas islands, and the islands themselves have little coverage. On shorter trips to a single country, a country plan will usually do the job just as well. ### Protests, blockades and the weather Political protests and road blockades are a regular feature of travel in the Andes. The UK Foreign Office says protests in Peru can escalate quickly and cause roadblocks, disrupt train services including those to Machu Picchu, and even suspend border immigration services. In Bolivia, it says blockades can appear without warning, cut roads to airports and cause fuel shortages, and that the Bolivian road authority publishes a map of blocked roads. The rainy season in the Peruvian Andes, from November to May, brings landslides and snow that can close trails. Having data lets you check updates from tour operators and the authorities, though remote areas will often be out of range. ### What you'll use data for WhatsApp is the main way to communicate across the region, with hotels, tour companies, guides and drivers. Uber, DiDi, Cabify and inDrive cover many cities. Local payment apps such as Brazil's Pix and Argentina's Mercado Pago are widely used but usually require a local bank account or document number. ### Before you fly Check the covered list for every country on your route, save tour bookings and bus tickets offline, download offline maps for the Andes and Patagonia, and keep your home SIM active for bank texts. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does an eSIM work in South America? Yes. Your South America eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere. ### Do I get 5G in South America? Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on The local networks we use in South America, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location. ### Does the South America eSIM work in Venezuela, Guyana or French Guiana? No. Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are not on this plan's covered list, and neither are Mexico and Belize. The plan does include much of Central America, from Guatemala to Panama, along with Puerto Rico and some French Caribbean islands. Check every country on your route against the list before you buy. ### Is there signal on the Uyuni salt flats tour? Very little. Uyuni town has coverage, but on the multi-day tour across the Salar de Uyuni and the high lagoons to San Pedro de Atacama you will be offline for most of the trip. Lodges may have limited wifi or none. Save your tour details and maps before leaving, and choose a reputable operator. ### Will I have data at Machu Picchu? Usually in Aguas Calientes, the town below the site, and in Cusco. On the Inca Trail and Salkantay route, signal is very limited. The UK Foreign Office warns that protests can disrupt trains to and from Machu Picchu, and rainy-season landslides between November and May can affect routes, so check updates before you travel. ### Will my eSIM work on an Antarctic cruise from Ushuaia? Only in Ushuaia and as the ship leaves port. There is no mobile network in the Drake Passage or Antarctica, so you will be offline until you return to Argentina. Most ships sell satellite wifi. Turn off data roaming on the eSIM while at sea so it does not connect to the ship's own maritime network. ### How much data do I need for 7 days in South America? For 7 days in South America, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $5.00 and unlimited data for $59.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone. ## Information and verification - **Prices and plans**: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in. Verified October 17, 2026.