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.
Coverage depends on the plan: 6 to 20 countries
These plans do not all cover the same countries, and a bigger number is not always a superset. Pick your plan, then check your own countries in the coverage step before you pay.
Duration
Where it works
Unlimited data · 3 Days ×1
$27.99
Does my phone take an eSIM? Check now
Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.
Not sure it works on your phone? Check compatibilityWhich networks does the South America eSIM use?
The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive.
- 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
How much data do you need?
The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.
| You are | Plan for | Cheapest plan that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup | About 1 GB a week | $5.001 GB, 7 days |
| TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing | About 3 to 7 GB a week | $20.995 GB, 30 days |
| HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads | 10 GB a week or more | $36.9910 GB, 30 days |
| Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync | 20 GB a week or more | $59.99Unlimited, 7 days |
eSIM, local SIM or roaming?
Charged per day
Your carrier roaming
Queue and plastic
A SIM at the airport
$5.00
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.
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.
- 5G only works where the host network has deployed it and your phone supports it. Everywhere else it falls back to 4G LTE.
- Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continue at a reduced speed. Read the fair usage policy
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.
Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →
South America: what to know before you land
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.
- Emergency
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- 190 police
- 133 police
- 105 police
- Plugs
- ACILN 110–220V depending on country
- Currency
- Local currency in each country; US dollar in Ecuador, El Salvador and Panama
Main airports
- GRU São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
- BOG El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá
- LIM Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima
- EZE Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires
Iguazú 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
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
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.
Researched October 2026 · 3 sources
Twelve days in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay: Rio, Iguazú Falls, Buenos Aires, Colonia and Montevideo
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.
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Day 1 Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro: Sugarloaf and Copacabana
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.
Signal Strong 4G and 5G on Vivo, Claro or TIM along the beaches and at Sugarloaf.
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Day 2 Rio de Janeiro
Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Santa Teresa
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.
Signal Good at the Christ statue and in Lapa; weaker inside the Tijuca Forest on the way up.
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Day 3 Rio de Janeiro
Rio: the centre and the Museum of Tomorrow
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.
Signal Good across the centre and the port area; save a ride-hailing booking before heading out at night.
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Day 4 Foz do Iguaçu
Fly to Iguaçu: the Brazilian side
Flight Rio to Foz do Iguaçu, about 2 hours.
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.
Signal Good in Foz do Iguaçu and at the park visitor centre; patchy along the gorge trail.
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Day 5 Puerto Iguazú
Across the border: the Argentine side
About 45 minutes from Foz do Iguaçu to the Argentine park, plus border time.
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.
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.
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Day 6 Buenos Aires
Fly to Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
Flight Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires Aeroparque, about 2 hours.
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.
Signal Good 4G and 5G across central Buenos Aires and on the Subte.
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Day 7 Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires: Recoleta and Palermo
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.
Signal Strong coverage in Recoleta, Palermo and on the Subte lines between them.
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Day 8 Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires: La Boca and Puerto Madero
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.
Signal Good in La Boca's main streets and Puerto Madero.
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Day 9 Colonia del Sacramento
Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento
Buquebus or Colonia Express from Buenos Aires to Colonia, about 1 to 1.5 hours on the fast ferries.
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.
Signal Expect a gap mid-river; your phone switches to Antel, Claro or Movistar in Uruguay as you approach Colonia. Good 4G in town.
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Day 10 Montevideo
Bus to Montevideo
Bus from Colonia to Montevideo, about 2.5 to 3 hours.
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.
Signal Good along Route 1 with a few gaps; strong across central Montevideo.
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Day 11 Montevideo
Montevideo: the Rambla and Pocitos
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.
Signal Strong coverage along the Rambla and in Pocitos.
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Day 12 Montevideo
Punta del Este day trip
Coach from Montevideo to Punta del Este, about 2 hours.
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.
Signal Good along the coast road and in Punta del Este; weaker on the headland at Punta Ballena.
Staying connected on this 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.
Itinerary sources · 5
- whc.unesco.org UNESCO: Iguaçu National Park
- whc.unesco.org UNESCO: Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento
- buquebus.com Buquebus
- gov.uk GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice, Brazil
- visitbrasil.com Visit Brasil: Embratur
Information and verification
Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.
- Prices and plans
- Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.
South America eSIM prices
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $27.99 | $9.33/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $42.99 | $8.60/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $81.99 | $8.20/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $449.99 | $7.50/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $674.99 | $7.50/day |
Destinations
