Costa Rica eSIM
Prepaid Costa Rica travel data from $2.99 USD (500 MB, 1 day). No physical SIM and no contract: you get a QR code by email and install it from your phone's settings. Check your phone
Choose your package
How many days?
Count arrival and departure days.How much data?
Plan details · 5 GB, 7 days
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Activation
- On network connection
- Hotspot
- Supported
- Top-up
- Not available
Need a particular mobile operator? before you buy.
Full plan terms, coverage & refunds
Data-only eSIM
Validity starts at the first network connection.
Top-ups unavailable. Usage tracking supported. Hotspot supported.
Calls and SMS are not included. Internet calling apps use your data.
Coverage (1 country)
Costa Rica
Mobile networks: Liberty
Refund eligibility depends on the plan and its activation status. Contact Wanderly support before installing or using the eSIM.
Listed network types describe plan support; 4G/5G availability and speeds vary by location and device. Country coverage does not guarantee a signal throughout your route. If you need a specific network or location, confirm it with support before buying.
Refunds: who is eligible and how to request one are set out in our refund policy.
Free eSIM in Costa Rica — free data for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app.
Costa Rica eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 40 fixed-data Costa Rica plans, ranging from 500MB up to 50GB over 1 to 30 days. Prices start at $2.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $0.66/GB on the 50GB 3-day plan.
Unlimited day-passes are also available from $5.99 per day, billed per day rather than per gigabyte. 3 of the 43 Costa Rica data-only plans can be topped up without reinstalling the eSIM.
Calls and SMS depend on the selected plan. Install using the supplied QR code and keep your home number on its own line. Activation timing varies by plan; check your selected plan's terms before purchasing or installing.
How much does a Costa Rica eSIM cost?
A Costa Rica eSIM from Wanderly costs $3.99 for 1GB (7 days), $7.99 for 5GB (7 days) and $18.99 for 20GB (3 days), as a one-off price with no subscription. Larger plans cost less per gigabyte: $3.99/GB at 1GB against $0.95/GB at 20GB.
Cheapest plan that lasts your trip
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend (1GB or more) | 1GB, 7 days | $3.99 |
| One week (3GB or more) | 3GB, 7 days | $6.99 |
| Two weeks (5GB or more) | 5GB, 15 days | $8.99 |
| One month (10GB or more) | 10GB, 30 days | $14.99 |
The data amounts are a starting point. Estimate how much you will use.
Cheapest plan by data size
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3GB | 3 days | $5.99 | $2.00 |
| 5GB | 7 days | $7.99 | $1.60 |
| 10GB | 3 days | $11.99 | $1.20 |
| 20GB | 3 days | $18.99 | $0.95 |
Cheapest current data-only plan at each size, as charged at checkout. Prices checked November 10, 2026, from the live catalogue. Compare Costa Rica with every country in the eSIM Price Index.
Choose a Costa Rica eSIM for your itinerary
San José and a beach stay
Compare validity for the full stay and data for navigation, messages and transport. Include arrival and departure days when deciding how long the plan needs to last.
National parks and remote roads
Check network details for your route and download maps before leaving reliable Wi-Fi. Country coverage does not guarantee a connection throughout a park, rainforest or mountain drive.
Costa Rica plus Panama or Nicaragua
Open the country list of a regional or global offer and confirm each border crossing. Compare its total cost and activation rule with separate plans for each leg.
Open the current plan's details before buying: check validity, activation timing, coverage, hotspot rules and any fair-use limits. Calls and texts are included only when stated for that plan.
🇨🇷 About eSIMs in Costa Rica
Costa Rica coverage is strongest on Kolbi (ICE), the state carrier, with Liberty and Claro filling in the cities. Some current plans list Liberty, and a few list Claro and Telefónica, so check the plan details if coverage away from the cities matters to you. Expect the strongest 4G in San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio, with more variable signal on the Pacific coast roads.
Plan for gaps rather than being surprised by them: dense cloud forest, the Osa Peninsula and parts of the Caribbean side around Tortuguero have thin or no coverage regardless of carrier. Download offline maps for any drive between regions — the mountain routes to Monteverde and Rincón de la Vieja are where travelers most often lose signal.
For a typical 7–10 day trip with maps, WhatsApp and photo uploads, 5–10 GB is the sweet spot. Installation by QR code takes a few minutes, so you can be set up before you land at SJO or LIR.
How to activate your eSIM in Costa Rica
- 1Time the installationCheck the selected plan's start rule. If it starts on its first network connection and allows installation before travel, install it over reliable Wi-Fi before you fly; if it starts at installation, install it when you need it. The QR code usually arrives by email within minutes.
- 2Install the eSIMiPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Scan QR. Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM.
- 3Land and switch dataAt SJO or LIR, cycle airplane mode, set Cellular Data to the Costa Rica eSIM and enable Data Roaming on that line.
- 4Download offline mapsBefore driving to Monteverde, La Fortuna or the Osa Peninsula, save offline maps — coverage thins out in the mountains and rainforest.
Costa Rica eSIM FAQ
Which network will I connect to?
It depends on the plan. Some current Costa Rica plans list Liberty, and a few list Claro and Telefónica. The plan details show the network where one is named, so check them before you buy if it matters to you.
Will I have signal in the rainforest?
Partly. Towns and main roads are covered, but dense cloud forest, the Osa Peninsula and remote Caribbean areas have gaps on every carrier. Offline maps solve most of it.
How much data should I buy for 10 days?
5–10 GB is enough for maps, WhatsApp, and daily photo uploads. Go higher if you plan to stream or work remotely.
Can I use it for tethering?
Yes, hotspot is enabled on all Wanderly Costa Rica plans.
Do I keep my home number?
Yes. Our Costa Rica plans carry data only, so your primary line stays active for calls, SMS and iMessage. We do sell plans that include calling, texting and a number of their own in many destinations, but not in Costa Rica yet.
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