Panama eSIM
Prepaid Panama travel data from $3.99 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 · 3 GB, 7 days
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Activation
- On network connection
- Hotspot
- Check plan terms
- 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 support unconfirmed.
Calls and SMS are not included. Internet calling apps use your data.
Coverage (1 country)
Panama
Mobile networks: Cable & Wireless Panama, Telefonica Panama
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 Panama — free data for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app.
Panama eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 11 fixed-data Panama plans, ranging from 500MB up to 50GB over 1 to 30 days. Prices start at $3.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $1.88/GB on the 50GB 30-day plan.
Unlimited day-passes are also available from $6.99 per day, billed per day rather than per gigabyte. 6 of the 16 Panama data-only plans, counting day-passes, 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 Panama eSIM cost?
A Panama eSIM from Wanderly costs $5.99 for 1GB (7 days), $17.99 for 5GB (30 days) and $55.99 for 20GB (30 days), as a one-off price with no subscription. Larger plans cost less per gigabyte: $5.99/GB at 1GB against $2.80/GB at 20GB.
In the November 1, 2026 edition of the Wanderly eSIM Price Index, Panama's data-only plans have a median of $3.13 per GB, above the $1.41 median across 181 destinations. 124 of those destinations have a lower median.
Cheapest plan that lasts your trip
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend (1GB or more) | 1GB, 7 days | $5.99 |
| One week (3GB or more) | 3GB, 7 days | $12.99 |
| Two weeks (5GB or more) | 5GB, 30 days | $17.99 |
| One month (10GB or more) | 10GB, 30 days | $26.99 |
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 | $5.99 | $5.99 |
| 3GB | 7 days | $12.99 | $4.33 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $17.99 | $3.60 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $26.99 | $2.70 |
| 20GB | 30 days | $55.99 | $2.80 |
Cheapest current data-only plan at each size, as charged at checkout. Prices checked November 11, 2026, from the live catalogue. Compare Panama with every country in the eSIM Price Index.
🇵🇦 About eSIMs in Panama
A Panama eSIM is useful from the moment you land at Tocumen, whether Panama City is your destination or a layover: maps, rides and messaging without hunting for airport Wi-Fi. Panama now has two mobile networks, +Móvil (Cable & Wireless Panamá, which absorbed Claro) and Tigo, which took over Movistar's network. Digicel left: Panama's regulator, ASEP, set 20 April 2024 as the date its network was switched off. Current Panama plans list +Móvil, Tigo or both; some still use the older Cable & Wireless, Telefónica or Movistar names for the same networks.
Island and highland trips need a little planning. Bocas del Toro, the Guna Yala (San Blas) islands, the cloud-forest trails around Boquete and the Darién are where to expect weak or no signal: download offline maps and confirm boat or shuttle bookings before you leave town. If you continue overland to Costa Rica at Paso Canoas or Sixaola, or fly on to Colombia, a Panama-only plan stops at the border.
A local prepaid SIM in Panama has to be registered with a passport or Panamanian ID before it works. A travel eSIM roams instead, so there is no registration step. Data-only plans include no Panamanian number. Some Panama plans add calls and texts with a number of their own, assigned after purchase and not guaranteed to be a Panamanian number; the plan says so when it does. The emergency number is 911. See our guide to the best eSIM for Panama for a side-by-side look.
How to activate your eSIM in Panama
- 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 Tocumen (PTY), set the Panama eSIM as your line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. Keep your home line on for calls and texts if you need them, with its own data roaming off.
- 4Plan for the islandsBefore heading to San Blas or the outer Bocas del Toro islands, download offline maps and confirm bookings; those areas are largely off-grid.
Panama eSIM FAQ
Which networks does it use?
It depends on the plan. Current Panama plans list +Móvil (Cable & Wireless), Tigo or both. Some still show older names, such as Telefónica or Movistar, for the network Tigo now runs.
Are Claro and Digicel still networks in Panama?
No. Cable & Wireless Panamá absorbed Claro and operates as +Móvil, and Digicel's network was switched off on 20 April 2024. Panama's two mobile networks are +Móvil and Tigo.
Does it work in San Blas (Guna Yala)?
Plan to be largely offline on the islands. Download maps and confirm bookings before leaving the mainland.
Is it worth buying just for a layover?
It can be. A small plan gets you maps, rides and messaging at Tocumen and in the city without relying on airport Wi-Fi; check the plan's start rule so validity covers your dates.
Do I keep my home number?
Yes. On a data plan, calls, SMS and iMessage stay on your primary line. Some Panama plans add a number of their own for calls and texts, assigned after purchase and not guaranteed to be a Panamanian number.
Explore nearby destinations
Popular eSIMs travelers often pair with Panama.
