eSIM and internet access in Costa Rica

Staying connected in Costa Rica: what actually works

Costa Rica has better mobile coverage than most of its Central American neighbours, but the country’s dramatic geography means you will encounter genuine dead zones in the places you most want to go. Dense jungle, deep river valleys, and isolated peninsulas all create coverage gaps that no carrier fully solves.

This guide explains which eSIM or SIM card to buy, which local network has the best rural coverage, and where you need to accept offline life for a few days.

eSIM vs local SIM card: which should you choose

eSIM advantages:

• Buy and install before you leave home — no fumbling with physical cards on arrival
• Keep your home number active for calls while using a local data plan
• No risk of losing a tiny physical card
• Many current smartphones support eSIM alongside a physical SIM

Local SIM advantages:

• Cheaper per GB if you stay more than two weeks
• Physical SIM can be used in older phones that don’t support eSIM
• Local number useful if you need to receive calls within Costa Rica (booking local taxis, contacting lodges)
• Sold with instant activation at pharmacies, supermarkets, and carrier stores

If you have a modern eSIM-compatible phone (most released after 2019), an eSIM is the more convenient choice for a typical 1-3 week visit.

Top eSIM options for Costa Rica

Airalo

Best for: Budget-conscious travellers and those wanting flexibility.

Airalo is a marketplace aggregating eSIM data plans from local carriers. For Costa Rica, plans typically run through the ICE/Kolbi network.

• 5GB / 15 days: approximately $14 USD
• 10GB / 30 days: approximately $22 USD
• 20GB / 30 days: approximately $35 USD

Setup involves downloading the Airalo app, purchasing a plan, and scanning a QR code to activate the eSIM on your device. Activation must be done while connected to Wi-Fi. Install before your flight — you cannot activate over cellular.

Coverage follows the Kolbi (ICE) 4G/LTE network, which has the widest rural footprint in Costa Rica.

Holafly

Best for: Data-heavy users, video callers, remote workers.

Holafly offers unlimited data plans, which is unusual in the eSIM market. The tradeoff is that speeds may be throttled after a daily threshold.

• 10 days unlimited: approximately $35 USD
• 15 days unlimited: approximately $44 USD
• 30 days unlimited: approximately $62 USD

Holafly operates on local partner networks (network varies by plan). Coverage is good in urban and tourist areas but may lag behind Kolbi in very remote zones.

Holafly also includes WhatsApp calling in its unlimited plans, which is genuinely useful in Costa Rica where WhatsApp is the dominant communication method for local guides, guesthouses, and taxi drivers.

Airalo vs Holafly: a direct comparison

Feature	Airalo	Holafly
Price (10 days)	~$18 (10GB)	~$35 (unlimited)
Data cap	Yes	No (speed may throttle)
WhatsApp calls	Standard data	Included
Coverage network	ICE/Kolbi	Varies
Hotspot	Yes	Usually yes

For most travellers doing a two-week circuit (La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, maybe Puerto Viejo), Airalo’s 10GB plan is more than enough and significantly cheaper.

Kolbi pre-paid physical SIM (local option)

Kolbi is the brand name of ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad), the state telecommunications company. It has the most extensive rural network in Costa Rica — particularly relevant if you are heading to the Osa Peninsula, Caño Negro, or the Talamanca mountains.

Kolbi pre-paid SIM (Chip Kolbi):

• Available at ICE offices, Kolbi stores, many pharmacies (Farmacia Fischel, Farmacia La Bomba), and supermarkets
• Cost: approximately ₡5,000 (roughly $10 USD) for 4GB data valid 30 days
• Requires presenting your passport for registration
• Top-up (recarga) available at supermarkets, pharmacies, and via the Kolbi app

Kolbi’s 4G LTE network covers all major cities, most tourist towns, and most primary roads. Signal drops in:

• Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula interior
• Tortuguero (available in the village but not deep in the canals)
• Remote Talamanca mountains and Chirripó approach
• Many sections of the road between San Isidro and Drake Bay

Claro Costa Rica

Claro is the main private competitor to Kolbi. Coverage in urban and major tourist areas is comparable. Rural coverage generally lags behind Kolbi. A Claro SIM can be a backup if you find Kolbi performs poorly in your specific location, but for most itineraries Kolbi is the better first choice.

Movistar

Movistar exited the Costa Rican consumer market, so as of 2026 it is no longer a relevant option for new SIM purchases.

Where coverage is genuinely weak

Even the best eSIM or local SIM cannot overcome Costa Rica’s geography in certain places. Plan around these known dead zones:

Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay

Coverage in Drake Bay village is intermittent at best. Lodges inside Corcovado National Park and on the forest edge have no signal at all. Some lodges offer satellite Wi-Fi (Starlink is increasingly common among eco-lodges) but this varies widely.

Tortuguero

The village has Kolbi 4G signal in the central area. Away from the village, inside the canal network and deeper in the park, there is no signal. Pack offline maps (Maps.me or downloaded Google Maps) before arriving.

Remote Caribbean: Manzanillo and beyond

South of Puerto Viejo toward Manzanillo, coverage becomes spotty. The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge has no signal in most of its trails.

High-altitude areas

Cerro Chirripó and the upper reaches of the Talamanca range above 3,000m have no cellular coverage. Not an issue for day hikes to Chirripó with a guide, but relevant for multi-day expeditions.

Monteverde cloud forest

Surprisingly, Monteverde itself has decent connectivity in the town. Signal drops on specific trails inside the reserves. Your accommodation will have Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi reliability by region

Wi-Fi is included at virtually all hotels, hostels, and eco-lodges in Costa Rica, from budget dorms to luxury lodges. Reliability varies considerably:

Excellent Wi-Fi: San José hotels, Tamarindo beach hotels, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio Good Wi-Fi: Monteverde (in town), Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Uvita, Nosara, Quepos Variable Wi-Fi: Smaller lodges in Montezuma, Sámara, Dominical, Cahuita Poor or no Wi-Fi: Remote jungle lodges in Drake Bay, most of Corcovado, Tortuguero canal lodges

Many lodges on the Osa Peninsula now offer Starlink as a premium amenity — worth checking before you book if connectivity matters for your trip.

Offline tools to download before you travel

Given the coverage gaps, these offline resources are worth downloading before you leave home:

Maps.me — Vector offline maps of Costa Rica that work without any signal. Covers trails, roads including unpaved routes, and Points of Interest. Essential for driving the Osa and Talamanca.

Google Maps offline areas — Download the Costa Rica map tile in the app for cached satellite view and routing. Works for driving navigation in areas without signal.

iNaturalist — If you are interested in wildlife identification, download species data for Costa Rica so you can log observations offline and sync later.

WhatsApp — The default communication tool in Costa Rica. Your guide, guesthouse host, and taxi driver will almost certainly contact you via WhatsApp rather than SMS.

Tips for digital nomads and remote workers

Costa Rica has become a popular base for remote workers since the 2021 digital nomad visa was introduced. For work-quality internet:

• San José co-working spaces (Impact Hub, WeWork, Selina) offer stable fibre connections
• Tamarindo, La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio have reliable enough hotel Wi-Fi for video calls
• The digital nomad visa requires proof of remote income of at least $3,000 per month — see the blog post on digital nomad life in Costa Rica for the full process

Booking and navigating your activities online

Good connectivity makes it easier to book or manage tour reservations as you go. Most GetYourGuide activities can be booked from your phone, and operators contact you via WhatsApp to confirm pickup details. If you are heading somewhere remote, book tours before you lose signal.

Río Celeste National Park hike

Frequently asked questions about internet access in Costa Rica

Does my US/UK/EU phone plan include roaming in Costa Rica?

Some US carriers (T-Mobile, Google Fi) include Costa Rica in their international data plans. UK MVNO plans and most EU carriers do not include Costa Rica in their free roaming zones — check your carrier’s website before you go. Even if you have free roaming, local eSIM data is typically faster and cheaper for the length of a typical trip.

Can I buy an eSIM after I arrive?

You need an internet connection to activate an eSIM, which creates a chicken-and-egg problem. Some airports have Wi-Fi in the arrivals hall that you can use before clearing customs. The safest approach is to buy and activate your eSIM while still at home.

Is it easy to buy a Kolbi SIM at the airport?

There is a Kolbi counter in the SJO arrivals hall. Opening hours vary — it may not be open for very early morning or late night arrivals. If you miss it, pharmacies in San José city centre sell Kolbi SIMs during regular business hours.

Does Airalo work for the whole of Costa Rica?

Airalo’s Costa Rica plans use the ICE/Kolbi network, which gives you the widest national coverage available. You will still lose signal in places where no carrier has coverage (Corcovado interior, high Talamanca, deep canal areas of Tortuguero).

Is Wi-Fi available in national parks?

No. National park ranger stations do not offer public Wi-Fi. Download trail maps and offline navigation before you enter.

How do local guides typically communicate?

WhatsApp is universal. When you book a tour locally or through a platform, you will almost always exchange WhatsApp messages rather than emails for logistics. Make sure WhatsApp is installed and that your eSIM/SIM supports data so you can receive these messages.

Related guides

Connectivity is one piece of the planning puzzle. Pair this with the packing list for what physical gear to bring, the safety in Costa Rica guide for awareness of your surroundings, and the visa and entry requirements guide to make sure your documentation is in order before you board the plane.