Last Updated: October 30, 2025
If you’re like most people, your phone is an important extension of your daily life. And while you may be able to turn off work calls and emails during your vacation, you still want to stay connected while abroad. Or, maybe you’re planning a long-term visit or move to Costa Rica and want a local phone number. In this post, we’ll tell you how to make your phone work in Costa Rica, including getting a local SIM card or using an eSIM for travel.
Cell Phone Coverage in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has an extensive mobile network of 3G, 4G, and 4.5G cell phone towers. This allows you to connect to the internet or make a local call in most places around the country. In mid-2025, new 5G service was rolled out by two companies (Liberty and Claro) but only in the most populated areas so far.
Of course, with Costa Rica’s rugged terrain and diverse regions, there are still places where the towers don’t reach. They can be partially blocked by mountains or trees. If you are traveling to known tourist destinations, though, you will likely find good coverage.
Major highways and popular routes usually have good coverage too. However, you’re likely to find some spotty zones along the way.
Will Your Cell Phone Work in Costa Rica?
Your cell phone service will probably not automatically work when you arrive in Costa Rica. If it does, you’ll need to make sure you aren’t getting charged roaming fees. That said, you do have plenty of options.
Cellular Travel Plans
If you have a contract with a cell phone carrier in your home country, you can contact them before your trip to ask about travel options. Most US carriers like AT&T and Verizon do offer international travel plans for around $12 per day. These need to be set up ahead of time and can get costly for longer trips.
T-Mobile’s Go5G plans claim to include international coverage, without needing to make any changes to your plan. We also heard from one reader that their specific AT&T plan offered them free roaming while traveling in Costa Rica. Travelers from the UK who use the company Three UK, may be able to use the “go roam” service during their trip too.
Dual SIM Card
If you have a phone with two SIM card slots, you can keep your regular cell plan and add a local Costa Rica SIM into the second slot once you arrive (see below for local SIM card options). In your phone settings, you’ll want to make the Costa Rica SIM your primary for data usage. This allows you to use it for apps and internet but still receive calls or texts on your old SIM (your original number), though roaming and data charges might apply.
Tip: If you use WhatsApp, iMessage, or other internet-based calling apps when using the Costa Rica SIM as your primary data connection, you’ll avoid any roaming charges from your home network.
Unlocked Phones
Unlocked phones are those that are usually purchased directly (not through a cellular contract). With an unlocked phone, you can insert any SIM card and set up the phone service. Since we live in Costa Rica, these are the types of phones we buy. Just make sure the phone details say that it is unlocked and GSM-compatible (CDMA phones from some US carriers won’t work).
Note: Having a phone that is not unlocked is the most common problem people have when trying to get a Costa Rica SIM card to work. The phone simply won’t accept the SIM if it isn’t unlocked. Importantly, dual SIM phones don’t need to be unlocked; the second slot is unlocked by default.
eSIMs
Overview
If you have a newer phone that has the capability, another option is an eSIM or virtual SIM card. These are extremely popular for travelers because you can sign up for an eSIM in just about any country and then activate it at the airport or your hotel once you arrive. You’ll need to connect to Wi-Fi to activate.
Most people doing this use an eSIM app. In the process, you’ll choose the country you are visiting, length of time, and select one of the data/calling plans that best fits your predicted usage.
The apps are nice because they automatically add the eSIM as an option in your phone’s cellular settings. You’ll just need to make it the primary line once you arrive. Keep in mind, though, that the quality of eSIM coverage can vary significantly depending on which local network the eSIM provider partners with.
Our eSim Experience
We recently tried an eSIM app, just to test it out.
Unfortunately, at our home (in Costa Rica – central Pacific coast), we couldn’t get it to work well. It was trying to connect to the Liberty network by default, which isn’t in our area. We manually changed it to Kolbi (ICE), which we normally use for our cell phones, but it still did not connect. Finally, we got it to work in the larger town near our house (Jaco) but found out later when getting back on Wi-Fi, that some WhatsApp messages hadn’t come through.
Overall, it was pretty frustrating. If you have had success with an eSIM in Costa Rica, please leave a comment below with the specific app that worked for you.
Costa Rica Mobile Providers
There are three major cell phone networks in Costa Rica. The biggest is the government-owned Kolbi, which has the most extensive coverage and is also the most popular. You can see their coverage map here.
Others that are growing in popularity are Claro and Liberty (formerly Movistar). These companies have been expanding their coverage. They have great service in some areas but almost nothing in others.
Tip: If you will be in Costa Rica for a long-term visit and staying in one place, be sure to ask your host/property manager which company has the best coverage in that area. In some rural areas, Claro or Liberty has installed towers where Kolbi does not cover to try to get those customers.
Prepaid vs. Postpaid SIM Cards
When getting a new SIM card in Costa Rica, there are two options, prepaid (prepago) and postpaid (postpago).
Prepaid SIM cards are the easiest to get and anyone with a passport can buy one.
Prepaid SIMs are sold for around 500-1,000 colones (about $1-2) plus the specific amount of money you put on for minutes and data. These are pay-as-you-go plans, so once you use the balance, you won’t be able to make calls or use the internet until you recharge it with more money (details below).
You can add as much money as you want to a SIM card and it is typically very affordable. 5,000 or 10,000 colones (about $10 or $20) will last you a long time as long as you aren’t streaming or doing video calls.
Postpaid SIM cards require a cell phone contract. They give you a certain amount of data and minutes and are billed monthly (the month after you use the service). You need to be a legal resident with a cedula or DIMEX card to get one. When doing so, you will sign a contract with the mobile provider.
Getting a SIM Card in Costa Rica
Getting your cell phone set up with a Costa Rica SIM card is easy. Just make sure you are using a phone that is unlocked or allows a dual SIM card. We’ll cover the rest of the process below.
Buying SIM Cards at the Airport
Previously, you could purchase a Kolbi SIM card at either San Jose Airport (SJO) or Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR). However, these desks have since been closed. There is a Claro desk at the baggage claim of SJO, but it isn’t always open.
If you need a SIM card right away, there are some options within a 5 to 10-minute drive of each international airport.
If arriving at SJO Airport, you can go to City Mall in Alajuela (map). It’s about 5 minutes away. Kolbi, Claro, and Liberty all have storefronts inside the mall. We have also seen the Claro representatives at Walmart in Alajuela, though we aren’t sure if they are always there.
If arriving at LIR, you can go into downtown Liberia. There is a Kolbi store (map), Claro (map), and Liberty (map) right in town. These are about 10-15 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic.
Where Else to Get a SIM Card
Besides the locations near the airports, there are plenty of other places to get a Costa Rica SIM card.
ICE Offices
ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) is Costa Rica’s government-run electric and telecommunications agency.
They have offices in most larger towns and some rural locations as well. Their buildings are usually white, blue, and yellow. People often go here to pay their electric and phone bills, so sometimes lines are long.
Most ICE offices have staff that will help you set up a new Kolbi SIM card. Kolbi is the mobile provider branch of ICE.
Kolbi Retail Locations
In addition to the ICE offices, there are some Kolbi storefronts around Costa Rica. Here is a link to a searchable list. You’ll just need to know the province and canton (county) where you are going.
The list will give you both the ICE offices that offer SIMs and Kolbi store locations. Most of the storefronts are in the Central Valley (San Jose area), but there are some random ones around Costa Rica.
Here are a few Kolbi stores worth mentioning, which are near popular tourist destinations:
- La Fortuna (Arenal), right in downtown, across from the Red Cross (Cruz Roja)
- Huacas (on the way to many Guanacaste beaches like Tamarindo and Flamingo)
- Limon on the Caribbean coast (across from the post office, Correos de Costa Rica)
Claro and Liberty Retail Stores
Similar to the Kolbi storefronts, you’ll find retail stores for Claro and Liberty that also sell SIM cards. These are actually more widespread, with locations in many popular tourist destinations.
Here are links to a list of Claro stores and Liberty locations.
Grocery Stores
We’ve even seen SIM cards for sale at the checkout of some grocery store chains like Mas x Menos. This is just for the actual chip (they won’t help you set it up), so you’ll need to be able to read the directions in Spanish to complete the activation yourself.
Setting Up Your Costa Rica SIM Card
When you purchase your SIM card, the mobile provider will help set up your phone and test it to make sure it works. They will give you the phone number that corresponds to the SIM so that you can save it.
Each provider is different, but they all have certain packages that include phone minutes, data, and usually some free usage for things like WhatsApp, Waze, and Facebook.
Kolbi, for example, has a tourist package that includes 5GB of internet, 5GB free for specific apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Waze), plus 100 minutes for national calls. The price is 12,095 colones including taxes. That’s around $24, depending on the exchange rate.
This, along with connecting to Wi-Fi at your accommodations, should be plenty for a short vacation.
Adding More Data/Minutes to Your SIM
If you do run out of data or phone minutes, you can easily add more money to your balance.
Most grocery stores (also called supers or mini-supers) can add minutes using their computer.
When looking to recharge, just ask if they sell Kolbi, Claro, or Liberty, whichever you have a SIM card for. You can also usually see the logos for each provider either at the register or on a sign outside.
After you have successfully recharged, you will receive a text message with your new balance.
Kolbi users can check their balance by dialing *888*1*1#
Conclusion
Getting a SIM card in a foreign country may seem intimidating, but we hope this article has helped you navigate the process. After all, that small chip is an essential part of your travel gear. Now that you are connected, you can rest easy and enjoy your trip to Costa Rica!
Have a question about getting a SIM card in Costa Rica or want to share a tip? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information to help you plan? Check out these posts:
Rental Car Discount – Get a discount on your rental car through Adobe, one of the country’s best companies. Add a Wi-Fi stick too if you think you’ll need even more data for your trip.
Packing for Costa Rica: The Essentials – If you are getting all those final items together, make sure to read this post. It may remind you of something you forgot.
Best Hotels Near SJO Airport – Looking for a comfortable place to stay that doesn’t feel like your typical airport hotel? Check out this handpicked list of our favorites near SJO.
Traveling to Costa Rica: The Basics – Get more basic travel info on using credit cards, drinking water safety, voltage, how to get around, and lots more.
Practical Travel – This category is full of helpful posts, from exchanging money and safety tips, to road conditions and weather info.