Costa Rica – meaning Rich Coast in Spanish, is known for its clear beaches, incredible national parks & water-based activities, such as river rafting, canyoning & cave tubing.
With the North Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east, there is no shortage of sea to be found while in Costa Rica (unless you are solely staying in San José).
But the country is not just a beach destination. Monteverde has cool hiking trails and the Cloud Forest Reserve.
San José has interesting museums and plenty of bars (great for nightlife).
And Parque Nacional Manual Antonio has an incredible rainforest – there is no need to be bored while in Costa Rica.
In fact, you probably want to share your Costa Rica travel experience when you are there, and that is your right.
However, you should know that getting a Costa Rican SIM card and using data on that SIM card is better than using the SIM card from your home mobile operator.
If you do, you will be roaming, and international roaming can be super expensive if you do not watch out.
Luckily, Costa Rican SIM cards are inexpensive, and the data packages the local mobile operators, Kölbi, Movistar & Claro, are no match than the standard roaming rates your operators would charge you.
But how much will a SIM card in Costa Rica cost you?
You can get a Costa Rican SIM card for 790 CRC (1.20 USD) or 1500 CRC (2.30 USD) from Claro, 1000 CRC (1.50 USD) from Kölbi, or 1500 CRC from Movistar in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) but not at Liberia-Guanacaste Airport (LIR) anymore.
Now you are almost ready to explore Costa Rica and enjoy cheap local rates.
But before you do so, there are quite some things to know about Costa Rican SIM cards and data plans here.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Costa Rica. Let's do this.
Original publication: 29th of December 2019. Last updated: 5th of May 2022.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Costa Rica?
Anyone living in or visiting Costa Rica can buy a Costa Rican SIM card from Kölbi, Movistar & Claro in their stores with some restrictions.
The main restriction is that you can only have five active SIM cards in your name in Costa Rica.
Besides that restriction, you are free to use Costa Rican SIM cards.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
- Find out which countries have a SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Costa Rica).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Costa Rica?
You can get a Costa Rican SIM card in Kölbi, Movistar & Claro stores. They are also sold at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC – Claro only). Liberia-Guanacaste Airport (LIR) does not sell SIM cards anymore.
You can expect to pay the following for Costa Rican SIM cards:
- Kölbi Costa Rica: 1000 CRC
- Movistar Costa Rica: 1000 CRC & 1500 CRC
- Claro Costa Rica: 790 CRC & 1500 CRC
For up-to-date CRC:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica uses GSM for its cellular communications, meaning that you need a GSM-capable phone to use your phone in the country. CMDA-phones will not work in Costa Rica, but there is about a 99% chance you have a GSM phone anyway.
Besides that, you need to be aware of the ITU regions to determine whether your phone will work in other parts of the world.
Although there are 3 ITU regions, you only need to know these two terms: American frequencies and European frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European frequencies without issues.
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American frequencies, which are different from the European frequencies.
Costa Rica use a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 3G, depending on the mobile operator. 2G and 4G/LTE are exclusively on European frequencies.
If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you want to go with Kölbi Costa Rica or Movistar Costa Rica.
They support traditional American frequencies on 3G (850 MHz), meaning that you can use their networks (at slower 3G speeds compared to 2100 MHz).
But Movistar also uses European frequencies for 3G (2100 MHz). But 850 MHz provides wider coverage than 2100 MHz.
If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you can go with Claro Costa Rica.
All the frequencies Claro uses are European frequencies.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any mobile operator, as your phone will support both American frequencies and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has three mobile operators:
- Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
- Movistar Costa Rica
- Claro Costa Rica
The following frequencies are used in Costa Rica:
- 2G: 850 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 8) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Costa Rica, check out this page by Will My Phone Work (may be outdated or inaccurate at times).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Costa Rica
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) are not offered by the mobile operators in Costa Rica (yet).
This means that when you make a call, your phone will downgrade to 3G (or 2G when 3G is not available) instead of staying connected to 4G/LTE.
This is also why you often cannot use mobile data while calling if not connected to WiFi.
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Costa Rica
5G NR is not available in Costa Rica as of 2022, and the Costa Rican government has not made any indications of when they will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card in Costa Rica
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Costa Rica, I recommend going with Kölbi or Claro. Kölbi has the fastest speeds and the best 4G/LTE coverage experience. Claro has the best overall network performance and is the better option in select rural locations.
- Find out about the best local SIM cards in every country (lookup tool)
Best eSIM in Costa Rica
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Costa Rica (yet).
However, you can get the Costa Rica (Hot Telecom) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have the following three options:
- Costa Rica/Hot Telecom 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Costa Rica/Hot Telecom 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Costa Rica/Hot Telecom 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
With these eSIMs, you can skip Costa Rica's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Costa Rica!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
If you plan on visiting other neighboring countries, or any nation globally, consider the Nomad Global eSIMs (three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Costa Rica and these other countries:
Remember to use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps).
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Costa Rica and eSIMs worldwide).
Best International/Travel SIM Card for Costa Rica
If you want to buy the best international/travel SIM card for Costa Rica, I recommend going with SimCorner's 12 GB Costa Rica Travel SIM card for 30 days. Consider SimCorner's South America Travel SIM card, also with 12 GB, valid for 30 days in Costa Rica and (Central+) South America, including Nicaragua and Panama.
SimCorner's South America SIM card can, in addition to the aforementioned countries, also be used in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Puerto Rico & Uruguay.
Use discount code PHONETRAVELWIZ for extra savings!
- Check out my SimCorner Travel SIM card reviews
SIM Card Registration in Costa Rica
SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Costa Rica. This will be done at the point of purchase.
- Find out which countries have a SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
In addition to registering your SIM card with the mobile operator, you have to register it with the national regulator SUTEL (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones).
In most cases, the mobile operator will do this on your behalf.
If not, you have to do it yourself online (in Spanish only).
Costa Rica Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Being redone.
Currency in Costa Rica
Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican Colón with the symbol CRC (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as just ₡ . For example, 25 CRC = ₡25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between CRC and USD (US Dollars):
- 10 CRC = 0.01 USD
- 100 CRC = 0.15 USD
- 1000 CRC = 1.35 USD
- 10 000 CRC = 13.30 USD
- 100 000 CRC = 132.90 USD
For up-to-date CRC:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Wise account FREE!
Costa Rican Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Movistar Costa Rica & Claro Costa Rica, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices, and availability
- Recharge / top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Costa Rica has to offer to us.
Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
Kölbi Costa Rica, just Kölbi, is the largest mobile operator in Costa Rica.
It is also the fastest mobile operator in the country.
Kölbi is the mobile brand by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) – a government-run electricity and telecommunications company.
The mobile brand had a monopoly until 2011.
Since then, it has faced competition from Movistar Costa Rica and Claro Costa Rica.
To this day, Kölbi has a market share of more than 50%.
Kölbi uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 1800 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Kölbi:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Kölbi SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Kölbi Costa Rica
Kölbi has the best coverage throughout Costa Rica.
Below is Kölbi's 2G coverage map:
Followed by its 3.5G coverage map:
Then we have the Kölbi 4G/LTE coverage map:
Finally, we have the Kölbi the 4.5G/LTE-A coverage map:
Here is a coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Kölbi Costa Rica
You can buy a Kölbi SIM card for 1000 CRC with 6000 CRC in credit (2000 CRC/month over three months – valid for seven days each month) and unlimited WhatsApp data for 12 months if you recharge at least 3000 CRC in Kölbi stores. Kölbi SIM cards are not sold at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Kölbi has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to use an eSIM, you can go with the Costa Rica (Hot Telecom) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with Kölbi.
Dial *888# to access the Kölbi menu.
Kölbi SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 90 days (no top-up for 90 days or no activity for 90 days).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Kölbi Costa Rica
Kölbi top-up vouchers are sold in Kölbi stores and top-up partners (Puntos de Recarga), grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Costa Rica.
The following top-up options are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | 30 days |
| 2000 CRC | 45 days |
| 5000 CRC | 60 days |
| 10 USD (≈6500 CRC) | 60 days |
| 20 USD (≈13 000 CRC) | 60 days |
To top up your Kölbi SIM card, dial *888# and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
It is also possible to top up online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *888# to check your Kölbi balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Mi Kölbi (My Kölbi) app (Android/iOS/Huawei App Gallery).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Kölbi Costa Rica
Kölbi has four data-featured plans:
- Planes Dominio Prepago/Prepaid Domain Plans (combo)
- Paquetes en Todas/All in Packages (data – yes, really)
- Paquetes Internet Prepago/Prepaid Internet Packages (data add-on)
- Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento/Internet Packages For Entertainment (app-specific data add-on)
All plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or dialing *888#.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Planes Dominio Prepago (Prepaid Domain Plans) – Kölbi Costa Rica
The Planes Dominio Prepago (Prepaid Domain Plans) are combo bundles with data, minutes & SMS.
The following Planes Dominio Prepago are available, which can be activated by dialing *888#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5040 CRC | Dominio Prepago 1 | 2 GB | 3 GB 1 | 35 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
| 8065 CRC | Dominio Prepago 2 | 4 GB | 3 GB 1 | 50 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
| 12 095 CRC | Dominio Prepago 3 | 5 GB | 5 GB 2 | 100 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
1 for WhatsApp
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Waze & WhatsApp
Paquetes en Todas (All in Packages) – Kölbi Costa Rica
The Paquetes en Todas (All in Packages) plans are data bundles.
Paquetes en Todas can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or by dialing *888# and selecting option 3:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Media Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 CRC | En Todas 1 | 50 MB | 40 MB 1 | 1 day | ET1 |
| 600 CRC | En Todas 3 | 200 MB | 100 MB 1 | 3 days | ET3 |
| 1300 CRC | En Todas 5 | 300 MB | 200 MB 2 | 5 days | ETP5 |
| 2500 CRC | En Todas 10 | 500 MB | 400 MB 2 | 10 days | ETP10 |
1 for Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp
Paquetes en Todas auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text Salir Internet to 8888.
Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) – Kölbi Costa Rica
The Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) are data add-ons for Planes Dominio Prepago. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Paquetes Internet Prepago can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or by dialing *888# and selecting option 3:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 CRC | Paquete 1 GIGA | 1 GB | 15 days | 1GIGA |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete 2 GIGAS | 2 GB | 30 days | 2GIGAS |
Paquetes de Internet para Entretenimiento (Internet Packages for Entertainment) – Kölbi Costa Rica
The Paquetes de Internet para Entretenimiento (Internet Packages for Entertainment) are data plans for games, music streaming, social media & video streaming apps for Planes Dominio Prepago. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or by dialing *888# and selecting option 3:
| Price | Plan | Social Data | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | Paquete Juego | Unlimited | 7 days | JUEGO | Salir JUEGO |
| 1500 CRC | Paquete Social | Unlimited | 7 days | SOCIAL | Salir SOCIAL |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete Música | Unlimited | 30 days | MUSICA | Salir MUSICA |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete Video | 10 GB | 30 days | VIDEO | Salir VIDEO |
Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 8888.
APN/Internet Settings – Kölbi Costa Rica
- Name: Kolbi 4G Internet
- APN: kolbi4g
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar Costa Rica, just Movistar, is the second-largest mobile operator in Costa Rica.
Movistar, as a brand, is active in Central America, South America & Spain.
Movistar uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 1800 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Movistar:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Movistar SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar has extensive coverage throughout Costa Rica.
Below is Movistar's 2G coverage map:
Then we have the Movistar 3.5G coverage map:
Finally, the Movistar 4G/LTE map:
Here is a coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Movistar Costa Rica
You can buy a Movistar SIM card for 1500 CRC in Movistar stores.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Movistar has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to use an eSIM, you can go with the Costa Rica (Hot Telecom) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with Movistar.
Dial *686# or text MINUMERO to 606 to see your Movistar phone number.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar top-up vouchers are sold in Movistar stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Costa Rica.
The following top-ups are available:
- 2000 CRC
- 3000 CRC
- 4000 CRC
- 6000 CRC
- 10 000 CRC
To top up your Movistar SIM card, dial *650*VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *650*VoucherCode#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Text SALDO to 606 to check your Movistar balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Mi Movistar (My Movistar) app (Android/iOS/Huawei App Gallery).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar has three data-featured plans:
- Paquetes de Internet Prepago/Prepaid Internet Packages (data)
- Super Recarga/Super Recharge (data)
- Entretenimiento/Entertainment (app-specific data)
All Movistar plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 606.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Paquetes de Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) – Movistar Costa Rica
The Paquetes de Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) are, as the name implies, data plans.
Text the Activation Code to 606 to activate Paquetes de Internet Prepago:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 CRC | Paquete Hora | 25 MB | 1 hour | HORA |
| 200 CRC | Paquete Básico 30 MB | 30 MB | 1 day 1 | BASICO |
| 300 CRC | Paquete Día 100 MB | 100 MB | 1 day | DIA |
| 300 CRC | Paquete Diario 100 MB | 100 MB | 1 day 1 | DIARIO |
| 600 CRC | Paquete Nocturno Ilimitado 100 MB | 100 MB 2 | 1 day 1 | NOCTURNO |
| 600 CRC | Paquetes 2 Días 400 MB | 400 MB | 2 days 1 | 2DIAS |
| 1300 CRC | Paquete 4 Días 600 MB | 600 MB | 4 days | 4DIAS |
| 2500 CRC | Paquete Semana 1 GB | 1 GB | 7 days | SEMANA |
1 auto-renews
2 100 MB between 7:00 – 23:00, unlimited between 23:00 – 7:00
Super Recarga (Super Recharge) Plans – Movistar Costa Rica
The Super Recarga (Super Recharge) are data plans.
The following Super Recarga are available:
| Price | Credit | Data | Social Data | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | 1000 CRC | 300 MB | Unlimited 1 | 10 minutes | 4 days |
| 2000 CRC | 2000 CRC | 1 GB | Unlimited 2 | 15 minutes | 6 days |
| 2500 CRC | 2500 CRC | 1.2 GB | Unlimited 2 | 20 minutes | 7 days |
| 4500 CRC | 4500 CRC | 2 GB | Unlimited 2 | 45 minutes | 15 days |
1 for WhatsApp
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp
Entretenimiento (Entertainment) Plans – Movistar Costa Rica
The Entretenimiento (Entertainment) are data plans for chat, music streaming & video streaming apps.
Text the Activation Code to 606 to activate Entretenimiento:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 CRC | Música Ilimitada | 5 GB 1 | 30 days | MUSICA |
| 2000 CRC | Conectados 10 GB | 10 GB 2 | 30 days | CONECTADOS |
| 3000 CRC | Video 25 GB | 25 GB 3 | 30 days | VIDEO |
1 for Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Music (read: YouTube Music), Spotify, SoundCloud
2 for BlueJeans, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams, Skype, WebEx & Zoom
3 for Amazon Video, Disney+, HBO Max & Netflix
APN/Internet Settings – Movistar Costa Rica
- Name: Movistar 4G Internet
- APN: internet.movistar.cr
- Username: movistarcr
- Password: movistarcr
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Claro Costa Rica
Claro Costa Rica, just Claro, is the smallest mobile operator in Costa Rica.
However, it has the best overall network experience.
Claro, as a company, is active in Central America and South America.
Claro uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Claro:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Claro SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Claro Costa Rica
Claro has the best 4G/LTE coverage experience in Costa Rica.
While Kölbi has the best overall coverage, Claro is the best option in various rural areas.
If you are staying in villages or towns, be sure to ask your host of the hotel staff what the best option is in your town – Claro may be a better option than Kölbi Costa Rica.
Below is Claro's coverage map:
Here is a coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Claro Costa Rica
You can buy a Claro SIM card for 790 CRC with 50 MB of data, unlimited WhatsApp data, 20 local minutes & 10 local SMS, or 1500 CRC with 1500 CRC credit in Claro stores. Claro SIM cards are also sold at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Claro has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to use an eSIM, you can go with the Costa Rica (Hot Telecom) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with Claro.
You may have to dial *25276 to activate your Claro SIM card.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Claro Costa Rica
Claro top-up vouchers are sold in Claro stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Costa Rica.
To top up your Claro SIM card, dial *10 and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
It is also possible to top up online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *30 to check your Claro balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Mi Claro Centroamérica (Mi Claro Central America) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Claro Costa Rica
Claro has two data-featured plans: Paquetes Prepago [email protected]/Prepaid [email protected] Packages (combo) & Paquetes Internet/Internet Packages.
Paquetes Prepago [email protected] (Prepaid [email protected] Packages) – Claro Costa Rica
The Paquetes Prepago [email protected] (Prepaid [email protected] Packages) are combo plans with data, minutes & SMS.
You can activate Paquetes Prepago [email protected] by texting the Activation Code to 111 or by dialing *555#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | Local/International Minutes 2 | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 3 | 300 MB | 500 MB | 10 minutes | 20 SMS | 3 days | planmas3 | finplanmas3 |
| 2000 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 7 | 1 GB | 500 MB | 20 minutes | 50 SMS | 7 days | planmas7 | finplanmas7 |
| 3000 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 10 | 2 GB | 500 MB | 30 minutes | 100 SMS | 10 days | planmas10 | finplanmas10 |
| 4500 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 15 | 3 GB | 700 MB | 45 minutes | 200 SMS | 15 days | planmas15 | finplanmas15 |
| 6000 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 15+ | 4 GB | 700 MB | 70 minutes | 200 SMS | 15 days | planmas15p | finplanmas15p |
| 10 000 CRC | Paquete [email protected] 30 | 5 GB | 700 MB | 85 minutes | 300 SMS | 30 days | planmas30 | finplanmas30 |
1 for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter & Waze – WhatsApp data is unlimited
2 to Canada, Central America, Panama & the United States
Paquetes Prepago [email protected] auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 111. The plans can also be deactivated on the app.
Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) – Claro Costa Rica
The Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) are, as the name suggests, data plans.
You can activate Paquetes Internet by texting the Activation Code to 444 or by dialing *555#:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 CRC | [email protected] Navego 30 MB | 30 MB | N/A | 1 day | 30mb |
| 300 CRC | [email protected] Navego 150 MB | 150 MB | Unlimited | 1 day | 150mb |
| 400 CRC | Noches Ilimitadas | Unlimited | N/A | 1 night (22:00 – 6:00) | noche |
| 600 CRC | [email protected] Navego 300 MB | 300 MB | Unlimited | 1 day | 300mb |
| 1000 CRC | [email protected] Navego 400 MB | 400 MB | Unlimited | 3 days | 400mb |
| 2000 CRC | [email protected] Navego 1 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | 7 days | 1gb |
| 4500 CRC | [email protected] Navego 3 GB | 3 GB | Unlimited | 15 days | 3gb |
APN/Internet Settings – Claro Costa Rica
- Name: Claro 4G Internet
- APN: internet.ideasclaro
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Costa Rica
I would highly encourage anyone visiting Costa Rica to get themselves a Costa Rican SIM card – you will be saving a lot of money when you do so.
However, for some, getting a Costa Rican SIM card is not an option.
For example, your device may be SIM-locked, meaning that you cannot use any SIM card other than the SIM card provided by your mobile operator.
There are other ways to stay online while in Costa Rica, but they may not be cheap.
International Roaming
International roaming is the most convenient way to stay connected when traveling in other countries because you do not have to buy a new SIM card, have to deal with SIM card registration regulations, nor have multiple phone numbers to deal with.
However, international roaming has proven to be expensive in many cases, especially compared to buying local SIM cards.
That is why many travelers are not fond of international roaming.
International roaming has its pros and cons. However, it is important to know how it works.
This in-depth guide explains it all.
Find out whether your mobile operator has attractive roaming rates for Costa Rica here.
Using an International SIM Card or Travel SIM Card
International SIM cards are SIM cards made for the traveler in mind.
Using them is often cheaper than international roaming.
However, they are almost always more expensive than using a local SIM card.
There are many other advantages and disadvantages of getting international SIM cards, which you can learn about here.
Using a Mobile Hotspot (Pocket WIFI)
Mobile hotspots, or pocket WIFI, are small devices that connect to the local operators of the country you are visiting.
Mobile hotspots are ideal for families or those traveling in a large group, as they allow you to connect multiple devices to one hotspot without the need of each traveler having to buy a SIM card.
You can either buy a mobile hotspot or rent one.
Using Free WIFI Networks
Using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to stay connected because they are free.
The major downside of trying to use WIFI hotspots is that you will have to locate them, and they are not available on every corner in Costa Rica.
Make sure to protect your internet traffic with a VPN so that hackers cannot steal your personal data.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Costa Rica
Getting a SIM card from Kölbi or Claro would do you well when considering a Costa Rican SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Central American Countries
Visiting other countries in Central America? Check out my Central America SIM card buying guide, covering other Central American nations, such as:
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
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Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
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In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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