Costa Rica – meaning Rich Coast in Spanish, is known for its clear beaches, incredible national parks, and water-based activities, such as river rafting, canyoning, and 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 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 operators, Kölbi, Movistar, and 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 1000 CRC (1.60 USD) to 2500 CRC (4.05 USD) in Kölbi, Movistar, and Claro stores – third-party resellers sell SIM cards. You can get Claro SIM cards often for free when visiting their stores. A plan with 1 GB valid for 7 days will cost at least 2000 CRC (3.25 USD).
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: 25th of October 2021.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Costa Rica?
Everyone visiting or living in Costa Rica can buy a SIM card from Kölbi, Movistar, or Claro without restrictions. However, travelers may only have 5 active prepaid lines at a time.
You should know that your SIM card has to be registered in your name through a SIM card registration process.
Moreover, your phone needs to support the frequencies used in the country (even if you plan on roaming in Costa Rica).
Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock-free) to use local SIM cards
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Costa Rica?
You can get a Costa Rican SIM card in the official stores of Kölbi, Movistar & Claro or from authorized dealers. It is also possible to get a SIM card at San Jose – Juan Santamaría International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría).
You can expect to pay the following for Costa Rican SIM cards:
- Kölbi: 1000 CRC
- Movistar Costa Rica: 1000 CRC
- Claro Costa Rica: free, up to 2500 CRC
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. Fortunately,
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, and 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, and South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American Frequencies, which are different from the European Frequencies.
Costa Rica uses a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 2G and 3G. 4G/LTE is 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 can go with any operator. However, you will be restricted to 2G and 3G only.
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 any operator. You will also be able to use 4G/LTE.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any operator, as your phone will support both American and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has three mobile network operators:
- Kölbi
- 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.
5G NR in Costa Rica
5G is not available in Costa Rica as of 2021. However, the national regulator SUTEL (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones) has held 5G consultations in 2020. ICE (Kölbi) also held 5G tests back in 2019.
Best SIM Card in Costa Rica
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Costa Rica, I recommend going with Kölbi because they have the best coverage and fastest speeds in Costa Rica. It also has the largest variety of plans and packages.
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.
In addition to registering your SIM card with the operator, you have to register it with the national regulator SUTEL (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones). Most of the time, the operator or authorized dealer will do this on your behalf. If not, you have to do it yourself online (in Spanish only).
Costa Rica Speeds, Internet Prices & Insights
Mobile data in the Americas is cheap. Well, Latin America, to be specific. North America and the Caribbean have high data rates.
What what does cheap mean in this case?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Costa Rica is 2.36 USD, around the Central American average of 2.40 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Those are good figures. Compared to 2019, the average cost of 1 GB of data in Costa Rica has gone down by 51.7%.
Let's take a look at the Americas as a whole, including the Caribbean. Costa Rica is in the 19th place of the American countries with the lowest mobile data rates The continent's average is 4.61 USD (and 3.84 when excluding the Falkland Islands because it is such an outlier with 44 USD).
Enough about prices. What about speeds? Can you get fast download speeds while in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's average mobile download speed is around 31 Mbps, making it the country with the fastest mobile download speed in Central America.
Sure, those numbers are still far behind the global average, but it could be much worse. At least you can expect fast speeds when in Costa Rica.
Network coverage is excellent in the populated areas. Expect spotty or no coverage in the mountain areas. Reception in rural areas should be decent too. With all of that in mind, you should have a smooth network experience in Costa Rica.
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:USD exchange rates, search CRC to USD on Google, or replace USD with the currency you use.
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, 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
Kölbi is the mobile brand by ICE – Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad – a government-run electricity and telecommunications company. Kölbi had a monopoly until 2011. Since then, it has faced competition from Movistar Costa Rica and Claro Costa Rica. Still, 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)
Coverage – Kölbi
Kölbi has the best coverage throughout Costa Rica.
This was also confirmed by Opensignal's Costa Rica Mobile Network Experience Report of December 2020.
Below is Kolbi's official 2G coverage map:
Here is its 3.5G coverage map:
Then we have the 4G coverage map:
Finally, the 4.5G coverage map (LTE-A):
These maps may be a bit challenging to read. So here is a coverage map produced by Speedtest. Be aware that this map is more generous than the other maps shown earlier:
SIM Card Price – Kölbi
You can buy a Kölbi SIM card for 1000 CRC in Kölbi stores and partner stores. The SIM card includes 6000 CRC in credit (2000 CRC/month over 3 months – valid for 7 days each month) and unlimited WhatsApp data for 12 months if you recharge at least 3000 CRC.
Topping Up & Recharging – Kölbi
Kölbi top-up cards are sold in Kölbi stores and top-up partners (Puntos de Recarga), including grocery stores.
To recharge your Kölbi SIM card, dial *888# and follow the instructions. The same shortcode can be used to check your balance.
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.
Finally, you can also top up and check your balance on the Mi Kölbi (My Kölbi) app (Android/iOS/Huawei App Gallery).
Plans, Packages, Bundles & Offers – Kölbi
Kölbi has five data-featured plans, which are:
- Planes Dominio Prepage/Prepaid Domain Plans (combo)
- Paquetes Internet Prepage Ilimitado/Unlimited Prepaid Internet Packages (combo)
- En Todas/All In (data-only)
- Paquetes Internet Prepago/Prepaid Internet Packages (data-only add-on)
- Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento/Internet Packages For Entertainment (data-only add-on)
All plans can be activated by dialing *888# or on the Kölbi app.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Planes Dominio Prepage (Prepaid Domain Plans)
The Planes Dominio Prepage (Prepaid Domain Plans) are combo plans with data, local minutes, and local SMS.
The following Planes Dominio Prepage are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 CRC | Dominio Prepago 1 | 2 GB | Unlimited 1 | 35 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
| 8000 CRC | Dominio Prepago 2 | 4 GB | Unlimited 1 | 50 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
| 12 000 CRC | Dominio Prepago 3 | 5 GB | Unlimited 2 | 100 minutes | 30 SMS | 30 days |
1 WhatsApp
2 Facebook, Instagram, Waze & WhatsApp
Paquetes Internet Prepage Ilimitado (Unlimited Prepaid Internet Packages)
The Paquetes Internet Prepage Ilimitado (Unlimited Prepaid Internet Packages) are “unlimited” data-only plans. However, each package comes with a fair-use high-speed allowance.
You can get one of the following Paquetes Internet Prepage Ilimitado:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 CRC | Paquete Hora | “Unlimited”, 1 GB | 60 minutes | PAQUETE DIA | salir hora |
| 300 CRC | Paquete Día | “Unlimited”, 3 GB | 1 night (21:00 – 6:00) | PAQUETE NOCHE | salir dia |
| 500 CRC | Paquete Noche | “Unlimited”, 3 GB | 24 hours | PAQUETE HORA | salir noche |
| 3000 CRC | Paquete Fin de Semana | “Unlimited”, 15 GB | 1 weekend (Friday 21:00 – Monday 6:00) | PAQUETE FINDE | salir finde |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete Noche + Fin de Semana | “Unlimited”, 20 GB | 7 nights (21:00 – 6:00) | PAQUETE FINDE+ | salir fin+ |
| 7000 CRC | Paquete Semana | “Unlimited”, 25 GB | 7 days | PAQUETE SEMANA | salis semana |
If you go over the fair-use allowance, your speeds will be throttled up to 1 Mbps.
Paquetes Internet Prepage Ilimitado auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 8888. The plans can also be deactivated on the app.
En Todas (All In)
The En Todas (All In) plans are data-only bundles with regular data and unlimited data for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp.
Below is an overview of En Todas:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Media Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 CRC | En Todas 1 | 50 MB | Unlimted 1 | 1 day | ET1 |
| 600 CRC | En Todas 3 | 200 MB | Unlimted 1 | 3 days | ET3 |
| 1300 CRC | En Todas 5 | 300 MB | Unlimted 2 | 5 days | ETP5 |
| 2500 CRC | En Todas 10 | 500 MB | Unlimted 2 | 10 days | ETP10 |
1 Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp
2 Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp
Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages)
The Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) are data add-ons for Planes Dominio Prepage. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
There are two Paquetes Internet Prepago add-ons:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 CRC | 1 Giga | 1 GB | 15 days | 1GIGA |
| 4000 CRC | 2 Gigas | 2 GB | 30 days | 2GIGAS |
Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento (Internet Packages For Entertainment)
The Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento (Internet Packages For Entertainment) are unlimited data add-ons for select games, social media, music & video streaming apps for Planes Dominio Prepage. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
The following Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento add-ons are available:
| Price | Plan | Social Data | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | Paquete Juego | Unlimited 1 | 7 days | JUEGO | Salir JUEGO |
| 1500 CRC | Paquete Social | Unlimited 2 | 7 days | SOCIAL | Salir SOCIAL |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete Música | Unlimited 3 | 30 days | MUSICA | Salir MUSICA |
| 4000 CRC | Paquete Video | 10 GB 4 | 30 days | VIDEO | Salir VIDEO |
Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 8888. The plans can also be deactivated on the app.
As I do not recognize all the apps part of each package, I will just show you all the icons instead.
APN/Internet Settings – Kölbi
- 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 operator in Costa Rica. Movistar as a brand is active in many countries in Latin America.
Movistar uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
Coverage – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar has extensive coverage throughout Costa Rica.
Just like with the other operators, you should not expect much in the mountains, and reception in rural areas can be spotty. However, coverage should be good in the populated areas.
Below is Movistar's 2G coverage map:
Then we have the 3.5G coverage map:
Finally, the 4G/LTE map:
Below is a combined coverage map produced by Speedtest. Do note that this map shows a more favorable coverage than there actually is.
SIM Card Price – Movistar Costa Rica
You can buy a Movistar SIM card for 1000 CRC in Movistar stores and partner stores.
Dial *686# to see your Movistar phone number. The same can be done by texting MINUMERO to 606.
Topping Up & Recharging – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar top-up cards are sold in Movistar stores and top-up partners (Puntos de Recarga), including post offices.
To recharge 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.
It is also possible to top up online with (international) debit and credit cards in the following denominations:
- 2000 CRC
- 3000 CRC
- 4000 CRC
- 6000 CRC
- 10 000 CRC
You can enable a benefit called Super Recarga (Super Recharge) when you top up 1000 CRC or 2000 CRC. These bonuses include credit, data, social media data (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp), and local minutes.
You get the following bonuses by texting the Activation Code to 606:
| Top-Up | On-Net Credit | Credit | Data | WhatsApp Data | Social Media Data 1 | Local Minutes | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | 1000 CRC | N/A | 300 MB | Unlimited | N/A | 10 minutes | 4 days | SUPER1 |
| 2000 CRC | N/A | 2000 CRC | 1 GB | N/A | Unlimited | 15 minutes | 6 days | SUPER2 |
1 Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp
There is another recharge bonus called Súper Bonos Prepago (Super Prepaid Bonuses). These bonuses include data, social media data (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp), local minutes, and international minutes to Canada, Nicaragua (Tigo), and the United States.
Enable Súper Bonos Prepago by texting the Activation Code to 606:
| Recharge | Price | Bonus | Data | Social Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | 550 CRC/month | Superbono Llamadas 8 Minutes | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 minutes 3 | 2 days | A |
| 1000 CRC | 550 CRC/month | Superbono Internet 150 MB | 150 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 days | B |
| 1000 CRC | 1000 CRC/month | Superbono Internet 300 MB | 300 MB | Unlimited 1 | 10 minutes | N/A | 4 days | C |
| 2000 CRC | 1100 CRC/month | Superbobo Llamadas | N/A | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes 3 | 4 days | B |
| 2000 CRC | 1150 CRC/month | Superbono 500 MB | 500 MB | Unlimited 1 | N/A | N/A | 4 days | A |
| 2000 CRC | 2000 CRC/month | Superbono Internet 1 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited 2 | 15 minutes | N/A | 6 days | C |
1 WhatsApp
2 Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp
3 Canada, Nicaragua (Tigo) & United States
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).
Plans, Packages, Bundles & Offers – Movistar Costa Rica
Movistar has only one data-featured plan, which is Paquetes de Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages). It is a data-only plan.
The following Paquetes de Internet Prepago are available, which you can activate by texting the Activation Code to 606:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 CRC | Paquete Básico 30 MB | 30 MB | Unlimited | 1 day 1 | BASICO |
| 300 CRC | Paquete Día 100 MB | 100 MB | Unlimited | 1 day | DIA |
| 300 CRC | Paquete Diario 100 MB | 100 MB | Unlimited | 1 day 1 | DIARIO |
| 600 CRC | Paquete Nocturno Ilimitado 100 MB | 100 MB | Unlimited | 1 day 1 2 | NOCTURNO |
| 600 CRC | Paquetes 2 Días 400 MB | 400 MB | Unlimited | 2 days 1 | 2DIAS |
| 1200 CRC | Paquete 4 Días 450 MB | 450 MB | Unlimited | 4 days | 4DIAS |
| 2000 CRC | Paquete Semana 550 MB | 550 MB | Unlimited | 7 days | SEMANA |
| 2000 CRC | Música 5 GB | 5 GB 3 | N/A | 30 days | MUSICA |
| 2000 CRC | Conectados 10 GB | 10 GB 4 | N/A | 30 days | CONECTADOS |
| 3000 CRC | Video 25 GB | 25 GB 5 | N/A | 30 days | VIDEO |
1 auto-renews
2 100 MB between 7:00 – 23:00, unlimited between 23:00 – 7:00
3 Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify & SoundCloud
4 BlueJeans, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams, Skype, WebEx & Zoom
5 Amazon Video, FOX Movie, HBO Go & 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 operator in Costa Rica. Claro is active in various other countries in Latin America.
Claro uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
Coverage – Claro Costa Rica
Claro has great coverage in Costa Rica.
Coverage is extensive in the populated areas. Have low expectations in rural areas. Expect no coverage in the mountains.
Below is Claro's coverage map:
Here is a coverage map produced by Speedtest. Do note that this map shows a more favorable coverage than there actually is. However, it is easier to read than the one shown earlier.
SIM Card Price – Claro Costa Rica
You can get a Claro SIM card for free in Claro stores. Partner stores may charge you up to 2500 CRC for a SIM card. You get a bonus called Claro te Chinea, which gives you unlimited WhatsApp for 3 days if you recharge at least 1000 CRC upon purchasing your SIM card.
Topping Up & Recharging – Claro Costa Rica
Claro top-up cards are sold in Claro stores and top-up partners (Puntos de Recarga), including post offices.
To recharge your Movistar 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 Claro app.
Plans, Packages, Bundles & Offers – Claro Costa Rica
Claro has two types of data featured plans: Paquetes Prepago M@s (Prepaid M@s Packages) & Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages).
Paquetes Prepago M@s (Prepaid M@s Packages) – Claro Costa Rica
The Paquetes Prepago M@s (Prepaid M@s Packages) are combo plans with data, minutes, and SMS.
You can activate Paquetes Prepago M@s by texting the Activation Code to 111:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net & International Minutes 2 | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 CRC | Paquete M@s 3 | 300 MB | Unlimited | 50 minutes | 10 minutes | 20 SMS | 3 days | planmas3 |
| 2000 CRC | Paquete M@s 7 | 1 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 20 minutes | 50 SMS | 7 days | planmas7 |
| 3000 CRC | Paquete M@s 10 | 2 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 30 minutes | 100 SMS | 10 days | planmas10 |
| 4500 CRC | Paquete M@s 15 | 3 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 45 minutes | 200 SMS | 15 days | planmas15 |
| 6000 CRC | Paquete M@s 15+ | 4 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 70 minutes | 200 SMS | 15 days | planmas15p |
| 10 000 CRC | Paquete M@s 30 | 5 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 85 minutes | 300 SMS | 30 days | planmas30 |
1 Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp
2 Nicaragua, Panama & United States
Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) – Claro Costa Rica
The Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) are data-only plans.
Get a Paquetes Internet by texting the Activation Code to 111:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 CRC | M@s Navego 30 MB | 30 MB | N/A | 1 day | 30mb |
| 300 CRC | M@s 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 | M@s Navego 300 MB | 300 MB | Unlimited | 1 day | 300mb |
| 1000 CRC | M@s Navego 400 MB | 400 MB | Unlimited | 3 days | 400mb |
| 2000 CRC | M@s Navego 1 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | 7 days | 1gb |
| 4500 CRC | M@s 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 operator.
There are other ways to stay online while in Costa Rica, but they may not be cheap.
However, these methods may be more expensive than getting a SIM card from the two local operators.
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 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
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Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone? A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
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Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!