San José
Explore the Barrio Escalante for a culinary delight, featuring local craft breweries and gourmet dining.
Flying to San José soon? Equip yourself with a travel eSIM for Costa Rica and enjoy mobile data the moment you land at Juan Santamaría Airport, dodging any surprise roaming bills.
Built for short trips and long stays alike — if you fall into any of these, you're sorted.
Kolbi offers the most extensive coverage, especially in rural areas, making it ideal for exploring national parks. Movistar excels in urban environments, providing strong indoor signals and high-speed data, particularly around San José and other major cities.
A rough guide to pick the right plan — your real usage depends on how much you stream and share.
Maps, messaging, email and the occasional search. Enough to stay oriented and in touch.
Social feeds, browsing, music and some video. The sweet spot for most travelers.
Video calls, lots of streaming and tethering your laptop or sharing a hotspot.
Not sure? Unlimited plans bill per day, so you never run out mid-trip. Build your plan →
Embrace the convenience of eSIM technology for your Costa Rican travels.
Pocket WiFi, roaming and airport SIM cards all work — here's how they stack up against an eSIM.
| Telekonek eSIM | Pocket WiFi | Roaming | Airport SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Scan a QR code before you fly | Reserve, then collect and return a device | Already on your home plan | Queue at a kiosk after you land |
| Ready when you land | Yes — connects on arrival | Only after pick-up | Yes | After you find a counter |
| Keep your number | Yes | Yes | Yes | No — you swap out your SIM |
| Extra device to carry | No | Yes — a hotspot to charge | No | No |
| Typical cost | Low, prepaid up front | Daily rental, often a deposit | Usually the most expensive | Varies, often paid in cash |
| Multiple travelers | One eSIM each | Share one hotspot | Charged per line | One SIM each |
Connection-tested in the cities travelers actually visit.
Explore the Barrio Escalante for a culinary delight, featuring local craft breweries and gourmet dining.
Head to Playa Tamarindo for some of the best surfing spots on the Pacific coast.
Experience the natural beauty of Arenal Volcano and the surrounding hot springs.
Use the ICE app to monitor data usage and manage your Kolbi eSIM plan efficiently.
WhatsApp is king in Costa Rica; ensure it’s linked to your eSIM to stay in touch.
Public WiFi is common in San José, but secure your connection with a VPN for safety.
Remember that some apps like Uber require mobile data to estimate fares accurately.
When crossing into Nicaragua, disable auto-updates to avoid unexpected data charges.
Enable WiFi calling to save on minutes when you have WiFi access in your hotel.
Most recent iPhone, Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and cellular iPad models support eSIM — but not every model does. Check your exact device in our compatibility guide before you buy.
Heading beyond Costa Rica? These travel eSIMs install the same way — scan before you fly, data the moment you land.
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