Prepaid SIM Card & eSIM for Costa Rica (2026 Guide)

SIM counters exist at Juan Santamaria (SJO), but they close between 10 PM and 6 AM at most terminals. Airport SIMs from local carriers cost around $5-10 for 3-10GB / 28 days. If your flight lands at night, you face a city without data until morning. A prepaid eSIM removes that risk: buy it online, install before your flight, and connect to Costa Rica's network the moment you land — any time of day. Plans start at $6.99 for 1GB.

Yes. Passport required This applies to physical SIM cards purchased at airports and phone shops. A prepaid eSIM purchased online from an international provider activates via QR code — no in-person passport scan required. You complete the process from your phone before departure. This is the main practical advantage of eSIM for Costa Rica: it bypasses the local ID registration requirement entirely.

Airport SIMs at Juan Santamaria (SJO) advertise $5-10 for 3-10GB / 28 days but often come with activation fees and limited validity that the counter staff does not mention upfront. A prepaid eSIM for Costa Rica starts at $6.99 for 1GB with the full plan details visible before purchase. No surprise charges, no expiry confusion. You buy exactly what you see, install before departure, and land with data running on Kolbi's network.

Yes. Scan the QR code at home over WiFi. If the scan fails, most providers also offer manual entry: type the SM-DP+ address and activation code into your phone's eSIM settings. The manual method works as a backup if your camera cannot read the QR code. Install at least 24 hours before your flight so you have time to contact support. Validity starts from first use in Costa Rica, not install date. Plans start at $6.99.

eSIM works on phones, tablets, and smartwatches. Phone support starts at iPhone XS (2018), Samsung Galaxy S20 (2020), and Google Pixel 3 (2018). iPad Pro (2018)+, iPad Air (2019)+, and iPad Mini (2019)+ also support eSIM for data-only plans. Apple Watch Series 3+ and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4+ support eSIM for connected plans. For travel to Costa Rica, phone eSIM is the most practical option. Confirm carrier-unlock status before purchasing: Settings > General > About on iPhone.

Yes. Most Costa Rica prepaid eSIM plans allow tethering, which means one phone can share data with a partner or child's device. The catch: each tethered device multiplies data consumption. Two phones plus a tablet on a hotspot burn through data 3-4x faster than a single phone. For a family of four visiting Costa Rica, buying individual eSIMs for each phone is cheaper than one large plan shared via hotspot. Children's tablets can share a parent's hotspot for light use.

Data stops — no surprise charges or automatic renewals. Most provider apps show a real-time data counter so you know exactly how much remains. On iPhone, check Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage; on Samsung, go to Settings > Connections > Data Usage. Set a warning alert at 80% to avoid mid-day cutoffs in Costa Rica. If you do run out, find any WiFi network, open the provider app, and top up in about 2 minutes. No reinstall needed.

Yes. This is one of the biggest practical advantages of eSIM for international travel. Your home SIM stays in the phone — incoming calls reach you without going to voicemail. But because data routes through the Costa Rica eSIM, your home carrier sees no data roaming activity and charges nothing for data. You only pay your home carrier's rates if you place or receive voice calls. For a data-heavy trip, this setup saves 50-80% compared to activating a home carrier roaming add-on.

One to two days before your flight is ideal. The key detail most travelers miss: plan validity starts when you first connect to a Costa Rica network, not when you scan the QR code. You can install the eSIM at home, leave it inactive, and it costs nothing until you land. This means buying a week early costs exactly the same as buying the night before — there is no penalty for planning ahead. Install early, test that the eSIM profile appears in your phone's settings, and enable it after landing. Plans start at $6.99.

Yes. Your eSIM runs on Costa Rica's cellular network after activation — WiFi is only needed during the initial QR code install. Download Google Maps offline for Costa Rica before leaving home WiFi. That way, navigation works even in areas with weak cellular signal. The eSIM provides data for messaging, browsing, and real-time traffic updates; offline maps cover gaps where Kolbi's signal drops below usable levels.

Most modern smartphones support two or more eSIM profiles simultaneously. iPhone 13 and newer can store multiple eSIMs. Samsung Galaxy S21+ and newer support dual eSIM. You can switch between profiles in your phone's cellular settings without deleting either one. This means you can keep your home eSIM and your Costa Rica travel eSIM active at the same time.

Unlock requests take 24-72 hours — start at least a week before your Costa Rica trip. On iPhone, check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock for "No SIM restrictions." On Samsung, check Settings > Connections > SIM Manager for the "Add eSIM" button. If locked, call your carrier and request an unlock. Most carriers unlock devices for free after the contract period ends. Do not wait until departure day: a locked phone on travel day means no eSIM, no data, no maps.