Costa Rica eSIM Prepaid mobile data for your trip
- Claro, movistar
- Email in ~1 min
- Activate within 180 days
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
Can I activate my plan later?
All plans have a 180-day activation window. If you buy a plan today and don't activate it before Mar 13, 2027, it will be activated automatically.
Based on 1000+ reviews
RAPIDeSIM is rated Excellent
Imane YounessVerified reviewCompréhensif
Compréhensif, ils m'ont aidée à activer la carte eSIM étape par étape. Passion avec ses clients, merci, vous méritez les cinq étoiles, c'est une bonne expérience.
· +1M
Travelers who trust us worldwide
What your Costa Rica eSIM includes
- Data
- 1 GB – 10 GB
- Validity
- 7–30 days from activation
- Network
- Claro, movistar
- Installation
- One-tap Quick Install — no QR code needed (iOS 17.4+). QR code and manual setup also included.
- Delivery
- By email, minutes after payment
- Activation
- On arrival, when you switch the line on — up to 180 days to do it
- Top-up
- Rechargeable anytime, no reinstall
- Hotspot
- Supported — share with your travel companions
- Phone number
- Data only — keep your own number for calls, WhatsApp and SMS
- Coverage
- Costa Rica
Not included
- Local phone number
- Calls and SMS
- 5G everywhere — depends on network and device
- Unlimited without rules — Fair-use policy →
Source: computed from this product's 3 plans and its network metafield.
Everything you use at home, everywhere you go
Find your way, stay reachable, share the moment and book the next step, without hunting for Wi-Fi. Typical data use per app, to size your plan.
- Google Maps≈ 10 MB / h
- Waze≈ 20 MB / h
- WhatsApp≈ 300 MB / h (video call)
- Instagram≈ 300 MB / h
- TikTok≈ 800 MB / h
- YouTube≈ 500 MB / h (480p)
- Netflix≈ 1 GB / h (SD)
- Spotify≈ 70 MB / h
- Booking.com≈ 5 MB / search
- Airbnb≈ 5 MB / search
- Uber≈ 10 MB / ride
- Google Translate≈ 1 MB / photo
How much data do I need? Calculator
Estimates for typical use; video quality and background updates change them. Logos belong to their owners.
Visiting other countries too? These regional plans include Costa Rica
One eSIM for the whole trip: same email, same install, nothing to reinstall at the border.
eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM
| eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM | RapideSIM | Roaming | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price known before you leave | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ready before you land — no airport queue | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keep your number & WhatsApp | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Local data rates | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| No contract, no hidden fees | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Install before you leave, activate on arrival
- Open Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data
- Tap “Add eSIM”
- Scan the QR code from your email
- Enable data roaming on your RapideSIM line
- Open Settings → Connections / Network
- Open SIM Manager → “Add eSIM”
- Scan the QR code from your email
- Enable data roaming on your RapideSIM line
No QR code? Easy install is also available — just follow the link in your email.
Full step-by-step guide with screenshots →
Full step-by-step guide with screenshots →
- Install at home, on Wi-Fi Installing needs a connection; the plan only starts at destination.
- Data only Your SIM stays in place for calls and SMS; WhatsApp works over the eSIM.
- Compatible, unlocked phone Check in 10 seconds →
Traveler reviews
Collected by Loox from customers who ordered this eSIM. Shown as they are, most recent first.
Costa Rica eSIM: what to know before you travel
Which Costa Rica eSIM plan should you choose?
Budget around 1 GB per week if you stick to maps, messaging and bookings. For a typical one- to two-week trip with social media, photos uploaded each evening and the odd video call, 5 to 10 GB is the right size. Beyond that — remote work, streaming, sharing your connection with the family — go for 20 GB or an unlimited plan. Picked the wrong one? It doesn't matter: the eSIM is rechargeable, so you add data mid-trip without reinstalling anything.
How much does a Costa Rica eSIM cost?
Plans for Costa Rica start at $3.49, and the price table above lists every option with its data, validity and exact price — no surprise charges when you land. The comparison that matters isn't with a local SIM card, it's with your operator's roaming: a few dollars for the whole trip instead of a bill calculated per megabyte. What you see is what you pay, once, and the eSIM never auto-renews.
Do you need a QR code to install your Costa Rica eSIM?
No — and this is exactly the part travellers dread for no reason. Your confirmation email contains a Quick Install link: open it on the phone you're taking with you, tap once, and iOS (17.4 and later) opens the eSIM installer with every setting already filled in. No second screen, no camera, no typing an SM-DP+ address. The QR code and manual setup are still in the same email if you prefer the classic method or you're on Android.
Can you top up your eSIM once you are there?
Yes, and that is the real difference from an airport SIM card. If your data runs out halfway through your trip, you open the top-up page with your order number, pick a new package, and the data lands on the eSIM you already installed within seconds. Nothing to reinstall, no shop to find, no ID to show. Your usual number also stays active on your physical SIM throughout the trip: calls, texts and banking verification codes keep arriving as normal.
Costa Rica: detailed coverage
Costa Rica looks small and drives large. The road from San José to La Fortuna winds, the climb to Monteverde turns to gravel for its last stretch, and the Nicoya Peninsula is a series of unpaved links between Nosara, Santa Teresa and the ferry at Paquera. Travelling here becomes a rolling negotiation with shuttle drivers, lodge owners and a weather forecast, nearly all of it conducted by message.
Roaming suits that pattern badly. A Costa Rica eSIM turns constant small usage into one fixed amount, paid before you land at San José or Liberia.
Data guidance. Ten days between Arenal, Monteverde and a Pacific beach usually fits inside 3–5 GB. A fortnight with nightly uploads and video calls sits near 10 GB. Surf trips and remote work from Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo point to 20 GB.
- Central Valley and coast — San José, Alajuela, Liberia, Jacó, Tamarindo, Quepos and Puerto Viejo — all hold a usable signal.
- Rainforest goes quiet. Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula, the boat approach to Tortuguero, the cloud forest interior and the high pass at Cerro de la Muerte drop out completely.
- Park days need maps. Trailheads and reserve entrances are frequently the last point with coverage before several hours without any.
The season shapes everything else. December to April is the dry stretch on the Pacific side, while the green months from May to November bring afternoon rain, cheaper lodges and rivers that occasionally rearrange a gravel road overnight. Plans move accordingly, and the moving happens in a messaging thread rather than at a desk.
Number unchanged. Because this supplies data only, calls, texts and the bank codes needed for card payments abroad continue on your usual line.
Choose a plan below to match your route — one volcano and one beach, or a fortnight that crosses to the Caribbean side.
All Costa Rica eSIM plans
| Plan | Validity | Price | Regular price | Per GB / day | Choose → |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.49 | $3.49/GB | Choose → | |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $22.99 | $4.60/GB | Choose → | |
| 10 GB Most popular | 30 days | $34.99 | $3.50/GB | Choose → |
Source: store plan prices incl. taxes at page load. Per-GB = price ÷ data.
FAQ
Costa Rica eSIM — frequently asked questions
How do I install my Costa Rica eSIM?
Your Costa Rica eSIM arrives by email right after payment, as a QR code. Scan it from your phone settings (Add eSIM), turn on data roaming for the new line, and you’re connected. No QR handy? Use the quick-install link included in the same email.
Follow the visual walkthrough: iPhone guide · Samsung / Android guide.
When should I install it before my trip?
Ideally at home, before you fly — the plan only starts on arrival, once data roaming is on. You have up to 180 days after purchase to activate it, so buying early costs you nothing.
Which networks will my eSIM use?
On arrival, your eSIM connects automatically to Claro, movistar — no manual setup needed. The full coverage details are listed in the Description tab above.
How long do the Costa Rica plans last?
The plans on this page are valid for: 7 DAYS, 30 DAYS. The clock starts at activation on arrival, not at checkout — with a 180-day window to activate after purchase.
Can I add more data later?
Yes — this eSIM is rechargeable. Head to the recharge page with your order number, choose a package, and the data lands on your existing eSIM in seconds. No new installation needed.
How can I see how much data is left?
Enter your order number on the recharge & usage page to view your remaining balance and every plan linked to your eSIM.
Does hotspot / tethering work?
It does — turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel buddy.
What if I run out of data?
Your eSIM simply goes offline — never a surprise bill. Recharge it in a few seconds from the recharge page and you’re back online on the same eSIM.
Will WhatsApp and my usual number keep working?
Absolutely. Your home SIM stays in place for calls, SMS and your WhatsApp account, while the eSIM quietly carries your internet. Remember to switch off data on your home line to dodge roaming fees.
