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SIM Cards in Costa Rica: The Best Prepaid Plans | 2024 Guide

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, Liberty & 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 (1.50 USD) or 1500 CRC (2.80 USD) from Claro, 1000 CRC (1.85 USD) from Kölbi, or 1500 CRC from Liberty in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) 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.

Buying a SIM Card in Costa Rica Guide (logos of Kölbi, Movistar & Claro)

Original publication: 29th of December 2019. Last updated: 29th of February 2024.


Table of Contents

What is the 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.

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So, who are all these mobile operators and what options are available for you?

Costa Rica has three mobile operators offering prepaid services that are easily accessible to travelers:

  • Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
  • Liberty Costa Rica
  • Claro Costa Rica
Cellular Connectivity Illustration by Phone Travel Wiz

Anyone living in or visiting Costa Rica can buy a Costa Rican SIM card with some restrictions, but you do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

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.

  • Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
SIM Card Registration Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Where Can You Buy a Costa Rican SIM Card (+Prices)?

You can get a Costa Rican SIM card in Kölbi, Liberty & Claro stores. Some Costa Rican airports sell (tourist) SIM cards (at inflated prices).

You can expect to pay the following for Costa Rican SIM cards:

  • Kölbi Costa Rica: 1000 CRC
  • Liberty Costa Rica: 1000 CRC & 1500 CRC
  • Claro Costa Rica: 790 CRC & 1500 CRC

Note that Costa Rican SIM cards can be more expensive than those listed above when purchased at an airport.

Use the Wise Currency Converter tool (free) for up-to-date CRC (Costa Rican Colón) to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollar) exchange rates.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise

For your convenience, below are some exchange rates between CRC and USD (US Dollars):

  • 10 CRC = 0.020 USD
  • 100 CRC = 0.20 USD
  • 1000 CRC = 1.90 USD

But for any other currency, the Wise Currency Converter tool.

(Travel) eSIMs for Costa Rica

In recent years, (travel) eSIMs have become extremely popular.

Especially after Apple made iPhones (14- & 15 series) sold in the United States eSIM-only, forcing its users to use eSIMs – even when abroad.

As a result, the adoption of eSIM technology by mobile operators worldwide rose impressively quickly.

Currently, no Costa Rican mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

In my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

Buying an eSIM for Costa Rica Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Discover+, Hot Telecom, Alosim & Airalo)

Surprisingly, travel eSIMs can be cheaper than a Costa Rican SIM card or eSIM in specific scenarios.

Moreover, Latin (Central- and South) America-wide and global eSIM options are also available at competitive prices (without having to deal with expensive international roaming rates).

In this Costa Rica SIM card buying guide (the one you are reading), I will stick to the local SIM cards and eSIM, but you can read my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide for more information about travel eSIMs covering the country.

But here is a quick overview already + applicable discount codes if you are interested in purchasing a travel eSIM for Costa Rica:

  • Airalo: Hot Telecom (Costa Rica only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin (Central- and South) America) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS)
  • Alosim: Costa Rica
  • Holafly: Costa Rica & South America (14 countries in Central- and South America) – options include unlimited data
  • Nomad: Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant)

Here are some discount codes to sweeten the deal:

  • Airalo: MAR15 for 15% off (if you have never bought an Airalo eSIM before). Otherwise, MAR10 for 10% off (for existing users) – only the first 3000 users can redeem either discount code)
  • Alosim: PTW for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
  • Holafly: PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
  • Nomad: ADU123 for 3 USD off (on your first-ever Nomad order only)

Once again, check out my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

Buying an eSIM for Costa Rica Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Discover+, Hot Telecom, Alosim & Airalo)

The eSIM guide is as comprehensive as this SIM card buying guide, but it solely focuses on travel eSIMs (while the guide you are reading focuses on local SIM cards and eSIMs for prepaid users (where applicable).

Costa Rican Prepaid SIM Cards Explored

Below, I will guide you through Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Liberty Costa Rica & Claro Costa Rica, and go through:

  • Background information
  • Mobile coverage
  • SIM card types, prices & availability
  • Recharge/top-up information
  • Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)

With that said, let's see what Costa Rica offers us.


Kölbi Costa Rica by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)

Kölbi Costa Rica Logo
© Kölbi

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 Liberty 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 coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Kölbi's official coverage map.

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) if you recharge at least 3000 CRC in Kölbi stores. Kölbi SIM cards are not sold at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).

Kölbi Costa Rica SIM Card Price

Dial *888# to access the Kölbi menu.

  • 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)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Kölbi has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.

You can consider getting a travel eSIM for Costa Rica, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Kölbi.

Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).

In my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

But I will introduce them here quickly:

  • Airalo: Hot Telecom (Costa Rica only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS) – use code MAR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or MAR10 (10% off)
  • Alosim: Costa Rica – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
  • Holafly: Costa Rica & South America (14 countries) – all variants in both options include unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
  • Nomad: Costa Rica & Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

Once again, check out my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

Buying an eSIM for Costa Rica Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Discover+, Hot Telecom, Alosim & Airalo)

For now, I will continue with Kölbi.

Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Kölbi.

Kölbi Costa Rica SIM Card
© Kölbi
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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-UpValidity
1000 CRC30 days
2000 CRC45 days
5000 CRC60 days
10 USD (6500 CRC)60 days
20 USD (13 000 CRC)60 days
Kölbi Costa Rica Top Ups

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).

Kölbi Costa Rica App
© Kölbi

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Kölbi Costa Rica

Kölbi has four data-featured prepaid plans:

All plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or dialing *888#.

I will list all the prices in CRC (Costa Rican Colón).

To convert CRC to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise

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 (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

The following Planes Dominio Prepago are available, which can be activated by dialing *888#:

PricePlanDataSocial DataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
5040 CRCDominio Prepago 12 GB3 GB 135 minutes30 SMS30 days 
8065 CRCDominio Prepago 24 GB3 GB 150 minutes30 SMS30 days 
12 095 CRCDominio Prepago 35 GB5 GB 2100 minutes30 SMS30 days 

1 for WhatsApp
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Waze & WhatsApp

Kölbi Costa Rica Planes Dominio Prepage Prepaid Domain Plans
Paquetes en Todas (All in Packages) – Kölbi Costa Rica

The Paquetes en Todas (All in Packages) plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access).

Paquetes en Todas can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 8888 or by dialing *888# and selecting option 3:

PricePlanDataSocial Media DataValidityActivation Code
200 CRCEn Todas 150 MB40 MB 11 day ET1
600 CRCEn Todas 3200 MB100 MB 13 daysET3
1300 CRCEn Todas 5300 MB200 MB 25 days ETP5
2500 CRCEn Todas 10500 MB400 MB 210 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.

Kölbi Costa Rica Paquetes en Todas
Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) – Kölbi Costa Rica

The Paquetes Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) are data add-ons (without 5G NR access) 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:

PricePlanDataValidityActivation Code
2500 CRCPaquete 1 GIGA1 GB15 days 1GIGA
4000 CRCPaquete 2 GIGAS2 GB30 days 2GIGAS
Kölbi Costa Rica Paquetes Internet Prepago Prepaid Internet Packages
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 (without 5G NR access) 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:

PricePlanSocial DataValidityActivation CodeDeactivation Code
1000 CRCPaquete JuegoUnlimited7 days JUEGOSalir JUEGO
1500 CRCPaquete SocialUnlimited7 days SOCIALSalir SOCIAL
4000 CRCPaquete MúsicaUnlimited30 days MUSICASalir MUSICA
4000 CRCPaquete Video10 GB30 days VIDEOSalir VIDEO

Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 8888.

Kölbi Costa Rica Paquetes De Internet Para Entretenimiento Internet Packages For Entertainment

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.

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Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

Liberty Logo
© Liberty

Liberty Costa Rica, just Liberty, formerly Movistar Costa Rica, is the second-largest mobile operator in Costa Rica.

Liberty, as a brand, is active in Central America, South America & Spain.

Liberty 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 Liberty:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Liberty SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

Liberty has extensive coverage throughout Costa Rica.

Below is Liberty's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Liberty's official coverage map.

SIM Card Price – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

You can buy a Liberty SIM card for 1500 CRC in Liberty stores.

Dial *686# or text MINUMERO to 606 to see your Liberty phone number.

  • 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)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Liberty has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.

You may want to get a travel eSIM for Costa Rica, which can be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Liberty (in some cases).

Especially when getting a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM if you do not stay in just Costa Rica or a global eSIM valid for up to a year if you want one eSIM to work practically worldwide.

My Costa Rica eSIM buying guide analyzes various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

Here is a quick introduction to them:

  • Airalo: Hot Telecom (Costa Rica only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + call and text feature) – use code MAR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or MAR10 (10% off)
  • Alosim: Costa Rica – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
  • Holafly: Costa Rica & South America (14 countries) – these eSIMs have unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
  • Nomad: Costa Rica & Global (up to 139 countries) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

For more information, such as the prices and data allowances, check out my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide.

Buying an eSIM for Costa Rica Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Discover+, Hot Telecom, Alosim & Airalo)

But let's continue with Liberty for now.

Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Liberty.

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

Liberty top-up vouchers are sold in Liberty 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 Liberty 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 Liberty balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the Liberty app (Android/iOS/Huawei App Gallery).

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

Liberty has three data-featured prepaid plans:

All Liberty plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 606.

I will list all the prices in CRC (Costa Rican Colón).

To convert CRC to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Paquetes de Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

The Paquetes de Internet Prepago (Prepaid Internet Packages) are data plans (without 5G NR access).

Text the Activation Code to 606 to activate Paquetes de Internet Prepago:

PricePlanDataValidity
200 CRCPaquete Básico 30 MB30 MB1 day 
375 CRCPaquete Día 150 MB150 MB1 day
600 CRCPaquetes 2 Días 400 MB400 MB2 days 
600 CRCPaquete Nocturno Ilimitado 100 MBUnlimited1 day 
1300 CRCPaquete 4 Días 600 MB600 MB4 days 
2500 CRCPaquete Semana 1 GB1 GB7 days 
Liberty Costa Rica Paquetes de Internet Prepago Prepaid Internet Packages
Super Recarga (Super Recharge) Plans – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

The Super Recarga (Super Recharge) are data plans (without 5G NR access).

The following Super Recarga are available:

PriceCreditDataSocial DataLocal MinutesValidity
1000 CRC1000 CRC300 MBUnlimited 110 minutes4 days 
2000 CRC2000 CRC1 GBUnlimited 215 minutes6 days 
2500 CRC2500 CRC1.2 GBUnlimited 220 minutes7 days
4500 CRC4500 CRC2 GBUnlimited 245 minutes15 days

1 for WhatsApp
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Waze & WhatsApp

Liberty Costa Rica Super Recarga Recharges
Entretenimiento (Entertainment) Plans – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

The Entretenimiento (Entertainment) are data plans (without 5G NR access) for chat, music streaming & video streaming apps.

Text the Activation Code to 606 to activate Entretenimiento:

PricePlanDataValidityActivation Code
2000 CRCMúsica IlimitadaUnlimited 130 days MUSICA
2000 CRCConectados 10 GB10 GB 230 days CONECTADOS
3000 CRCVideo 25 GB 25 GB 330 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

Liberty Costa Rica Entretenimiento Entertainment Plans

APN/Internet Settings – Liberty Costa Rica (formerly Movistar)

  • 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.

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Claro Costa Rica

Claro Logo New
© Claro

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.

Here is Claro's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Claro's official coverage map.

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 Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).

You may have to dial *25276 to activate your Claro SIM card.

  • 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)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Claro has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.

You should consider getting a travel eSIM for Costa Rica because they can sometimes be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Claro.

Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM or a global eSIM.

I discuss various eSIM options of eSIM providers for Costa Rica in my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide, which are:

  • Airalo: Hot Telecom (Costa Rica only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + minutes and SMS) – use code MAR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or MAR10 (10% off)
  • Alosim: Costa Rica – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
  • Holafly: Costa Rica & South America (14 countries) – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
  • Nomad: Costa Rica & Global (up to 139 countries) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

As I said, check out my Costa Rica eSIM buying guide for more information, as I have to continue with Claro for now.

Buying an eSIM for Costa Rica Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Discover+, Hot Telecom, Alosim & Airalo)

Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Claro.

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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).

Claro Costa Rica El Salvador Honduras Guatemala Nicaragua App
© Claro

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Claro Costa Rica

Claro has two data-featured prepaid plans: Paquetes Prepago M@s/Prepaid M@s Packages (combo) & Paquetes Internet/Internet Packages (data).

I will list all the prices in CRC (Costa Rican Colón).

To convert CRC to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise
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 (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

You can activate Paquetes Prepago M@s by texting the Activation Code to 111 or by dialing *555#:

PricePlanDataSocial Data 1Local/International Minutes 2Local SMSValidityActivation CodeDeactivation Code
1000 CRCPaquete M@s 3300 MB500 MB10 minutes20 SMS3 days planmas3finplanmas3
2000 CRCPaquete M@s 71 GB500 MB20 minutes50 SMS7 days planmas7finplanmas7
3000 CRCPaquete M@s 102 GB500 MB30 minutes100 SMS10 days planmas10finplanmas10
4500 CRCPaquete M@s 153 GB700 MB45 minutes200 SMS15 days planmas15finplanmas15
6000 CRCPaquete M@s 15+4 GB700 MB70 minutes200 SMS15 days planmas15pfinplanmas15p
10 000 CRCPaquete M@s 305 GB 700 MB85 minutes300 SMS30 days planmas30finplanmas30

1 for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter & Waze – WhatsApp data is unlimited
2 to Canada, Central America, Panama & the United States

Paquetes Prepago M@s auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 111. The plans can also be deactivated on the app.

Claro Costa Rica Paquetes Prepago M@s Plans
Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) – Claro Costa Rica

The Paquetes Internet (Internet Packages) are data plans (without 5G NR access).

You can activate Paquetes Internet by texting the Activation Code to 444 or by dialing *555#:

PricePlanDataWhatsApp DataValidityActivation Code
100 CRCM@s Navego 30 MB30 MBN/A1 day 30mb
300 CRCM@s Navego 150 MB150 MBUnlimited1 day 150mb
400 CRCNoches IlimitadasUnlimited N/A1 night (22:00 – 6:00)noche
600 CRCM@s Navego 300 MB300 MBUnlimited1 day 300mb
1000 CRCM@s Navego 400 MB400 MBUnlimited3 days 400mb
2000 CRCM@s Navego 1 GB1 GBUnlimited7 days 1gb
4500 CRCM@s Navego 3 GB3 GBUnlimited15 days 3gb
Claro Costa Rica Paquetes Prepago Internet M@s Navego Plans

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.

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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.

Going to other places around the world? You should also check out my SIM card buying guides for other destinations worldwide.