Costa Rica is volcanoes, cloud forests, wildlife, and two coastlines, and most visitors explore it by rental car. Roads can be winding and signs few, so navigation matters. The best Costa Rica eSIM keeps you online from the airport to your eco-lodge.
This guide explains how to choose an eSIM for Costa Rica, which egoViet plans suit your trip, and what to expect in remote areas.
In this guide:
- Why get an eSIM for Costa Rica?
- How to choose a Costa Rica eSIM
- egoViet Costa Rica eSIM plans
- Visiting Panama or Nicaragua Too?
- Which plan is right for you?
- How to set up your Costa Rica eSIM
- Tips for staying connected in Costa Rica
- FAQs
Why Get an eSIM for Costa Rica?
- Online from San José or Liberia Airport, ready for a ride, a transfer, or your rental car.
- Navigate with Waze or Google Maps, which locals rely on for road conditions.
- Keep your number for bank codes and messages from home.
- Avoid expensive roaming with most home carriers.
How to Choose a Costa Rica eSIM
Trip length
Pick a plan that covers your whole stay plus a spare day for flight times. egoViet plans can't be topped up, so it is better to size up than to run short. If your high-speed data does run out, you stay online at a basic speed of around 128 kbps, enough for messaging.
How much data you use
Maps and messages use little data. Wildlife videos and video calls use much more. Here is a guide to how much data you need when you travel.
Where you are going
For Costa Rica alone, a Costa Rica eSIM is the best value. See the section below if your trip continues to other countries.
egoViet Costa Rica eSIM Plans
The egoViet Costa Rica eSIM connects to the Movistar network, with 4G coverage in towns and along main roads. Every plan supports hotspot and tethering. Here are some popular options (prices in USD, checked in October 2026; see the product page for current prices):
Fixed data plans
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | $11.00 |
| 1 GB | 15 days | $25.00 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | $34.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $36.00 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | $51.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $55.00 |
Daily data plans
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 500 MB/day | 3 days | $16.00 |
| 500 MB/day | 15 days | $58.00 |
| 1 GB/day | 5 days | $40.00 |
| 1 GB/day | 15 days | $87.00 |
| 2 GB/day | 5 days | $60.00 |
| 2 GB/day | 30 days | $188.00 |
Visiting Panama or Nicaragua Too?
egoViet's regional plans don't currently include Costa Rica, so use a Costa Rica eSIM here. If you continue to Panama or Nicaragua, add an eSIM for that country, or check the South America eSIM, which includes Panama and Nicaragua. Your phone can store several eSIMs, so install them all before you fly.
Here is how many eSIMs your phone can store.
Which Costa Rica eSIM Plan Is Right for You?
| Your trip | Our pick |
|---|---|
| One week: Arenal and Monteverde | A 7-day plan |
| Two weeks with both coasts | A 15-day plan |
| A month of slow travel | A 30-day plan |
| Remote work from a beach town | A large plan |
| Costa Rica plus Panama | Costa Rica eSIM plus a Panama eSIM |
How to Set Up Your Costa Rica eSIM
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. See our eSIM compatibility list.
- Buy your plan. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi with our installation guide.
- When you land in Costa Rica, switch the eSIM on, set it for mobile data, and turn on data roaming for that line. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM.
Tips for Staying Connected in Costa Rica
- Use Waze for driving. It is the most popular navigation app in Costa Rica and shows road issues.
- Expect weak signal in remote parks. Corcovado and parts of the Osa Peninsula have little coverage.
- Download offline maps before heading to the Nicoya Peninsula or mountain lodges.
- WhatsApp is how hotels and tour guides communicate.
- Need to call? egoViet eSIMs are data-only, so use WhatsApp or FaceTime. Here is how calling works with a data-only eSIM.
FAQs: eSIMs for Costa Rica
What is the best eSIM for Costa Rica?
For a trip to Costa Rica, a Costa Rica eSIM is the best value. egoViet's Costa Rica eSIM uses the Movistar network and offers daily and fixed plans.
Is there mobile coverage in Costa Rica's national parks?
Coverage is good near towns but weak or absent in remote parks like Corcovado. Download maps beforehand.
Do I need data to drive in Costa Rica?
It helps a lot. Waze and Google Maps are the easiest way to navigate unsigned roads.
Does the Costa Rica eSIM include a phone number?
No, it is data-only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls and keep your home SIM active for SMS codes.