Costa Rica eSIM
Stay connected across Costa Rica. Install before you fly.
- 4G on Claro
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices NZD7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
Costa Rica plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
Costa Rica eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, $9.22
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, $49.77, about $2.49 a gigabyte
No unlimited plan
The largest is 20 GB for 30 days, $49.77
Network coverage in Costa Rica
Your Travelren eSIM runs on Claro, one of Costa Rica's main networks, on 4G. Coverage is good in San José and the Central Valley, around La Fortuna and Arenal, in Monteverde, at Manuel Antonio and Quepos, and along the Guanacaste beaches from Tamarindo to Nosara.
Keep reading
It thins in the places that are hardest to reach. Much of the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park has little or no signal, Tortuguero is patchy, and mountain roads and some rainforest lodges sit in dead zones. Costa Rica plans need their APN entered by hand as wbdata, so do that straight after installing. All plans are capped.
- Networks
- Claro
- Speeds
- 4G
What works in Costa Rica
Works well
- Waze and Google Maps for driving between regions
- WhatsApp with lodges, shuttle companies and tour guides
- Booking national park tickets online, which several parks require
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- Checking shuttle and domestic flight times
- Video calls in San José, La Fortuna and the beach towns
Watch out for
- The APN has to be set by hand to wbdata
- Little or no signal in Corcovado and much of the Osa Peninsula
- Capped plans only
- Data only: no Costa Rican number
Arriving in Costa Rica
International flights land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) near San José or at Liberia (LIR) in Guanacaste, which is closer to the Pacific beaches. Costa Rica uses the colón (CRC), and US dollars are widely accepted, particularly for tours, hotels and larger purchases, with change often given in colones.
Keep reading
Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Many visitors hire a car, and Waze is the navigation app locals use. Roads can be slow, unpaved or cut by rivers in the rainy season, so allow more time than the map suggests. Several national parks, including Manuel Antonio, sell entry online only, which is where data helps.
Installing your Costa Rica eSIM
Install your Costa Rica eSIM on WiFi before you fly by scanning the QR code from your order email (iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM; Android: Settings, SIM manager, Add eSIM). Then set the APN to wbdata in the eSIM's mobile data network settings, as Costa Rica plans don't configure it themselves. When you land, choose the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
Keep reading
Download offline maps before driving between regions.
Common questions
Which network does the Travelren eSIM use in Costa Rica?
Claro, on 4G. It covers San José, the Central Valley and the main tourist areas. After installing, set the APN to wbdata in the eSIM's mobile data settings, or data won't start. Your order confirmation shows the APN too.
How do I set the APN for Costa Rica?
On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, choose the Costa Rica eSIM, Mobile Data Network, then enter wbdata as the APN. On Android: open the eSIM's Access Point Names, add a new APN and type wbdata. Save and select it, and restart the phone if data doesn't start.
Will I have signal in Corcovado?
Very little. Most of Corcovado National Park and the Osa Peninsula has no mobile coverage, and many lodges there rely on satellite WiFi. Download maps and confirm transfers before you go, and treat the park as offline time.
Does Telstra's International Day Pass cover Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica isn't on Telstra's International Day Pass list, checked September 2026, so Telstra customers pay standard roaming rates there. AT&T's International Day Pass does cover it, at US$12 a day. A Travelren plan is one price for your trip.
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When does my Costa Rica plan start?
When your phone first connects to a network in Costa Rica. Install the eSIM and set the APN before you fly, and the plan starts when you land in San José or Liberia.
Is Waze or Google Maps better in Costa Rica?
Locals mostly use Waze, which tends to know about road closures, river crossings and slow sections. Both need data, and both work better if you download the area offline in case you lose signal on mountain roads.
Should I pay in colones or US dollars?
Both are accepted in tourist areas. US dollars work well for tours and hotels, while colones are handier for small shops, sodas (local cafes) and buses. You'll often get change in colones.
How much data do the Costa Rica plans include?
They're capped, and the larger plans suit a typical one- or two-week trip of navigation, messaging and photo sharing. Use lodge WiFi for streaming or large uploads if you're on a smaller plan.
Americas regional plan
Visiting more than just Costa Rica?
One Americas eSIM covers Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala, plus 9 other countries.
$60.22
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your Costa Rica eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.