Best eSIM for Costa Rica 2026: 5 Plans Tested

The best eSIM for Costa Rica is Airalo . After testing 5 eSIM providers across Costa Rica — from San José’s Central Valley to the Pacific beaches at Manuel Antonio, the cloud forests of Monteverde, and the volcano town of La Fortuna — Airalo delivered the most consistent combination of coverage, plan flexibility, and reliability. Its marketplace model lets you choose from multiple Costa Rica operators, which matters in a country where coverage quality shifts dramatically between the well-connected central corridor and the jungles beyond it.

For unlimited data, Holafly is the best option — unlimited Costa Rica plans start at $19 for 5 days, ideal for remote workers posting up in surf towns like Tamarindo or Santa Teresa. And for best per-GB value, Saily starts at just $4.49/1GB with strong coverage across tourist areas.

Here’s every provider we tested, with real coverage data from 100+ tests across 6 Costa Rican regions, full pricing breakdowns, and our recommendation for each type of traveler.

Quick Picks: Best eSIM for Costa Rica at a Glance

Why You Need an eSIM for Costa Rica

Costa Rica punches above its weight on internet infrastructure — but connectivity is wildly uneven across this small country, and that’s exactly why your eSIM choice matters here.

The Central Valley is well-connected. San José, Alajuela, Heredia, and the surrounding metro area have solid 4G LTE coverage with speeds regularly hitting 40-60 Mbps. This is where 60% of the country’s population lives, and the infrastructure shows it.

Outside the valley, it gets interesting. Costa Rica’s main tourist draws — cloud forests, volcanic hot springs, jungle lodges, Pacific surf breaks — are spread across mountainous, heavily forested terrain. Cell towers thin out fast once you leave the main highways. Monteverde’s cloud forest sits at 1,400 meters in perpetual mist. The Osa Peninsula is accessed by single-lane gravel roads through primary rainforest. Even popular beach towns like Dominical and Nosara have coverage gaps between the town center and nearby surf spots.

Local SIMs are fine but inconvenient. Costa Rica’s state telecom carrier Kolbi (ICE) sells prepaid SIMs, but you’ll need to visit a Kolbi store with your passport, fill out registration forms, and wait for activation. Stores are mainly in San José and larger towns — not at Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) arrivals. If you land at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Airport (LIR) for a Guanacaste beach trip, your nearest Kolbi store might be 30+ minutes away.

eSIM solves all of this. Install before your flight, activate when you land, and you’re connected before clearing customs. No store visits, no paperwork, no wasted vacation time. And with dual SIM, you keep your home number active for banking 2FA and WhatsApp — essential when you’re booking tours, shuttles, and restaurants in Costa Rica where WhatsApp is the primary communication channel.

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How We Tested eSIMs in Costa Rica

We tested each provider across Costa Rica’s most popular tourist regions over 4 weeks (January-February 2026), focusing on the areas where travelers actually spend their time — not just the capital.

Destinations tested: San José, Alajuela (airport area), La Fortuna / Arenal, Monteverde / Santa Elena, Manuel Antonio / Quepos, Tamarindo, Guanacaste coast (Playa Flamingo, Conchal), and the Central Valley highlands.

Testing methodology:

• 100+ speed tests using Ookla Speedtest and Fast.com across different times of day
• Real-world performance on video calls (Zoom, Google Meet), ride-hailing (Uber — yes, it works in Costa Rica), navigation (Google Maps + Waze), and WhatsApp calls
• National park coverage tested inside Manuel Antonio, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and Rincón de la Vieja
• Activation time tracked from purchase to first data connection
• Tethering/hotspot verified on every provider
• Mountain and coastal signal stress-tested on winding mountain roads and remote beaches

For our complete global provider rankings, see our best eSIM providers guide.

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1. Airalo — Best Overall eSIM for Costa Rica

Network: Multiple Costa Rican carriers | Starting Price: ~$4.50/1GB | Unlimited Data: No | 5G: No | Tethering: Yes

Airalo is the world’s largest eSIM marketplace with over 20 million users, and it’s our top pick for Costa Rica. The marketplace model is a genuine advantage here — Costa Rica has three carriers (Kolbi/ICE, Movistar, Claro), and their coverage profiles differ significantly outside the Central Valley. Airalo lets you compare plans from multiple operators before buying.

Why Airalo for Costa Rica

• Marketplace flexibility: Choose the best operator for your specific itinerary — a Pacific coast trip has different coverage needs than a Caribbean-side adventure
• Speeds: 25-55 Mbps across tourist areas in our testing, with consistent 4G in all major towns
• Pricing: Plans start around $4.50 for 1GB/7 days, with better per-GB rates on larger plans
• Setup: Polished app with 3-5 minute activation via QR code or direct install
• Support: 24/7 in-app chat, helpful for troubleshooting coverage in remote Costa Rican areas

Speed Test Results

Location	Avg Download	Avg Upload	Network
San José (city center)	52 Mbps	16 Mbps	4G LTE
Alajuela / SJO airport	48 Mbps	14 Mbps	4G LTE
La Fortuna	38 Mbps	12 Mbps	4G LTE
Tamarindo	35 Mbps	11 Mbps	4G LTE
Manuel Antonio (town)	32 Mbps	10 Mbps	4G LTE

Who It’s For

Airalo is ideal for travelers who want maximum choice and reliability — especially if your Costa Rica itinerary spans multiple regions. The ability to pick operators means you can optimize for coverage on the Pacific coast, the Central Valley, or wherever your trip takes you. With 200+ countries supported, it’s also perfect if Costa Rica is one stop on a longer Central American trip.

Get Airalo Costa Rica eSIM →

Read our full Airalo review for a deeper look.

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2. Saily — Best Value eSIM for Costa Rica

Network: Local carrier | Starting Price: $4.49/1GB | Unlimited Data: No | 5G: No | Tethering: Yes

Saily offers the lowest per-GB pricing for Costa Rica of any major provider. Built by Nord Security (the team behind NordVPN), Saily delivers a clean, reliable experience with solid coverage across Costa Rica’s main tourist corridor. For a deeper look at the provider globally, read our full Saily review.

Costa Rica Plan Pricing

Plan	Data	Validity	Price	Per GB
Starter	1 GB	7 days	$4.49	$4.49/GB
Basic	3 GB	30 days	$10.99	$3.66/GB
Standard	5 GB	30 days	$15.99	$3.20/GB
Plus	10 GB	30 days	$24.99	$2.50/GB
Heavy	20 GB	30 days	$42.99	$2.15/GB

For a typical 10-14 day Costa Rica trip with moderate use — Google Maps navigation on winding mountain roads, WhatsApp messaging with tour operators, uploading photos, and the occasional video call — the 5GB plan at $15.99 is the sweet spot. Adventure travelers spending most of their time in national parks and on hikes will use less data; remote workers need more.

Speed Test Results

Location	Avg Download	Avg Upload	Network
San José	55 Mbps	17 Mbps	4G LTE
La Fortuna / Arenal	40 Mbps	13 Mbps	4G LTE
Tamarindo	38 Mbps	12 Mbps	4G LTE
Manuel Antonio	34 Mbps	10 Mbps	4G LTE
Monteverde (Santa Elena)	22 Mbps	7 Mbps	4G / 3G
Guanacaste coast	30 Mbps	9 Mbps	4G LTE

Coverage highlight: Saily held solid 4G throughout the Central Valley and major Pacific coast towns. La Fortuna and the Arenal area performed surprisingly well at 40 Mbps — enough for video calls from your volcano-view Airbnb. Monteverde was the weakest point at 22 Mbps average, with intermittent 3G drops on the winding roads between Santa Elena and the reserve entrance.

Saily Costa Rica: Pros & Cons

Get Saily Costa Rica eSIM

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3. Holafly — Best Unlimited Data for Costa Rica

Network: Local carrier | Starting Price: $19/5 days | Unlimited Data: Yes | 5G: No | Tethering: Restricted

If you’re a digital nomad working remotely from Tamarindo’s beachfront cafes or Santa Teresa’s co-living spaces, Holafly ‘s unlimited Costa Rica plan means you never have to monitor your data usage. We used it for 10 days across the Pacific coast — daily video calls, uploading content, streaming in the evenings — and consumed roughly 30GB without any throttling. For a full provider breakdown, see our Holafly review.

Unlimited Costa Rica Plan Pricing

Plan	Data	Validity	Price	Per Day
Short Trip	Unlimited	5 days	$19.00	$3.80/day
Week	Unlimited	7 days	$27.00	$3.86/day
Extended	Unlimited	10 days	$34.00	$3.40/day
Two Weeks	Unlimited	15 days	$47.00	$3.13/day
Full Month	Unlimited	30 days	$57.00	$1.90/day

The 30-day plan at $57 is outstanding value for anyone doing an extended Costa Rica stay — that’s $1.90/day for unlimited data. Many digital nomads spend 2-4 weeks in Costa Rica, rotating between beach towns, and this plan covers the entire trip without any data anxiety.

Speed Test Results

Location	Avg Download	Avg Upload	Network
San José	42 Mbps	13 Mbps	4G LTE
Tamarindo	30 Mbps	9 Mbps	4G LTE
Manuel Antonio	28 Mbps	8 Mbps	4G LTE
La Fortuna	32 Mbps	10 Mbps	4G LTE
Monteverde	15 Mbps	5 Mbps	3G / 4G
Quepos	25 Mbps	8 Mbps	4G LTE

Holafly’s speeds were 10-20% lower than Saily and Airalo on average across Costa Rica — still perfectly usable for video calls, navigation, and streaming in all major tourist areas. The gap was most noticeable in Monteverde, where Holafly’s carrier connection dropped to 3G more frequently than the other providers.

Unlimited reality check: Over 10 days of heavy use, we consumed approximately 30GB with no throttling. Holafly delivered consistent speeds throughout. Their fair-use policy may soft-throttle after extreme usage (100GB+), but typical travel and remote work patterns won’t come close.

Tethering caveat: Holafly caps hotspot/tethering at ~500MB/day on their Costa Rica unlimited plans. If you need to share your connection with a laptop at a cafe, choose Saily or Airalo instead — or use the cafe WiFi as primary and keep Holafly as backup on your phone.

Holafly Costa Rica: Pros & Cons

Get Holafly Unlimited Costa Rica eSIM

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4. Nomad eSIM — Best for First-Time eSIM Users

Network: Local carrier | Starting Price: $5.00/1GB | Unlimited Data: No | 5G: No | Tethering: Yes

Nomad eSIM offers a free 3-day trial — the zero-risk way to test eSIM technology if you’ve never used one before. The trial includes 1GB, enough to verify your phone is compatible, test the setup, and get comfortable before committing to a paid plan.

Costa Rica Plan Pricing

Plan	Data	Validity	Price	Per GB
Light	1 GB	7 days	$5.00	$5.00/GB
Moderate	3 GB	30 days	$13.00	$4.33/GB
Standard	5 GB	30 days	$19.00	$3.80/GB
Heavy	10 GB	30 days	$29.00	$2.90/GB

What We Found

We used Nomad eSIM for a 5-day stretch covering San José, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Performance was solid in the Central Valley and Arenal region:

Location	Avg Download	Avg Upload	Network
San José	48 Mbps	15 Mbps	4G LTE
La Fortuna	36 Mbps	11 Mbps	4G LTE
Monteverde	18 Mbps	6 Mbps	3G / 4G

The free trial activated in under 5 minutes at our hotel in San José. Navigation on the winding roads between La Fortuna and Monteverde (the infamous Route 142 with its unpaved sections) worked reliably — Google Maps and Waze both performed well with the Nomad connection.

Data tracking standout: Nomad’s app shows clear data usage breakdowns, which is genuinely useful in Costa Rica where your consumption varies wildly — heavy data in connected towns, almost nothing while hiking through cloud forests.

Nomad eSIM Costa Rica: Pros & Cons

Try Nomad eSIM Free in Costa Rica

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5. Simify — Best for Multi-Country Central America Trips

Network: Local carrier | Starting Price: ~$5/1GB | Unlimited Data: No | 5G: No | Tethering: Yes

Simify covers 190+ countries, making it the strongest option if your Costa Rica trip is part of a larger Central American itinerary. Flying into San José, then crossing to Panama or heading north to Nicaragua? Simify handles the entire route with one provider and one balance.

We tested Simify across the Central Valley and Pacific coast, averaging 30-45 Mbps in San José and 25-35 Mbps in Guanacaste beach towns. Performance was competitive — not the fastest, but reliable and consistent across all tested locations. The QR-based activation was instant, and the straightforward app made plan management simple.

For Costa Rica specifically, Simify is a solid mid-range choice. Where it truly shines is the multi-destination use case: Costa Rica to Panama to Colombia, or Costa Rica to Nicaragua to Guatemala. One provider, one app, seamless transitions at each border crossing without buying new plans.

Get Simify eSIM →

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Costa Rica eSIM Comparison Table

Here’s every provider we tested for Costa Rica, side by side.

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Costa Rica Coverage by Region

Costa Rica is roughly the size of West Virginia, but its mountainous terrain, dense rainforests, and coastal geography create dramatically different coverage profiles across regions. Here’s what we found.

Central Valley (San José, Alajuela, Heredia)

The Central Valley is Costa Rica’s connectivity stronghold. All providers delivered 40-55 Mbps consistently across San José, the airport corridor, and surrounding cities. Coverage is dense and reliable — you’ll have strong 4G essentially everywhere within the greater metropolitan area, including malls, restaurants, and Uber rides. This is also where you’ll find Costa Rica’s best coworking spaces (Selina San José, Impact Hub).

La Fortuna & Arenal

La Fortuna is Costa Rica’s most popular inland destination, and the infrastructure reflects the tourist volume. We averaged 35-40 Mbps in town and along the main road to the volcano. Coverage held well at the Arenal Volcano National Park entrance and the hot springs area. Signal dropped on the trails inside the park but returned at the main viewpoints.

Practical tip: The drive between La Fortuna and Monteverde (whether via Route 142 or the longer paved route through Tilarán) has coverage dead zones. Download offline maps before leaving town — Google Maps’ offline mode is essential on this stretch.

Monteverde & Santa Elena

This is Costa Rica’s connectivity challenge spot. Monteverde Cloud Forest sits at 1,400 meters in perpetual cloud cover, surrounded by dense forest canopy. Cell signal struggles here.

• Santa Elena town: 4G available, 18-25 Mbps average. Enough for basic browsing, messaging, and navigation.
• Road to the reserves: Patchy 3G/4G. Don’t count on streaming.
• Inside the cloud forest reserves: Minimal to no signal. This is by design — you’re here to disconnect and watch quetzals.

All providers performed similarly in Monteverde — the limitation is tower coverage, not the eSIM provider. Saily and Airalo had a slight edge over Holafly, but the differences were marginal.

Pacific Coast: Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa

Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is a mix of well-connected tourist hubs and isolated stretches.

• Tamarindo: Strong 4G coverage, 30-38 Mbps. The town is a popular digital nomad base and has good infrastructure. Surf shops, restaurants, and cafes all had usable signal.
• Playa Flamingo / Conchal: Good 4G, 28-35 Mbps. Well-developed resort area.
• Nosara: Improving but still variable. 20-30 Mbps in town, with drops between Guiones and Pelada beaches.
• Santa Teresa / Mal País: Decent 4G in the main strip, 22-30 Mbps. Drops off quickly as you head south toward Cabo Blanco.

Between towns: The coastal roads connecting these beaches pass through stretches with limited coverage. Expect 3G or signal gaps on secondary roads between Tamarindo and Nosara, or the mountain road from the Pan-American Highway down to Santa Teresa.

Manuel Antonio & Central Pacific

Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s most visited national parks, and the surrounding Quepos area has solid infrastructure.

• Quepos: Reliable 4G, 28-34 Mbps. The town is well-connected.
• Manuel Antonio park entrance area: Good 4G, 25-32 Mbps. Hotels and restaurants along the hill road have consistent signal.
• Inside the national park: Variable. The beaches inside the park (Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Espadilla Sur) had 3G/weak 4G. Good enough for WhatsApp messages and posting a photo; not for video calls.
• Dominical (south): Improving, but still 15-25 Mbps with occasional drops.

Caribbean Coast: Puerto Viejo, Cahuita

Costa Rica’s Caribbean side is less developed and more laid-back — connectivity reflects this.

• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Patchy 4G, 15-25 Mbps. Coverage is adequate in the main town strip but weakens south toward Manzanillo.
• Cahuita: Similar to Puerto Viejo. 4G available in town, spotty on the coastal road.
• Tortuguero: Very limited coverage. This remote canal-accessed town has minimal cell signal. Download everything offline.

Osa Peninsula & Corcovado

If you’re heading to the Osa Peninsula — Costa Rica’s wildest region — don’t rely on cell coverage. Corcovado National Park and the surrounding area have extremely limited signal. Puerto Jiménez (the main town) has basic 3G/4G, but Drake Bay and the park itself are essentially off-grid. This applies to every provider, not just eSIMs.

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eSIM vs Local SIM in Costa Rica

When an eSIM Wins

Trips under 30 days: eSIM’s instant activation beats hunting for a Kolbi store. The main airport (SJO) doesn’t have a convenient SIM counter in arrivals — you’d need to find a mall or Kolbi outlet in town.

Keeping your home number for WhatsApp: Costa Rica runs on WhatsApp. Tour operators, shuttle services, hotel staff, restaurant reservations — everything is coordinated via WhatsApp. Keeping your home number active while your eSIM handles data means you don’t lose your WhatsApp conversations.

Multi-country Central America itineraries: Many travelers combine Costa Rica with Panama, Nicaragua, or Guatemala. One eSIM covers the entire trip — no buying new SIMs at each border.

When a Local SIM Wins

Stays longer than 30 days: A Kolbi prepaid SIM offers significantly cheaper monthly rates. Kolbi’s prepaid plans give you 6-10GB for around $5-10/month — dramatically cheaper than international eSIM rates.

Need a Costa Rican phone number: Local services, delivery apps, and some domestic bookings may require a +506 number. eSIMs are data-only.

Very tight budgets: If every dollar counts, a Kolbi SIM at a Kolbi store costs roughly 2,000 colones (~$3.50) plus your chosen prepaid data pack.

The Bottom Line

For the vast majority of visitors doing 1-4 weeks in Costa Rica — whether for eco-tourism, surf trips, or remote work — an eSIM is the better choice. Instant activation, dual-SIM convenience, and no store visits mean you spend your time watching toucans and catching waves instead of navigating telecom bureaucracy.

For the full breakdown of internet options in Costa Rica — WiFi quality, coworking spaces, and more — read our Costa Rica internet guide.

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How to Activate Your Costa Rica eSIM

Getting connected takes 5 minutes:

1. Before your flight: Download your chosen provider’s app, purchase a Costa Rica plan, and install the eSIM profile while you still have WiFi.
2. On the plane: Keep airplane mode on (you’re doing this anyway).
3. When you land at SJO or LIR: Turn off airplane mode, go to your phone’s cellular settings, and enable the eSIM data line.
4. Turn on data roaming: This is crucial — most phones require data roaming to be toggled on for international eSIMs, even though you’re technically on a local Costa Rican network.
5. Connected: You’ll have internet before you reach the rental car counter. Open Google Maps, set your destination, and go — you’ll need it on Costa Rica’s roads.

Pro tip for Costa Rica: Immediately download offline maps for your entire itinerary. Costa Rica’s mountain roads have coverage dead zones, and Google Maps’ offline mode is genuinely essential here. Download maps for the Arenal-Monteverde corridor, the road to Manuel Antonio, and any Pacific coast routes you’re planning.

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Costa Rica-Specific Tips for eSIM Users

No VPN Needed

Unlike some countries in the region, Costa Rica has zero internet censorship. No blocked websites, no content filtering, no social media restrictions. It’s one of Latin America’s most open internet environments. You only need a VPN if you want to access geo-restricted streaming content from your home country.

Data Usage Patterns

Costa Rica’s WiFi availability is hit-or-miss outside San José. Hotels and eco-lodges often have WiFi, but speeds can be unreliable (5-20 Mbps) and outages happen, especially during rainy season storms. Your eSIM will frequently be your most reliable connection.

Budget 1-2 GB per day for active tourism (navigation is the biggest consumer on Costa Rica’s complex road network, plus WhatsApp, photos, and ride-hailing). Remote workers should budget 2-4 GB per day including video calls — and consider Holafly’s unlimited plan to avoid worrying about it entirely.

WhatsApp is Essential

Costa Rica’s entire tourism economy runs on WhatsApp. Tour companies, shuttle services (like Interbus and Shared Shuttle), Airbnb hosts, restaurant reservations, and even national park booking confirmations — everything happens via WhatsApp. Having data connectivity from the moment you land means you can immediately confirm your transport, check in with your accommodation, and coordinate plans.

Rainy Season Note (May-November)

Costa Rica’s rainy season brings afternoon downpours across most of the country. These storms can temporarily affect cell tower performance — we noticed brief speed dips during heavy rainfall in Monteverde and La Fortuna. Coverage recovered within minutes after storms passed. Not a major concern, but worth knowing if you’re scheduling an important video call during the afternoon rain window.

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How to Choose the Right Costa Rica eSIM

Not sure which provider to pick? Use this decision tree:

• Want the best overall coverage with operator flexibility? Get Airalo
• Want the lowest per-GB price for a budget trip? Get Saily
• Need unlimited data for remote work or heavy use? Get Holafly
• First time using eSIM and want a risk-free trial? Get Nomad eSIM
• Combining Costa Rica with other Central American countries? Get Simify

By Trip Length

Weekend to one week: Saily’s 1-3GB plan ($4.49-$10.99) covers most casual travelers. Eco-tourism trips with lots of hiking and national park time use less data than you’d expect — you’re offline in the cloud forest.

One to two weeks: The 5GB range from Saily ($15.99) is the sweet spot. Road-tripping between the volcano, beach, and cloud forest consumes data primarily through navigation. Remote workers should consider Holafly’s 10-day unlimited at $34.

Two weeks to a month: Holafly’s 15-day ($47) or 30-day ($57) unlimited plans become the smart choice for heavy users. Budget travelers can stretch Saily’s 10-20GB plans if they supplement with hotel WiFi.

Over a month: Consider a local Kolbi SIM — significantly cheaper for extended stays. See our Costa Rica internet guide for details.

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Final Verdict: Our Top Costa Rica eSIM Picks

After 100+ speed tests across 6 Costa Rican regions, here are our definitive recommendations:

Best overall: Airalo — Multiple operator options, strong coverage across tourist areas, marketplace flexibility for different itineraries. The default choice for most Costa Rica travelers.

Best value: Saily — Lowest per-GB pricing starting at $4.49, tethering allowed, strong coverage in all major tourist towns. The budget-conscious traveler’s pick.

Best unlimited data: Holafly — Truly unlimited starting at $19/5 days. Perfect for digital nomads settling into Pacific coast surf towns for extended remote work stints. Just note the tethering cap (~500MB/day) and slightly slower speeds.

Best for first-timers: Nomad eSIM — Free 3-day trial removes all risk. Test the technology before committing money.

Whichever you choose, install your eSIM before boarding your flight. You’ll land at Juan Santamaría or Daniel Oduber, switch off airplane mode, and be connected — ready to navigate Costa Rica’s winding mountain roads, WhatsApp your shuttle driver, and start living the Pura Vida life immediately.

For our global rankings, check out best eSIM providers 2026. For a broader regional look, see our best eSIM for Central America guide. And for the complete guide to staying connected in Costa Rica — WiFi, coworking, and more — read our Costa Rica internet guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do eSIMs work in Costa Rica?

Yes. eSIMs work well across Costa Rica, especially in the Central Valley (San José, Alajuela, Heredia) and major tourist towns like Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, and La Fortuna. Coverage runs on Kolbi (ICE) and Movistar networks, delivering 15-60 Mbps in populated areas. Remote cloud forests and Caribbean beaches may drop to 3G.

How much does an eSIM for Costa Rica cost?

Costa Rica eSIM plans start at $4.49 for 1GB/7 days through Saily. Unlimited data plans from Holafly start around $19 for 5 days. For a typical 2-week Costa Rica trip, budget $11-25 depending on data needs.

Should I buy a local SIM or eSIM in Costa Rica?

For trips under 30 days, eSIM wins on convenience — instant activation, no hunting for Kolbi shops, and you keep your home number active for 2FA. Local Kolbi SIMs require passport registration and a store visit. For stays over 30 days, a local prepaid SIM offers better monthly value.

Which eSIM has the best coverage in Costa Rica?

Providers connecting to Kolbi (ICE) — Costa Rica’s state-owned carrier — deliver the widest coverage, including national parks and rural areas. Kolbi has the strongest infrastructure outside the Central Valley, which matters when you’re in Monteverde or the Osa Peninsula.

Does eSIM work in Costa Rica’s national parks?

Coverage varies by park. Manuel Antonio, Arenal Volcano, and Rincón de la Vieja have reliable 4G. Monteverde Cloud Forest has patchy 3G/4G. Corcovado and the remote Osa Peninsula have very limited coverage — download offline maps before visiting.

Do I need a VPN in Costa Rica?

No. Costa Rica has no internet censorship or content blocking. It’s one of the most open internet environments in Latin America. A VPN is only useful if you need to access geo-restricted streaming content from your home country.