PikoeSIM
Excellent
Costa Rica eSIM
Plans from€1.68
1 GB 7 days
Arenal, Costa Rica
- 4G/5G data
- One prepaid price
- Check compatibility first
- Hotspot included
Choose your plan
Data for 7 days
Data for 15 days
Data for 30 days
Tech specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country coverage | Covers Costa Rica only. Neighbouring countries and stopovers are not included. |
| Local networks | Liberty Costa Rica |
| Network technology | Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. |
| Data & validity | Allowances from 1 GB to 20 GB, with 7-, 15- or 30-day validity depending on the plan. Fixed total data, never unlimited, and the listed price is in EUR. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. No local phone number, and no standard calls or SMS. |
| Hotspot | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. |
| Your phone | Compatible phones must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check the exact model and regional version, not just the brand. |
How it works
Pick a plan, add the eSIM to your phone, then connect once you're in Costa Rica.
01Choose your plan
Choose data and validity that cover your trip. Save the setup instructions for offline access.
02Install before you fly
Install over Wi-Fi using your plan's instructions. Check when the plan's validity starts.
03Connect in Costa Rica
On arrival, turn on the eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your regular SIM.
Compare ways to get online in Costa Rica
Use prepaid data on the phone you already carry. This is how PikoeSIM compares with a rental router, home-carrier roaming and a physical SIM.
Swipe or scroll to compare all four options
| What matters | PikoeSIMTravel eSIM | Pocket Wi-FiRental router | RoamingYour home carrier | Local SIMPhysical SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting connected | Download the eSIM to your phone, then follow the activation steps that come with your plan. | Book delivery or collect a rental router from the provider. | Turn on roaming and confirm your destination is covered by your home plan. | Buy a SIM card and insert it into a compatible SIM slot on your phone. |
| Extra equipment | None. You use the eSIM-compatible phone you already have. | A separate device to carry, charge and keep within range. | None. You keep using your existing phone and SIM. | A physical SIM card. You might need to remove your usual SIM to fit it. |
| Data & cost | From €1.68 for 1 GB / 7 days. You pick a fixed allowance when you order. | Rental fees and data terms vary by provider. Check delivery, loss and damage fees before booking. | Your carrier's rates apply. Some home plans already include roaming at your destination. | Prepaid prices, data allowances and validity periods differ between local operators. |
| Sharing your data | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. | Connect phones and other devices to the router. They all need to stay inside its Wi-Fi range. | Tethering depends on your carrier and your roaming plan. | Check that the local plan allows tethering before you rely on it. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. Make calls and send messages through internet apps. | Internet only. Regular calls and SMS still use your phone's mobile plan. | Calls and SMS are billed under your carrier's roaming terms. | A local number, calls and SMS depend on the specific plan you buy. |
| After your trip | There's nothing to send back when your trip ends. | Return the router and accessories on time. Late or missing returns can trigger extra fees. | No hardware to return afterwards. | You don't need to return any rental device. |
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common setup and buying questions.
How do I choose the right Costa Rica eSIM plan?
Start with how long you'll be there and what you'll do. For a short holiday with light use, 1 GB for 7 days is €1.68, while 3 GB for the same week is €4.99. If you're away for about 2 weeks, note there is no plan valid for 14 days; the nearest is 3 GB for 15 days at €5.40. There's no universal best value or best price, so pick from your actual use: heavy sharers should compare 10 GB for 30 days at €17.57 with 20 GB at €34.96. Every allowance is one total for the whole period.
What network does the Costa Rica eSIM run on?
Listed networks: Liberty Costa Rica. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions.
Is my phone compatible with this eSIM?
Use a carrier-unlocked phone that supports eSIM, and confirm the exact model and regional version, not just the brand. On iPhone under iOS, look for Add eSIM in Cellular or Mobile Data settings; on Android the compatibility guide links to each manufacturer's steps.
When do I install the Costa Rica eSIM?
Install on solid Wi-Fi before you fly and save the order instructions. Follow them for activation and validity: adding the profile and starting the plan are not necessarily the same event. There is no instant installation guarantee, so allow a few minutes and a stable connection. When you land, turn on the travel line and set it as your data line.
Does this plan include a phone number, calls or SMS?
No. These plans carry data only, with no local phone number, ordinary calls or SMS. Use an existing WhatsApp or another messaging account over data instead. Bank verification texts still rely on your regular SIM, so check what your home carrier charges before you leave that line switched on.
Can I share the data with a laptop?
The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. A laptop can burn through data quickly with updates, cloud sync or video calls. Keep big downloads for Wi-Fi and remember that tethering draws from the same fixed allowance.
Does the allowance reset each day?
No. The allowance shown is the total for the whole validity, shared by your phone and any hotspot devices. It doesn't renew one day at a time, and there is no 1 day, one month or monthly subscription; 30 days is not the same as a calendar month. Choose both the data amount and the number of days to match your itinerary; none of these plans is unlimited.
Does the plan cover onward border crossings?
No. The plan covers Costa Rica only and stops at the border. If your route continues into Nicaragua or Panama, arrange separate coverage for the next country and switch to the right data line after crossing.
How do I stop my home SIM from using roaming data?
Set the Costa Rica eSIM as the data line, turn off automatic data switching and disable data roaming on your regular SIM. Apply any roaming setting the travel plan requires to its own line only. Calls and texts on your home line can still incur carrier charges.
What if mobile data won't connect?
Confirm you're in Costa Rica, the travel line is on and selected for data, and the plan still has allowance and validity left. Follow the supplied roaming and APN instructions. Toggle airplane mode or restart, then try another spot if the signal is weak. Keep the eSIM installed and give support your phone model, location and order reference if it still fails.
Can I add more data or get a refund?
Read the options and conditions in your order before you buy more data or top up for the rest of your vacation. A new plan won't automatically extend the current one or carry over its leftover data. If you're comparing 'no contract' plans, note these are prepaid; the actual terms come with your order, and refunds depend on those terms and on activation or use. Keep your order reference and the installed profile while any connection issue is checked.
Using your eSIM in Costa Rica
A prepaid eSIM for data across Costa Rica
This is a data-only eSIM card for compatible, unlocked phones, aimed at tourists and people visiting family. These prepaid data plans arrive as a virtual sim card you add in the phone's eSIM slot, and their main features are internet data and hotspot tethering rather than voice service; there is no local phone number, calls or texts. Load it before you leave, then use it to pull up airport pickups, park confirmations and lodge directions.
Among the listed offers, 1 GB for 7 days is €1.68, the cheapest listed option, and 3 GB for the same 7 days is €4.99. If you want a little more time, 3 GB for 15 or 30 days is €5.40. Planning a data hotspot for a laptop or heavy YouTube use? Compare 10 GB for 30 days at €17.57 with 20 GB for 30 days at €34.96. Every total is fixed for the whole validity, not a daily refill, and all pricing is in EUR.
Plan around coverage gaps
Listed networks: Liberty Costa Rica. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Save lodge approaches and park confirmations before you drive into mountain or forest areas. A listed 4G or 5G capability doesn't mean 5G along every road or inside every reserve, and no operator can promise best coverage in every valley. Signal quality depends on your phone and where you stand.
Save the details.Arenal, Costa Rica
Match the airport to your ticket before booking a transfer.
Juan Santamaría Airport serves San José but sits in Alajuela Province, about 20 miles from downtown. Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), also called Liberia Guanacaste Airport, is a separate gateway for Guanacaste, Monteverde and La Fortuna. Copy the airport name from your booking into any transfer request and save the pickup details.
Buses are run by private companies rather than one government service, and San José has no central terminal. Each operator uses its own station and sells tickets its own way, so check the line's own page before you leave the hotel and save the exact departure point. Taking the bus is an affordable way to reach most places.
Save before you goAirport name, transfer pickup point, bus operator and departure terminal.
La Fortuna: pin the park gate, not the mountain.
A La Fortuna stay usually means three separate points: your lodge, a tour pickup and the Arenal Volcano National Park entrance. Save a pin for each. Searching only for 'Arenal' can drop you in a broad area instead of the gate your booking expects.
Check the official park information and visitor recommendations for the current entrance, trails and rules before you go, and save your route and return plan. If you drive, ask your lodge to confirm the final turnoff, since signs can be sparse.
Download a large offline map on Wi-Fi and keep enough battery for the trip back. Forest and hills can cut reception even when your plan still has data.
Save before you goPark entrance, lodge directions and return transport details.
Manuel Antonio: bring the ticket confirmation with you.
Check the official park site online for ticket availability and the current entry rules before you go, and save any confirmation so you can open it without signal at the gate.
When you arrange transport from your lodging, send the park entrance pin and set the return pickup as a separate point. A meeting on the beach and the national park gate are different instructions.
Save ticket attachments and the way back to your room before you head out. Mobile data helps with last-minute changes, but it won't replace a required reservation or guarantee entry.
Save before you goEntry confirmation, current visit rules and return pickup point.
Choose your Costa Rica plan
Compare data amounts and durations to find the plan that fits your trip.
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