Works in Arenal
Arenal is where most visitors to Costa Rica head first. The plan connects there and in the other main towns on Claro.
Costa Rica eSIM
12 plansUnlimited optionsInstant delivery5G where available
1 day
7 days
15 days
30 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
1 day
3 days
7 days
15 days
30 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
Unlimited plans run at full speed up to 3 GB a day, then at a reduced speed until the next day.
Plan details
What the plan you picked above includes.
- Networks in Costa Rica
- Claro
- Technology
- 3G/4G/5G
- Routed via
- United States
- Tethering
- Supported
- Top up
- Available
- Calls and texts
- Data only, no phone number
- Fair use
- No daily cap
- Activation
- QR code by email, days start on first connection
QR code by email in secondsKeep your own numberTop up the same eSIMSecure checkout
Why RoamZivo for Costa Rica
Skip the rental counter
No pocket Wi-Fi or SIM counter to find when you land in Costa Rica, and nothing to return before you fly home. The eSIM is installed before you leave.
Share with your laptop
Hotspot is allowed on the plan selected above, so a second device can use the same data in a cafe or a hotel room.
How to get connected
Step by step guideCheck your phone
Your phone must be eSIM compatible and not locked to one carrier.
Install at home
Scan the QR code on WiFi before you fly. Your days do not start yet.
Switch on in Costa Rica
Choose the RoamZivo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
Stay online
Watch your data in My eSIMs and top up the same eSIM if you need more.
Costa Rica travel data guide
A Costa Rica eSIM from RoamZivo is a prepaid data plan for Costa Rica that you install before you fly. Plans in Costa Rica run on Claro, with 5G where the operator offers it. The eSIM is data only, so your own SIM stays in for calls and texts.
There are 12 plans to choose from. Data sizes run from 1 GB to 10 GB, validity from 1 to 30 days, and prices start at $4.99. Unlimited plans are listed too, each with its own fair use line. Hotspot sharing is supported on every plan. Top ups are available on the fixed data plans and go onto the same eSIM.
Visiting more than one country? The Latin America eSIM covers Costa Rica and 19 other countries on one plan, from $12.99. The Global eSIM covers Costa Rica and 126 other countries on one plan, from $18.99.
Your days start the first time the eSIM connects in Costa Rica, not when you buy, so you can install it at home days early. For a week of maps, messaging and social apps, most travellers are fine with 3 to 5 GB. Video calls or streaming need more, or an unlimited plan. Travel data in Costa Rica from RoamZivo arrives as a QR code by email, with a copy kept in your account.
Costa Rica FAQ
Does the eSIM work everywhere in Costa Rica?
It connects wherever Claro has signal, which is the same network local customers use. The eSIM is data only.
When do my days start?
On the first connection in Costa Rica, not at purchase. The plan selected above (3 GB) runs for 1 day from that moment. You can install the eSIM at home and the clock stays still until you connect.
Do I get a local phone number in Costa Rica?
No. The eSIM is data only. Your own SIM stays in for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working over the eSIM data.
Can I share data with my laptop?
Yes. Hotspot sharing is supported on the plan selected above, so your laptop or tablet can use the eSIM data through your phone.
Which network does a Costa Rica eSIM run on?
Our Costa Rica eSIM runs on Claro, which is listed as 4G. The plans are labelled 3G/4G/5G or 4G/5G on the plan card. You don't pick the network yourself, the eSIM connects to it automatically.
Is unlimited data worth it for Costa Rica?
Unlimited is worth it in Costa Rica if you use maps all day, share a hotspot or upload video. It gives 3 GB a day at full speed and then slows to 1 Mbps. Light users spend less with a fixed plan.
Does the Latin America plan cover Costa Rica?
Yes, the Latin America regional plan includes Costa Rica, and the Global plan does too. Whether it suits your trip depends on the other countries you visit, so compare its country list with your route.
Can I buy the eSIM the night before I fly to Costa Rica?
Yes. The QR code is emailed after payment, and installing takes a WiFi connection and a few minutes. The plan's days don't start until the eSIM first connects in Costa Rica, so buying late or early makes no difference to validity.
Should data roaming be on or off?
Turn data roaming on for the Costa Rica eSIM line, and off for your home SIM. That way the phone uses the prepaid data you bought and your home carrier can't bill you for roaming data.
Will I receive bank SMS codes in Costa Rica?
Not on the eSIM, because it has no phone number. SMS codes arrive on your home SIM if you leave it active in the phone. Check with your home carrier what receiving texts abroad costs.
Can two people share one Costa Rica plan?
Yes, hotspot is allowed on all Costa Rica plans, so one phone can share with another. Both people use the same allowance, which is a good reason to choose 10 GB or an unlimited plan.
How do I top up if I run low?
Open My eSIMs, pick this eSIM and choose a top up. It goes onto the same eSIM, so there is no new QR code to scan.
