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San José eSIM

100 Costa Rica plans · from $3.48

San José is a place most Costa Rica trips pass through rather than stay in — a night on arrival before the drive to Arenal, Monteverde or the Pacific coast. A travel eSIM covers the whole country, which matters because the interesting parts of Costa Rica are exactly where coverage gets interesting.

Landing at Juan Santamaría (SJO)

The airport is in Alajuela, about 30–45 minutes from central San José depending on traffic. Most visitors collect a hire car here — book the insurance in advance, since the counter upsell is a well-known frustration.

eSIM plans that cover San José

San José is covered by every Costa Rica plan below — there is no separate city-only eSIM to buy.

Choose a data plan

1 GB

7 days· 0.4 GB per $1

$3.48

★ BEST VALUE

Unlimited

1 days· ∞ GB per $1

$3.70

2 GB

15 days· 0.5 GB per $1

$5.23

3 GB

30 days· 0.5 GB per $1

$6.73

Unlimited

3 days· ∞ GB per $1

$8.03

5 GB

30 days· 0.6 GB per $1

$9.66

Unlimited

5 days· ∞ GB per $1

$12.36

10 GB

30 days· 0.8 GB per $1

$14.53

Unlimited

7 days· ∞ GB per $1

$16.69

20 GB

30 days· 1.0 GB per $1

$23.20

Unlimited

10 days· ∞ GB per $1

$23.20

Unlimited

15 days· ∞ GB per $1

$34.03

50 GB

30 days· 1.1 GB per $1

$50.29

Unlimited

30 days· ∞ GB per $1

$66.52

20 GB

Americas + US + CA only

60 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$83.23

100 GB

30 days· 1.3 GB per $1

$88.19

Which networks you'll be on in San José

Siima eSIMs for Costa Rica ride Kölbi and Movistar. Kölbi, the state operator, has the widest reach into the national parks and the remoter coasts; Movistar is comparable in the Central Valley.

Coverage around San José

San José and the Central Valley

Good coverage across the city, the airport corridor and the valley towns — this is where most of the country's infrastructure is.

Arenal and La Fortuna

The town, the hot springs and the main volcano road are covered. Trails on the volcano flanks and the far side of the lake drop out.

Monteverde

The cloud forest town has coverage; the reserve trails and the hanging bridges largely do not. The road up is unpaved and slow — download it before you start.

Osa Peninsula and Corcovado

The most remote part of the country and effectively offline. Puerto Jiménez has signal; Corcovado itself has none, and lodges run on generators and satellite.

How much data you need

Ten days in Costa Rica is 3–5 GB. Navigation is constant on the mountain roads, and you will use almost nothing in the parks because there is nothing to use.

Work it out with our data usage calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Will my eSIM work in the Costa Rican national parks?
At the entrances and in the gateway towns, generally yes. Inside Corcovado, Monteverde's reserve and much of Tortuguero, expect no signal — download offline maps and confirm your transport before heading in.
Is a hire car worth it, and do I need data for it?
Most Costa Rica itineraries are self-drive, and yes — Waze and Google Maps are how people navigate here, since road signage is minimal and route numbers are inconsistently marked. Download the offline map for each leg regardless.
How do I set up an eSIM before arriving in San José?
Install it at home while you still have Wi-Fi: open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your Siima confirmation email. Leave the line switched off until you land — the plan starts counting from first use in Costa Rica, not from purchase.
How much data do I need for a trip to San José?
Ten days in Costa Rica is 3–5 GB. Navigation is constant on the mountain roads, and you will use almost nothing in the parks because there is nothing to use.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming in San José?
Almost always. Daily roaming passes from most home carriers run $10–15 per day, while Siima plans covering San José start from $3.48 for the whole trip. You also avoid per-megabyte charges if you exceed a roaming pass allowance.
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