Connects automatically to the strongest signal across Claro.
5G / LTEClaro
What's included
✓One-tap install link by email — QR code included
✓Keep your number — data-only, so your standard SIM stays active for calls
✓Hotspot & tethering supported
✓Buy again at any time — plans stack automatically
✓No ID checks, no shop visit, no registration
Network & technical
5G NSA
Networks
Claro
Speed
5G · LTE
APN
Set automatically when you install
Identity check (eKYC)
None required — no registration
Your number
Keep your number — data-only
Works on iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and recent Samsung Galaxy models.Check my phone →
Costa Rica eSIM — your questions answered
When does my Costa Rica eSIM start?⌄
Your validity period begins when the eSIM first connects to a Costa Rica network, not when you buy it. You can safely install it before you fly — it stays asleep until you land.
Will my phone work with a Costa Rica eSIM?⌄
You need an eSIM-capable, network-unlocked phone (an iPhone XS or newer, a Pixel 3 or newer, or a recent Samsung Galaxy). Check our compatibility page before you buy — and if your phone turns out not to support eSIM, you get a full refund as long as it has not been installed.
Can I keep my number and WhatsApp on a Costa Rica eSIM?⌄
Yes. Your vigxo plan is data-only, so your normal SIM remains active for calls, texts and your usual number. WhatsApp, iMessage and all your regular apps will continue working over the eSIM data connection.
What if my Costa Rica data runs out?⌄
If your plan supports it, you can top up an active eSIM in seconds from your dashboard without needing to reinstall. Otherwise, simply buy another plan and it will stack onto your existing eSIM.
How do refunds work?⌄
We offer a full refund at any time before installation, up to 120 days from purchase. Once an eSIM is installed, the data is live and cannot be refunded.
Setup
Set up your Costa Rica eSIM before you fly
It takes about a minute. Tap the install link we email you, leave the line switched off, then switch it on when you land — and you're online.
On iPhone (iOS)
1After you buy, open the confirmation email and tap the install link — the eSIM adds itself (iOS 17.4 or later). On an older iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM, then scan the QR code from the same email.
2Label the plan (for example, "vigxo travel") and keep your normal SIM as the default line for calls and texts.
3Turn on Data Roaming for the vigxo line — this uses our local partner network, not your home network provider.
On Android
1Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM, then scan the QR code from your email.
2Download the profile and set vigxo as your mobile data line.
What you can actually buy for a Costa Rica trip
Costa Rica: 6 plans, from 3 to 20 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 30 days. 6 of them run on 5G where the local network has it.
5 plans can be topped up without installing a second eSIM. Plans run on Claro.
Counted from our live catalogue, not a marketing figure — the plan list above this section is the same data.
Regional plans that include Costa Rica cover
No regional bundle includes Costa Rica cover — a single-country plan is the only option here, and it is usually the cheaper one anyway.
How a Costa Rica eSIM works
A Costa Rica travel eSIM is a digital SIM that downloads straight to your phone — no plastic card, no queuing at an airport counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (the QR code is in there too), and your phone adds a second line alongside your normal SIM. It stays dormant until your trip begins, then connects automatically to Claro on 5G where available, LTE everywhere else. Your normal number carries on working for calls and texts while the eSIM handles the data.
How much data for a Costa Rica trip?
Maps, messaging and taxi apps use very little data — roughly 300–500 MB a day. If you add photos, social media and the occasional video, expect to use closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip, a 5 GB plan is usually plenty; for two weeks, tethering, or heavy use, opt for 10 GB or more, or choose a top-up plan you can reload as you go. Costa Rica plans start at £12.40 across 4 sizes, with the per-GB price clearly shown so you can easily spot the best value.
Does a Costa Rica eSIM avoid roaming charges?
Yes. A Costa Rica travel eSIM is a local data plan rather than international roaming — you pay the price you saw online, and there are no per-megabyte charges from your home network provider. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, switch data roaming off on your normal SIM, and nothing unexpected turns up on your next bill. Full refund at any time before installation, so buying ahead costs you nothing.
Setting up your Costa Rica eSIM
3Enable roaming for the vigxo line so it connects to the local network when you arrive.
Good to know
•Works on eSIM-capable phones (iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and recent Samsung Galaxy S, Note and Z models). Older or network-locked phones may not support eSIM.
•Install over Wi-Fi before you fly — you only need to enable it when you land, and no mobile signal is required for setup.
•Data-only plans: keep your standard SIM active for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp or FaceTime over your data connection.
•The price you see at checkout is final. We offer a full refund at any time before you install the eSIM.
1. Buy a plan — your install link and QR code arrive by email within seconds.
2. While connected to Wi-Fi before you fly, open Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM and scan the QR code.
3. Landed? Turn on data roaming for the Costa Rica eSIM and you'll be online in about a minute.
Costa Rica connectivity guide
Costa Rica is, on paper, one of the easiest places in the Americas to buy a local SIM: a couple of dollars for the chip, passport registration at the counter, no biometrics. In practice the arrival has two traps — airport kiosks with a reputation for failed activations, and data that silently refuses to flow until an APN setting is fixed by hand. The best eSIM for Costa Rica is one installed and tested at home, before either trap can cost you your first morning. This guide covers the networks, the kiosk problem, coverage in the parks, and what a trip consumes.
