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Internet in Costa Rica: roaming, eSIM, local SIM and VPN explained
Costa Rica is compact but green: rainforests, volcanoes and national parks set the pace of travel. Here's what you need to know about internet while traveling.
Roaming with your own plan
Roaming with a non-Costa Rican plan is usually expensive, a local solution is cheaper.
Local SIM or eSIM?
A local SIM is available, but arranging an eSIM before departure saves time, especially relevant for the growing number of digital nomads staying longer.
Costs
Budget €10 to €20 for a two-week data plan.
Do you need a VPN?
Costa Rica has no internet censorship. A VPN is mainly useful for digital nomads working from coworking spaces or cafés with shared, often unsecured wifi.
Practical tips
- In national parks like Corcovado or Monteverde coverage is limited, download maps and information in advance
- Costa Rica is popular with digital nomads, in cities like San José and coastal towns like Tamarindo coverage is good enough for video calls
- During the rainy season (May-November), a stable connection helps for checking road conditions and weather warnings
Ready for your trip across Costa Rica?
Check out our eSIM tips and recommended plans for Costa Rica.
See eSIM for Costa Rica