eSIM for Costa Rica

From San José to Monteverde and the Guanacaste beaches on one eSIM. No SIM kiosk, no passport check, no roaming bill.

Mountain valley with granite cliffs reflected in a calm river
  • Online the moment you land at SJO or LIR

  • Skip the passport check at a SIM kiosk

  • Free data, data per GB, or unlimited data

  • One eSIM for 176 countries

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Trusted by 1.3M+ users

Global data & calling

One eSIM for the globe

A Free Global Connection

Firsty connects you to Costa Rica's biggest networks

Firsty runs on Costa Rica's local networks, Kölbi, Claro and Liberty, through one eSIM that activates in under 60 seconds. Start free with ads, buy GBs that never expire, or go unlimited from €2/day. Volcano in the morning, Pacific sunset by evening, then over the border to Panama: the same eSIM works in 176 other countries.

No contracts. No fair use traps. No €30 daily roaming charge from your home operator.

Compare all plans

Free

Watch an ad, unlock data

  • Available for users in North-America, EU and APAC
  • Earn data with ads
  • Free data in 168 countries
  • Up to 1 Mbps
  • Top up to call abroad
Most popular

Classic

Starts at €0.98 per GB

  • Packages from 0.5 to 50 GB
  • No ads
  • Same price, 176 countries
  • Highest available speed
  • Top up to call abroad

Unlimited

Starts at €2 per day

  • Unlimited daily data, pause anytime
  • No ads
  • Same price, 176 countries
  • Highest available speed
  • Top up to call abroad

Why Firsty is different in Costa Rica

Same price as everywhere else Costa Rica is one of the pricier stops in Central America. Your data isn't: €0.98 per GB on Prepaid and unlimited from €2/day, exactly what you'd pay in Panama next door. No rainforest premium, no "tourist rate".
Buy data that never expires Local tourist packs run out after a fixed number of days, used or not. With Firsty Prepaid, your GBs stay on your account. Used 4 of 10 GB between La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio? The other 6 are waiting for Bocas del Toro or wherever you fly next.

Clear turquoise water, sandy beach, lush green trees, boats, and a towering mountain under a vibrant blue sky.
176
Countries, 1 eSIM
One eSIM, every country Crossing into Panama at Sixaola for Bocas del Toro, or heading north to Nicaragua via Peñas Blancas? Your Firsty eSIM also works in Panama, Nicaragua, the USA and 176 other countries: no new SIM at the border.

How it works

How Firsty works in Costa Rica

Network coverage
Strongest local network
Firsty picks the strongest Costa Rican network around you, so you've got signal in San José, around Arenal in La Fortuna, in Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio. Kölbi reaches furthest into the countryside. Heavy rainy-season storms (May to November) can still cut rural signal for a while.
Quick activation
Activation in 60 seconds
Install Firsty at home and tap "Activate." Land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) near San José or Daniel Oduber (LIR) in Liberia, and you're online before you reach the shuttle desk. Message your transfer driver or rental-car pickup straight away.
No more worries
Stop worrying about data
Running low halfway up the road to Monteverde? Top up in the app in seconds. Two days off-grid in Corcovado? Pause your Unlimited pass and pick it back up in Puerto Jiménez.

Build your plan

1GB

€4.50

  • 1 GB in 176 countries

  • Buy exactly what you need

  • Activate whenever you want

Buy now

How much data do you need in Costa Rica?

3 to 5 days

San José + Arenal

~3–5 GB Waze for the drive to La Fortuna, WhatsApp-ing your canyoning guide, an Uber across San José, hanging-bridge photos for Instagram. Firsty Free covers the basics if you don't mind a few ads, or grab Prepaid 5 GB for €9.50 and stop thinking about it.
7 to 10 days

Volcano, cloud forest & beach loop

~8–12 GB Arenal to Monteverde to Manuel Antonio: offline maps for the gravel roads, sloth videos for the family chat, hotspot for your laptop when the eco-lodge Wi-Fi gives up. Prepaid 10 GB for €17, or an Unlimited 7-day pass (€19.25) if you'd rather not count GBs between waterfalls.
10+ days

Surf, yoga or remote work on the Pacific

Unlimited Video calls from a Santa Teresa co-working, surf forecasts every morning, Netflix through the afternoon downpour. Firsty Unlimited drops to €2.20/day from 20 days, or €59/month on the Monthly subscription if Nosara starts to feel like home.

Aww, We love you too!!

Brian da Silva 2025-06-10 12:10
The only app I will use abroad for data!
This was super easy to set up, fast and worked everywhere! I used it in South Africa for 10 days.
Aarav Chaurasia 2025-08-05 09:31
Such an amazing app for people who enjoy traveling
Such an amazing app for people who enjoy traveling because of its amazing esim and its features. All the plans are very cheap and there's even a free option which is fabulous.
ABoer_ 2025-05-16 10:08
Great product
Super easy to use and good connection! Used the app in Africa.
Martin Lorenzo 2026-06-27 14:39
Great customer service
Thank you customer support for being so quick and especially Julia for helping me solve the issue with the data I’m using on my trip, would recommend and will use for the rest of my trip and in the future, the app is easy to use and well priced.
Emily Alexis 2026-04-09 12:10
Love it
Easy to use, ads are 30 seconds or less, this app always has my back.
Ravsterocks 2025-01-08 15:11
Super service.
I have used this app multiple times in the USA and have recommended it to others as well. I am so happy and impressed with it. I can’t recommend it enough to others.
AndrStore 2025-02-08 15:11
The best
This is the best app ever! Thank you guys!
Globe

Where's Life Taking You next?

Get connected to the Firsty Network

Price table

Prepaid (use anywhere, never expires)
Data
Price
€/GB

1 GB

€4,50

€4,50

3 GB

€7,50

€2,50

5 GB

€9,50

€1,90

10 GB

€17,00

€1,70

20 GB

€26,40

€1,32

50 GB

€49,00

€0,98

Unlimited (day pass or monthly)
Duration
Price
€/day

1-6 days

€3,00/day

€3,00

7-14 days

€2,75/day

€2,75

15-19 days

€2,50/day

€2,50

20+ days

€2,20/day

€2,20

Monthly subscription

€59/month

€2,00

Where in Costa Rica does Firsty work?

San José & the Central Valley: Strong 4G across the city, Escazú, Heredia and Alajuela, with early 5G in central areas.

La Fortuna & Monteverde: Good in town and at the main Arenal viewpoints. Patchy on cloud-forest trails and in the mist.

Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula: Solid in Tamarindo, Nosara and Santa Teresa. Weaker on the dirt roads between beaches.

Manuel Antonio & the Central Pacific: Reliable in Quepos, Jacó and at the park entrance. Thinner deep on the trails.

Caribbean coast & Tortuguero: Good in Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. Tortuguero village only; the canals are mostly offline.

Osa Peninsula & Corcovado: Signal in Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay town. Inside Corcovado, plan to be offline.

Questions? We've got you.

Land in San José or Liberia. Stay connected. Install Firsty before you fly, skip the SIM kiosk, and take the same eSIM across the border into Panama.

Is it worth getting an eSIM for Costa Rica?

Yes, if you want to be online when you land and keep your home number for bank codes. A local SIM means finding an open carrier counter and showing your passport. Firsty installs at home and connects at SJO or LIR before you've collected your bags.

Does Firsty work in Monteverde, Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula?

In the towns, yes. Firsty uses Costa Rica's local networks, which reach Monteverde, Tortuguero village and Puerto Jiménez. Deep in the cloud-forest reserves and inside Corcovado, no network is reliable, so download offline maps and your tickets before you go.

What are the eSIM plans available in Costa Rica?

The best eSIM plans available in Costa Rica cater to various data needs. Firsty offers both free and paid plans for seamless connectivity. With Firsty Free, you receive ad-supported data for basic internet use. For heavy data users needing high-speed internet for streaming and video calls, Classic or Unlimited are ideal, especially in cities like San José and Limón.

How can I activate a travel eSIM for Costa Rica?

Activating a travel eSIM for Costa Rica is straightforward:

  1. Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection to download the Firsty app.

  2. Open the app and follow the easy setup process to activate your free eSIM.

  3. When you arrive in Costa Rica, your connection will be ready immediately.

  4. For faster internet, upgrade to Classic or Unlimited, which you can purchase and activate anytime.

Does eSIM for Costa Rica come with unlimited data?

Firsty’s eSIM for Costa Rica offers unlimited data through Firsty Free, allowing you to use essential apps like WhatsApp, Email, and Navigation without any cost. For high-speed internet and more data-intensive activities, you can upgrade to Classic or Unlimited. These plans also let you pause the service, ensuring you get the most value from your data without waste, especially when traveling between cities like Alajuela and Heredia.

What is the best way to get data in Costa Rica?

The most efficient way to get data in Costa Rica is by using Firsty Free or purchasing days of fast data through the Firsty app. Costa Rica’s top mobile internet providers include Kolbi, Movistar, and Claro. With Firsty, you automatically connect to the fastest provider based on your location, whether you're in San José, Limón, or Alajuela. Paying per day with Firsty ensures a reliable connection without relying on WiFi for basic internet.

Can I create a hotspot with my eSIM Costa Rica plan?

Yes! With Unlimited, you can create a hotspot in Costa Rica to share your internet connection with others. This is perfect for connecting multiple devices or providing internet access to friends and family. Just enable the hotspot feature on your phone, and others can connect using your Unlimited connection. This feature is particularly useful when traveling with a group, especially during trips to landmarks like Arenal Volcano or Manuel Antonio National Park.