Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica and looking for the best SIM card option to stay connected? Getting a local SIM card is highly recommended to avoid expensive roaming charges and have access to fast, reliable mobile data during your travels.

Claro is one of the main mobile operators in Costa Rica and a great choice for travelers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide key information about Claro Costa Rica, the best SIM card options for tourists, how to activate and recharge, and more.

claro costa rica sim cards

I. Quick Facts about Claro Costa Rica

  • Founded in 2011 after the merger of two previous companies.
  • Full name is Claro CR Telecomunicaciones S.A.
  • Provides mobile voice, text, and data services plus fixed home services.
  • Over 3 million mobile subscribers as of 2022.
  • Wide 4G LTE coverage reaching over 95% of the population.
  • Around 300 Claro stores plus many authorized dealers and retail partners.

Claro is part of América Móvil group and uses the brand name Claro across Latin America. In Costa Rica, it has an extensive network and competitive rates, making it a solid choice for travelers.

Quick Facts about Claro Costa Rica
Claro Costa Rica. Source

II. Why Claro When You’re Exploring Costa Rica – Coverage and Speed

1. Claro Network Coverage in Costa Rica

Claro Network Coverage in Costa Rica

Claro has excellent coverage across Costa Rica including cities, beaches, rural areas, and national parks. Its 4G LTE network reaches over 95% of the population according to independent data.

You’ll get a strong signal along the entire Pacific coast and at top tourist spots like Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Tamarindo, and Monteverde. The Caribbean side also has reliable coverage including Limon, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo.

Inland destinations like La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Rincon de la Vieja are covered along highways and key sites. You may find occasional dead zones in very remote areas but overall connectivity is excellent with Claro.

2. Claro Costa Rica Speed

opensignal report 2023 of costa rica, download and upload speed
Source

In addition to wide coverage, Claro offers good 4G speeds averaging 15-25 Mbps for downloads based on independent speed tests. This is fast enough for web browsing, streaming, video calls, social media, and more.

Speeds are fastest in major cities like San Jose where over 50 Mbps is possible. Rural areas see slower speeds around 5-15 Mbps but still usable for basic needs. Overall, Claro provides reliable performance for tourist use.

III. Claro Connectivity Options for Travelers to Costa Rica

Claro has several options to get connected in Costa Rica:

  • Pre-Paid SIM Card – Buy at Claro stores, recharge as needed. Valid for 180 days.
  • Tourist SIM Card – Pre-loaded with voice, text, data. Valid for 15/30 days.
  • eSIM – Digital SIM activated online and downloaded to your phone. Flexible top-up.

Below we’ll compare theprepaid and tourist SIMs in detail to help you choose the best option. eSIM will be covered separately.

IV. Best Claro Costa Rica SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

Claro’s main tourist SIM card options are:

Plan Description Price (USD)
Basic 5 5GB of data, 100 minutes, 100 SMS $5
Essential 10 10GB of data, 200 minutes, 200 SMS $10
Select 15 15GB of data, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS $14
Total 20 20GB of data, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS, unlimited WhatsApp $20
Unlimited 30 Unlimited data, minutes and SMS, international roaming in Claro countries $30

The 30 day SIM triples the data to 3GB and call credits. It’s better value for longer stays up to one month in Costa Rica. But active users may need to top-up additional high-speed data during 30 days.

For heavy data usage, the prepaid SIM makes more sense since you can customize your top-ups. But the 30 day tourist SIM is a good set-and-forget option for light users on shorter vacations.

V. Does Claro Support eSIM in Costa Rica?

Yes, Claro launched eSIM support in late 2022. An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM profile activated remotely without a physical card.

To use Claro eSIM in Costa Rica, you’ll need:

  • An unlocked phone with eSIM capability – iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, recent Samsung/Motorola phones.
  • Downloaded Claro eSIM app to activate your plan (Android or iOS).
  • Valid passport to register your profile.

Claro eSIM allows more flexibility to change plans as needed without swapping physical SIM cards. Data packages can be purchased in the app then enabled instantly.

However, eSIM is not available for all tourists yet. Currently, it’s mainly targeted at residents of Costa Rica with some support for visitors from the USA and certain European countries. Support for more nationalities is expanding.

Plan that may interest you

Costa Rica eSIM 7 Days Plan
Costa Rica eSIM 7 Days Plan
From $9.90
Costa Rica eSIM 15 Days Plan
Costa Rica eSIM 15 Days Plan
From $18.90
Costa Rica eSIM 30 Days Plan
Costa Rica eSIM 30 Days Plan
From $24.50

VI. Where can You Buy Claro Costa Rica SIM cards and eSIM?

1. Where to Buy Claro Costa Rica SIM card

Claro prepaid and tourist SIM cards can be purchased at:

  • Any Claro shop – There are ~300 official stores across Costa Rica.
  • Major airports – SIMs available at international airports including San Jose, Liberia, Tamarindo, Quepos.
  • Authorized dealers – Many convenience stores, supermarkets, and travel agencies sell Claro SIMs.

When you buy, you'll need to show your passport and fill out registration papers. The standard prepaid SIM costs 2,000 CRC (~$3).

2. Where to Buy Claro Costa Rica eSIM

Claro’s eSIM service is fully digital. To activate it:

  1. Download the Claro eSIM app for iOS or Android.
  2. Create an account and register your passport details.
  3. Browse data packages and purchase your preferred plan.
  4. Activate your eSIM profile and use the app to manage your plan.

VII. How to Activate Claro Costa Rica SIM Card/eSIM?

Activating a physical Claro SIM is straightforward while eSIM takes a few more steps.

1. How to Use Claro Costa Rica SIM Card?

To activate your Claro Costa Rica SIM card:

  1. Insert SIM in your unlocked phone.
  2. Restart device and wait for automatic configuration.
  3. You may need to enter SIM PIN which is provided on SIM pack.
  4. Select Claro network once it appears in settings.
  5. You’ll now have a Costa Rican number and can top-up as needed.

2. How to Activate Claro Costa Rica eSIM

To use a Claro eSIM:

  1. Download Claro eSIM app and create an account.
  2. Purchase your preferred data package in the app.
  3. Tap to activate eSIM profile under Plans tab.
  4. Follow on-screen instructions to download eSIM on your phone.
  5. Restart device and select Claro eSIM to connect.
  6. You’re ready to use data, top-up as needed in the app.

The eSIM app makes it easy to activate and manage your plan digitally. Be sure to have internet access via WiFi when activating to download profile.

VIII. Claro Costa Rica Call & SMS Rates

Here are the standard pay-as-you-go rates for calls and texts without an active recharge:

  • Calls to Claro numbers – 15 CRC/minute (~$0.025).
  • Calls to other Costa Rica mobiles – 50 CRC/minute (~$0.08).
  • SMS to any Costa Rica mobile – 15 CRC (~$0.025).
  • SMS international – 225 CRC (~$0.35).
  • Calls to USA/Canada – 150 CRC/minute (~$0.25).
  • Calls to Europe – 600 CRC/minute (~$1).

For reference, 500 CRC is about $0.80. International calls are expensive on PAYG. Getting a combo recharge or tourist SIM with included minutes is recommended for making calls.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for Claro Costa Rica SIM Card/eSIM

Claro uses standard USSD access codes in Costa Rica:

  • *123# – Check main balance
  • *321# – Check data balance
  • *325# – Check minutes balance
  • *111# – Customer service menu
  • *134# – 4G activation
  • *137*NB# – Set mobile data limit (replace NB with limit amount like 2GB)

USSD codes let you check balances and change settings directly from your phone without logging into an account. Dial like a regular number and follow prompts.

XI. How to Top – up Claro Costa Rica SIM Card

1. In Person Top-up

  • Go to any Claro store or authorized dealer.
  • Pay cash for top-up voucher/card of desired amount. Common amounts are 500 CRC, 1000 CRC, 5000 CRC.
  • Dial 103# to redeem.

2. Online Top-up

  • Login to MiClaro app or website with SIM number.
  • Choose top-up amount and pay via international card or PayPal.
  • Credit will be instantly added to your SIM.

You can also top-up Claro eSIM completely online through the app. Monitor your balances and add more data/minutes as required for uninterrupted service.

XI. Alternatives to Claro in Costa Rica

1. Other Main Local Mobile Operators

Beside Claro, some other main local mobile operators include:

  • Liberty: Large operator known for excellent nationwide coverage. Recommended option.
  • Kolbi: State-owned operator that also has good coverage across the country.

All major operators offer prepaid SIM cards that can be purchased upon arrival at airports or local stores.

2. Buy an eSIM from costaricaesim.com

Getting online on your travels around Costa Rica has never been easier with costaricaesim.com from GIGAGO. As one of the top eSIM service providers in the country, they offer affordable data packages that allow you to enjoy fast internet access without commitments or deposits typically required with SIM plans.

The purchase and activation is seamlessly simple. Once an eSIM is bought, a QR code is immediately emailed. From there, connecting to the swift network is just a QR scan on your compatible device after downloading – no fussing with physical SIM card swaps. Simply order and scan provides instant access. Truly a smooth solution perfect for getting online while traveling thanks to this clear purchasing and setup process.

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XI. FAQs about Claro Costa Rica SIM Cards

Does Claro offer 5G service in Costa Rica?

Not yet. As of 2023, Claro’s network is 4G LTE across the country. 5G coverage is still very limited. 4G speeds are fast enough for most tourist usage.

Can I use Claro Costa Rica SIM card in Central America or Nicaragua?

Claro has roaming agreements across Central/South America. But roaming data is very expensive (up to $12/MB!) so not recommended. Get local SIMs in each country you visit.

How to check Claro Costa Rica SIM card number?

Your new Claro number will be printed on your SIM card pack. You can also dial *123# to see the phone number displayed in the main menu.

How to contact Claro Costa Rica support?

Dial *611 from your Claro SIM for customer service. Other options are online chat via MiClaro app or website, or visit any Claro store. Limited English spoken.

How to monitor and limit mobile data usage?

Check data balances by dialing *321#. You can also enable low balance alerts and set a max limit through USSD codes mentioned above. The MiClaro app provides real-time usage too.

XII. Final Words

We hope this guide covers everything you need to know about using Claro SIM cards and eSIM in Costa Rica. With wide coverage, fast 4G speeds, and affordable data rates, Claro is a reliable connectivity option for your trip.

Make sure to get the tourist SIM or prepaid SIM that suits your travel duration and data needs. Activating is quick and easy after which you’ll have cellular service everywhere around Costa Rica!