Comments on: How to Use Your Cell Phone (2025 eSIM Guide) https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/ "Expert Family Travel Costa Rica" Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:19:16 +0000 hourly 1 By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-30079 Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:19:16 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-30079 In reply to David Aldrich.

That’s a great question! As long as that old phone can either take a physical chip or has an eSIM (with the chip you can see where to put it in or out, or you can google the eSIM for that model) then yes, that is a totally reasonable option and not really a hassle at all! ~Christa

]]> By: David Aldrich https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-30078 Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:46:12 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-30078 I am not well versed in cell phones and apps because I’m very cautious, and I have a question that may be “odd”. I had an older cell phone and received an offer for a free Apple, so I took it and transferred my phone number from the old one to the new Apple. Now I have two phones but the old one has no access to the web, no access to email, and no functionality other than what is on the phone like photo capability and clock functions and such. My question is, if I take that old phone to Costa Rica, can I buy a plan there just for this old phone while I’m there? And would it be a hassle? Or is it a reasonable option?

]]> By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-21092 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:09:58 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-21092 In reply to Sian.

How did what go? You are going to have the best trip! ~Christa

]]> By: Sian https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-21063 Sun, 18 Feb 2024 17:12:44 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-21063 In reply to Marc.

Im a Canadian w Rogersand I’m going next month. How did it go for you? Thanks!

]]> By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-20724 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:24:46 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-20724 In reply to Cheri.

Hi Cheri,
I am pretty sure you could find something. It’s usually restaurants and sodas that have wifi, not service stations as much. I don’t see why you couldn’t find something.
Christa

]]> By: Cheri https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-20643 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:05:34 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-20643 I will be driving from San Jose and may need to communicate with an AirBNB manager en route to the coast on WhatsApp. Is it possible to find places along the way while we’re driving that may have wifi we can use? A convenience store or gas station? That would be the only time I would need to communicate with someone so I don’t really want to buy a local SIM card for just that one instance. Thanks!

]]> By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-20171 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:45:48 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-20171 In reply to Marc.

Yes! This article is due for an update, but I did use Aíralo eSIM the last two times I’ve been in Costa Rica and it is good. It doesn’t assign you a local phone number so everything has to go over data. It was an ok workaround with What’sApp?. But if you do need a fixed number then Aíralo isn’t a good choice. Otherwise- it’s cheap and easy!

]]> By: Marc https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-20161 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:05:49 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-20161 Great information, thank you! I’m going to use an e-sim from Airalo (as I’ve done in Berlin, Hawaii and San Francisco) and I will report back on how it went. For added context, I’m a Canadian and use Rogers as a cellular provider.

]]> By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-19939 Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:19:35 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-19939 In reply to Miguel.

I’m so glad!

]]> By: Miguel https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-19909 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:06:19 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-19909 Thank you for the information, a very educational article.

]]> By: Christa Jimenez https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-19089 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:40:02 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-19089 In reply to Cindy.

What we did in this case (and I’m not sure how T Mobile works) but we ported our US number to Google Voice and canceled our US cell service while we were in Costa Rica long term. Does that help? ~Christa

]]> By: Cindy https://puravidamoms.com/how-to-use-your-cell-phone-in-costa-rica/#comment-19076 Sat, 01 Apr 2023 22:35:02 +0000 https://puravidamoms.com/?p=14885#comment-19076 I’ve been told by many (including T Mobile customer service) that T Mobile will cancel our cell phone service if it doesn’t ping off of a US tower after 90 days. Some people have said that it’s not true, others have said it’s happened to them, but I don’t want to lose my number, I still use it for business. Are you aware of how this works? I do plan on getting a CR number because I need it to receive water bills among other reasons but need US number to still work too.

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