Getting a Cell Phone in Costa Rica

If you are addicted to your cell phone and planning on traveling or moving to Costa Rica in the near future, I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The bad news is that your current cell phone probably won’t work in Costa Rica and even if it does the roaming charges are astronomical. The good news is that there are a couple of fairly simple ways you can get a cell phone in Costa Rica.

One option you have is to rent a cell phone once you get here. Phone numbers aren’t available for sale most of the time, but you can rent a phone at a very reasonable rate that will get you good reception in most areas. You can also set up an 800 number that can be forwarded to your rented cell phone so your friends and family back home can call you without being charged. Even if you are moving to Costa Rica, there are long term rental plans that are very reasonable for cell phones.

Another option is to buy an unlocked phone and purchase a multinational SIM card. This will allow your phone to work in over 160 different countries and you can even get a US phone number. The calling plans are very reasonable, with rates being charged by the minute.

An unlocked GSM phone with a multinational SIM card might just turn out to be something that will benefit you in many other ways. Since you pre-pay for the minutes, they never run out, so even if you only use the phone on international business or when traveling to Costa Rica those minutes will be there when you need them. Like I’ve said before, things in Costa Rica are different. But, the differences – the little quirks – are what make this place so special.