Buying Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards & eSIMs: Detailed Guide

David Smith

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Published: August 2024

Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards & eSIMs ensure you stay connected easily more than ever while traveling.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards & eSIMs. Explore their coverage, speed, and the different SIM card options available for tourists. Find out the best places to buy Liberty SIM cards and eSIMs, as well as how to top up your balance quickly and easily.

I. Overview of Liberty Costa Rica – What you need to know

Liberty Costa Rica is a key player in the nation’s telecommunications sector. Here’s a concise overview of the essential details about the network:

Foundation: Established on January 23, 2020.

Popularity: Liberty Costa Rica is part of the Liberty Latin America group, operating in over 20 countries. Some notable countries include Chile, Puerto Rico, and Panama.

Rank: Currently ranks 3rd in Costa Rica’s mobile network market, as per OpenSignal’s latest report.

Coverage:

• Strong Areas: Urban areas, including San José, Alajuela, and Heredia.
• Weak Areas: Rural and remote regions.
• Percentage Covered:  ~ 85% of the country’s populated areas, offering extensive national reach.

Speed: Moderate to fast speeds, with an average download speed of 25 Mbps. This speed is adequate for a variety of online activities, such as streaming, browsing, and gaming.

Highlights:

• A significant merger with Cabletica in 2020, enhancing service offerings and network coverage.
• Noted for its reliable customer service and ongoing efforts to expand its infrastructure and service quality.

II. Liberty Coverage in Costa Rica

Source: nperf.com

Liberty’s coverage in Costa Rica is generally good but falls behind market leaders in some aspects. According to Opensignal’s latest report:

Coverage Experience: Liberty scores 7.5/10, ranking second after Kölbi (8.0) and ahead of Claro (5.7). This means Liberty offers good coverage in busy areas and popular spots.

Availability: Liberty has 97.6% availability, similar to Claro but just behind Kölbi’s 98.0%. This means Liberty users can mostly connect to the network (3G, 4G, or 5G).

4G Availability: Liberty scores 86.2%, just behind Claro’s 89.7% and much better than Kölbi’s 69.1%. This shows good 4G coverage in many places.

Strengths:

• Likely good coverage in popular tourist provinces like San José, Guanacaste, and Puntarenas.
• Strong 4G availability compared to the market leader Kölbi.

Weaknesses:

• May have limited coverage in remote areas compared to Kölbi. 
• Slightly behind Kölbi in availability and coverage.

Ranking: Ranks 2nd in overall coverage metrics, behind Kölbi but ahead of Claro.

In general, Liberty has good coverage in Costa Rica, especially in popular areas with solid 4G service. It may not cover remote areas as well as Kölbi, the market leader. Still, Liberty offers a reliable network for staying connected in Costa Rica.

III. Liberty Speed in Costa Rica

Source: opensignal.com

Based on the Opensignal report for Costa Rica in June 2024, Liberty’s speed performance is mixed compared to other carriers in the country.

Here are the median download and upload speeds for Liberty, compared to its competitors Claro and Kölbi:

• Download Speeds: Liberty (17.2 Mbps), Claro (25.4 Mbps), Kölbi (20.3 Mbps) – Liberty is slower than Claro but faster than Kölbi.
• Upload Speeds: Liberty (8.8 Mbps), Claro (9.3 Mbps), Kölbi (5.7 Mbps) – Liberty is close to Claro and faster than Kölbi.

Overall, while Liberty’s speeds are not the fastest in Costa Rica, they still provide a usable mobile internet experience for their users.

IV. Types of Liberty Costa Rica SIM Card Options for Tourists

Liberty offers three main types of SIM card options for tourists in Costa Rica:

• Prepaid SIM Card
• Postpaid SIM Card
• eSIM

Comparison Table of Liberty Costa Rica SIM Card Options for Tourists

► Recommendation: Using an eSIM is great for tourists because it’s flexible and easy to use. You can activate it online without needing a physical SIM card or going to a store. It offers flexible data plans without long-term contracts, perfect for short visits.

Plus, turning on international roaming is easy, making it a convenient option for travelers. Overall, the eSIM is a simple and modern way to stay connected while exploring Costa Rica.

V. Top Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards for Tourists & Prices

If you only need basic things like maps and messaging, a cheap Liberty SIM with 1-2GB of data will work well. Below is the details Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards plans for you.

VI. Where to buy Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards for tourists?

You can buy Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards directly at the airport after arriving in Costa Rica or online before your departure. Let’s explore each option in more detail now.

1. Buy Liberty SIM at Costa Rica Airport

Picking up a Liberty SIM card at the airport is a simple way to get connected right after you land. You can grab one at major airports in Costa Rica, like Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José.

• Location: In the arrivals hall, making it hard to miss.
• Requirements: You’ll need to show your passport or ID, and a photo may be taken for registration.
• Pricing: Pricier than in city or online, from $20 to $50, depending on the package.
• Options: Variety.
• Risks: Be ready for possible lines, and the store may be closed when you arrive, especially if your flight lands late at night.

2. Buy Liberty SIM in Costa Rica City Center

Some major tourist destinations for you like:

• San José
• Liberia
• Tamarindo

Where to Buy?

• Network Representative Stores
• Convenience Stores: AM/PM or 7-Eleven
• Train Stations

Remember: Just search “Liberty SIM card near me” or “where to buy Liberty SIM card” on Google Maps to find the closest spot. Some options are Liberty Store San José or 7-Eleven Tamarindo.

The Procedure:

• Registration: You must register with your personal info, which can be tricky for tourists. 
• Pricing: SIM cards in the city are usually cheaper than at the airport, starting at about $10.

3. Buy Liberty Costa Rica SIM Card Online Before Departure

For the easiest option, buy your Liberty Costa Rica SIM card online before you go. This way, you can get one from travel SIM suppliers using Liberty’s network, so you’ll be connected as soon as you land.

Where to Buy Online?

• Websites Selling Tourist SIMs
• Amazon
• eBay

The Purchasing Process:

• No Registration Needed: Just share your name, phone number, and address. 
• Easy: The SIM card will be sent to you, so you’re ready for your trip.

Why Buy Online?

• Proactive: Sort everything out before your trip.
• Reasonable Pricing: Online options usually have good prices, often matching or beating city center rates.

► Recommendation: Buying your Liberty Costa Rica SIM card online before departure is highly recommended for its convenience, proactive approach, and reasonable pricing.

VII. Where to Buy Liberty Costa Rica eSIM for Tourists?

To avoid the hassle of registration and dealing with things like showing your passport, we really recommend grabbing your Costa Rica eSIM online before you head out.

Gigago is a trusted provider of eSIM plans, with a solid global presence. We’ve sold over 1,000,000 eSIMs, so you know you’re getting reliable service in 190+ countries (pretty cool, right?). Whether you’re traveling for work or just kicking back, Gigago’s fast 4G and 5G mobile data plans make it super easy to stay connected.

Why Choose Gigago?

• Offers more eSIM plans for Costa Rica than competitors. 
• Provides 24/7 support in many languages, like English, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and French. 
• Works with top carriers in Costa Rica for strong and fast signals. 
• Uses multiple carriers for backup if one signal is weak.

For Costa Rica, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB/day for 7 days with $9.90 . What is great about Gigago’s Costa Rica eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $9.90 – $34.50 .

Thus, it does not matter how many Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Costa Rica, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

VIII. How to top up Liberty Costa Rica SIM Card?

There are four easy ways to top up your Liberty Costa Rica SIM card:

• Via Liberty App: Simply add credit from your phone through the Liberty app. It’s quick and convenient.
• Liberty Stores/Kiosks: Buy top-up cards at official Liberty stores or kiosks in Costa Rica, usually found in malls and shopping centers. 
• Online Top-Up: Visit the Liberty website, pick your top-up package, and pay with your credit or debit card. Great for digital payments. 
• Cash Top-Up: Pay with cash at Liberty stores and get a recharge code. This is easy if you prefer not to use cards.

IX. FAQs about Liberty Costa Rica SIM Cards

X. Conclusion

In summary, getting Liberty Costa Rica SIM cards & eSIMs is a smart way to stay connected with good service and plenty of data choices. This provider has great coverage, making it a good option for tourists. For more convenience, consider an eSIM. It’s easy to activate and reduces the risk of losing your physical SIM. Check out Gigago Costa Rica eSIM for a simple experience!