Regional eSIM for Central America
Planning a trip around Central America? The best way to get mobile data for your journey is with an eSIM. This digital prepaid SIM card allows you to easily and affordably add mobile data for the entire Central American region. With plenty of options available, eSIMs can be installed from anywhere in the world.
Save Money with a Regional eSIM
Although the distances between countries in Central America are short, each country operates its own mobile network. This typically means purchasing mobile data for each country individually, which often involves spending time and money on buying physical SIM cards or multiple national eSIMs.
If you’re crossing several borders in a short period, such as traveling from Guatemala to Honduras via El Salvador, buying a national eSIM for Belize just to stay there for two or three days can become both expensive and inconvenient.
This is where a regional eSIM comes in handy, as it allows you to carry your included data across borders. This not only saves time and money but also ensures you don’t waste leftover data from each previous eSIM/SIM card. Plus, you can relax and enjoy your vacation instead of spending time in various telecom shops.
Heading to South America?
If you’re planning to continue your trip to South America after exploring Central America, it’s worth comparing the options for both local and regional eSIMs for all of Latin America. The regional South American eSIM is also valid in Central America.
You can learn more about the regional eSIM for South America through this link
Compare Prices with National eSIMs Below
GlobaleSIM: The Best Option for Central America
The absolute cheapest regional eSIM for Central America is from the provider GlobaleSIM. In fact, this regional eSIM is often more affordable than the national eSIMs available in individual countries.
The regional eSIM provides coverage in six countries across the region: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Meaning you can seamlessly travel from Guatemala in the north to Panama in the south without needing to switch eSIMs.
Supplement with a Local eSIM
The main downside of regional eSIM from GlobaleSIM is their relatively short validity. Currently, the largest eSIM of 5 GB comes with a validity of 21 days. While 21 days might be enough for some, it’s a bit short if you’re planning an extensive journey across all six countries.
A solution to this problem, is to supplement your regional eSIM with one or more local eSIMs. This way, you can choose a longer validity period and access more data than the maximum 5 GB. For example, if your trip starts with 14 days in Mexico before heading to Costa Rica and Panama, you can start with a local eSIM for Mexico, and then use the regional eSIM for the last two countries.
Consider a Global eSIM with 365 Days Validity
Alternatively, you can opt for the global eSIM from Airalo, which covers the majority of countries in both Central and South America. It offers up to 20 GB of included data and a validity of up to 365 days. Allowing for extensive travel across all 130+ included countries. How convenient is that?
You can read more about the global eSIM and its features in the following section.
Airalo: Travel South and Central America for Up to a Year
If 21 days of validity isn’t enough for your trip, you might want to consider the global eSIM from Airalo. While its price is higher than GlobaleSIM, it offers more options and greater flexibility. With Airalo’s global eSIM, you can choose between six eSIM packages ranging from 1 GB to 20 GB.
As mentioned, the global eSIM also comes with extended validity periods. The three largest packages—5 GB, 10 GB, and 20 GB—are valid for 60, 180, and 365 days, respectively. This gives you incredible flexibility, allowing you to extend your trip multiple times within the same year.
eSIM with SMS and Calls
In addition to data, the global eSIM also offers the option to include SMS and calls. This can be particularly useful if you need to call a hotel for directions or connect with fellow travellers at the hostel. While SMS and calls come at an additional cost, the price difference per GB is minimal for the larger packages.
Coverage Across Most of South America and Mexico
If your trip takes you through both Central and South America, visit our dedicated page for South America to learn more about eSIM options in that region.
The global eSIM listed below provides coverage not only in Central America but also in most countries in South America, as well as Mexico and the United States. For more details on the global eSIM, click here.
Coverage Map of GlobaleSIM's regional Central America eSIM
The 6 countries included in GlobaleSIM’s Central America eSIM:
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Coverage Map of Airalo's Global eSIM Section of Latin America
The 27 countries included in Airalo’s Global eSIM in Latin America:
Remember, that the global eSIM also offers you coverage in +100 other countries. Find the total list here.
Aruba, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.