ClimbGuy

I read that visitors can't buy pre-paid SIMs, is this still true?

I'll be there next week and need to stay connected

wolfie_cr

this is no longer the case but the process is not 'that' easy

supposedly there was an ICE booth (telecom) at the arrivals hall but some genious recently decided that incoming passengers should not roam free and mingle with departing pax.....and they want to sort of separate people, I havent been back to SJO yet but I have the feeling they will have some rentacops making sure you go from your gate to immigration directly and therefore I dont know for sure if you can buy one on arrival

good news is that ICE branches are everywhere and shouldnt be much of a problem to get one the day after (if you arrive at night)

they will probably want to get a photocopy of the info page of your passport,.....you know, "know your customer" @$%@$%#%

MarkTo

You can get a prepaid sim card at any ICE agency in Costa Rica. The only thing that you need to be able to purchase it is your passport.

ClimbGuy

great, does anyone know about pricing?

wolfie_cr

10-20 bucks may be? cellphone rates are low

ClimbGuy

including data?

wolfie_cr

ok the @#$@$#$#@$of the phone company have an ongoing mess with prepaid and internet ....apparently 30 days of prepaid internet cost about 20 bucks extra

but in this case you will have to rely on what they tell you at the branch.

supposedly as per this link, http://www.grupoice.com/wps/portal/k...Prepago_planes you send a message to 6060 with the word of your choice (day/week/month , dia , semana etc)And the amount will be deducted from your prepaid balance

if this is critical to you I suggest you make absolutely sure that it works before leaving the branch

ClimbGuy

thank you all for your help.

Does anyone know what time the airport location closes? My flight doesn't get in until around 9:30 pm

twospirits

In addition to ClimbGuys question, is there a difference whether its Liberia or San Jose airports?

TS

ClimbGuy

So when i was at SJO, they couldn't sell me a SIM because the system was down.

I bought one at a corner store, but the guy there didn't know what the customer service number was nor did he have any information for configuring the APN


The APN settings are as follows:
Name: ice
APN: kolbi3g
MCC: 712
MNC: 01

For tech support call 1193 option 5, you can ask for someone who speaks English.

They will give you instructions for setting the APN for your phone.

general customer support is 1024

drewguy

Any recent experience with SIMs in CR? Looking for one for an iPhone (unlocked) for voice and data. Staying about 9 days.

wolfie_cr

currently there are 3 major operators

claro
movistar
and ice (also known as kolbi, their cellphone 'brand')

the best coverage is ICE but if internet speed is important to you movistar may be better (but their coverage is spotty specially away from major cities in the central valley)
I dont hear good things about claro

what you want is called 'prepago'

internet packages are listed here http://www.grupoice.com/wps/portal/k...o#.UNDyVneAcpw , 9 dollars, speed 1 mbps (in reality much less) you dont pay extra for gigabyte or anything

whether you land on LIR or SJO , I think there is a kolbi booth on both, it could be closed, but a taxi driver can take you to an ICE branch rather easily or suggest a better option....you can simply cut a sim into the propietary size of an iphone right? regardless ICE can get you up to speed

Vasco

Picked up a Movistar pre-paid SIM from their store in the Multiplaza mall in Escazu. Total cost was CRC10,000 (about $20) for (essentially) unlimited internet access and phone calls for the two weeks I was there. Easy and quick to set up. Coverage was excellent everywhere we went (Arenal, Guanacaste, Jaco, Manuel Antonio.) The only place with no coverage was the Poas Volcano National Park at the very top.

loomis

Has anyone been to LIR recently that can verify whether or not there is a place to buy a SIM within the airport?

daveFLN

yes inside the gate - I missed it the first time.