www.CostaRicaTicas.com :: View topic - where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?

it's been over 5 years since my last trip, where do they sell sim cards?

in the past, when buying a prepaid SIM, they asked for passport and took forever, still the same?

do the SIMs come with any data or buy separate?

TECNOVILLALOBOS CR

https://www.facebook.com/reparacioncelularvillalobos/

Calle 7 between Avenida Central and Avenida 1, closer to Avenida central on the west side of the street, about a block south west of HDR.

They use Movistar (Now Liberty)

Ask for George, he speaks English.

Been using them for years, they unlocked a USA cell phone for me, can handle most issues, they will install the chip, give you your number, test the phone out, you can buy 5 or 10 mil crc time in addition to the 1 mil chip and be on your way in 5 minutes.

Netgems wrote:

There are many many locations where you can get a Claro, Kolbi, or Liberty (Movistar) sim cards. Almost all cell phone repair or sales places, plus the company stores on Avenida Central and many other places. Same process as far as I know. I have Claro, have had Kolbi, and others (as above) Movistar. I like the bigger company stores, less likely to get BS. I had one guy that said my phone was locked and I would need to buy a phone from him to get a costa rica SIM. Scam. After considerable trouble I found that my phone was actually not locked, and he was just trying to scam me into buying a phone.

Zeos wrote:

Netgems wrote:

Scamming, lying and stealing from Gringos and each other is the national past time here, if you're a Tico or Tica and DON'T DO IT, you bring great shame on your family and are banned from your barrio, but I've used these guys for years and they are honest, plus they're right downtown and anyone can get hooked up fast and walk out without having unloaded their credit card to load their cell phone, lol. :mrgreen:

Netgems wrote:

Zeos wrote:

I've used these guys for years and they are honest, plus they're right downtown and anyone can get hooked up fast and walk out without having unloaded their credit card to load their cell phone, lol. :mrgreen:

Just make sure you tell them Netgems sent you so that he gets his commission.

quote]My standard fee is a Sportsman's fish sandwich, but in tough inflationary times, I'll go down to a French pastry...

Author:	Orange [ Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:	where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
it's been over 5 years since my last trip, where do they sell sim cards? in the past, when buying a prepaid SIM, they asked for passport and took forever, still the same? do the SIMs come with any data or buy separate?

Author:	Tuanis [ Sun Jul 17, 2022 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
When I want a new SIM card, I go to any movie star store or kiosk and get one in about 10 minutes. Just have to show cedula or passport

Author:	Boynton [ Sun Jul 17, 2022 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
You can get Claro SIM cards for 1mil at the register of any Walmart and activate it online or over the phone if you can speak Spanish. You will need a passport number. You can activate 5 numbers on an6 passport number. You can then add value using the llamacostarica.com web site. This website allows to to add value to and Claro, Kolbi or Liberty(Movistar) account.

Author:	Rolleratnight [ Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Orange wrote: it's been over 5 years since my last trip, where do they sell sim cards? in the past, when buying a prepaid SIM, they asked for passport and took forever, still the same? do the SIMs come with any data or buy separate? Movistar numbers work in the USA. They are the only ones that do the last time I tested.

Author:	Zman77 [ Mon Jul 18, 2022 8:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
You can go into almost any store that sells cell phones to get a prepaid sim chip. And street vendors sell sim chips for 1 mil with time on them that are already activated. Just put chip into phone.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com https://forum.costaricaticas.com/

where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards? https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53821	Page 1 of 2

Author:	Phoenix Rising [ Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Is there still a Kolbi kiosk hust past the baggage carousels? That’s where I got my last chip in 2018

Author:	Isra123 [ Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
No kiosk near baggage counter. see the article in the newbie section "current cell service and what to use" Kojo 96 has posted a link to a website with current info. yesterday. traveltomtom. I do not know how to do the "view topic" thing.

Author:	Kojo96 [ Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Here is the link again, it's a good article. https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinatio ... costa-rica

Author:	Netgems [ Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:32 am ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
TECNOVILLALOBOS CR https://www.facebook.com/reparacioncelularvillalobos/ Calle 7 between Avenida Central and Avenida 1, closer to Avenida central on the west side of the street, about a block south west of HDR. They use Movistar (Now Liberty) Ask for George, he speaks English. Been using them for years, they unlocked a USA cell phone for me, can handle most issues, they will install the chip, give you your number, test the phone out, you can buy 5 or 10 mil crc time in addition to the 1 mil chip and be on your way in 5 minutes.

Author:	Zeos [ Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Netgems wrote: TECNOVILLALOBOS CR https://www.facebook.com/reparacioncelularvillalobos/ Calle 7 between Avenida Central and Avenida 1, closer to Avenida central on the west side of the street, about a block south west of HDR. They use Movistar (Now Liberty) Ask for George, he speaks English. Been using them for years, they unlocked a USA cell phone for me, can handle most issues, they will install the chip, give you your number, test the phone out, you can buy 5 or 10 mil crc time in addition to the 1 mil chip and be on your way in 5 minutes. There are many many locations where you can get a Claro, Kolbi, or Liberty (Movistar) sim cards. Almost all cell phone repair or sales places, plus the company stores on Avenida Central and many other places. Same process as far as I know. I have Claro, have had Kolbi, and others (as above) Movistar. I like the bigger company stores, less likely to get BS. I had one guy that said my phone was locked and I would need to buy a phone from him to get a costa rica SIM. Scam. After considerable trouble I found that my phone was actually not locked, and he was just trying to scam me into buying a phone.

Author:	Netgems [ Wed Jul 20, 2022 5:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Zeos wrote: Netgems wrote: TECNOVILLALOBOS CR https://www.facebook.com/reparacioncelularvillalobos/ Calle 7 between Avenida Central and Avenida 1, closer to Avenida central on the west side of the street, about a block south west of HDR. They use Movistar (Now Liberty) Ask for George, he speaks English. Been using them for years, they unlocked a USA cell phone for me, can handle most issues, they will install the chip, give you your number, test the phone out, you can buy 5 or 10 mil crc time in addition to the 1 mil chip and be on your way in 5 minutes. There are many many locations where you can get a Claro, Kolbi, or Liberty (Movistar) sim cards. Almost all cell phone repair or sales places, plus the company stores on Avenida Central and many other places. Same process as far as I know. I have Claro, have had Kolbi, and others (as above) Movistar. I like the bigger company stores, less likely to get BS. I had one guy that said my phone was locked and I would need to buy a phone from him to get a costa rica SIM. Scam. After considerable trouble I found that my phone was actually not locked, and he was just trying to scam me into buying a phone. I've used these guys for years and they are honest, plus they're right downtown and anyone can get hooked up fast and walk out without having unloaded their credit card to load their cell phone, and they can fix any problem cheap and usually fast, so I just like the special attention and fast in and out, but you're right, there's a dozen places up and down Avenida Central and a Movistar/ Liberty on avenida 2.

Author:	Boynton [ Wed Jul 20, 2022 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Netgems wrote: Zeos wrote: Netgems wrote: TECNOVILLALOBOS CR https://www.facebook.com/reparacioncelularvillalobos/ Calle 7 between Avenida Central and Avenida 1, closer to Avenida central on the west side of the street, about a block south west of HDR. They use Movistar (Now Liberty) Ask for George, he speaks English. Been using them for years, they unlocked a USA cell phone for me, can handle most issues, they will install the chip, give you your number, test the phone out, you can buy 5 or 10 mil crc time in addition to the 1 mil chip and be on your way in 5 minutes. There are many many locations where you can get a Claro, Kolbi, or Liberty (Movistar) sim cards. Almost all cell phone repair or sales places, plus the company stores on Avenida Central and many other places. Same process as far as I know. I have Claro, have had Kolbi, and others (as above) Movistar. I like the bigger company stores, less likely to get BS. I had one guy that said my phone was locked and I would need to buy a phone from him to get a costa rica SIM. Scam. After considerable trouble I found that my phone was actually not locked, and he was just trying to scam me into buying a phone. Scamming, lying and stealing from Gringos and each other is the national past time here, if you're a Tico or Tica and DON'T DO IT, you bring great shame on your family and are banned from your barrio, but I've used these guys for years and they are honest, plus they're right downtown and anyone can get hooked up fast and walk out without having unloaded their credit card to load their cell phone, lol. Just make sure you tell them Netgems sent you so that he gets his commission.

Author:	Netgems [ Wed Jul 20, 2022 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
Boynton wrote: Netgems wrote: Zeos wrote: I've used these guys for years and they are honest, plus they're right downtown and anyone can get hooked up fast and walk out without having unloaded their credit card to load their cell phone, lol. Just make sure you tell them Netgems sent you so that he gets his commission. My standard fee is a Sportsman's fish sandwich, but in tough inflationary times, I'll go down to a French pastry...

Author:	Phoenix Rising [ Sat Jul 23, 2022 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
I ended up going to a small tienda with a Claro sign out front and bought a chip for 500 clones. I was shocked at the low price but the girl said that yes 500 colones was indeed the full price. She helped me activate it by talking to a Claro agent on the phone who wanted my Passport info and email address. Sure enough the phone got activated with CR tel number and data. For only 500 colones!

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Author:	SinCity [ Mon Jul 25, 2022 12:44 am ]
Post subject:	Re: where do they sell pre-paid SIM cards?
[ Quote: quote]My standard fee is a Sportsman's fish sandwich, but in tough inflationary times, I'll go down to a French pastry... Finally had 1 of your oft-reccomended sl fish sandwiches the other night. I will say it was quite good & was loaded with fish! I guess every blind squirrel......