Central America is a paradise that offers incredible beaches, attractions, and weather. If you’re a digital nomad planning to visit this side of the world, you must know all about getting the correct SIM Card, which is why we gathered all the details about the topic in this ultimate Central America phone guide. Let’s check it out!
Getting a SIM Card in Guatemala
Cell phone data is essential in Guatemala to share all your photos and stay in touch.
Where to buy a SIM Card in Guatemala
You can purchase a SIM card in Claro and Tigo shops and at the Guatemala City-La Aurora International Airport (GUA).
Prices in Guatemala
- Claro (this includes Movistar & Tuenti Guatemala): 10 GTQ ($1.30 USD) and 199 QTG ($26 USD)
- Tigo: 10 GTQ ($1.30 USD)
Recharging and Checking Your Balance
You’ll be able to recharge your phone credit in grocery stores, corner shops, and electronic shops throughout Guatemala, either by buying vouchers or recharging with your credit at a sales point.
Claro
Claro offers the option to recharge your phone credit by calling *333 or online. Dial *5 or use the Mi Claro app to check your balance.
Tigo
To top up your Tigo SIM card with a voucher, dial *333VoucherCode. To know your balance, dial *256# or text SALDO to 256
Getting a SIM Card in Honduras
Having cell phone data in Honduras will allow you to stay connected 24/7.
Where to buy a SIM Card in Honduras:
You can obtain a SIM card in Tigo and Claro stores. They can also be bought at the Toncontín International Airport (TGU).
Prices in Honduras
- Tigo: 50 NHL ($2.04 USD)
- Claro: 25 NHL ($1.02 USD)
Recharging and Checking Your Balance
You can buy Tigo and Claro top-up vouchers at their respective outlets, grocery shops, kiosks, and many other stores, or recharge your balance at sales points or online.
Tigo
To top up your Tigo SIM card with a voucher, you only need to dial *777*TheVoucherCode#. To check your balance, call *123#
Claro
To top up your Claro SIM card with a voucher, dial *100#TheVoucherCode#. Call *120# to check your balance.
Getting a SIM Card in Nicaragua
Getting cell phone data in Nicaragua is as easy as in any other country in Central America.
Where to Buy a SIM Card in Nicaragua
Both Claro and Tigo (formerly Movistar) SIM cards can be bought in their stores or at resale points like grocery stores, newsstands, and post offices. They may be sold at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua.
Prices in Nicaragua
- Claro: 50 NIO ($1.40 USD)
- Tigo Nicaragua (formerly Movistar): 50 NIO ($1.40 USD)
Recharging and Checking your Balance
You can get Tigo and Claro top-up vouchers at their respective stores, grocery shop kiosks, and many other outlets. Recharging your balance at sales points or online is also an option.
Claro
To top up your Claro balance, dial *555# and follow the instructions. Call *55# or text SALDO to 8100 to check your balance.
Tigo
To top up your Tigo SIM card, dial *123# and follow the instructions. Dial *72536# or text SALDO to 611 to check your balance.
Getting a SIM Card in El Salvador
Sharing photos of volcanoes and nature sounds fantastic, so here’s how you can get cell phone data in El Salvador.
Where to Buy a SIM Card in El Salvador
SIM cards from Claro, Movistar, Tigo, and Digicel are available at their stores, authorized dealers, and at the San Salvador International Airport (SAL).
Prices in El Salvador
- Claro El Salvador: $1 USD
- Movistar El Salvador: $ 1 USD
- Tigo El Salvador: $1 – 5 USD
Recharging and Checking your Balance
Claro, Movistar, and Tigo top-up vouchers are available at their respective stores and grocery, corner, and electronic shops throughout El Salvador. It’s also possible to recharge your balance at sales points or online.
Claro
To top up your Claro SIM card with a voucher, dial *106*VoucherCode#. To check your balance, text SALDO to 72536
Movistar
To recharge your Movistar SIM card with a voucher, dial *701*VoucherCode*1#. To check your balance, call *555 or text SALDO to 700.
Tigo
Tigo top-up vouchers can be redeemed by texting the voucher code to 4040. To check your balance, dial *725#
Getting a SIM Card in Costa Rica
Having cell phone data in Costa Rica to share your adventures and stay in touch is essential.
Where To Buy a SIM Card in Costa Rica
Kölbi, Movistar, and Claro SIM cards are available in their stores and sold at the Normal Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC).
Prices in Costa Rica:
- Kölbi: 1000 CRC ($1.51USD)
- Movistar: 1000 CRC ($1.51USD) & 1500 CRC ($2.27 USD)
- Claro: 790 CRC ($1.20 USD) & 1500 CRC ($2.27 USD)
Recharging and Checking your Balance
Kölbi, Movistar and Claro top-up vouchers are sold in their respective stores and grocery, electronic, and corner shops. You can also top up your SIM card online and at the grocery, convenience, or electronic stores.
Kölbi
To check your Kölbi balance or top up your line, dial *888# or use the Mi Kölbi app.
Movistar
For Movistar, dial *650*VoucherCode# to redeem your voucher and text SALDO to 606 to check your balance or use the Mi Movistar app.
Claro
Claro SIM cards can also be recharged by dialling *10 and following the instructions. If you dial *30, you’ll be able to check your balance.
Getting a SIM Card in Panama
If you want to avoid a bad experience with international roaming, we suggest the following mobile carriers for cell phone data in Panama.
Where To Buy a SIM Card in Panama
+móvil, Claro, and Tigo SIM cards can be acquired in their stores and at newsstands, grocery, electronic, and convenience stores, and at the Panama City-Tocumen Intl.
Prices in Panama
- +móvil: 5 PAB ($5 USD) & 15 PAB ($15 USD)
- Claro: free when purchased with a plan; or up to 3 PAB (USD 3)
- Tigo: free when purchased with a plan; or up to 3 PAB (USD 3)
+móvil, Claro, and Tigo vouchers are sold at their respective stores and retail shops such as gas stations, grocery stores, and corner shops. You can also recharge your balance at sales points and online.
Recharging and Checking your Balance
+móvil
To top up your SIM card with a voucher, dial *166VoucherCode#. To check your balance, dial *165#
Claro
As with móvil+, you can redeem your voucher by calling *166VoucherCode#. To get your balance, dial *103# or *123#
Tigo
You may need to dial *312 to activate your Tigo SIM card. To use your voucher, dial *312 and enter the Voucher Code. To check your balance, dial *312 and select option 1.
Useful Info
To purchase a SIM Card in Central America, your passport is the only document you’ll need to present.
All mobile carriers in Central America offer prepaid cell phone plans that you can check and get online or at their respective stores or points of sale.
Final Thoughts
Getting local SIM cards in Central America is super easy and cheaper than getting an international cell phone plan. We hope that this Central America phone helps you out on future trips. Thanks for reading!
2 Comments
Hi, can I just buy the one SIM card for the start of my trip from Claro or a grocery store and use that same SIM card in every country? I am going through all the countries in Central America within a month so want to find the cheapest way.
Hi Isabelle, Claro covers all of Central America but you can only use one SIM card for all countries if you are postpaid/on a plan so not ideal for a traveller. It’s pretty easy and cheap to pick up the cards as you go or if your phone is compatible you could look into an eSIM.