Mexico SIM Card for tourists: where to buy in 2023?

If you’re traveling to Mexico, you can look forward to sights of incomparable beauty like the beaches of Acapulco or the archaeological sites of Cancun. But can you look forward to a good internet connection? It’s every traveler’s nightmare to be left isolated without mobile internet or WiFi. That’s why you need a Mexico SIM card with data to look for restaurants, order cabs, or send photos back home.

But where can you find a solution to these situations without having to pay large roaming fees? In this article, we will be talking about how and where to buy your prepaid SIM card for Mexico, and we will also be introducing you to a new solution known as the virtual SIM card that will also allow you to use your cell phone in Mexico, some even with unlimited data during the days of your stay in the country. Keep reading to find out more about these alternatives.

Where can I buy a SIM card for Mexico?

We are not giving you any surprise, but nowadays, there are many alternatives to purchasing your prepaid SIM card for Mexico or any other destination in the world. Besides the advantages we already mentioned, having your own internet connection abroad with your Mexico SIM card for tourists will give you more independence and security during your trip to the Aztec country. In a general way, we can tell you that there are two ways to buy them, and within these two ways, there are multiple options you can take.

You can purchase your Data SIM Card for Mexico remotely before your trip starts through virtual providers offering this service. If you decide to take this route and you have the latest generation mobile device, we invite you to learn more about Holafly’s virtual SIM Card for Mexico which we will give you more details about later in this article.

The second way you can take is a more traditional one and consists of buying your SIM Card for Mexico once you arrive in the country. There are local mobile operators that offer these products to their customers and tourists in the country. The purchase can be made through their physical stores. But, as long as you have the necessary documentation, you will be able to get one of their products.

Buy before you travel.

We want to tell you a little more about the first way that you can take and that, for many travelers and tourists, is usually the best option. It is to buy your SIM card for Mexico before your trip begins. As we mentioned, nowadays, there are many online telecommunication providers for almost any destination in the world, including Mexico. They offer their services through websites where you can choose your plan and service, find the one that fits your needs, order it, and pay for it all with a few clicks. Of course, you must then wait for the delivery of the physical SIM card, which can vary depending on your location.

Finally, we also want to mention that for the latter, there is a solution. If you have a compatible phone, you could consider buying a Virtual SIM Card for Mexico also before your trip. This card has the same benefits as a Physical SIM Card, and also, being completely virtual its delivery is immediate through an email after your purchase.

Pros of buying a data plan for abroad before traveling

Whether you buy the physical SIM card or the virtual SIM card before your trip, you will have at hand many benefits like the ones we can show you below:

1. Internet from start to finish

If you buy your international SIM card through an online store, you’ll be able to activate your internet the moment you get off the place. This means that you will have communication as soon as you set foot on foreign soil for any needs you may have, such as locating a location or just telling your loved ones that your trip got off to a good start.

2. Cheapest option

The online stores are more focused on tourist customers than the local phone companies. So their rates and plans are adjusted to this type of customer, plus you will not have to pay roaming fees for the service. An even more economical solution is the Virtual SIM card offered by Holafly from 19$ and with unlimited data.

3. Trouble-free configuration

Purchasing your SIM card for Mexico before your trip will give you time to set up your phone and activate it before you arrive. So if you are not connected to these services, you will have time to do it instead of arriving in the country and being unable to communicate to fix it.

Buy your SIM Card from a local operator in Mexico.

The second way and the other alternative you can have is to buy your SIM card once you arrive in Mexico through local operators. Currently, three operators offer these services to tourists: Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T Mexico. There is the curiosity that the costs may vary depending on which store you buy the Prepaid SIM card, even if they are authorized agents of any of the phone companies; we will be talking more about each one below.

In Mexico, you’ll be able to choose a SIM card from various brands, each offering different rates and deals. This way, you can choose the deal which meets your needs best. We recommend buying from Telcel or AT&T, which offer the best coverage in the country.

Telcel Mexico

This is the largest company in the country and the first to bring 4G/5G speeds to its borders, and it has the most stores around Mexico. You will see a Telcel symbol everywhere. It offers a recharge system called “Amigo sin limite” which foreigners can purchase once they buy their SIM cards for Mexico. With any of these packages, you will be enjoying unlimited calls and messages plus the free use of Apps like Whatsapp, Facebook, and Twitter, among others, within its border. These plans also have coverage at no additional cost in USA and Canada and range from 50MB for one day to more complete plans of 6GB for use in 30 days.

AT&T Mexico

The well-known US phone company also has a division for Mexico which has a similar system to Telcel. You can buy a Prepaid SIM Card, and then depending on the amount you recharge, it will give you a data package that can go from 500MB to use in 5 days to 6GB to use in 30 days. Also, these SIM Cards for Mexico include unlimited messages and calls within Mexico, the USA, and Canada as well as free use of MB consumption for social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Snapchat, and Instagram. AT&T stores where you can buy your SIM Card are located in tourist cities such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Mexico City.

Movistar Mexico

The last phone company you can go to for your local SIM Card for Mexico is Movistar. This company does not lag behind with the benefits, and all its available plans include Apps free of MB usages, such as Pinterest, Spotify, FreeFire, PUGB, and the previously mentioned social networks and basic communication. Their plans range from 500MB to be used in 7 days to 3.5 GB to be used in 26 days. Interestingly, Movistar guarantees 30 days of unlimited Whatsapp usage even if you sign up for a 7-day plan. Their plans automatically renew if you recharge within 72 hours before the end of the package, and within this period, the unused data will be transferred to your next period of use.

How much does a SIM card for traveling to Mexico cost?

As we mentioned before, in this country, the costs can vary depending on where you buy your Prepaid SIM card, regardless of the operator and whether it is through their stores or authorized agents. A Prepaid SIM card purchased in Mexico can go from $3 for less than 5 days of use to $30 for 30 days of use plans. However, on many occasions, you must add to this price $4 for administrative costs and another $4 for SIM card configuration. At some physical stores, this happens, and in some not.

In the case of buying them through online stores, this phenomenon is not repeated because the remote providers maintain the prices indicated on their websites without adding fees other than shipping costs to your address. In this case, the costs can go from $20 to $50.

Unlimited data eSIM card for Mexico, the new alternative

So far, we have talked a lot about prepaid SIM cards, the different ways of acquiring them, and their prices. However, as we have told you throughout the article, there is now an alternative that has become a favorite among many travelers, and this is the virtual SIM card. This is nothing more than the evolution of the common SIM cards we know, but with the difference of being totally virtual.

You must be wondering why we recommend this alternative so much. It is the easiest and safest way to get internet service for your travels since you will be able to make your purchase from anywhere in the world and at any time. Of course, it is important that you check that your mobile phone is eSIM compatible before purchasing one.

Advantages and disadvantages of the eSIM for Mexico and North America

Advantages:

• Quick purchase and activation processes.

Purchasing and activating an eSIM is easy. You purchase from a store like Holafly and wait a few seconds for a QR code to arrive in your emails. With this, you can activate your eSIM and get connected.

• Get an eSIM anywhere in the world.

Are you already in Mexico and struggling to get data? No matter where you are, you can always buy an eSIM, which will come directly to your cell phone. There is no delivery cost, and you don’t have to wait more than a few minutes.

• Affordable rates.

Compared to paying data roaming charges, eSIMs are incredibly cheap. You pay one upfront fee for the eSIM, so you don’t have to worry about surprise bills. Holafly offers eSIM deals for as little as $19.

• Multi-country coverage.

If you’re traveling around multiple countries on your vacation, with Holafly’s multi-country virtual eSIMS, you can connect to the internet in any country in North America. And there are no additional charges!

Disadvantages:

• Limited compatibility with cell phones

The main disadvantage of eSIM cards is their limited compatibility. As a new form of technology, many older cell phones do not offer it, so before you buy, check your cell phone is compatible.

If you like to travel, we recommend you visit our blogs: SIM Card for Israel and SIM Card for the United Kingdom.

How much does an eSIM for Mexico cost?

eSIM Card Mexico

eSIM Card for Latin America

If you want to travel around multiple Latin American countries, check out the following deal for the eSIM.

Frequently Asked Questions about the SIM Card for Mexico

Any questions? If you have any doubts regarding SIM cards for Mexico, we will answer the most common questions below.

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