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South America SIM card: Prices and where to buy it?
Here you will find everything you need to leave international roaming behind, and start using a South America SIM card.
Are you ready to travel to the wonderful landscapes South America offers? If you want to enjoy your walk-through Machu Picchu in Peru or Cancún beaches in Mexico, or appreciate the view Cartagena in Colombia offers, but you don’t want to run out of internet, we recommend you read this article. Here, you will find everything you need to leave international roaming behind and start using a South America SIM card.
Why should you use it? We are going to show you the reasons in this article, but we can let you in on a secret, the main reason to use the South America SIM card is because of how cheap and comfortable it is to travel with it.
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Where to buy a South America SIM card?
If you want to buy a data SIM card to enjoy your trip, say goodbye to the long queue and buy your South America SIM card through an online store. This store is very comfortable and offers different benefits. In the case of the Holafly store, you will have access to different advantages that will make your experience better.
eSIM for South America
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However, you can also get your SIM card in one of the physical stores in this region’s main airports.
(You may also be interested in the best SIM card for Argentina)
Buying before traveling
As we told you before, with online stores like Holafly, acquiring your data SIM card is a very simple and fast process that only takes a couple of minutes. Local and even international SIM cards generally include the following features:
- It includes a number to receive free phone calls
In addition to being able to connect to the internet during your trip, you will also be able to receive calls from your friends and family without having to pay additional fees. This is a great advantage because this way you will keep in touch with your loved ones without having to waste your data while traveling in South America.
- You keep your WhatsApp number
Another of the great advantages that the SIM card has for you, is being able to keep your WhatsApp number before traveling so that the messages sent by your contacts reach you directly. Without needing to tell your contacts that you have changed your number, and without needing to lose your old chats. Your contacts will call and text you without any problem.
Buying when you land
Even though buying before traveling has its advantages, the stores at main airports, also offer certain advantages that can help you save on your trip budget.
- More SIM card options
Being surrounded by commercial stores, it is very easy to find different labels of the same product. That’s why you will get different features for different prices, something to have in mind because this way you will choose the South America SIM card that best suits your needs.
- Prices are a little more accessible
Related to the previous point, the wide variety of options you can find in the airport stores lets you get SIM cards for more accessible prices.
If you travel to more countries in South America, you might be interested in our article Paraguay SIM card.
Movistar and Claro shops in South America
It is possible that during your trip you notice that most SIM cards are from different telecommunication companies such as Movistar and Claro. Why? Because these are the biggest and the most recognized companies in this region. Therefore, their internet networks are usually the best in most countries and are even the ones with the most coverage.
To acquire a data SIM card from Claro or Movistar, the only thing you have to do is to head to the mall and look for one of the stores of these companies. It should not be hard to find, but if you experience any problem, you can visit their official web.
eSIM card for South America, the new alternative
Didn’t you manage to buy your SIM card for South America? If that’s your case, don’t worry. Holafly has a new roaming alternative for you. This is the data South America eSIM, also known as the virtual SIM card. With it, you will navigate during your trip without paying additional fees and without having to buy an eSIM for each trip.
If you want to know more about this new product, we encourage you to enter the eSIM shop, there you will find more information regarding prices, available destinations, advantages, disadvantages and so much more.
Advantages and disadvantages of the South America eSIM
As we told you before, the eSIM for South America has diverse advantages that will make your trip an unforgettable experience. Among its advantages is the speed with which you can acquire and activate it stands out, not to mention the fact that you can acquire it from anywhere in the world. This is a great advantage. However, it is not the only one.
Advantages
- Purchase and activation processes in less than a minute.
Without a doubt, one of the main advantages of acquiring a virtual SIM card is the speed of its purchase and activation. The only thing you have to do to get this product is to fill out the purchase form on the Holafly eSIM page when you buy it. And… that’s it! Once you do that, you will receive a QR code on your email, with which you will activate the eSIM.
- Share data with your friends.
Just like Pocket WiFi, but unlike roaming, the Holafly eSIM lets you create an internet network from your smartphone for your friends to connect without any inconvenience. This advantage is available even with global eSIM plans with multi-destination coverage and 1GB daily hotspot.
- Keep your WhatsApp number.
If you don’t want to lose contact with your friends and family during your trip, with the eSIM, you won’t have to worry about anything because the Holafly eSIM card lets you keep your number so your friends can text you without any problem.
Disadvantages.
- Cellphone compatibility.
The main disadvantage the eSIM card has is its limited compatibility with low or medium rage terminals. This is because some smartphones cannot use the necessary technology to use the SIM profiles that eSIM use.
How much does a South America eSIM card cost?
Just as the South America SIM card, the price of the eSIM card depends on the amount of data and the number of days the data is valid. In this table you will find some prices of Holafly eSIMs. You have customizable plans from 1 to 90 days, the more days you choose the lower the daily cost of the plan.
| Days of use | Mobile data | Price (USD) |
| 1 day | Unlimited data | $9.9 |
| 5 days | Unlimited data | $31.9 |
| 10 days | Unlimited data | $50.9 |
| 15 days | Unlimited data | $61.9 |
| 20 days | Unlimited data | $74.9 |
| 30 days | Unlimited data | $98.9 |
| 60 days | Unlimited data | $172.9 |
| 90 days | Unlimited data | $270.9 |
Frequent questions about the South America SIM card
During your trip to South American countries, you can find many options that, just like the SIM card, lets you connect to the internet. However, most of these options are usually very expensive and not very useful. Among these options, you can find roaming service, Pocket Wifi, and public Wifi. Maybe you will be interested in our article about Panama SIM cards.
The prices that cellphone operators usually charge for the roaming service in South American countries usually vary depending on the operator you use. However, in most cases, the price charged for MB is €6.
First of all, you have to know how many days is your trip going to last. This is important because depending on that you will choose the number of days of validity you want your data to have. Another important aspect is the amount of data you need during your trip, if you are a person who consumes a lot or a little, one SIM card will be more convenient for you than another.
Don’t worry if you have any problems with your SIM card during your trip. Contact your provider through their several customer service channels, which will answer or solve any doubts or problems you have with your SIM card.
SIM cards for another destinations
Don’t forget to visit our other articles about SIM cards to travel to:
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Hi, I'm Brenda Beltrán. I'm passionate about travel, technology, and video games. In 2019, I started my career as a journalist in entertainment and technology. Then, I discovered that content creation was my true calling. Now, at Holafly, I'm dedicated to sharing travel tips and experiences that will make your adventures unforgettable. ✈️ Hola, soy Brenda Beltrán, apasionada por los viajes, la tecnología y los videojuegos. Desde mis inicios en 2019 como periodista en entretenimiento y tecnología, descubrí que la creación de contenido era mi verdadera vocación. Hoy, en Holafly, me dedico a compartir consejos y experiencias de viaje para que cada una de tus aventuras sean memorables.✈️
