eSIM not working in Costa Rica
Your Drift Americas eSIM has no data in Costa Rica? Here is the real fix, step by step, iPhone and Android, with Costa Rica operator APN reference.
Networks in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has 3 major operators, all compatible with travel eSIMs:
| Operator | Coverage | Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Kolbi (ICE) | 1er réseau (opérateur national), meilleure couverture rurale/parcs nationaux | 4G/5G |
| Movistar CR | 2e réseau (Telefónica) | 4G/5G |
| Claro CR | 3e réseau (América Móvil) | 4G/5G |
Your eSIM connects to one of these networks (most often Kolbi (ICE)). 4G coverage spans the large majority of tourist and urban areas.
Diagnosis in 5 steps (in this order)
Work through these before anything else. Nine times out of ten, the fix is in this list.
Steps 2 and 3 fix the large majority of cases. Data roaming is required for any travel eSIM. It does not add charges on a Drift Americas plan.
Airplane mode as a diagnostic tool
Toggling airplane mode forces the phone to detach from the network and search fresh. It is faster than a full restart and clears most handover issues (when the phone stays attached to a ghost signal after a long flight). If after the toggle you see the operator name on screen but still have no data, the issue is almost certainly roaming (step 2) or data line (step 3).
Signal bars vs. data
A common trap: you see signal bars but nothing loads. Bars mean the phone detects the network, not that it is authorized to exchange data. That is exactly what happens with roaming off: signal is there, but the network refuses your data packets. Turn roaming on and data resumes.
APN in Costa Rica: do you need to set it?
No, in 99% of cases. Your travel eSIM sets its own APN automatically via the installed profile.
Do not enter your home operator's APN or a Kolbi (ICE) APN found online into the eSIM line. Those are APNs for local physical SIMs, not travel eSIMs. Entering one overwrites the profile's APN and breaks your data instead of fixing it.
For reference only (do NOT enter these on your eSIM line):
| Operator | Primary APN | Alt APN | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolbi (ICE) | kolbi3g | internet | 1er réseau (opérateur national), meilleure couverture rurale/parcs nationaux |
| Movistar CR | internet.movistar.cr | internet | 2e réseau (Telefónica) |
| Claro CR | internet.ideasclaro | internet | 3e réseau (América Móvil) |
Manual APN entry only if support asks with a specific value. Full procedure: Do I need to set an APN?
Country-specific notes for Costa Rica
National parks (Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, Arenal)
Manuel Antonio and Arenal area have good coverage. Corcovado (Osa Peninsula) is much more remote with limited to no signal inside the park. Kolbi (ICE) has the best coverage in national parks.
Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero)
Puerto Viejo has coverage. Tortuguero, accessible only by boat, has limited signal.
Still not working?
Prepare these three things and contact support:
Support typically identifies the cause in a single exchange.
FAQ
Why does my eSIM have no signal in Costa Rica?
Most likely data roaming is not turned on for the eSIM line. Enable it in your mobile data settings. If you see signal bars but no data, also check that the eSIM is set as your data line.
What APN should I use for my eSIM in Costa Rica?
None. The eSIM sets its own APN automatically. Do not enter an APN for Kolbi (ICE) or any other local operator.
Do I need to enable roaming to use my eSIM in Costa Rica?
Yes, it is required. Data roaming must be ON for the eSIM line. There is no extra charge. Roaming is already included in your plan.
My eSIM worked yesterday in Costa Rica but not today. What do I do?
Check that your plan is not expired or used up. If it is still valid, toggle airplane mode (10 seconds on, then off). If that does not help, force network selection to Kolbi (ICE) then switch back to automatic.
Will my eSIM work in Costa Rica national parks?
In Manuel Antonio and Arenal, yes. Corcovado and Tortuguero are much more remote with limited signal. Kolbi (ICE) has the best park coverage.