Staying Connected
Calling Internationally
We recommend using WhatsApp or FaceTime for free communication with others. These applications are available on all smartphones and offer texting, video calls, and traditional phone call options.
Local Plan Options
There will be Wi-Fi at Veritas school, your homestay and most malls, hotels or restaurants, but the majority of our students want to have Internet access 24/7 everywhere they go, just as they do back home. For us, it is important that you can communicate easily and call Ubers without effort in case you need to. That is why we recommend either to purchase a tourist plan in Costa Rica, or arrange an international plan with your US phone carrier.
International Plan Options
Bring your phone and network from home if you have a decent international data and airtime plan – just be aware that you won’t be able to communicate locally quite as easily and will likely need to rely on WhatsApp to communicate with others in-country.
Check with your US phone carrier for options – but note that they will likely charge more than a local Costa Rican plan.
Mix and Match
You could get the cheapest local Costa Rican phone for local communication and use your existing phone for data when you need it, either depending on Wi-Fi availability or by switching on/off your international data/roaming as needed.
How to Get a Phone or SIM Card
Costa Rica has three different phone and data providers:
Kolbi is definitely the best choice with service all around the country. Once you arrive on-site to start your program, a CIS staff member will take you to Kolbi Store for you to buy a Tourist Plan which will provide you with a Costa Rican Phone number with 100 minutes included for national calls, 5GB to use in all your apps plus 5GB to use in WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Waze for less than $25. It usually lasts for 5 weeks depending on your use. The best part is you won't lose your contacts or your American line on WhatsApp, you will just set it up to keep it as it is, but with a Costa Rican sim card.
- In order to make this plan work, you will need an unlocked smartphone (check on this with your phone carrier or ask a friend for an unlocked smartphone they don't use anymore), your passport and $25.
When the 5 weeks are over or you run out of data, you can ask a CIS staff member for help in order to purchase more data under the same plan.
Once your study abroad program is over, you will just need to switch your Costa Rican SiM card for your American sim card and everything will go back to normal with no extra fees.
For more information about the tourist plan please check on the following website: Kolbi-sim-turista
How to Make Calls from Your Phone
From a Costa Rican Phone to Another Costa Rican Phone
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Enter the phone number: Enter the phone number of the person or establishment you wish to call within Costa Rica.
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Press the call button: Once you have entered the full phone number, press the call button on your Costa Rican phone to initiate the call. The call should connect, and you will be able to communicate with the person or business you dialed.
From a U.S. or Any Other Non-Spanish Cell Phone to an Spanish Phone Number
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Dial the international access code for Costa Rica: 00506
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After the international access code, enter the phone number: After entering the country code, dial the Costa Rican phone number you wish to reach. Make sure to include the local phone number, including any additional digits for extensions if necessary.
Communication Apps
We mainly use WhatsApp to communicate with each other. Facetime and Facebook Messenger are other apps our students frequently use to call their friends and family back home.