Costa Rica Mobile Operators and Coverage: Kölbi vs Claro vs Liberty

Coverage, speed and reliability are separate questions. operator may deliver faster downloads in San José while another is more practical for an itinerary involving remote lodges, national parks or secondary roads.

The most useful approach is to compare Kölbi, Claro and Liberty against the places you will actually visit.

Costa Rica mobile network overview

Costa Rica’s nationwide consumer mobile market is centered on three mobile network operators:

• Kölbi, the mobile brand of the state-owned Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, or ICE.

• Claro, part of América Móvil’s regional telecommunications group.

• Liberty, operated by Liberty Latin America following its acquisition of Telefónica’s former Costa Rican mobile business.

Costa Rica has also awarded spectrum to regional operators for future 5G deployment. These projects may improve connectivity in specific cantons, but they are not currently equivalent to the three established nationwide tourist SIM choices. SUTEL’s latest national mobile-quality evaluation continues to compare Claro, Kölbi and Liberty.

Costa Rica’s SUTEL mobile coverage and speed portal provides regulator field evaluations and an interactive map. The results should be read carefully: SUTEL separately measures download speed and the accuracy of operators’ published coverage maps.

Kölbi, Claro and Liberty compared

Kölbi

Kölbi is frequently the first network considered by travelers heading beyond the Greater Metropolitan Area. ICE has operated telecommunications infrastructure across Costa Rica for decades, and Kölbi is commonly associated with a broad national footprint.

That does not mean Kölbi wins every measurement. SUTEL’s 2025 field tests recorded an average 4G download speed of 36.1 Mbps for Kölbi, compared with 55.1 Mbps for Claro and 21.4 Mbps for Liberty. Local results can be substantially higher or lower depending on congestion, terrain and the serving cell.

SUTEL also found that Kölbi’s published 4G map had a lower match rate with field measurements than those of Claro and Liberty. This was a coverage-map precision metric, not a finding that Kölbi covered the smallest share of Costa Rica. Travelers should therefore check the exact route rather than assuming every area shown on a map will provide the same indoor or roadside experience.

The official Kölbi mobile coverage map is useful for checking individual towns, roads and accommodation areas before departure.

Kölbi is generally worth considering when an itinerary includes several provinces, rural communities or eco-lodges. Claro or Liberty may still outperform it at a particular beach, hotel or urban address.

Claro

Claro performed strongly in SUTEL’s 2025 4G speed measurements, recording the highest national average download speed among the three operators. Speed leadership does not prove broader geographic coverage, but it makes Claro a strong candidate for travelers spending most of their time in cities, larger towns and developed tourism corridors.

Claro commercially launched its expanded 5G network in 2025. By July 29, 2026, the company reported that its 5G service reached more than 2.1 million people across all seven provinces, with the greatest concentration in the Greater Metropolitan Area and continued growth in Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón. This is a population-focused figure, not a claim that 5G covers every road or rural district.

Travelers can use Claro’s official 5G coverage page to inspect current service areas. Outside mapped 5G zones, phones normally fall back to 4G LTE when compatible coverage is available.

Claro may be especially attractive for urban use and data-heavy activities, but its measured speed advantage should not be interpreted as proof of stronger signal in Monteverde, Corcovado or every remote coastal community.

Liberty

Liberty’s mobile network incorporates the Costa Rican operation previously run under the Movistar brand. It is now part of Liberty Latin America and competes nationally with Kölbi and Claro.

In SUTEL’s 2025 evaluation, Liberty recorded the strongest result for 4G coverage-map precision. Its field measurements matched its published 4G coverage claims more frequently than those of the other operators. Again, this indicates map accuracy rather than the largest geographic network.

Liberty launched the first commercial phase of its 5G network in March 2026. The early rollout emphasized tourism and commercial areas in Guanacaste, the Central Pacific and the Northern Zone, with further expansion planned. Its official Liberty 5G coverage map describes service as available in selected locations and expanding progressively.

Liberty can be competitive in populated areas, resorts and established travel corridors. Remote-road and jungle coverage should still be checked separately.

Coverage by region and itinerary

Operator maps are predictive, while crowdsourced tools reflect measurements made by actual users. nPerf’s Costa Rica coverage map lets travelers compare Kölbi, Claro and Liberty using recent user-generated 3G, 4G and 5G observations. Sparse data in a remote area does not necessarily mean no service, but it signals that extra preparation is sensible.

These patterns are planning guidance rather than guarantees. Weather, vegetation, tower maintenance, building materials, device antennas and the number of users connected to a cell can all change the result.

4G and 5G coverage

4G remains the most important technology for most Costa Rica itineraries. It provides the underlying mobile-data experience across cities, provincial towns and many tourism corridors, while 5G is still concentrated in selected population centers and rollout zones.

All three national operators now advertise mobile 5G availability, but their deployments are at different stages:

• Kölbi provides a searchable 5G coverage tool covering locations within Costa Rica’s seven provinces.

• Claro reports commercial 5G service across all provinces, with coverage concentrated where population and network deployment justify it.

• Liberty’s commercial rollout began in selected tourist and commercial regions and is expanding progressively.

Seeing a 5G icon does not guarantee a faster experience than a strong 4G connection. Mid-band 5G can offer high capacity, but weak signal, indoor walls, network congestion or backhaul limitations may reduce the practical advantage.

Device compatibility also matters. An unlocked phone must support the operator’s local LTE or 5G bands, and the plan or roaming profile must permit access. Population coverage should never be confused with geographic coverage: connecting most residents is much easier than covering rainforest, mountain highways and national parks.

Tourist SIMs, eSIM and prepaid registration

Kölbi, Claro and Liberty all sell prepaid mobile service. Stock, activation procedures and staff support can vary between airport counters, operator stores and authorized retailers, so travelers should avoid assuming that a particular SIM or eSIM will be immediately available at every location.

Foreign visitors should bring a valid passport. Kölbi’s published prepaid requirements specifically allow new foreign customers to obtain prepaid service with a passport. Costa Rica also operates a national prepaid-line registration system overseen by SUTEL. Registration is free, and operator guidance states that prepaid users should register their personal details even when information was already provided at purchase.

All three operators advertise eSIM support:

• Kölbi states that eSIM can be used with prepaid or postpaid service.

• Claro advertises eSIM compatibility for prepaid and postpaid customers.

• Liberty offers eSIM activation through its physical stores for compatible devices.

Local eSIM activation is not always as immediate as installing a travel eSIM before departure. Identification, store attendance or an existing local line may be required.

For a broader comparison of airport SIMs, roaming, hotel Wi-Fi and other access methods, read How to Get Internet in Costa Rica: SIM Cards, eSIM, Airport & WiFi Guide.

Which Costa Rica network should travelers choose?

Route matters more than a universal ranking.

• For remote or multi-province travel: Kölbi is often a sensible network to consider first, particularly when the itinerary extends beyond major towns. Verify every important lodge and road segment.

• For urban speed and developed corridors: Claro is a strong candidate based on SUTEL’s latest 4G speed measurements and its expanding 5G footprint.

• For resorts and areas included in Liberty’s current rollout: Liberty may offer competitive performance, especially in populated tourism zones.

• For highly remote itineraries: A dual-SIM phone with a second network or another communication backup reduces dependence on a single operator.

• For national parks and wilderness: Offline maps, downloaded reservations and lodge instructions remain essential regardless of network.

Travelers comparing eSIM brands rather than local network infrastructure can use Best eSIM for Costa Rica.

How Roafly fits

Roafly uses the ICE/Kölbi network in Costa Rica. This may be useful for travelers prioritizing a long-established national network or planning to visit several regions.

Roafly’s Costa Rica eSIM does not guarantee service at every beach, mountain road, lodge or national park. Actual performance varies with location, terrain, device compatibility, congestion and local network conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Which mobile operator has the best coverage in Costa Rica?

No operator is strongest in every location. Kölbi is commonly considered for broad and rural itineraries, while Claro and Liberty can perform competitively in cities, larger towns and developed tourism regions. Check the operator map and ask remote accommodation providers about on-site signal.

Is Kölbi better than Claro for rural travel?

Kölbi may be the more practical starting point for an itinerary involving rural districts or several provinces, but that is not a guarantee. Claro may work better at a particular lodge, beach or town. Kölbi’s broader reputation should be balanced against current field measurements and exact-location checks.

Does Costa Rica have 5G?

Yes. Kölbi, Claro and Liberty advertise 5G service in selected parts of Costa Rica. Claro reports coverage across all seven provinces, while Liberty’s rollout began with selected tourism and commercial regions. Most visitors will still rely heavily on 4G outside principal 5G zones.

Can tourists buy a prepaid SIM in Costa Rica?

Foreign visitors can generally purchase prepaid service using valid identification such as a passport. The line must comply with Costa Rica’s prepaid-registration requirements. Availability and activation procedures can differ by operator and point of sale.

Which network works in Monteverde, Tortuguero or the Osa Peninsula?

None should be treated as guaranteed. Monteverde’s elevation and forest can produce rapid signal changes, while Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula contain remote areas where service may be weak or absent. Ask the lodge which operator works at the property and prepare offline information.

Does Roafly use Kölbi in Costa Rica?

Yes. Roafly connects through the ICE/Kölbi network in Costa Rica. Coverage and performance still depend on the local Kölbi signal, your device, network congestion and the terrain around your location.