Latin America

Absolutely – our Vodafone Travel eSIM for Latin America provides coverage across 16 countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.   Whether you’re backpacking from Patagonia to the Amazon, exploring ancient Incan ruins, or experiencing vibrant Latin American cities, we’ve got a plan to suit you. Our plans range from 1GB to 10GB and come with 5G-ready connectivity where available, giving you ultimate flexibility to travel around Latin America. 

Here are the carriers you’re likely to connect to in popular Latin American destinations:  Brazil: Claro, Vivo, or TIM   Argentina: Movistar, Claro, or Personal  Colombia: Claro, Movistar, or Tigo  Chile: Entel, Movistar, or Claro   Peru: Movistar or Claro  Mexico: Telcel or AT&T Mexico networks  Your device automatically selects the strongest available network in each country, ensuring the best possible connectivity as you travel between countries. 

Activating your eSIM at major airports is easy.  1. Buy your eSIM before you fly out. You’ll get a QR code sent to your email, but don’t activate your eSIM before you travel  2. When you arrive at your destination, activate your eSIM and turn on data roaming in your device’s settings. It normally takes about 2-5 to connect 

Mobile data speeds across Latin America vary from place to place.   In developed parts of major cities like São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Bogotá, you can expect decent 4G/LTE speeds of 10-40.   Mexico City, Lima, and other capitals typically offer 15-30 Mbps on 4G networks. Some locations have emerging 5G coverage with speeds reaching 50-100 Mbps. However, rural areas, smaller cities, and remote regions often experience slower 3G speeds of 1-5 Mbps or intermittent connectivity. Nonetheless, these speeds are generally sufficient for messaging, navigation, email, social media, and video calls.  

Yes – our Latin America eSIM allows you to use WhatsApp, make video calls and enjoy social media platforms where coverage is available.  

Coverage in remote Latin American areas is usually limited or unavailable  Machu Picchu has decent connectivity at Aguas Calientes town and the main entrance, but minimal signal on the trails. Amazon rainforest areas generally lack coverage except in larger towns and established lodges.   Patagonian regions like Torres del Paine and El Chaltén may have signal at base camps and towns but not on trekking routes. Galápagos Islands have connectivity in Puerto Ayora and main settlements but not at sea or remote islands.   Atacama Desert coverage is generally limited to San Pedro de Atacama town. Salt flats like Uyuni have minimal to no coverage during tours. 

The easiest way to check is to dial *#06# on your phone. If an EID number appears, your device supports eSIM. We also offer an eSIM compatibility checker you can use to see if your device accepts eSIMs (models released in certain countries and regions may not include the eSIM functionality). Alternatively, you can check in your device settings:  On iPhone, check Settings > General > About for eSIM or Digital SIM information (EID). On Android, navigate to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager. In general, most modern smartphones support eSIM technology. iPhones from XS/XR and newer (iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 series) are all eSIM-compatible. Samsung Galaxy devices from S20 onwards, including S21, S22, S23, S24, Z Fold, and Z Flip series work with eSIM. Google Pixel 3 and all later models support eSIM.  

Our Vodafone Travel eSIM is perfect for backpacking through Latin America. It works across 16 countries and automatically connects to local networks in each country within minutes. This makes the eSIM perfect for classic backpacking routes like the Gringo Trail, cross-continental journeys, or multi-country tours. Whether you're taking buses between countries, flying between capitals, or crossing borders overland, your connectivity resumes automatically. Just make sure you have enough data for your entire journey across the continent. 

With a larger data plan, you can travel comfortably through Latin America for extended periods. Our 10GB plan can support moderate remote work including video calls, email, cloud access, and web browsing.  

Yes, it works in Cartagena, Cusco, and popular tourist destinations across Latin America. Just be aware signal can vary at remote archaeological sites, rainforest lodges, and mountain trekking areas.