Is It Possible to Buy Pre-Paid Cell Phones At the Airport in Costa Rica?
You can bring an unlocked SIM phone to use in Costa Rica. In order for this service to work, you must have a phone that has a replaceable SIM/GSM card. Check with your cell provider first, but in general T-Mobile and AT&T use the SIM/GSM technology; Verizon phones do not have SIM cards and thus will not work. Purchase a Costa Rican SIM card at the airport (some grocery stores carry them as well).

An ICE prepaid SIM chip is $20 and is equipped with 250 minutes for domestic calls, which is the equivalent of about 65 minutes for international calls. There are also $10 and $5 SIM cards.
You can also buy a cheap, pre-paid phone once you arrive in Costa Rica. Pre-paid cell phones are now available at the airport through Kölbi (ICE), Claro, and Movistar. You can purchase pre-paid cell phones throughout Costa Rica, as these companies have shops in all the main towns.
Related Questions
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It's more than just having a good time or visiting beautiful places (although that's absolutely a part of it!), it's about being part of a unique experience that stays with you.