- Reliability
- Low
Overall1/10Among the 5% slowest cities for internet
Good to know
Good to Know
- Kolbi (ICE) is the most reliable mobile carrier for Santa Teresa; confirm local coverage before choosing another provider.
- Home broadband is not guaranteed in Santa Teresa; many properties rely on mobile hotspots as primary internet backup.
- e-SIM services may struggle to connect reliably in Santa Teresa due to terrain; physical SIM cards (especially Kolbi) perform better.
- Internet cafés and co-working spaces may be necessary for critical work; do not plan to depend solely on home broadband as a remote worker.
- Coastal location and rugged terrain mean signal can vary dramatically between town center and surrounding areas even on the same network.
Connectivity Reliability Tier
low
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Limited fixed broadband infrastructure, mobile coverage is patchy due to coastal terrain and remote location, frequent outages reported in tourist guides, though 4G/4.5G available in town center via Kolbi.
Home Broadband
- Providers
- Information not definitively sourced for Santa Teresa specifically; Costa Rica's main providers include Kolbi (ICE) and private ISPs.
- Availability
- Limited. Fixed broadband (fiber/cable) infrastructure is sparse in Santa Teresa. Internet access exists but is less reliable than in major urban centers.
- Reliability Notes
- Spotty coverage common in remote coastal areas; connections may experience frequent outages or slowdowns, particularly during wet season.
e-SIM Options
- Limitations
- Claro offers no e-SIM even for postpaid; Kolbi and Liberty e-SIM coverage can be unreliable in remote areas
- Availability
- e-SIM services available but coverage quality varies
- Note
- eSIM setup is instant but roaming-based coverage may be weaker than local SIM cards in Santa Teresa specifically
Mobile Networks
Kolbi (ICE)
- Status
- Most extensive coverage nationally
- SIM Card Cost
- CRC 1,000
- Coverage Grade
- 4G/4.5G available in Santa Teresa area, though terrain can block signal
- SIM Card Includes
- 1000 CRC includes SIM; optional recharge packages available
- Notes
- Government-owned; fastest speeds and best 4G/LTE coverage experience for Costa Rica
Claro
- Status
- Growing coverage
- SIM Card Cost
- CRC 790
- Coverage Grade
- 4G coverage improving but variable in rural areas
- SIM Card Includes
- 50 MB data, unlimited WhatsApp, 20 local minutes, 10 SMS
- Notes
- Better coverage than Kolbi in some specific rural locations
Liberty (Formerly Movistar)
- Status
- Growing competitor
- SIM Card Cost
- CRC 1,500
- Coverage Grade
- Extensive coverage but variable in remote areas
- SIM Card Includes
- SIM card only; no included balance
- Notes
- Second-largest mobile operator; sometimes better in areas where Kolbi lacks coverage
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Santa Teresa
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.