Stay online in Chile from the moment you land in Santiago. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, ride-hailing apps and WhatsApp from the Atacama to Patagonia.
Chile eSIM
Chile eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$17.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$29.99
Buy this plan
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in Chile
Which plan fits your trip
Chile is sold on our global plans, which cover it together with more than 160 other countries in one install. They suit a trip in Chile alone as well as one that crosses into Argentina for Patagonia, Peru or Bolivia. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use: maps, rides, messages and photos every day. A route from Santiago to the Atacama or the lakes is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Fixed data suits a longer, lighter trip, such as a trek in Patagonia, where you are offline for days and use data only in town.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing in Santiago
International flights arrive at Arturo Merino Benítez airport, west of Santiago. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then book a ride or message your host before you reach the exit. Uber and Cabify both run in Santiago.
A very long country
Chile stretches more than 4,000 km from the desert to the ice, and coverage follows the towns. It is strong in Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Puerto Varas and Punta Arenas. It is good in San Pedro de Atacama and Puerto Natales but fades quickly in the desert around them and on the drive across. Inside Torres del Paine there is little or no signal on the trails, the Carretera Austral is patchy between villages, and Easter Island has coverage around Hanga Roa only. Download offline maps and your park and refuge bookings before you leave town.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, ride-hailing, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls, uploading Patagonia videos and working from a laptop push that up, so pick the larger daily allowance if you stream or work.
Networks in Chile
Chile's mobile networks are Entel, Movistar, Claro and WOM. A travel eSIM connects to a local network as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Chile eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Chile?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a two-week trip those passes add up to much more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Is there signal in Torres del Paine?
Little or none on the trails, and only some refuges offer paid Wi-Fi. Download your maps and bookings in Puerto Natales, and expect to be offline for the trek.
Does it work in San Pedro de Atacama?
In town, yes. On tours to the geysers, the salt flats and the lagoons the signal fades quickly, so download what you need before you go.
Can I use the same eSIM in Argentina, Peru or Bolivia?
Yes, if the countries are on the plan's list. Chile is sold on our global plans, so one install keeps you online across the countries the plan covers, which suits a Patagonia trip that crosses the border. Check the list on the plan before you buy.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.