Stay online in Ecuador from the moment you land in Quito or Guayaquil. 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 Andes to the coast.
Ecuador eSIM
Ecuador 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 Ecuador
Which plan fits your trip
Ecuador is sold on our global plans, which cover it together with more than 160 other countries in one install. They suit a trip in Ecuador alone as well as one that goes on to Peru or Colombia. 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 through Quito, Baños and Cuenca is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Fixed data suits a longer, lighter trip with days offline, such as a Galápagos cruise or an Amazon lodge, where you use data only in town.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing in Ecuador
International flights arrive at Mariscal Sucre airport, east of Quito and a long drive from the old town, or at José Joaquín de Olmedo in Guayaquil, the usual hub for Galápagos flights. 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 hotel before you reach the exit. Uber runs in Quito and Guayaquil.
The Galápagos and the Amazon
The populated islands of the Galápagos, Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal, have mobile coverage in their towns, but it is slow at busy times and disappears at sea. On a cruise between islands, expect to be offline most of the time. Amazon lodges are usually reached by boat and have little or no signal. Download what you need before you leave the mainland.
Coverage on the mainland
Coverage is good in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Baños and Otavalo, and along the main roads of the Andes. It thins out around Cotopaxi and Quilotoa, on mountain roads between valleys and in the cloud forest around Mindo away from the town. Download offline maps before a hike.
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 wildlife videos and working from a laptop push that up, so pick the larger daily allowance if you stream or work.
Networks in Ecuador
Ecuador's mobile networks are Claro, Movistar and CNT. 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.
Ecuador eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Ecuador?
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.
Does it work in the Galápagos?
In the towns on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal, yes, though it can be slow. At sea and on most of the islands there is no signal, so expect a cruise to be mostly offline.
Does it work at Amazon lodges?
Usually not. Most lodges are reached by boat and have little or no mobile signal. Some offer Wi-Fi in the main building.
Can I use the same eSIM in Peru or Colombia?
Yes, if the countries are on the plan's list. Ecuador is sold on our global plans, so one install keeps you online across the countries the plan covers. 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.