Best Tourist Sim Cards in Belize in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Belize across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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When traveling to Belize, having a sim card is essential for accessing the internet and making your way around unfamiliar places. With internet access, you can easily find the top restaurants, navigate your way to your accommodation, book a taxi, and share photos with your loved ones while on the move.
While roaming is an option, the international fees quickly add up, so we always suggest either an eSIM or a local sim card to take advantage of local phone rates. The good news is that acquiring either an eSIM or a local sim card in Belize is incredibly straightforward. However, it’s helpful to know which option is best for you.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need to purchase a sim card in Belize, including current pricing and the absolute best sim card for your needs.
The best sim card is the prepaid sim card offered by Digi combined with the Prime prepaid data plan. The plans are tiered depending on how much data you require and for how long.
Most people visiting Belize on holiday will be fine with either the L Plan with 1.7 GB for $12 BZD valid for 7 days or the L+ Plan with 3GB of data for $20 BZD valid for 15 days. There are also higher tiers with 5.5GB and 7.5GB of data for $35 BZD and $45 BZD respectively but most tourists won’t require this much data.
There are two mobile network operators in Belize, Digi and Smart!, and both offer reliable internet with extensive coverage pretty much anywhere you would realistically visit in Belize. That said, Digi’s coverage is the best in Belize.
If you are after the most convenient option then check out the [Airalo Belize eSim](http://($19 BZD)). Unfortunately, it’s not as competitively priced as the local sim cards at $9.5 USD ($19 BZD) for 1GB, however it is much easier to buy an eSim in advance and have it begin working immediately upon your arrival than it is to visit a store, purchase and install a physical sim card. I’d definitely recommend this for shorter trips or for travellers who only require 1 – 2 GB of data.
A Tourist Sim Card in Belize costs $12 BZD in May 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Belize will cost $9.50 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Belize which includes 1GB of data which is valid for 7 days and costs $9.50 USD.
In Belize, the main SIM card providers are Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell) and Smart! Belize. Digi Belize is one of the leading telecommunications companies in the country, providing excellent network coverage and a wide range of services. They offer various voice and data plans for both prepaid and postpaid users, allowing customers to stay connected wherever they go. Digi Belize prides itself on its fast and reliable internet speeds, making it suitable for browsing, streaming, and gaming. Smart! Belize is another major player in the Belizean telecommunications market, offering competitive voice and data packages. Their network coverage is also extensive, ensuring users can communicate effortlessly across the country. With both Digi Belize and Smart! Belize, customers can expect quality service and connectivity options to suit their specific needs.
Digi Belize, formerly known as DigiCell, is a leading telecommunications provider in Belize. They offer convenient and affordable tourist SIM cards for travelers visiting the country. These SIM cards provide access to fast and reliable internet services, allowing tourists to stay connected while exploring Belize’s breathtaking attractions. With Digi Belize’s tourist SIM cards, visitors can easily share their adventures on social media, stay connected with loved ones, and access helpful apps for navigation and translation.
The price of a Digi Belize (Formerly DigiCell) tourist sim card in Belize is $12 BZD.
The plan offered by Digi Belize (Formerly DigiCell) stores includes 1.7GB data valid for 7 days.
Smart! Belize is a telecommunications company that offers tourist sim cards in Belize. These sim cards are designed specifically for travelers, providing them with convenience and connectivity during their visit. With affordable data plans, travelers can easily stay connected, navigate through the country, and share their experiences with loved ones. The tourist sim cards offered by Smart! Belize ensure hassle-free communication and internet access, making it easier for tourists to explore and fully enjoy their time in Belize.
The price of a Smart! Belize tourist sim card in Belize is 45 BZD.
The plan offered by Smart! Belize stores offers Unlimited data + 130 SMS + $35 worth of talk time valid for 10 days.
Belize offers several options for tourist sim cards, ensuring seamless connectivity during travel. Providers like Digicel, BTL and SMART offer affordable prepaid packages with varying data allowances, allowing tourists to stay connected, access maps, and share their experiences effortlessly. Whether exploring the untouched rainforests, diving in the famous Great Blue Hole, or visiting ancient Mayan ruins, having a tourist sim card in Belize ensures uninterrupted communication and internet access throughout the adventurous journey.
The price of a tourist sim card in Belize is .
The plan offered by stores includes valid for .
Identify mobile providers: Digi Belize (Formerly DigiCell), Smart! Belize and are your best options in Belize.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can usually be found in major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. If possible, I always recommend to to avoid airports and head in to an official store in the city.
Bring the necessary documents: It is always a good idea to carry your passport or identification documents for sim card registration purposes. We’ve found most providers will need to confirm your identity to provide a sim card and it can be a major hassle to head to a store only to have to come back again later with your passport.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are a good starting point, but the staff will usually be able to suggest the best option.
Pay and activate your card: Pay for the SIM card and plan, and the staff will activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always search for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Belize at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Belize then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Belize have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Digi Belize (Formerly DigiCell), Smart! Belize and . Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Belize are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Belize with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Belize. The Airalo Belize eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $9.50 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Belize without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Belize is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Belize and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Belize eSim uses the BTL network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the BTL networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Belize.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Belize eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $9.50 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 1GB data plan for $9.50 USD which is valid for 7 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Belize eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Belize eSim uses the network to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Belize
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Belize eSim:
Unfortunately, the Holafly esim packages for Belize are unavailable. We’ll add the prices back in here once they are available again.
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is incorporated into a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, it does not require physical insertion or removal.
Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This enables users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the need to physically change SIM cards.
eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and user-friendliness, particularly for frequent travelers or individuals who frequently switch networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the necessity of purchasing and inserting physical SIM cards, streamlining the management of multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually input the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the selected mobile network and enjoy voice, data, and messaging services, just like with a traditional SIM card.
Using an eSIM can be beneficial for several reasons:
– Convenience: No physical SIM card insertion or removal required when switching networks or plans, which is particularly useful for frequent travelers.
– Dual SIM functionality: Allows for two active mobile numbers on one device, useful for separating personal and work numbers or managing multiple phone lines.
– Space-saving: Embedded eSIM eliminates the need for a physical SIM card slot, freeing up space for smaller devices or additional components.
– Remote provisioning: Activation and management of mobile plans can be done remotely, without needing a physical SIM card or visiting a store.
– Future-proofing: As eSIM technology gains traction, more networks and service providers offer support, allowing users to take advantage of new services and offerings.
Overall, eSIM technology offers flexibility, convenience, and future-proofing for mobile connectivity.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Using an eSim is new for many travellers, however, the good news is it’s surprisingly easy to get set up – even for the technologically challenged!
Here’s a general guide on how to use an eSIM:
Check eSIM Compatibility: Ensure that your device supports eSIM functionality. Many newer smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices are eSIM compatible including all iPhones produced since 2018.
Obtain an eSIM: There are multiple ways to acquire an eSIM. You can purchase an eSIM online from a provider like Airalo (which we recommend) or directly from a mobile network operator. Some devices also allow you to scan a QR code provided by your carrier to download the eSIM profile.
Activate the eSIM: Your eSim provider will send you instructions to activate the sim. This will usually involve scanning a QR code, entering an activation code, or downloading the eSIM profile directly onto your device.
Set up the eSIM: Once activated, your device will guide you through the eSIM setup process. This typically involves selecting the eSIM as your preferred mobile plan, configuring settings like data roaming, and entering any necessary authentication details.
Enjoy the Connection: Once the eSIM is set up, you can use it as you would with a physical SIM card. Make calls, send messages, browse the internet, and use data services as needed. You can also switch between eSIM profiles if you have multiple eSIMs installed on your device.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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