How to get internet abroad? The short answer
There are three ways: leave roaming activated with your usual carrier, buy a physical SIM upon arrival, or install an eSIM before leaving your country. An eSIM is a digital chip that is activated via a QR code and keeps you connected from the moment you land, without having to find a store or wait in line.
None of the three options is "the only correct one." The best option for you depends on how long you'll be away, whether you need to keep your usual number to receive calls, and how comfortable you are configuring your cell phone yourself. The rest of this guide will help you decide without technical jargon.
What options do you have to connect outside your country?
Before choosing, it's helpful to compare the four alternatives side-by-side. None is perfect for all trips: each solves a different problem.
| Option | Do you need to buy something physical? | Do you keep your number? | When is it activated? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming with your local carrier | No | Yes | Automatic upon arrival (if activated beforehand) | Short trips where you prioritize not missing calls |
| Physical SIM at destination | Yes, a new card | No, temporary country number | Upon purchase, with in-store processing | Long stays in a single country |
| International eSIM | No, installed via QR code | You can keep your primary line for calls | Before traveling, connected to Wi-Fi | Most trips, especially if visiting more than one country |
| Portable WiFi (pocket WiFi) | Yes, a device to charge and return | Not applicable (not a line) | Upon pickup, powered on | Groups sharing a single connection |
Look at the eSIM row: it's the only option that doesn't force you to choose between "keep my number" and "have cheap data." You can keep your normal line just for SMS and calls, and have all data consumption—maps, social media, messaging—go through the eSIM.
How to activate Claro roaming from abroad?
If your main line is with a carrier like Claro and you want to keep it active during your trip, the mechanism is the same for most carriers in the region: international roaming is almost always deactivated by default to avoid accidental charges, so you have to activate it yourself before leaving, either from the carrier's app, by dialing a short code, or by calling customer service. Once active, the cell phone automatically connects to an associated network in the destination country as soon as it detects coverage.
The important thing is to do it with enough time: check your carrier's app or website one or two days before traveling, confirm that data roaming (not just calls) is activated, and ask if your specific destination is within their coverage, because not all countries are included in the same way. If your carrier doesn't have a roaming agreement at your destination, or if you prefer not to rely on a remote activation that sometimes takes time to confirm, that's exactly the scenario where an eSIM installed beforehand prevents surprises.
How do I get internet abroad, step by step?
No matter which of the four options you choose, the general sequence is the same. Here are the steps in the order they are usually needed:
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check if your phone is eSIM compatible (or if you need a physical SIM) | Before buying any plan |
| 2 | Compare coverage and activation method for each option for your destination | When planning your trip |
| 3 | Buy and install the eSIM (or activate roaming, or reserve pocket Wi-Fi) | One or two days before leaving, connected to Wi-Fi |
| 4 | Verify that the connection works before leaving home | The day before the flight |
| 5 | Activate the plan (some eSIMs allow activation upon landing, not before) | Upon arrival at the destination or as indicated by the provider |
The step that most people skip is number 4, and it's precisely the one that prevents the unpleasant experience of being stranded at the airport without knowing if the connection was properly installed.
How can I activate internet abroad before traveling?
With an eSIM, "before traveling" is literal: the complete installation is done at home, connected to Wi-Fi, days before your flight. You don't need to be in the destination country or have local signal to install it. What can vary is when the plan starts to consume data: some plans activate the day counter from when you install the profile, and others only when you first connect to a network in the destination country. Check this difference before buying, because it changes whether it's better to install it a week before or on the day of your flight.
A practical tip that is rarely mentioned: it's best to install and test the eSIM at home, connected to your own Wi-Fi, instead of leaving it for the airport. This way, you confirm that the profile was correctly saved on your phone without relying on finding a signal or public Wi-Fi right after getting off the plane, which is the worst time to be solving a technical problem.
Having internet abroad is not a matter of luck at the airport: it's a decision made with your phone in hand, a few days before traveling, not afterward.
What is an eSIM and why is it replacing roaming?
An eSIM (digital SIM or "embedded SIM") is a chip integrated into the phone's circuit board that is programmed by software, instead of being inserted as a physical card. In practice, for you as a traveler, it means you "insert" a new line by scanning a QR code, without opening the SIM tray or needing to find a physical store upon arrival.
The reason why more and more travelers choose it over traditional roaming is not that roaming is bad: it's that eSIM gives you control. You buy exactly the data plan you need for that trip, activate it when you want, and if you go to more than one country on the same trip, you can have separate profiles for each destination without changing your phone or number. If you want to understand the complete mechanics—what it is, how it's installed, and on which phones it works—you can review this guide on what an eSIM is, which includes the step-by-step installation.
A real example: from Monterrey to Madrid in ten days
Diego lives in Monterrey and is traveling to Madrid for work for ten days. He doesn't want to miss calls on his Mexican line, but he also doesn't want to pay roaming for every WhatsApp message or every time he opens the map to get to a meeting.
The night before the flight, with his phone connected to his home Wi-Fi, he installs an eSIM with data for Spain. The process takes a couple of minutes: he scans a QR code, the phone downloads the profile and is ready, without touching the physical SIM that remains his usual Mexican line. Upon landing in Madrid, he activates the plan and the phone automatically connects to a local network, without searching for airport Wi-Fi or asking for a SIM card store. His Mexican number continues to receive calls normally because he never removed it from his phone; only mobile data goes through the eSIM for the duration of the trip.
The same scheme works equally well whether the trip is from Bogotá to Lima, from Buenos Aires to Santiago, or from Mexico City to Miami: the destination changes, not the mechanism.
Is your phone compatible with eSIM?
Most mid-range and high-end cell phones released from 2019 onwards come with eSIM, but it's advisable to confirm this before purchasing any plan, because an unlocked phone from a carrier is not the same as an eSIM-compatible phone.
- iPhone: From iPhone XS and XR onwards (check that it is unlocked, not tied to a carrier).
- Samsung: From the Galaxy S20 line onwards, and some Note and Z Fold/Flip models.
- Google Pixel: From Pixel 3 onwards.
The surest way to confirm is to go to Settings → Mobile Data (or Mobile Network) and look for the option "Add eSIM" or "Add Data Plan". If that option appears, your phone is compatible. You can review the complete list of eSIM-compatible phones before purchasing any plan.
What do you do if you lose connection at your destination?
Before assuming something went wrong, there are three things that resolve most cases: confirming that airplane mode is off, verifying that the correct data line is selected as "mobile data line" in the phone's settings (and not the physical line, by mistake), and restarting the phone once connected to the country's network. If the problem persists, the next step depends on who you bought the plan from: a good eSIM provider offers direct support via email or WhatsApp to resolve it without needing to call anyone.
If you want a more complete list of causes and solutions, there is a dedicated guide to common eSIM problems and how to solve them that is worth saving before you travel, not after.
eSIM, physical SIM or roaming: which is best for your trip?
There's no single answer, but there are questions that help you decide quickly:
If you're staying less than a week in a single country and want zero configuration, roaming with your usual carrier may suffice, provided you confirm coverage and activate data roaming in advance (see the section on roaming above). If you're staying a month or more in the same destination and need a local number for paperwork, a physical SIM purchased in the country might be the most practical. And if your trip includes more than one country, or you simply prefer to have the plan sorted before leaving home without losing your main number, eSIM is usually the option with the least friction.
To compare eSIM specifically against traditional roaming in more detail—including in which cases one beats the other—this eSIM vs. roaming comparison goes into more depth. And if you're wondering whether to choose between eSIM and physical SIM, there's a direct comparison between eSIM and physical SIM that covers that specific case. For a longer review designed for multi-country itineraries, there's also this definitive guide to eSIM for travel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Wi-Fi to install an eSIM?
Yes, to install the profile you need an internet connection, either Wi-Fi or mobile data from your current line. That's why it's best to do it at home before traveling: that way you don't depend on finding Wi-Fi at the destination airport.
Can I have two active lines on the same phone?
Yes, if your phone is eSIM compatible, you can keep your physical SIM (or primary eSIM) for calls and SMS, and add a second eSIM just for data abroad, without losing your usual number.
Does eSIM work in any country?
It depends on the provider and the plan you purchase, not the technology itself. Before buying, confirm that the plan specifically covers the country or countries in your itinerary.
What if my phone isn't eSIM compatible?
If your phone doesn't have this feature, your alternatives are roaming with your local carrier or buying a physical SIM upon arrival at your destination. You can check the section on eSIM-compatible phones above to confirm your case.
Can roaming and eSIM be used simultaneously?
It's not mandatory, but if you don't want to risk your phone accidentally using roaming data instead of the eSIM, you can disable data roaming on your main line and leave only calls and SMS active.
How long before my trip should I buy the eSIM?
You don't need to do it weeks in advance: it's enough to install it one or two days before traveling, with enough time to test it connected to Wi-Fi before leaving home.
Can an eSIM be recharged if I run out of data halfway through my trip?
It depends on the provider: some allow you to add additional data to the same profile without having to install a new one. It's advisable to check this option before purchasing, especially if your trip is long or your data consumption is high.
Do I need to disable roaming if I already have an eSIM installed?
It's not mandatory, but if you don't want to risk your phone accidentally using roaming data instead of the eSIM, you can disable data roaming on your main line and leave only calls and SMS active.
In summary
Having internet abroad doesn't require blindly choosing between what you already know (your carrier's roaming) and something completely new. For most trips—especially if you're visiting more than one country or simply want to sort it out before leaving home—eSIM is the option with the fewest steps and fewest surprises: it's installed via Wi-Fi before your flight, it doesn't affect your primary line, and it keeps you connected from the moment you land.
If you want to start from scratch, this guide on how to get internet abroad delves into each option in more detail. And if you're already clear that eSIM is the way to go, PuraSIM covers more than 200 destinations, with activation in approximately 1 minute, 180 days from purchase to activate it when you need it, and 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp if something doesn't go as expected. You can check the available plans for your next destination in the international eSIM collection.
