Buying a SIM card in Ecuador, some tips

Buying a SIM Card in Ecuador

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I never owned a smart phone when living at home (sorry, Blackberry doesn’t count), but I’ve found mine incredibly useful in Central and South America for keeping track of expenses, planning my next move, and generally providing entertainment when I’m traveling solo.

As long as you have an unlocked cell phone, buying and activating SIM cards throughout Latin America is relatively painless – but each country has its own little quirks.

Ecuador operates on the US dollar, and all prices are quoted as such.

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Whenever I enter a new country I make a point of asking around to find out which cell company is best. In Ecuador, Movistar seemed to be the most common answer – but I later learned that Claro has better coverage in remote areas.

The information provided is based on my experiences with a Samsung Galaxy S3 and Movistar at the time of writing. You technically have to be an Ecuadorian citizen to buy a SIM card. Don’t let that stop you — just find a store that will activate it in someone else’s name, and then transfer it to you a few days later.

The store will still want identification however, so bring your passport or a copy of it.

You’re best to go to a dedicated cellular store, as they will be the most knowledgeable and helpful.
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