Uruguay eSIM
Latin America & CaribbeanGet a Uruguay eSIM and connect the moment you land. Buy a prepaid data plan, scan the QR, and you are online in minutes, with no roaming bill and no local SIM to find. Pay in crypto with no ID to buy. Plans start at $2.99.
- Instant delivery to your dashboard
- Prepaid, no contract, no auto-charge
- Works on any eSIM-ready phone
- Paid in crypto, no card or ID to buy
Uruguay eSIM at a glance
Live prices, updated September 2026- Price
- From $2.99
- Data plans
- 1 GB to Unlimited
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days
- Networks
- Antel, Movistar
- 5G
- Yes, where available
- Setup
- Scan a QR, ~2 min
- Payment
- Crypto
- ID to buy
- None
Choose your plan
Prices are in USD and payable in crypto. No contract and no auto-renewal, and any balance you do not use stays on your account for next time.
Turning on roaming can cost $10 or more a day. A whole Uruguay trip starts at $2.99.
See the plansWhy an eSIM for Uruguay
Uruguay is South America's quiet overachiever, a small, calm, and progressive country of beaches, cattle ranches, and an easy pace of life. It is the land of glamorous Punta del Este, the cobblestoned Portuguese old town of Colonia del Sacramento, the long Rambla of laid-back Montevideo, and of gauchos, asado, and the ever-present gourd of mate. It is also one of the best-connected countries in the region. Get an eSIM before you fly and land already online.
Coverage is genuinely strong here, across Montevideo, the coast, and the towns, with only the deep rural interior thinning out. You buy the data before you fly, pay from your crypto balance with no ID, and keep your home number on its own SIM for calls and codes.
- Fast 4G and 5G across Montevideo, the coast, and the towns.
- Among the best mobile coverage in South America.
- Online on arrival at Montevideo's Carrasco Airport.
- Pay in crypto with no ID, and keep your home number.
Is a Uruguay eSIM right for you?
Whoever you are travelling as, the setup is the same: buy, scan, connect. Here is what it means for you.
Uruguay eSIM vs a local SIM vs roaming
Coverage is strong almost everywhere on every option. The difference is how you buy, whether you show ID, and how you pay. Here is how they compare.
SimVala eSIM
- Ready before you flyYes
- ID to buyNo
- Online the moment you landYes
- City and coast coverageStrong
- Deep rural interiorThin, all networks
- Pay in cryptoYes
- Typical cost, 1 weekA few dollars
Uruguayan tourist SIM
- Ready before you flyNo, shop on arrival
- ID to buyYes, passport required
- Online the moment you landAfter the shop
- City and coast coverageStrong
- Deep rural interiorThin, all networks
- Pay in cryptoNo
- Typical cost, 1 weekAround 200 to 500 UYU
Home roaming
- Ready before you flyYes, but pricey
- ID to buyNo
- Online the moment you landYes
- City and coast coverageStrong
- Deep rural interiorThin, all networks
- Pay in cryptoNo
- Typical cost, 1 weekOften 10+ dollars a day
Uruguayan SIMs require your passport at the counter. An eSIM skips that. Coverage is strong on all networks, and only the emptiest interior thins. Costs are rough guides, not quotes.
Coverage and networks in Uruguay
Depending on the plan, your eSIM connects to one of Uruguay's networks, such as Antel, Movistar, or Claro. The state carrier Antel has built some of the best mobile coverage in South America, so Montevideo, the coast, and the towns are well served, thinning only in the emptiest stretches of the rural interior.
Expect strong eSIM coverage in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia del Sacramento, with data across the rest of Uruguay. Signal follows the local network, so it is strongest in cities and along main routes.
Coverage by area
Strong, fast coverage across the capital and the entire coastal strip to Punta del Este and beyond, with 5G in the cities. This is where most of your data gets used.
Reliable in Colonia, Salto, Paysandu, and the towns, and signal follows the main roads across the country.
Signal thins only in the emptiest ranch country and off-grid spots like Cabo Polonio, on any network. Download offline maps for those.
How much data do you need in Uruguay?
Whether your Uruguay trip is 7 days, 2 weeks, or a month, pick the data size to match. Not sure? Slide your trip length below and we will suggest a plan.
A Uruguay trip leans on maps, ride and taxi apps, ferry and bus bookings, translation, and a stream of beach and old-town photos to the cloud. Spanish is the main language. For a one to two week trip, 5 to 10 GB suits most people, and you can top up any time. Distances along the coast are short and easy.
Estimate your data for Uruguay
Social, photos, some video
An estimate to guide you, not a limit. Wi-Fi at your hotel covers a lot, and you can top up any time, so it is fine to start smaller.
Typical usage per hour
Using an eSIM in Uruguay's top cities
One Uruguay eSIM covers all of these. Here is what to expect, city by city.
eSIM in Montevideo
Fast 4G and 5G across the relaxed capital, from the Ciudad Vieja and Mercado del Puerto to the long seafront Rambla and the beaches of Pocitos. Your base for ferries, buses, and the drive east along the coast.
eSIM in Punta del Este
Strong coverage across South America's most glamorous beach resort, with its high-rise skyline, marina, casinos, and the famous La Mano sculpture rising from the sand. Handy for bookings and getting around in season.
eSIM in Colonia del Sacramento
Good signal across the dreamy Portuguese colonial town, a UNESCO gem of cobblestone lanes, vintage cars, and river sunsets. The main ferry gateway from Buenos Aires, and lovely to wander.
Yes, you can call and text in Uruguay
Your eSIM is internet. So every calling and messaging app works, just like at home. No new apps to learn, nothing to set up.
Message anyone
WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram all run over your data.
Call home for free
Voice and video on WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Messenger, no call charges.
Need a real number?
A data eSIM has no number of its own. Add a virtual number for codes and a local line.
Grab a Uruguay number before you fly
Get login codes and a real line to give out, all in your dashboard. Paid in crypto, no ID.
Pay for your Uruguay eSIM in crypto
This is where SimVala is different. There is no card and no ID to buy. Top up a balance with any of nine coins, then buy your Uruguay plan from it. Monero is accepted for the strongest privacy, and your QR lands in your dashboard the moment payment confirms.
Bitcoin
Monero
Ethereum
Tether
USD Coin
Solana
BNB
TRON
PolygonPay by QR in one scan
No card details, ever. Just scan and send.
- 1. Pick your coin and amountWe show a payment address and a QR code.
- 2. Scan and send from your walletThe quote holds for 15 minutes, no fee maths.
- 3. Balance ready, buy your planYour eSIM QR lands in your dashboard right away.
Set up your Uruguay eSIM in about two minutes
No SIM to pop out, nothing to post. It works the same on iPhone and Android. Here is all it takes.
- 1Buy your plan
Pick a plan above and pay from your crypto balance. A few taps and it is done.
- 2Open your QR code
The moment your order completes, your eSIM QR appears in your dashboard.
- 3Add the eSIM in Settings
iPhone: Settings, then Cellular, then Add eSIM. Android: Settings, then Network, then Add eSIM. Scan the QR.
- 4Turn it on and land online
Switch the line on when you land at Montevideo, and you are online in seconds.
This is your eSIM QR. You scan it once, and your Uruguay line turns on. That is the whole install.
Will it work on your phone?
Most phones from the last few years support eSIM. Not sure? Scan your device in one tap.
Good to know
- •Coverage is strong across Montevideo, the whole coast, and the towns, with only the deep interior thinning.
- •Many arrive by ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia or Montevideo, and your eSIM is live the moment you land.
- •The coast from Montevideo to Punta del Este and beyond is easy to travel, with good signal throughout.
- •The eSIM carries data. Keep your home SIM active for calls and codes.
Popular in Uruguay
Why travellers choose SimVala
“Colonia, Montevideo, and Punta del Este over ten days. Coverage was excellent everywhere, honestly better than I expected, great for ride apps and ferry bookings. Online the moment I landed. Paid in crypto, no ID.”
“Ferried over from Buenos Aires to Colonia. eSIM was live as soon as I stepped off the boat, and the signal along the coast was flawless. So much easier than finding a SIM shop. Kept my UK number for bank codes.”
“Summer on the beaches from Punta to Cabo Polonio. City and coast coverage was superb, and it only dropped near the dunes at Cabo Polonio, which is off-grid on purpose. Setup done before I flew.”
Visiting more of Latin America & the Caribbean?
If Uruguay is one stop of a bigger trip, one regional plan covers the whole area on a single eSIM.
eSIM in Uruguay: FAQ
Does my phone support eSIM?+
Most phones from the last few years do, including recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel models.
How do I pay?+
In crypto only: Bitcoin, Monero, USDT, USDC, Solana, and more.
When does my plan start?+
Your plan validity begins when you install and activate the eSIM, not when you buy it.
Will an eSIM work in Uruguay?+
Yes, as long as your phone supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked. The eSIM connects to a local network in Uruguay and gives you data the moment you arrive.
How much data do I need in Uruguay?+
It depends on what you do. Maps and messaging use very little, while video and hotspotting use much more. For a typical one to two week trip, 3 to 5 GB suits most travelers, and you can top up any time.
Can I keep my phone number in Uruguay?+
Yes. Your home number stays on your physical SIM for calls and codes, while the eSIM carries local data. Both work at once on a dual-SIM phone.
Can I buy my eSIM before I travel?+
Yes, and you should. Buy and install it before you fly, then switch the line on when you land in Uruguay. Your plan's days only start counting when you activate it, not when you buy.
Does the plan expire?+
Each plan runs for a set number of days once you activate it, shown on the plan. Any balance you have not spent stays on your account for your next trip, so nothing is wasted.
Can I use my eSIM as a personal hotspot?+
On most plans, yes, so you can share your connection with a laptop or a friend. Tethering uses more data, so pick a larger plan if you rely on it.
Is coverage really as good as they say in Uruguay?+
Yes. The state carrier Antel has built some of the best mobile coverage in South America, so Montevideo, the whole coast, and the towns are well served with fast 4G and 5G. Only the emptiest rural interior and deliberately off-grid spots like Cabo Polonio thin out.
Will it work when I ferry over from Buenos Aires?+
Yes. Your eSIM activates on the Uruguayan network as soon as you land in Colonia or Montevideo, so you step off the ferry already online, with no SIM shop to find and no ID to show.
Do I need a passport to get connected in Uruguay?+
Not with an eSIM. Uruguayan SIM counters require your passport. An eSIM sidesteps that entirely, with no ID and payment in crypto, so you are online the moment you land at Montevideo's Carrasco Airport.
Is there an unlimited data plan for Uruguay?+
Yes, an Unlimited 30-day plan, good for a longer stay or heavy use. Sized plans are the cheaper pick if you use less, and you can top up any time. With Uruguay's strong coverage, you will actually get to use it almost everywhere.
More for Uruguay
Ready for Uruguay?
Pay in crypto, scan the QR, and land connected. No card, no ID to buy. Set it up before you fly and you are online the second you arrive.