Planning your trip to Panama and wondering what is the best tourist sim card to stay connected? Don't get fooled by slow overseas data roaming plans or let roaming charges ruin your trip.
This is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in Panama in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per February 2025, the best 4G/5G network, my recommendations and more info about eSIMs for Panama.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in my destination, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Table of Contents
- Why buying a sim card for Panama
- My recommendation
- Where to buy a sim card for Panama
- Registration process
- Mobile internet operators in Panama
- Prices prepaid sim cards in Panama
- Best 4G/5G mobile network in Panama
- Best prepaid sim card for Panama in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Panama
- Order a prepaid sim card for Panama online
Traveltomtom also wrote a specific guide for buying a sim card at Panama City Airport and a comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Panama in 2025.
Some links in this guide about the best prepaid sim cards for Panama are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
Why buying a sim card for Panama
First of all we want to make sure we don't end up with excessive high data roaming charges. An eSIM or a prepaid sim card for tourists is the best way to stay connected when traveling to Panama.
Did you know that overseas data roaming plans limit the internet speed? They are expensive and often useless. Ordering an eSIM for Panama or buying a prepaid sim card in Panama is easy.
Trust me having a data connection on your mobile phone makes traveling to Panama so much more convenient. Getting directions from Google Maps, finding nearby restaurants with good reviews, ordering a taxi through a taxi app (there is Uber in Panama City), finding your friends through sharing live location, emergencies, checking your banking apps, traveling planning on the go. You want me to go on?
Also don't rely on WiFi in Panama. It is not always guaranteed and internet speed can vary hugely. Also keep in mind that surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is high recommended to protect your data.
Since I love to document all my travel tips and Traveltomtom is also aiming to visit every country in the world you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Europe, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Europe, Spain, London, Rome, Istanbul, Vietnam, etc.
So if you are planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Mas Movil (+Movil) sim card for Panama. They have the best mobile data network coverage around Panama and great prepaid sim card deals for tourists. A Mas Movil prepaid sim card for $7 USD comes with unlimited data for 10 days.
Traveltomtom is an advocate for using eSIMs as they are super convenient to arrange on the internet and you are online as soon as the plane touches the ground.
But eSIMs for Panama are more expensive then buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Panama.
You can get an Airalo eSIM for Panama with 10 GB data and 100 minutes for $38.50 USD.
In fact the best-buy tourist sim card on the internet for Panama is an international prepaid sim card with 10 GB data for $24.90 USD. This is a physical sim card and you get it delivered to your home address when you order via SimOptions.
For more eSIM plans check out my guide with the best eSIMs for Panama in 2025.
Traveltomtom also recommends travel sim cards with worldwide coverage. These are international prepaid sim cards that cover Panama. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2025 and find some great sim card deals for traveling to Panama.
Make sure your phone is unlocked otherwise an eSIM, an international prepaid sim card or a Panama prepaid sim card for tourists won't work in your phone.
Where to buy a sim card for Panama
Panama City Airport
At Panama City Tocumen International Airport you can get a local prepaid sim card from one the sim card vending machines located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is staff next to the machines that can give you more information. You can only buy physical prepaid sim cards at Panama Airport, eSIMs are not available.
Prepaid sim cards at Panama City Airport are much more expensive than in the city. The cheapest sim card for tourists at Tocumen Airport is $30 USD.
There are also 3 Travel Data Global stores located inside Tocumen Airport and they sell tourist sim cards for Panama. They operate from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM:
- Arrival Hall in front of boarding gate 130-131
- Transit Area in front of boarding gate 138-139
- North Pier
Click here for Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a sim card at Panama City Airport in 2025.
Phone stores
You will find phone shops in every popular Panama tourist destination and as you travel around the country you will see Tigo and +Movil signs everywhere.
Always wait in the store until everything is working and you are able to surf the internet with a 4G/LTE signal before walking away.
Go to one of the popular shopping malls like the Albrook Mall or the Multiplaza Pacific Mall and find phone stores from both mobile internet providers next to each other.
Kiosks
In kiosks on the side of the road you can also buy tourist sim cards. If you don't mind the official registration process, you can buy a pre-registered Panama sim card. This is the cheapest and fastest way to get a sim card in Panama.
However, Traveltomtom recommends to go to an official sim card store where they do the registration properly on your name and set you up with everything.
When crossing the land border from Costa Rica it is a little harder to find official retail stores. In this case a local kiosk that sells Panama prepaid sim cards for tourists is the best way to get connected.
Online
Arrive prepared in Panama with an international prepaid sim card or an eSIM. You can order sim cards for Panama online and as soon as you set foot in Panama these sim cards automatically connect to an available network and you can enjoy data on your phone.
The best example is of course an eSIM. There are Airalo eSIM for Panama that include texting and calling and come with a local phone number. eSIMs for Panama start from just $5.90 USD.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Panama.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for Panama via SimOptions.
Registration process
Officially all prepaid sim cards in Panama need to be registered on your name. That means when buying a sim card in Panama in an official phone store you have to bring your passport. A copy of your passport will be taken and the sim card will be registered on your passport number.
If you wish to stay anonymous then you should buy a sim card on the streets in kiosks and you won't need your passport. This is officially against the rules however, it is common practice in Panama and Traveltomtom has done it before.
Also when buying a sim card for Panama on the internet there is no ID verification needed either, just your email address. Airalo is an exception and as per 2025 they now also require an ID verification when buying an eSIM for Panama.
Mobile internet operators in Panama
There used to be 4 mobile internet providers in Panama: Claro, +Movil, Tigo and Digicel. But in recent years Claro merged with +Movil and this made Digicel decide to withdraw its total operations in Panama because of a lack of fair competition.
Although the Panama laws say there have to be 3 mobile internet operators in Panama at the moment there are only two: Tigo and Mas Movil.
Both internet providers sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists as well as eSIMs as of 2025. Prices differ a little bit per operator, but not much. The big difference between Tigo and Mas Movil is the 4G/5G mobile network coverage.
Prices prepaid sim cards in Panama
The officially currency in Panama is the Panamanian Balboa, but since it equals the USD in reality everyone pretty much uses USD. So 1 PAB = 1 USD.
Prices and info below are updated as per February 2025. In phone stores in Panama they only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.
+Movil (Mas Movil)
This mobile internet operator is called Mas Movil Panama and they have 4 great prepaid sim card deals for tourists:
- Unlimited data + 25 minutes to other operators for 7 days = $5 USD
- Unlimited data + 25 minutes to other operators for 10 days = $7 USD
- Unlimited data + 30 minutes to other operators for 14 days = $10 USD
- Unlimited data + 30 minutes to other operators for 30 days = $15 USD
These plans let you share data but a limited amount of GB's, see the picture above. For more info check out the Mas Movil website. In Mas Movil stores they do not offer eSIMs, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.
Tigo Panama
A very well known mobile operator in Central America. Tigo can be found in every country in Central America and in April 2020 also came to Panama by taking over Movistar.
They offer the following prepaid sim card deals:
- 525 MB + 10 minutes for 4 days = $3 USD
- 1.5 GB data + 20 minutes for 7 days = $5 USD
- Unlimited data + 25 minutes and sms to all operators for 7 days = $5 USD
- 2.5 GB data + 25 minutes to all operators for 15 days = $10 USD
Sorry Tigo, your prepaid sim card deals are not as good as the Mas Movil prepaid sim card offers.
Find here the latest deals and info about Tigo Panama prepaid sim cards.
Unfortunately the Tigo stores in Panama do NOT sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. This is a new trend across Central and South America.
This means you have to buy a Tigo prepaid sim card from any phone store or kiosk. These sim card shops will mostly charge a small fee for activating your sim card.
Once you have a Tigo prepaid sim card you are more than welcome at the Tigo stores for questions, help and service.
Best 4G/5G mobile network in Panama
As of 2025 there is now also 5G in Panama. Mas Movil has a 5G network in Panama City and the regions around. The Tigo 5G network is pretty much non-existing.
A strong phone signal is vital for killing time on long drives or bus rides and you don't want to have a spotty phone signal as soon as you leave Panama City. Let's have a look below at the 4G/5G coverage maps for Panama.
Tigo (former Movistar) 4G/5G network coverage map
Mas Movil 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2025 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Panama in 2025.
The Mas Movil network is much bigger as they recently acquired Claro, a former mobile internet operator in Panama.
Although Tigo is a good second best, Mas Movil has by far the best 4G/5G mobile data network coverage in Panama in 2025 and covers pretty much all tourist destinations in Panama.
Mas Movil even has a good phone signal in the enchanting San Blas Islands. If you want to stay connected when traveling to San Blas Islands then buy a Mas Movil prepaid sim card.
Best prepaid sim card for Panama in 2025
Both mobile internet operators offer prepaid sim cards for tourists with unlimited data. So in general they are pretty much the same and buying a tourist sim card in Panama is cheap.
It is no secret that eSIMs from an eSIM provider are more expensive than buying a prepaid sim card in Panama. Though with an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands and you don't need to go to a phone shop in Panama to buy a prepaid sim card.
GigSky has the a good value data-only eSIM for Panama, but Airalo offers eSIMs for Panama including calling and texting.
The cheapest sim card for Panama on the internet is actually a physical prepaid sim card from Three UK. It cost $24.90 USD and it give you 10 GB data. You can order it online via SimOptions.
Traveltomtom likes the simplicity of the Mas Movil prepaid sim card plans with unlimited data. Also Mas Movil has the best 4G/5G mobile data network in Panama and therefore Traveltomtom rates +Movil as the best prepaid sim card for Panama in 2025. For $15 USD you get a tourist sim card with unlimited data for 30 days.
Best eSIMs for Panama
eSIMs make it all so easy to get connected when traveling to Panama in 2025. No need to swap physical sim cards anymore and visiting a phone store. Arrange everything online within a couple clicks.
You order an eSIM for Panama on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Panama it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Panama.
Here are some recommendations.
Airalo
Airalo is one of the eSIM market leaders and rock solid. Traveltomtom has never faced an issue using Airalo eSIMs. Airalo has data-only eSIMs for Panama as well as eSIM plans that including calling and texting.
Here are the Airalo data & voice eSIM plans for Panama for 2025:
- 1 GB data + 10 sms + 10 minutes for 7 days = $12 USD
- 2 GB data + 20 sms + 20 minutes for 15 days = $17.5 USD
- 3 GB data + 30 sms + 30 minutes for 30 days = $22.5 USD
- 5 GB data + 50 sms + 50 minutes for 30 days = $32.5 USD
- 10 GB data + 100 sms + 100 minutes for 30 days = $38.5 USD
- 20 GB data + 200 sms + 200 minutes for 30 days = $46.5 USD
Click here to order an Airalo eSIM for Panama.
Get an extra discount of $3 USD on your first Airalo eSIM with the code: TOMTOM3.
These Airalo eSIMs come with a local phone number from Panama.
The above Pancell Digital+ eSIM for Panama are only valid in Panama.
GigSky
The Traveltomtom Team tested GigSky and was positively surprised. Check out our complete GigSky review with all pros and cons.
Here are the GigSky eSIM plans for Panama in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6.99 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $11.24 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13.49 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.74 USD
- Unlimited data* for 7 days = $20.24 USD
- Unlimited data* for 15 days = $36.74 USD
*2.5 GB high speed data per day then reduced data speed. High speed data resumes every 24 hours from plan activation.
Click here to order a GigSky eSIM for Panama.
Downside about GigSky is that it gives little to no information about the eSIM. GigSky doesn't specify if the eSIM is 5G ready, neither which mobile data network in Panama they use and how and when the eSIM will be activated.
Make sure your phone is unlocked and your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for traveling to Panama.
There are many more eSIM plans available. Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Panama in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Panama online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then you can look into buying an international prepaid sim card for Panama. In fact, these physical travel sim cards are even more affordable than eSIMs.
Order a pre-activated physical prepaid sim card for Panama and get it delivered to your home address before your trip. Don't waste time finding a sim card shop in Panama.
- 10 GB data valid in 56 countries for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 5 GB data valid in 22 countries for 30 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling to Panama via SimOptions.
This Three UK international sim card is the best buy prepaid sim card for Panama that you can order on the internet. Even better value for money than eSIMs as its rate is only $2.49 USD per Gigabyte.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card for Panama were helpful. If you have any questions then please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to assist you.
Want to be fuelled by wanderlust then I recommend you to check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow my journey to visit every country in the world. As of February 2025 I visited more than 155 countries.
Enjoy your trip to Panama!