Best SIM and eSIM for Ecuador: data plans, Wi‑Fi and phone tips

In Quito, Quito, and most major cities, visit a Claro or Movistar store in a mall. Bring your passport; the staff will register the SIM and you can top up with a cash card or credit card.

If your phone is unlocked, order a Claro eSIM online before you travel (e.g., via Claro's website). Activate it on arrival; it works across the mainland and most coastal towns.

CNT sells prepaid SIMs mainly in the highlands; coverage is limited compared with Claro.

In the Galápagos, only physical SIMs are sold at the airport; eSIMs may not connect due to limited cell towers.

Claro offers the widest coverage, reaching most towns, the highlands, and coastal resorts. Signal can be weak in remote Amazon villages and the Galápagos archipelago.

Wi‑Fi is common in hotels, hostels, cafés, and airports in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, and tourist hubs like Baños. Rural lodges often provide only basic broadband.

Public Wi‑Fi hotspots exist in city centres and major bus stations; they may require a local SIM login.