Best eSIM for the Americas: From Manhattan to Patagonia (and Everything Between)

I have a very specific memory of standing in a Mexico City taco line (the good kind, the kind with no English menu and a line around the block) trying to figure out if my eSIM had connected. It had. I used Google Translate to order, got three tacos al pastor and something I still can’t identify, and it was all incredible. Data in your pocket, tacos in your hand. This is peak travel.

The Americas are a fascinating eSIM landscape. The US and Canada have some of the best (and most expensive) mobile networks in the world. Mexico and Colombia are strong in cities, surprising in rural areas. Brazil is enormous and coverage reflects that. Peru and Argentina are improving fast. Chile is quietly excellent.

The common thread: cities are great, remote areas are a gamble, and the price variation between countries is bigger than anywhere except Asia.

What makes the Americas different

North America is expensive. US and Canadian carrier networks are among the most costly in the world, and that trickles down to eSIM pricing. You’ll pay more per GB here than almost anywhere in Europe or Asia. Budget accordingly.

South America is improving fast. Five years ago, eSIM coverage in South America was patchy and provider options were limited. Today, all major eSIM providers cover the big destinations, and coverage in cities is genuinely good. Rural areas are still the weak spot, but the gap is closing.

The geography is extreme. The Americas span from the Arctic to Patagonia, through deserts, rainforests, mountains, and everything in between. This means coverage is inherently uneven. You’ll have full 5G in Manhattan and zero signal in the Atacama Desert. Plan accordingly.

My recommended eSIM providers for the Americas

1. eSIMply: best overall

eSIMply covers all eight countries on this list with strong plans for each. I’ve used them in the US, Mexico, and Colombia. Coverage was excellent in every city I visited and held up well on road trips between cities.

For the US specifically, eSIMply connects to T-Mobile’s network, which means solid national coverage including smaller cities and highway corridors. In Mexico, I had consistent 4G from Mexico City down to Oaxaca. Colombia worked well in Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena.

Their pricing for the Americas is competitive, especially for the US and Canada where data costs are typically higher.

Browse eSIMply Americas Plans →

2. Airalo: best for South America

Airalo has the widest coverage across South American countries. Their individual country plans for Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile are all solid, and they offer a “Latam” regional plan that covers multiple countries. I’ve heard consistent good reports from other travelers using Airalo across the continent.

The app is easy to manage when you’re switching between countries on a multi-stop trip.

3. Saily: best for US and Canada

Saily performs well in North America, with the added VPN encryption that’s nice to have when you’re hopping between coffee shop Wi-Fi networks across the US. Coverage is strong nationally. Less extensive options for South America compared to Airalo or eSIMply.

4. Nomad: best budget option

Nomad’s Latin American plans are some of the most affordable. If you’re backpacking through Central or South America and watching every dollar, Nomad lets you get connected without breaking the budget. Coverage is city-focused but adequate for most tourist routes.

5. Roamless: best for road trips

The pay-per-MB model shines on road trips through the Americas, where your data usage varies dramatically day to day. Driving across the US? Some days you’ll stream podcasts for eight hours. Other days you’ll be in a national park with no signal anyway. Only paying for what you use makes sense here.

Coverage by sub-region

North America (US, Canada)

Excellent coverage nationally in both countries. 5G in major cities, strong 4G everywhere else. The US has a few dead zones in very remote areas (think: deep Montana, parts of West Texas, some national parks), but for typical travel, connectivity is a given. Canada similarly has occasional gaps in the far north and extremely rural areas, but the Trans-Canada corridor and all cities are well covered.

Mexico and Central America

Mexico has strong coverage in cities and along the main tourist routes (Mexico City, Cancun, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, San Miguel de Allende). Rural areas between cities can be spotty. The Yucatan Peninsula tourist zone is well covered. Remote Sierra Madre regions less so.

South America (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile)

Brazil: Excellent in major cities (Sao Paulo, Rio, Brasilia). The country is massive and rural coverage thins quickly outside urban areas. Expect gaps in the Amazon and interior regions.

Colombia: Strong in Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, and along major routes. Coverage extends well into smaller cities. Very rural areas and remote Caribbean coast can be patchy.

Peru: Lima and Cusco are well covered. The Sacred Valley tourist route has decent coverage. Remote Andes villages and deep Amazon have limited to no signal.

Argentina: Buenos Aires is excellent. Patagonia varies. Tourist towns (Bariloche, El Calafate, Ushuaia) have decent coverage. Between those towns, on those long Patagonian highways? Don’t count on it.

Chile: Surprisingly good coverage for its geography. Santiago is excellent, and the main highway corridor has strong signal. The Atacama Desert and far south are the main gaps.

Country-by-country guides

Detailed eSIM comparisons with pricing, provider rankings, and setup instructions:

Regional vs. country-specific plans

For the Americas, country-specific plans are almost always the better choice:

Pick a regional plan if:

You’re doing a multi-country South American trip
You’re crossing between the US and Canada frequently
Your itinerary is uncertain

Pick a country-specific plan if:

You’re visiting one country (this is most people)
You want the best price per GB (especially in the US/Canada where pricing is steep)
You’re staying in a country for more than a week

The Americas don’t have Europe’s roaming-friendly regulations, so regional plans carry a significant price premium. For a single-country visit, always go country-specific.

Tips I’ve learned the hard way

US data plans are expensive everywhere. This isn’t just an eSIM thing. American carrier networks charge premium rates, and eSIM providers pass that through. Budget more per GB for the US and Canada than you would for Europe or Asia.

Download offline maps for South America. Coverage between cities in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil can drop completely. Google Maps offline mode will save you. Download your route before you leave the hotel.

Mexico’s tourist zones are not representative. Cancun and the Riviera Maya have excellent coverage. That doesn’t mean rural Chiapas will. If your Mexico trip goes beyond the resort corridor, plan for gaps.

Altitude affects signal in the Andes. High-altitude cities like Cusco and La Paz have good coverage. The mountain passes between them might not. I lost signal for stretches on the bus from Cusco to Puno. Not a provider issue, just physics.

Brazil is a continent pretending to be a country. Coverage in Sao Paulo is world-class. Coverage in the interior is not. If your Brazil trip includes the Amazon or Pantanal, bring entertainment that doesn’t require internet.

Patagonia needs realistic expectations. The tourist hubs have connectivity. The spaces between them are some of the most remote landscapes in the world. Accept that some of the best parts of Patagonia are offline experiences.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an eSIM for the US if I already have an American carrier?

If you’re a domestic traveler, no. This guide is for international visitors. If you’re coming from outside the US, an eSIM is the easiest way to get connected without buying a physical SIM at the airport or paying your home carrier’s roaming fees.

Will my eSIM work in the Amazon?

In towns along the Amazon river (Manaus, Iquitos, Leticia), yes. Deep in the rainforest, no. This applies to all carriers and all connection types, not just eSIMs.

How much data do I need for a US trip?

For a one-week vacation with maps, social media, and messaging: 5-7GB. If you’re streaming, working, or using GPS navigation extensively: 10-15GB. US data costs more, so right-size your plan.

Can I use the same eSIM in both the US and Mexico?

Only with a regional plan that covers both. Country-specific plans are locked to one country. If you’re crossing the border (like a Tijuana day trip from San Diego), check your plan’s coverage area.

My take

The Americas are a continent of contrasts. The best mobile networks in the world (US, Canada) sit on the same landmass as some of the most remote, unconnected landscapes (Patagonia, Amazon, Atacama).

The strategy is simple: match your plan to your trip. City trips in the US, Canada, or major Latin American cities? Any good provider will work perfectly. Adventure travel into remote areas? Set realistic expectations, download offline maps, and enjoy the fact that some of the best places in the Americas don’t have cell towers.

Pick your country from the list above for detailed pricing and provider comparisons specific to where you’re going.

Browse eSIMply Americas Plans →