Whether you plan to hike Machu Picchu in Peru or you want to explore the Amazon rainforests, you're going to need a way to stay in touch with friends and family during your travels. And more often than not, you may be able to stick with the same telco and keep your same number.
International roaming plans are becoming more popular so the variety of options is constantly growing. Keep reading to find the ideal plan for your travel itinerary, budget and duration.
Roaming South America with your telco
Roaming with felix
This roaming option is only available for travel in Brazil and Chile.
For those looking for options outside of the Big Three — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — felix mobile has a monthly subscription option worth considering.
For $20 per month, customers get 4GB of data, 100 minutes of calls and 100 texts with a 365-day expiry. However, unless your travels are limited to two of South America's most populated countries, this may not be the option for you as it's the most restrictive roaming option in this list.
Here are felix's mobile plans:
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#1
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felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$25
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#2
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felix mobile
felix 50GB Mobile Plan
$30
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#3
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felix mobile
felix Unlimited Mobile Plan
$40
Per 1 Month Renewal
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Roaming with Vodafone
This roaming option applies to all South American countries except Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. Pay-As-You-Go rates will apply in these locations.
If you're searching for global roaming options on the Vodafone network, you're in luck because it has one of the best international roaming options available. For an additional $5 per day on top of your regular Vodafone postpaid plan, customers can use their local inclusions overseas.
The $5 charge only applies on days you actually make a call, send a text or use data overseas. The catch? You can only use Vodafone's $5 roaming for a maximum of 90 calendar days a year.
Here are the plans eligible for Vodafone's $5 international roaming option:
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#1
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Vodafone
$49 Small SIM Only Plan
$39/mth
Min. cost $39
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#2
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Vodafone
$59 Medium SIM Only Plan
$49/mth
Min. cost $49
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#3
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Vodafone
$69 Large SIM Only Plan
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
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Roaming with Optus
These roaming options apply to Zone 1 locations only, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Ecuador.
Standard roaming rates apply in the Falkland Islands and Suriname.
Optus postpaid customers are encouraged to take advantage of its $5 Roaming option for the best deal. Customers can use their current Optus SIM and make unlimited calls and messages, plus get 5GB of data, for just $5 per day. $5 roaming is only available on selected newer Optus postpaid plans so you may need to switch plans to be eligible.
Here are the Optus plans to look out for if you want to make the most of international roaming:
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#1
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Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
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#2
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Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
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#3
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Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
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#4
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Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$85/mth
Min. cost $85
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Roaming with Telstra
Telstra roaming is available in all South American locations except for Bolivia, the Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.
Peru is a Zone 3 country, so only talk and text services are available.
Telstra's International Day Pass is the best way for South American travellers to keep in contact with those back home. To gain access, however, you need to be on a Telstra Upfront plan.
For $10 per day customers get 1GB of data to use over a 31-day period plus, unlimited talk and text. MMS picture messages are not included and are billed at $0.75c each. If you exceed your data, you'll be charged an extra $10 to top up with another 1GB of data.
Here are Telstra's Upfront plans eligible for its International Roaming Pass:
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#1
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Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
Link not supplied
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#2
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Telstra
$75 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
Link not supplied
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#3
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Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
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Note that International Day Pass inclusions tick over at midnight Australia time (AEST) not midnight in the country you are visiting.
Roaming with amaysim
amaysim roaming packs cover Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.
amaysim has finally said goodbye to its pay-as-you-go roaming option and introduced four distinctly different international roaming add-on packs. So whether you want just data or no data at all, the Optus powered telco has an option for you.
Each roaming pack lasts a generous 365-days but, as mentioned above, only covers the major South American destinations. So if you have a country-hopping trip planned, this isn't the telco for you. Here is a handy breakdown of each add-on's inclusions:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Small Talk | $20 | 100 mins, 100 texts, no data |
| The Works | $25 | 50 mins, 30 texts, 2GB |
| Just Gigs | $50 | No mins, no texts, 6GB |
| The Epic | $70 | 100 mins, 60 texts, 9GB |
And here are amaysim's 28-day plans, which are ideal for pairing with any of its international roaming options:
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#1
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 10GB Plan
$22
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#2
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 32GB Plan
$30
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#3
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 80GB Plan
$40
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#4
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 120GB Plan
$50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
Roaming with Tangerine
Tangerine roaming packs cover Brazil, Chile, and Colombia only.
Telstra MVNO, Tangerine, is an excellent option if you have a quick trip planned of just a week or two. This telco is offering two international roaming options for less than $60. Just be aware, very few South American countries are covered by these roaming options. Compare each roaming pack based on its inclusions and prices below:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $60 | 300 mins, 300 texts, 3GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB |
Below are Tangerine's plans you can roam with:
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#1
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Tangerine Telecom
12GB Mobile SIM
$23/mth
Min. cost $23
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#2
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Tangerine Telecom
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$29/mth
Min. cost $29
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#3
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Tangerine Telecom
32GB 5G Mobile SIM
$34/mth
Min. cost $34
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#4
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Tangerine Telecom
50GB 5G Mobile SIM
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
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#5
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Tangerine Telecom
80GB 5G Mobile SIM
$46/mth
Min. cost $46
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#6
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Tangerine Telecom
150GB 5G Mobile SIM
$58/mth
Min. cost $58
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Roaming with More
More's international roaming options, like Tangerine, only cover Brazil, Chile and Colombia.
More offers the same international roaming packs to Tangerine. The duration, pricing, destinations and inclusions remain identical so you don't have to switch telcos to get this deal. More is also powered by the Telstra network.
Compare both roaming options below:
| Price | Inclusions | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB | 7 days |
| $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB | 14 days |
And here are More's plans suitable for its international roaming add-ons:
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#1
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More
12GB Mobile SIM
$26/mth
Min. cost $26
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#2
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More
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$32/mth
Min. cost $32
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#3
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More
32GB 5G Mobile SIM
$38/mth
Min. cost $38
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#4
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More
50GB 5G Mobile SIM
$44/mth
Min. cost $44
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#5
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More
80GB 5G Mobile SIM
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
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#6
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More
150GB 5G Mobile SIM
$64/mth
Min. cost $64
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Getting a South American SIM card
A convenient option is to find a global SIM store and buy a service before you head overseas. This way you can easily order one online in the weeks leading up to your departure.
Claro is a popular telco operating in South America. Being one of the major local operators, it only makes sense to consider them for a SIM card. At the time of writing, Claro covers 18 countries across South America.
SIMsDirect offers a prepaid South American SIM card for $36 with 12GB of data with a 30-day expiry. You can pre-purchase it before your trip and have it sent to you for free, includes Australian support and comes with a 100% hassle-free money-back guarantee. This SIM is available to use in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French West Indies, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay.
SIMCorner also has its own South American travel SIM which includes the same 12GB of data with a 30-day expiry but for $35. If you purchase two of these SIM cards you will also get 3000 minutes to call each other. Plus it has no Incoming call charges from any country. This can also be pre-purchased with free standard shipping and covers 11 countries including Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Uruguay.
Buying a South American eSIM
Travel SIM cards are hardly ever the most affordable option as they usually cost more than you'd pay if you simply purchased a local SIM or eSIM. As such, we'd recommend sticking with a local SIM. However, travel eSIMs tend to be the exception.
Airalo's South American eSIMs are one of the most wide-reaching South American mobile services available. There's a range of data sizes and prices to choose from, starting at just US$15 or $22.87 AUD, for 1GB of data with a seven-day expiry. Coverage spans 19 South American countries. Airalo also sells travel eSIMs for individual countries, if you want to save money by just going to one destination.
If you're looking for a data-only, Orange offers a travel SIM/eSIM for 44.99€ or $74.08 AUD. It offers a maximum of 10GB on a 14-day expiry, however, the amount of data it allocates varies depending on the location you're in. The breakdown is as follows:
- 10GB is available to all Zone 1 locations, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana and Peru and Uruguay
- 5GB is available to all Zone 2 locations including Argentina and Bolivia
- 1GB is available to all Zone 3 locations including Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela
Note the Falkland Islands is not on Orange's list of included countries.
Comparing South American roaming options
There are a number of local, SIM and eSIM options in South America, but each provider operates in different countries, so it's important to check your travel plans before purchasing.
The table below covers the four most popular options across South America and the countries they cover:
| Locations | Airalo | Claro | SimsDirect | SimCorner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |  |
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| Bolivia | |
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| Brazil | |
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| Chile | |
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| Columbia | |
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| Ecuador | |
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| Falkland Islands |  |
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| French Guiana | |
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| Guyana | |
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| Paraguay | |
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| Peru | |
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| Suriname | |
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| Uruguay | |
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| Venezuela | |
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Using free public WiFi
If you're doing a lot of hiking and traipsing through jungles, this option may not apply but if you're hoping to save money, you can always hop on free public WiFi networks. These can be found in hotels and city centres throughout South America.
Mooching off WiFi doesn't mean giving up on talk and text either. Apps like Skype, Viber and WhatsApp will let you send and receive text messages and phone calls via the internet.
All apps allow free talk and text between contacts who both have the app. And if you want to make calls to those who don't, you can buy a little Skype or Viber credit.
Your friends and family also need to install your app of choice to receive your calls and message.
We recommend keeping your phone in aeroplane mode unless you're using it as accidental calls, texts or data usage may trigger exorbitant roaming charges.
You can check out maps of available WiFi through an app such as Wiman or Instabridge to help you connect on the go.
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