Telcel has over a dozen different data options, ranging in size from 100MB to 13GB, and in validity from one day to a little over a month. Whichever SIM pack you buy, you’ll need to add a call, text, and/or data package to it. Telcel’s prepaid offerings are all under its Amigo brand, with the most-expensive sin limite plan including extras like North American roaming. The SIM card (called a “chip” in Mexico) costs between 29 and 149 pesos (~$1-6 USD) by itself, depending on which package you buy. You’ll get reasonable data rates without the hassle of finding, buying, or swapping physical SIM cards. If you have a recent iPhone or other supported device, a Mexico eSIM is also worth considering. Whichever one you go for, you’ll be connected with a minimum of fuss before you’ve even left the airport. Valid in Canada and the USA as well, options are available that last 15 or 30 days with unlimited calls and texts and plenty of data.
Prefer to spend your vacation sightseeing instead of buying SIM cards? Grab one in advance to stay connected in Mexico and across North America. Not everyone spoke English, but a different staff member stepped in to translate whenever necessary. The teller asked for my passport, then copied my name and other details to use on the contract I needed to sign. I told one person what I needed, got served by a teller who did most of the setup, paid a third person at a cashiers desk, then returned to the teller to be given the actual SIM. It all worked smoothly enough, though, and I had a working service within fifteen minutes. The Telcel store in Mexico City Airport, Terminal 1… before it opened. The store is pretty big, with the company logo emblazoned all over it, so is easy to spot. If you’re looking for it yourself, head up the escalator between the international and domestic sections of the airport. On my second visit, I arrived at Mexico City’s sprawling airport and purchased my SIM from the Telcel store on the first floor of Terminal 1 as soon as it opened (it operates from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm).
No passport or other identification was required. When the process was complete, a confirmation message arrived by SMS and I was good to go. You’re able to buy all SIM sizes from both official stores and at the Oxxo. If you have an existing one, show it to the operator to make sure there’s no confusion about the size you need. To buy the card, simply walk into the store with your phone and ask to buy a new SIM (chip). Since it took the guy behind the counter about ten minutes of rapid-fire Spanish to do it, however, I was pretty happy I’d asked him to help. It’s apparently possible to get it working yourself by calling the Telcel activations department. Unless you’re able to speak a reasonable amount of Spanish, you’ll probably have the most success purchasing a new SIM card in tourist areas where English is more widely spoken. They offer alcohol, snacks, groceries, and most importantly for me, phone services. Similar to the 7-11 convenience stores, there seems to be an Oxxo on every corner in Mexico. I was able to do everything I needed in the Oxxo store a couple of blocks from my hotel. There may well have been, but in the end, it didn’t matter. On my first visit, I flew into Puerto Vallarta airport and didn’t notice anywhere selling SIM cards in the terminal. I’ve visited Mexico twice, and purchased a Telcel SIM each time. AT&T is a relatively-recent addition with a smaller coverage area, although it’s growing quickly and provides roaming on the Telcel network to help make up for service gaps.
Movistar has a faster network and cheaper plans, but you won’t get coverage in as many places. Telcel is the most expensive but has the most subscribers and widest coverage, so that’s the company I went with. There are three cell service providers in Mexico: Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T Unidos. We've been using World Nomads for over a decade. Got travel insurance for your Mexico trip yet? A good policy can cover you for all kinds of sticky situations, from medical emergencies to canceled flights, theft, lost luggage, and more.
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