Description
Uruguay is often part of a wider South America trip from the UK, paired with Buenos Aires across the River Plate, but it is well worth time of its own. Visitors come for Montevideo’s old town and seafront rambla, the cobbled streets of Colonia del Sacramento, the summer beaches of Punta del Este and stays on country estancias. A travel eSIM gives you mobile data on arrival for maps, bus tickets and messaging.
It works alongside your UK SIM rather than replacing it, so your UK number stays in the phone for bank codes. The Uruguay plan then handles your data for directions, translation and sharing photos.
Choose your Uruguay data plan
There are 15 plans for Uruguay. Pick the one that matches the length of your stay and how much you stream, video call or share photos.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 100MB – 1 day | £0.72 |
| 1GB – 1 day | £1.83 |
| 3GB – 15 days | £4.78 |
| 3GB – 30 days | £5.32 |
| 1GB – 7 days | £5.92 |
| 5GB – 30 days | £9.40 |
| 2GB – 15 days | £10.73 |
| Unlimited – 3 days | £14.62 |
| Unlimited – 5 days | £21.00 |
| Unlimited – 7 days | £26.25 |
| 10GB – 30 days | £28.50 |
| Unlimited – 10 days | £29.25 |
| 20GB – 30 days | £37.12 |
| 50GB – 90 days | £75.24 |
| 100GB – 180 days | £146.72 |
- Day trip or short stop: 1GB for 1 day for a day in Colonia, or 3GB for 15 days for a few days in Montevideo.
- Two-week holiday: 3GB for 30 days or 5GB for 30 days.
- Summer beach stay with heavy use: The unlimited plans run from 3 to 10 days.
- Long stays and study: 20GB for 30 days, 50GB for 90 days or 100GB for 180 days.
How ordering works
- Choose a plan and place your order. Pay by UK bank transfer or PayPal.
- Once your payment is confirmed, we prepare your eSIM and send you the QR code by email or live chat. Orders are handled by hand, so we suggest ordering at least a day before you fly.
- Scan the QR code at home over Wi-Fi, then switch the eSIM on when you arrive in Uruguay.
Installing your eSIM
- iPhone: Settings, Mobile Service (or Mobile Data), Add eSIM, then Use QR Code.
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM, then Scan QR code.
- Google Pixel: Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, Add SIM, then Set up an eSIM.
Install it before you travel, while you have a steady Wi-Fi connection. A QR code can usually be installed only once, so do not delete the eSIM from your phone until your trip is over. The phone makers also have step-by-step guides: Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. When you land, turn on the eSIM line, set it as the line for mobile data and switch on data roaming for that eSIM.
Getting online in Uruguay
Most flights arrive at Carrasco International Airport outside Montevideo, while many visitors come by ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia or Montevideo. Data helps with long-distance bus timetables, ride apps in the capital, translation and finding places to eat along the rambla.
Signal is generally easier to find in towns and along the main coast than in remote parts of the interior and on quiet country roads. Argentina and Brazil are not covered by this plan, so if you are crossing a border, arrange a separate plan for that leg.
Check your phone first
Your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later can use one. Some models sold in certain countries have no eSIM, so look for an Add eSIM option in your settings. If you are not sure, ask us before you order.
Good to know
- Travel advice: before you go, read the GOV.UK travel advice for Uruguay, which covers entry requirements, safety and local laws.
- Data only: these plans give you mobile data, not a local phone number. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps for calls and messages.
- For travel only: the plans work in Uruguay and are not meant for use in the UK.
- Your UK SIM: keep it in the phone to receive texts such as bank codes, but turn off data roaming on it so it does not use data abroad.
- Uruguay only: arriving by ferry from Buenos Aires means you need data in Argentina too. Ask us about a plan for each country.
- Unlimited plans: as with most unlimited travel plans, a fair-use policy can apply.
More travel eSIMs
Visiting more than one country? We also have travel eSIMs for Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. See all our travel eSIM destinations, or our UK eSIMs if you want a UK line on an eSIM too.
Questions
Will the eSIM work on the ferry from Buenos Aires?
It works once you are in Uruguay and within mobile signal. On the crossing itself, signal may come and go.
Can I use translation apps with this plan?
Yes, translation apps use mobile data, and many let you download Spanish for offline use as a backup.
When should I buy my Uruguay eSIM?
A day or more before you travel is best. That leaves time to receive the QR code and install it at home.
When do the days start counting?
The number of days is how long the plan lasts once it is active. Install it before you go and switch it on when you arrive.
Can I cancel after the QR code is sent?
No. Like our other codes, an eSIM cannot be returned once the QR code has been sent. See our refunds and cancellations page.
