22 February 2024 update on Brazil (Brasil) SIM cards for foreigners

[Riobard]

39 minutes ago, xpaulo said:

That's really interesting, because it's getting lost that usually does me in and then I have to turn on the cellular data. I've tried lots of things... taking screen shots of google street maps ahead of time, etc... but something unexpected often defeats me. I'll try it without roaming sometime.

Experiment at home. I just noticed a ‘limited data’ prompt but a coffee search offline when out shopping just now produced a yield, and the blue dot situates me correctly, though of course I have the option of cellular data in my local package. I forgot to check to see if the location dot moves block to block according to my trajectory, but I do distinctly recall it did when offline abroad this winter … most of the time when desired.  

[xpaulo]

1 hour ago, Riobard said:

if the location dot moves block to block

I stayed at a airbnb on St. Denis in December. It was nice... in an old converted hotel where all the little cafes, bars and fast food joints are.

[redxs]

Hi guys 

Anyone used Jetpac or Holafly?

Jetpac is a startup with fairly low priced data packages - but with cut price airport lounge access and some other perks. If you were going to buy airport lounge access you’d be saving money buying their cheapest eSIM and not even using it. I’ve ordered one for a forthcoming trip to Asia. Anyone else used or heard of them?

Holafly is another startup which offer daily unlimited data packages. Seems reasonably priced and might use these for my next Brazil trip in February. Anyone else used or heard of them?

cheers 

[Canadianbtmguy]

If you want a physical SIM card without any hassle (other than having to go downtown) there’s a guy loitering outside the Claro store at 47 treze de mayo (at least I saw him there 3 days in a row) selling good to go SIM cards (I’m guessing they are maybe in his name?) I was in the Claro store and although I had an active Claro account, I had lost the chip and apparently they could neither make me a new chip with the same number or even transfer my old account into a new account. They said I could go to some other Claro store or, they motioned me over to the door, just buy one from him. 3-4 minutes installed, he showed me it still had all the data. 80 reais for 15 GB, undoubtedly marked up as much as 50% but it was a lovely time saver on a hot day.

[Xclay]

I've been pleased with Airalo, one of the first and one of the largest eSIM providers. The current options for Brazil are limited to 30 days. I usually stay longer and get Airalo's global option (136 countries, 20 GB) for one year, coincidentally priced at $69.

[Xclay]

On 3/1/2024 at 1:51 PM, xpaulo said:

...getting lost that usually does me in and then I have to turn on the cellular data. ...

No need for screenshots. Using Wi-Fi, download maps.me and then download the maps for Brazil. Then when you are out and about, maps.me uses your phone's GPS signal and will navigate you smoothly -- without you needing to turn on mobile data.

[buttercawan]

7 minutes ago, Xclay said:

No need for screenshots. Using Wi-Fi, download maps.me and then download the maps for Brazil. Then when you are out and about, maps.me uses your phone's GPS signal and will navigate you smoothly -- without you needing to turn on mobile data.

... or just download google maps offline.

https://blog.google/products/maps/google-maps-offline/

[Xclay]

True, Buttercawan, but I'm reading that with Google Maps Offline:
"Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline."
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

[travguy]

My old iphone does not have eSIM. The airolo or similar eSIM vendors seem very easy and cost effective to use per various web postings. 
SIM card purchase and activation was very easy this trip. At a typical kiosk in Leblon I bought a TIM SIM card after the first kiosk did not sell SIM cards. Call in regarding TIM SIM card for old iphone was easy and took about 5-10 minutes. Using SIM card tray removal tool or small paperclip, changed out the old SIM to the newly bought 5G 11GB 28R$ TIM SIM card - which did NOT come with a SIM card tray removal tool. Then on the same phone dialed *144, you hear some recording, then I dialed 3, then another recording, then I dialed 3 again, then I pressed *. Then some stuff in PT then guy from TIM comes on quickly. I believe these TIM representatives can speak PT, ESP, and English. Not sure about FR, DE, IT, etc. I reached him in less than 2 minutes from start of my call to TIM. He wanted my passport number, date of birth, start date of passport validity NOT expiration date, confirmed that I was calling in from Rio (no address asked for), and my name with check of spelling. Asked to hold for a bit. He said no more questions but was waiting for his computer. It was finished. Before we said goodbye I started to receive text messages from TIM. He did not confirm my new Brazilian number for Rio. He could not confirm the actual GB of data or length of my plan (20 days). I could start texting only a couple of minutes after the call. Was very quick on a late Saturday afternoon. Please note that I used the same pp information when getting a TIM SIM card for another phone on the prior trip. This never came up in the new SIM card activation process. I do not remember if he gave me that prior phone number back or not. A start contrast from the nightmare of going to the centro Claro office in Rio about 2 years ago.