I imagine that for your trip to Brazil you've already thought about the beaches you'll visit, the activities you'll do, and where you'll stay. All very important, of course, but what about the internet connection?…

If your roaming plan is very expensive or you simply don't have international mobile data included in your phone plan, I'll tell you the best option to stay connected at all times and without complications: eSIMs

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is like the «SIM card» you already know, the one that goes inside your phone and connects you to the internet or lets you make calls. But there's one big difference: the eSIM is digital. You don't have to put anything in or take anything out of your phone!

With an eSIM you can access the internet anywhere in Brazil in a simple, fast way and, best of all, without losing your regular number

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How does an eSIM work?

1. With your current provider:
   If your original mobile operator (for example, Claro, Movistar, Personal) activates an eSIM profile, you can use their roaming service as you would with a physical SIM. This can involve high costs if you don't have a specific plan for abroad.

2. With a local or international data plan:
   A major advantage of eSIM is that you can buy and install a data plan from an operator in the country you're traveling to (like Brazil) or an international provider like Bitrefill. This lets you connect to local networks without relying on your original operator's roaming.
   
   

Activate roaming in Brazil with belo eSIMs

With the belo app you can access the Bitrefill catalog, the digital services store where you can find eSIMs to connect to the internet in Brazil and other countries

All you have to do is choose the plan you want and pay directly with the balance you have in belo; whether in pesos or cryptocurrencies.


The step-by-step is as follows:

• Download the belo app, sign up, and fund your account (with pesos or cryptocurrencies).
  
  

• On the app's home screen, click on “Virtual Stores” > “See Stores and Products”. Once that's done, you should already be inside the Bitrefill catalog.
  
  

• In the search bar, enter “esim Brazil”.
  
  

• Select the plan you think is best based on the number of gigabytes and days.
  
  
  

  

  Important: even though the page shows you the estimated price in Bitcoin (BTC), don't worry! It's just a reference. You can pay with any currency available in your belo balance.
  
  

• Click on “Add to cart” > “Checkout”.
  
  

• Select which currency you want to pay with (pesos, USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH or DAI).
  
  

• Review the purchase details and press “Pay”. That's it!

Once the purchase is complete, you'll receive a QR code and an activation code by email, along with instructions to install the eSIM through your phone's Settings.

Reminder: To install your eSIM, you need a stable internet connection. You can activate it before traveling, since roaming won't be activated until you connect to a network in the destination country. If you prefer, you can also set it up easily when you arrive at the airport.

What do I need to use an eSIM?

Before buying an eSIM, it's important that you check whether your phone is compatible with this type of product. To do so, simply search Google for something like: [your phone model] + «compatible with eSIM»

What if I have a Claro, Movistar, or Personal plan?

The eSIM and the physical SIM work independently; that is, they are two different lines on your phone. You can choose which one to use for mobile data, calls, and messages.

If you set up the eSIM correctly and activate it for mobile data, your physical SIM's roaming plan won't be used. Therefore, there would be no additional costs.

Additional tip for your trip to Brazil

In addition to making access to eSIMs easier, the belo app is the simplest and smartest solution for making payments on your trip. Through the “Pix Payments” function you'll be able to pay for whatever you want in Brazil directly with the pesos or crypto you have in your belo account, with no conversions or extra charges.

All you have to do is fund your belo account and use your phone to scan the QR or enter the alias given by the seller. That simple! The funds are converted to reais automatically, at a highly favorable exchange rate. I'll leave all the details in this article.