Guides · Updated September 2026
Dominican Republic eSIM: Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and the resorts
Data for a Dominican trip: what the eSIM covers, what it costs, resort Wi-Fi versus mobile data, and what to expect once you leave the hotel.
Most visitors to the Dominican Republic stay in a resort with Wi-Fi and discover on the first excursion that the Wi-Fi does not come with them. Data is for the airport transfer, the day trips, the taxi back, and the WhatsApp with the driver. It does not need to be a lot.
The networks
Claro is the largest network in the country, followed by Altice. Our Dominican Republic eSIM connects to Altice's 4G network, which covers Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and Bávaro, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Samaná and the highways between them. It is 4G, not 5G, which is plenty for maps, messaging and video calls. In the interior mountains and on the roads to remote beaches, expect gaps, as with any network here.
What it costs
| Plan | Price (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 GB, 7 days | $4.99 |
| 3 GB, 15 days | $12.99 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | $20.99 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | $36.99 |
The Dominican Republic is one of the pricier destinations for mobile data, for every provider. A local Claro or Altice prepaid SIM from a shop in town is cheaper per gigabyte if you are staying weeks; for a resort week, the 1 GB or 3 GB eSIM does the job.
Arriving at Punta Cana
PUJ has coverage in the terminal. Turn off Airplane Mode, set data to the eSIM with Data Roaming on, and you can message your transfer driver or open Uber (which operates in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana) before you find the arrivals hall exit.
Resort Wi-Fi and data
Keep the eSIM as the phone's data line all week. Wi-Fi takes over automatically when you are in range, and the phone falls back to the eSIM the moment you step onto the excursion bus. You will use far less data than you expect if the resort Wi-Fi is decent.
Common questions
Is it 5G?
No. Altice's network here is 4G. It is fast enough for anything a visitor does, including video calls.
Can I use it in Haiti on a day trip?
No. It is a Dominican Republic plan only.
Does WhatsApp work?
Yes, over data. It is how drivers and tour operators in the DR communicate, so it is the one app to have set up.
Install in about a minute. No app, no account. Your plan starts when you land.