How To Get An eSIM For Canada

We know many of our readers are visiting the incredible Canadian Rockies from abroad. We suggest you grab an eSIM for Canada to provide data during your trip. Many travelers who are not Canadian may not have cell phone service for their trip. While we have coverage in Canada, we spend a lot of time traveling internationally and have been using eSIMs for years.

With all the great tools our phones offer for travel, we suggest everyone remain connected. This can help with GPS directions, trail-finding apps, mobile banking, making reservations on the go, travel updates, and staying connected with loved ones back home. We consider data connection vital to international travel.

Our guide will explain everything you need to know about staying connected in the Canadian Rockies. Buying a SIM card in Canada can be a pain and very expensive, so we recommend purchasing an eSIM before your trip.

Why Mobile Data Matters in the Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are massive, and services inside the park are very limited. You won’t find a cafe or restaurant with a free WiFi network on every corner. Phone signal coverage is still limited in parks, but generally, you’ll find coverage on the highways and in all towns

Canada’s Mobile Network Landscape

With a huge amount of land and a relatively small population, Canada has little competition in telecommunications. The low population density and lack of competition mean that the country has some of the world’s highest rates for cell services.

Generally, though, the country is well connected, with great coverage in towns, cities, and major highways. You’ll want to be able to connect to the network and have three options.

International Roaming

A few service providers offer free coverage in Canada, so it’s always best to check with your provider. However, for many, that requires an additional charge that is often costly. While convenient, the roaming charges from a foreign carrier can add up very quickly if they offer coverage. It’s generally something we do not recommend unless included in your plan.

• Always best to check with the provider first.
• Often, the most expensive option
• May require changing plans, which can be a hassle
• Roaming fees may be exorbitant.

Local SIM Card

Visitors can purchase a prepaid SIM card from the local operators at the airport or at an authorized store. Rogers (Chatr) operates a booth at the Calgary airport where you can purchase a SIM Card. However, their rates are pretty expensive. Changing your SIM card will also change your phone number unless your phone has two slots.

• Requires an unlocked phone
• Requires a stop at a physical store and showing ID
• Requires purchase of a physical SIM card/activation fee
• Change your phone number temporarily

Rate	Data Amount
$25 CAD	3 GB
$34 CAD	10 GB
$39 CAD	60 GB

eSIM Travel Data Plans

These days, we pretty much only use eSIMs when traveling. A number of providers offer competitive rates and make the data connection easy in foreign countries before you arrive. Holafly offers a unique model where you can purchase unlimited data for your trip. This means you never have to worry about running out of data and having to top up your package.

• Install within minutes before you arrive to have data as soon as you land
• Keep your original phone number for calls and texts
• Customizable days on the website, so you only pay for what you need
• Dedicated data for Canadian usage
• No need to visit stores or handle physical SIM cards
• Simple app setup process

Rate	Days
$29.90 USD	5
$36.90 USD	7
$39.90 USD	10
$50.90 USD	15

More Details on Holafly

We love eSiMs for their convenience. Holafly works seamlessly with our phones when we travel. With an eSIM, you can get the following.

• Coverage: They connect to Canada’s largest providers’ networks to ensure a reliable connection.
• Easy Setup: Once you purchase the app or online, simply scan the QR code to start the installation on your phone. There are three types of installation:
  • Scan the QR Code
  • Manual Installation
  • One-Button Install for iOS 17.4+
• Customer Support: They offer 24/7 multilingual support to help.
• Device Compatibility: The service works on almost all newer phones that are capable of using eSIM cards.

How to Set Up Your eSIM

1. Check Compatibility: Ensure your device supports eSIM cards; most smartphones manufactured after 2018 are capable of this.
2. Purchase eSIM: Make a Holafly account and choose the duration of your plan.
3. Receive QR Code: You’ll receive an email or WhatsApp message with instructions. This will include a QR code.
4. Install eSIM: Scan the QR code and follow the simple instructions with your device to install the eSIM on your phone.
5. Activation: Once you arrive, your phone connects to the network and activates the plan.

Tips For eSIMs

We’ve used a lot of eSIMs in our travels. Here are some of our favourite tips for managing eSIM cards. The key to use eSIM cards is organization.

• Buy Before Arrival: Purchase the eSIM before you arrive that way you don’t have to deal with connecting once you arrive.
• Change Name: Upon install, change the name of the eSIM. You can find this under your cellular settings. I always put the name of the country for eSIM.
• Save eSIM: When organized, you can use the same eSIM for return trips and just top up the package.
• Keep Personal Line On: I keep my default line the same and leave my personal SIM card in the phone.
• Use eSIM for Data: You can choose to have the eSIM be the default for just your data, which allows you to receive texts and phone calls to your personal phone.
• Account Verification: Keeping your personal SIM card as a default helps with account verification, such as online banking. We like to monitor our accounts when traveling.

Connection In The Canadian Rockies

Holafly uses Canada’s extensive data network; however, it still has its limitations. This goes for Canadians and visitors, but you’ll only have a signal along the major highways and towns. We generally do not have an abundance of cell towers in the national parks here.

Pro Tip: We suggest all visitors download offline maps from Google and hiking apps to navigate in the Rockies. We have digital maps that live on our phones, as connection is almost always limited.

Here is what you can expect for coverage.

Strong Coverage Areas:

• Banff, Jasper, Canmore, and Lake Louise town centers
• The Trans-Canada Highway corridor
• Connection at visitor centers.

Limited or No Coverage:

• Moraine Lake can be spotty
• Most hiking trails are away from the highway
• Backcountry lodges and areas
• Coverage on the Icefields Parkway is only available at the Athabasca Glacier and Saskatchewan River Crossing in the summer.
• 93S Through Kootenay National Park

This article was sponsored by Holafly, helping international travelers stay connected worldwide with eSIM solutions.