Finally, after traveling for 5 years in Argentina, I can make an overview of the best mobile coverage in Argentina. I tested all 3 mobile carriers: Personal, Movistar, and Claro. To my surprise, the carrier I expected to have the best network, isn’t.
Read more: best way getting from the airport to the city
Best mobile network coverage in Argentina
You are right if you think that being connected to a mobile network isn’t a priority on holiday. However, out on my experience, I know that not all Wi-Fi networks in the airports are working properly. Which can be handy when ordering a taxi or if you want to check your flight status.
There are 3 mobile network carriers in Argentina: Personal, Claro, and Movistar. Personal is considered the best and fastest mobile network in the country. I did the test in Buenos Aires city, on the road in Patagonia, and major tourist points such as Perito Moreno, Ushuaia, etc.
Read more: getting a SIM or E-sim card in Argentina
Mobile network in Buenos Aires city
The mobile network in Buenos Aires city by all 3 carriers is good. Here you will have no issues with being connected to 4G or 5G. Personal has speeds on average of 41 Mbps, Claro 20 Mbps and Movistar 17 Mbps.
Network coverage in the North
Heading to the North of Argentina with Jujuy (Purmamarca, …), Salta, and Iguazu. There Personal and Claro are on an equal footing. Movistar has the worst connection in the city and the roads. Claro has a slightly better connection while driving in Jujuy Province.
Conclusion for the North of Argentina: Personal or Claro
Network coverage in Patagonia
In Patagonia Claro is the absolute winner. On the roads while driving and in the small town such as El Chalten, there is a connection with Claro. Personal is nowhere to be seen in the hiking village.
However, in the bigger towns El Calafate and Ushuaia, all 3 carriers are good.
When heading to Puerto Madryn to see whales, there Claro is again the winner. Personal is only available in the city but as soon you leave the connection gets lost. But Claro keeps having connections even up to Puerto Piramides.
Conclusion: Claro
Conclusion
In my opinion, the best option is Claro. However, getting a SIM card of Claro is difficult. There is no airport office and it takes some administration at the local office.
Personal is a bit easier as there is an airport office in Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery airport.
Movistar is the better choice if you have the option to get an e-sim card. Most of the E-sim providers such as Airalo work together with Movistar. The installation is incredibly easy. More here
2 Comments
I have gotten a lot of information for our upcoming trip to Buenos Aires and thank you for that. I have a question regarding the cruise port area. We will be docking, according to what I can gather, at Terminal Benito Quinquela Martin. That appears to be close to the train station looking at Google maps. I believe you mentioned this is an area we should avoid (the area around the train station in Reiro). Should we assume that we should not attempt to walk into the city center, tango shows, etc, and take a taxi instead? Or maybe that’s too far to walk anyway. Some things I have read describe the dock as being one-half mile from the city center. Would appreciate your input. Feliz Navidad
Oh you’re welcome. Not at any moment I suggest walking from the cruise terminal to the city. Always take a taxi. It is not a nice area and especially the area between the cruise terminal and the station. For the tango show a shuttle service can be requested for example.
Have a nice cruise and Merry Christmas!