SIM cards for Colombia: The best, the options, and how to buy one

Do you need a SIM card for your trip to Colombia?

While it's possible to get by without a local SIM card in Colombia, a local SIM is usually the most cost-effective and reliable way to stay connected to the internet during your visit.

You probably aren’t planning to spend much time in Colombia glued to your phone. But if you think you can stay totally offline during your vacation, think again. You might want your smartphone to:

• Find restaurants

• Research tourist destinations

• Get directions

• Buy tickets

• Call rideshares and taxis

• Stay connected with friends

• Navigate emergencies

To do all of these things, you need access to the internet, so let’s compare your options:

• Public Wi-Fi. Big cities in Colombia usually have great public Wi-Fi coverage. Your hotel will likely offer free Wi-Fi, and you can always pop into a café or shopping mall to connect. But remember that public Wi-Fi isn’t always reliable, especially if you head out of the city to explore Colombia’s rural beauty.

• Roaming plans. Your home cell phone service provider might offer international roaming plans, but they often come with steep prices and slow connections — and you don’t get to pick your Colombian provider. Even a short trip can get expensive with roaming! If you’re staying in Colombia for more than a day or two, it’s worth checking out more affordable options.

• Buying a SIM card in Colombia. Colombian SIM cards allow your phone to temporarily function as if you are a local. You can stay connected, access maps and directions, and make local calls. If you get a prepaid Colombian SIM card (known as a “prepago”), you pay in advance for the data you need and you can always top up the card if you need more.

Simply put, if you want to focus on enjoying your vacation instead of stressing over missed messages, expensive roaming charges, or dodgy public Wi-Fi, you’ll want a Colombian SIM card.

What to check for before buying a Colombian SIM card

If you’ve decided to buy a SIM card for your trip to Colombia, that’s great! But before you grab the first one you see, it's important to do a little research. Here's a quick guide to help you pick the best SIM card for your needs:

1. Make sure your phone does not have carrier locks

Some phones are carrier- or country-locked and won’t be compatible with Colombia SIM cards. You can contact your local cell provider to see whether your phone is locked or check your phone settings.

iPhone users can easily check whether their phone is carrier-locked. Simply go to “Settings,” then “General” and “About.” Then scroll down to “Carrier lock” to see whether there are any restrictions.

 For Android users, determining whether your phone is carrier-locked is a little more complicated. The quickest and easiest way is to simply try to put a new SIM card in your phone and see if it works.

2. Understand which SIM card your cell phone uses

There are three SIM card sizes: standard, micro, and nano. If you plan on getting a physical card, find out which one your cell phone requires. Some newer phones don’t even use physical SIM cards, so you may have to explore alternatives like eSIMs. 

3. Estimate how much data you will need

If you can estimate your data usage, you'll avoid overpaying for data you don't need or running out of it too quickly. Most smartphones allow you to check your typical data usage in the settings, so you can plan accordingly.

4. Compare mobile internet providers and their network coverage

Colombia has three main mobile internet providers — Claro, Movistar, and Tigo — and they all offer Colombian SIM cards for tourists. Avantel, Virgin Mobile, Móvil Exito, and Flash Mobile also operate in Colombia but their networks are typically less reliable. These companies often have attractive offers that will help you save money but they may have more limited network coverage.

Check each provider’s network coverage maps to find out which one has the best service in your specific destination, especially if you are traveling outside the city. You will also want to look into each provider’s 4G/LTE availability (5G is still pretty limited) and speeds. Generally, you can expect browsing speeds of about 150 Mbit/s for downloads and 50 Mbit/s for uploads.  

5. Compare prepaid plans and pricing

See which Colombian internet provider offers the best SIM card for your needs. Think about how much data you will use, how long you will stay in Colombia, and whether you want extra perks. Prepaid SIM cards are a bit more expensive up front but they’re the most convenient for short trips since they don’t require you to sign a contract.

If you are a digital nomad who plans to visit Colombia for a while, you can opt for a cheaper postpaid SIM card but you will have to enter a monthly contract with your Colombian provider. 

Each Colombian mobile provider will have their own prepaid SIM card plans, but here is an overview of some options from Colombia’s three main internet providers.

Claro, Colombia’s largest mobile provider, charges you a moderate fee to purchase the physical prepaid SIM card. Once you buy a Claro SIM card, you can add on one of three different data plans for an extra cost:

• 1.5 GB data for 7 days, plus unlimited calls and texts

• 2.5 GB data for 10 days, plus unlimited calls and texts

• 9 GB data for 30 days, plus unlimited calls and texts

Movistar requires you to buy a prepaid SIM card for a flat rate and then add a data plan:

• 4 GB data for 7 days, plus free apps

• 12 GB data for 15 days, plus free apps 

Tigo’s SIM cards are free and they offer data plans for:

• 5 GB data for 7 days, plus unlimited calls and texts

• 10 GB data for 15 days, plus unlimited calls and texts

6. Learn how to top up your prepaid SIM card

If you underestimate your data needs, don’t get left in the lurch! Find out how much it’ll cost to top up your prepaid SIM card with more data and how to do it. Many prepaid SIM cards allow you to top up online but some may require you to go to a local shop (known as a tienda).

While this seems like a lot of research, carefully considering your options before you leave for Colombia will definitely improve your experience with your prepaid SIM card.

What do you need to buy a SIM card for Colombia?

To buy a SIM card for Colombia, you will need three things:

1. A passport

2. The Colombian address where you are staying

3. A phone without carrier locks (otherwise, the SIM card will not work)

Under Colombian law, every prepaid SIM card must be registered with a name and passport number, so don’t forget your passport!

Where to buy a SIM card in Colombia

When you arrive in Colombia, you have a few options for buying a SIM card:

• International airports. Colombia’s major airports — El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín, and Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena — all have convenience stores where you can buy a SIM card. However, prices in international airports are typically higher because that’s where most travelers pick up their SIM cards. If you want to save money, wait until you get into town.

• Mobile providers. Mobile providers like Claro, Movistar, Tigo, Avantel, and Airalo all have retail stores in major Colombian cities where you can purchase SIM cards for affordable prices.

• Convenience stores. Local convenience stores (tiendas) like Exito, Carulla, and OXXO typically sell SIM cards, as well as groceries, snacks, and beverages. If you’re unsure whether the store sells prepaid SIM cards, look for a sign from a Colombian network provider in the window.

• Shopping malls. Shopping malls will also have stores where you can buy prepaid SIM cards.

• Street vendors. You may find street vendors selling prepaid SIM cards for cheap. The price may seem very attractive, and they typically won’t ask for your passport. However, we recommend avoiding street vendors because many of their SIM cards are registered to stolen identities.

If you’re buying prepaid SIM cards anywhere besides the airport, you’ll probably find it helpful to know some Spanish. You don’t have to be fluent, but you also don’t want to assume that the cashier will speak your language. Familiarize yourself with a few key phrases:

• ¿Vende tarjetas de prepago? (Do you sell prepaid SIM cards?)

• Quiero comprar un prepago, por favor. (I would like to buy a prepaid SIM card, please.)

• Quiero comprar tiempo aire. (I would like to top up my SIM card.)

All of this information may seem intimidating, but don’t worry! There’s a way to skip the stress of finding a physical SIM card in Colombia. You have another, easier option — buying an eSIM.

Best alternative to a prepaid SIM card for Colombia

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of buying a prepaid SIM card for Columbia, you have an alternative — an eSIM. Also known as a virtual SIM, an eSIM gives you a bunch of benefits without the drawbacks of SIM cards, such as having to find or physically switch out your SIM cards yourself.

An eSIM for Colombia has a lot of benefits. With an eSIM, you can:

• Avoid high roaming charges.

• Get great network coverage.

• Have multiple virtual eSIMs on one device.

• Dodge the hassle of swapping out physical SIM cards.

• Avoid the risk of lost or stolen SIM cards.

• Add new destinations using the same eSIM for global coverage while traveling abroad.

• Help the environment by not contributing to plastic waste with a physical SIM card you will eventually throw away.

eSIMs are compatible with most modern smartphones. However, they don’t work on every device, so check to make sure your smartphone and any other devices are compatible with an eSIM before you purchase a plan.

Explore Colombia with a Saily eSIM

A Saily eSIM might be the best international SIM card for Colombia. Our affordable eSIM app gives you high-speed access to Colombia’s internet networks, allowing you to explore its exciting jungles, vibrant history, and dynamic culture!

Saily offers a variety of plans so that you can choose the right one for you, with 7-day data plans starting at $6.99 for 1 GB of data. Skip sky-high roaming fees and fumbling with easy-to-lose plastic SIM cards. With Saily, you can browse the internet anywhere with ease.

You can download Saily with just a few taps, and it will activate automatically once you touch down in Colombia. Download our eSIM app today so you don’t miss a second of your vacation!