eSIM and SIM Cards in Colombia 2026 — Carriers, eSIM Issues, and Staying Connected

Getting your phone connected in Colombia is one of the first things you need to handle, and one of the most frustrating if you expect eSIM to work the way it does back home. The short version: buy an international eSIM before you fly, then switch to a local physical SIM once you land.

The eSIM Problem

This catches many expats off guard, especially those with newer iPhones that dropped the physical SIM tray entirely. Colombia's telecom regulations require identity verification for all SIM activations, and carriers enforce cedula requirements more strictly for eSIM than for physical prepaid SIMs.

The workaround is a two-step approach: use an international eSIM for your first weeks, then buy a local physical SIM card once you are settled. If your phone has both eSIM and a physical SIM slot, you can run both simultaneously — the international eSIM for data and the local SIM for a Colombian phone number.

International eSIMs (First 2-4 Weeks)

Buy one of these before you board your flight. They activate instantly and give you data the moment you land in Colombia.

Airalo

Airalo is the most popular travel eSIM provider. Their Colombia plans ride on Movistar or Claro networks and offer reliable LTE coverage in cities and most towns.

1 GB / 7 days: ~$4.50 USD
3 GB / 30 days: ~$11 USD
5 GB / 30 days: ~$16 USD
10 GB / 30 days: ~$26 USD

Best for: budget-conscious travelers who monitor data usage. You can top up through the app if you run out.

Holafly

Holafly offers unlimited data plans for Colombia, which removes the anxiety of watching your data balance.

Unlimited / 5 days: ~$19 USD
Unlimited / 15 days: ~$34 USD
Unlimited / 30 days: ~$47 USD

Best for: heavy data users, people who need hotspot tethering for laptop work, or anyone who does not want to think about data limits.

Nomad eSIM

Nomad is a newer option with competitive pricing and a clean app. Plans are similar to Airalo. A good alternative if Airalo is sold out or their Colombia plans are temporarily unavailable.

Physical SIM Cards

Once you land, buying a physical prepaid SIM is the fastest way to get a Colombian phone number. You need a local number for WhatsApp business interactions, Rappi deliveries, bank verifications, and everyday life.

Where to Buy

Airport kiosks: Claro and Movistar have counters at El Dorado (Bogota) and Jose Maria Cordova (Medellin) airports. Convenient but slightly more expensive. Available in arrivals after customs.
Carrier stores: Claro, Movistar, and Tigo stores are everywhere in cities. Staff can help with activation. Bring your passport.
Exito and Alkosto: Large supermarket chains sell prepaid SIM kits at the electronics counter. Cheaper than carrier stores.
Street vendors: Small shops and street kiosks sell SIM cards in many neighborhoods. Activation may be less reliable — carrier stores are safer for foreigners.

What You Need

Prepaid SIM: Passport is usually accepted. Some stores may ask for a cedula but most accept passports for prepaid activations.
Postpaid SIM: Cedula de extranjeria required. No exceptions.
Unlocked phone: Your phone must be carrier-unlocked to accept a Colombian SIM.

A prepaid SIM kit costs 5,000-15,000 COP ($1.40-$4.20 USD) and usually includes a small amount of data and minutes to get started.

Carrier Comparison

Claro

Claro is the largest carrier in Colombia with the widest network coverage. If you travel outside major cities — to coffee farms, small towns, or rural areas — Claro is most likely to have signal where others do not.

Coverage: Best nationwide, including rural areas
Speed: Good LTE in cities, acceptable 4G in smaller towns
Prepaid plans: "Paquetes" starting at 10,000 COP (~$2.80) for 1-3 days of data
Best for: People who travel around Colombia frequently

Movistar

Movistar offers good urban coverage and competitive pricing. Their prepaid data packages tend to offer slightly more data per peso than Claro.

Coverage: Strong in cities and major towns, weaker in rural areas
Speed: Good LTE, comparable to Claro in urban areas
Prepaid plans: Often 10-20% cheaper than Claro for equivalent data
Best for: Expats staying primarily in cities

Tigo

Tigo is the budget option. Coverage is more limited than Claro and Movistar but adequate if you stay in major cities. Their prices are the lowest.

Coverage: Cities and large towns only. Weak outside urban areas.
Speed: Acceptable LTE in city centers
Prepaid plans: Cheapest data packages
Best for: Budget-first expats who stay in one city

Prepaid vs Postpaid

Prepaid (Prepago)

Prepaid is what most expats use, especially in the first year. You buy data and minutes in advance and use them until they expire.

ID required: Passport accepted at most locations
Cost: 30,000-50,000 COP/month ($8-$14 USD) for 15-20 GB data + calls
How to recharge: Efecty, Baloto, Nequi, carrier app, supermarket checkouts
No contract: Stop recharging and the line goes dormant
Downside: Plans expire (typically 15 or 30 days) whether or not you use all the data

Postpaid (Pospago)

Postpaid plans require a cedula de extranjeria and sometimes a credit check or deposit. Monthly billing with auto-debit from your Colombian bank account.

ID required: Cedula de extranjeria (no exceptions)
Cost: 40,000-80,000 COP/month ($11-$22 USD) for plans with 20-50 GB data
Contract: 12 or 24 months, with penalties for early cancellation
Advantage: Better data allowances, phone financing, consistent billing
Downside: Locked into a contract, requires cedula and bank account

Most expats start prepaid and switch to postpaid after they have a cedula, a bank account, and are confident they are staying long-term.

WhatsApp Is Essential

You need WhatsApp working from day one. The good news: WhatsApp works over any data connection, so your international eSIM is enough to stay on WhatsApp using your existing home phone number.

Once you have a Colombian SIM, you can either:

Keep your home number on WhatsApp: This works fine. Most Colombian contacts will not care what country code your WhatsApp number has.
Switch to your Colombian number: Useful if you want a local number for business or if you plan to stay long-term. WhatsApp lets you change your number and migrate all chats.

Many expats keep their US/EU number on WhatsApp and use the Colombian SIM for local calls and carrier services. Dual-SIM phones make this seamless.

Keeping Your Home Number

Before you leave, set up a way to keep your home phone number alive without paying full carrier rates:

Google Voice: Port your US number to Google Voice for a one-time $20 fee. You can then receive calls and texts over Wi-Fi or data from anywhere in the world. This is the most popular option among US expats.
T-Mobile / Google Fi: Some plans include international data roaming at no extra cost. Check your plan details — this can be a good bridge for the first few months.
Wi-Fi Calling: If your US carrier supports Wi-Fi calling, you can receive calls on your US number over Colombian Wi-Fi. Works well in apartments with strong internet.
Skype Number: An alternative to Google Voice. Costs about $3/month for a US number that rings through the Skype app.

The critical step is porting or pausing your home number before your carrier deactivates it. Most US carriers will cancel your number after 60-90 days of non-payment. Port to Google Voice before you leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my US phone in Colombia?

Yes, if it is unlocked. Most modern iPhones and Android phones work on Colombian networks. Check that your phone supports the bands used by Claro, Movistar, or Tigo (LTE bands 2, 4, 7, 28). International roaming from your US carrier will work but costs $10-15/day — not viable for more than a few days.

Do I need to unlock my phone before leaving?

Yes. Contact your US carrier and request an unlock before you leave. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will unlock phones that are paid off and have been active for 60+ days. An unlocked phone accepts any SIM card worldwide.

Which eSIM provider has the best Colombia coverage?

Airalo and Holafly both use Movistar or Claro networks in Colombia. Coverage is identical to what you would get with a local SIM on the same network. Holafly offers unlimited data which is convenient but more expensive. Airalo lets you buy exactly the data you need.

Can I get a Colombian phone number with an eSIM?

International eSIMs from Airalo and Holafly are data-only — no Colombian phone number. If you need a local number for WhatsApp, bank verification, or deliveries, you need a physical SIM from Claro, Movistar, or Tigo.

How do I top up a prepaid SIM?

Walk into any Efecty or Baloto point and say "recarga" followed by your carrier name and phone number. Pay in cash. You can also top up through the carrier app, Nequi, or at supermarket checkout counters. Recargas start at 1,000 COP.