Colombia
Use dispatched rides, carry small pesos, and learn each city's transit system
Check entry and visa rules for the passport you will use.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Colombia
Migración Colombia describes CheckMig as a free, optional web form that can be completed from 72 hours to one hour before travel, although an airline may still request it in its own boarding process. Use only the official government website and never pay an intermediary. Cards work in formal city businesses, but carry Colombian pesos in small notes for public transport, markets, small shops and rural areas. A short-term visitor generally cannot open Nequi with only a passport.
Private-car services arranged through Uber, DiDi, Cabify or inDrive operate widely, but Colombia's transport authority says those platforms are not authorized to provide individual passenger transport under the current framework. Use a dispatched licensed taxi when you want the regulated option, follow official airport procedures, verify the plate and driver, and avoid motorcycle passenger services. Keep your phone out of sight near streets and vehicle windows, watch every drink, and be cautious with new contacts made through dating apps. Call 123 for police, ambulance or fire services.
Ride Hailing
UberEssential
The easiest first ride app for many visitors, with service across Bogotá and numerous other Colombian cities.
DiDiEssential
A broad alternative with private-car, taxi and other products across 20 Colombian cities.
Cabify
An extra ride option in six Colombian cities, with upfront prices and scheduled rides where available.
inDrive
A fare-negotiation alternative that can reveal extra driver supply in major Colombian cities.
Taxis Libres
Dispatches licensed taxis in six major cities and supports card, cash and other local payment methods.
Food Delivery
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
The main coordination channel for Colombian accommodation, guides, drivers and many local businesses.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The best general map for Colombian addresses, businesses, driving and much urban public transport.
Transit
TransMi AppEssential
Bogotá's official TransMilenio and SITP planner, with routes, alerts, some live buses and English support.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
The most useful language fallback for Spanish text, speech and camera translation, with downloadable offline support.
Intercity Transport
redBusEssential
A broad first search for comparing Colombian intercity bus companies, schedules, seats and prices.
Pinbus
A Colombia-focused bus marketplace that can show operators or departures absent from another search.
Also covered
Internet in Colombia
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Colombian law requires every prepaid line to be registered to a person, so passport registration is mandatory. Bring the physical passport, not a photo on your phone; staff may also record your device's IMEI. Street kiosks and corner shops sell SIMs but generally cannot complete the registration, which leaves you with a card that does not work.
- Colombia is a cheap market: the SIM itself runs around 4,000 to 8,000 COP (roughly $1 to $2) in the city, or comes free with a plan, and under $10 buys a month of enough data for general use. Tigo's SIM has been seen higher, at around 20,000 COP (roughly $5).
- Official Claro, Movistar, Tigo and WOM stores in city centres and malls (Andino and Unicentro in Bogota, El Tesoro in Medellin) are the reliable route, and there are carrier kiosks in arrivals at Bogota El Dorado, Medellin Jose Maria Cordova and Cartagena. Exito, Jumbo and Carulla supermarkets, OXXO and Drogas La Rebaja pharmacies also sell SIMs and top-ups. Avoid street vendors and small corner shops: they often cannot register the SIM properly and offer no support.
- Mild. Airport kiosks are consistently a bit more expensive with less choice than city stores. The bigger issue for a late arrival is that Bogota airport kiosk hours are erratic, with some closing by early evening.
- Claro, Movistar and Tigo all offer eSIM in Colombia. The practical argument for a foreign travel eSIM here is that it skips the registration queue entirely: most of the friction in Colombia is registration, not price.
If nobody asks for your passport, the SIM will not work: unregistered cards from street kiosks stay inactive. If you land late, head to a full Claro or Movistar shop the next morning rather than hunting for an evening kiosk. Top-ups are easy afterwards, at any tienda or pharmacy showing 'recarga para celular', and on Claro dialing *611# shows your balance and your own number.
Local carriers
Claro
The widest national coverage, including rural areas, the Coffee Region, coastal towns and the jungle. The safest all-round pick.
Movistar
The fastest urban speeds in Bogota and Medellin and the cheapest basic starter, but spottier outside the cities.
Tigo
A solid mid-range choice, decent in Bucaramanga, Pereira and Manizales, weaker in rural areas.
WOM
The newest entrant with aggressive data pricing, though coverage is still catching up.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Colombia?
The essential apps for Colombia are Uber, DiDi, Rappi, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
How many travel apps does Colombia have?
We've curated 13 apps across 8 categories for traveling in Colombia, including 8 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Colombia?
Uber. The easiest first ride app for many visitors, with service across Bogotá and numerous other Colombian cities.
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