Use dispatched rides, carry small pesos, and learn each city's transit system
Check entry and visa rules for the passport you will use.
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.
The easiest first ride app for many visitors, with service across Bogotá and numerous other Colombian cities.
A broad alternative with private-car, taxi and other products across 20 Colombian cities.
An extra ride option in six Colombian cities, with upfront prices and scheduled rides where available.
A fare-negotiation alternative that can reveal extra driver supply in major Colombian cities.
Dispatches licensed taxis in six major cities and supports card, cash and other local payment methods.
The main coordination channel for Colombian accommodation, guides, drivers and many local businesses.
The best general map for Colombian addresses, businesses, driving and much urban public transport.
Bogotá's official TransMilenio and SITP planner, with routes, alerts, some live buses and English support.
The most useful language fallback for Spanish text, speech and camera translation, with downloadable offline support.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
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.
The widest national coverage, including rural areas, the Coffee Region, coastal towns and the jungle. The safest all-round pick.
The fastest urban speeds in Bogota and Medellin and the cheapest basic starter, but spottier outside the cities.
A solid mid-range choice, decent in Bucaramanga, Pereira and Manizales, weaker in rural areas.
The newest entrant with aggressive data pricing, though coverage is still catching up.
The essential apps for Colombia are Uber, DiDi, Rappi, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
We've curated 13 apps across 11 categories for traveling in Colombia, including 8 essential apps.
Uber is the top-rated ride hailing app in Colombia. The easiest first ride app for many visitors, with service across Bogotá and numerous other Colombian cities.
Cards, peso cash, open transit payments and dependable local apps
Cash backup, QR payments, cable cars and roadblock-aware travel
Use Uber or 99, expect CPF barriers, and carry backup cards and reais
Use Uber, learn the local transit payment, and prepare for long distances
The right apps, plus the official and offline backups Costa Rica still requires
Dollar cash, exact map pins and city-specific transport tools matter in Ecuador
