Which carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
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.
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.
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.
Guac eSIM covers Colombia with data plans starting from $1.50 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.
SIM cards and eSIM in Colombia