An eSpeedz Colombia eSIM starts at $8.99 for prepaid, data-only service on the Movistar network, with plans from a 1GB week up to 20GB. It's delivered by email as a QR code, installs before your trip, and starts when your phone connects in Colombia.
Ride apps, maps and WhatsApp are how Colombia gets around. Arrive with data on and skip the scramble for wifi at the airport.
WhatsApp is how Colombia communicates. Hotels, tour operators, restaurants and even your Airbnb host will message you there, often with last-minute pickup details. Getting around leans on apps too. Uber, DiDi and Cabify all run in the big cities, and most visitors use them over street taxis for the upfront price and a record of the trip. Ride-hailing in private cars still sits in a legal gray area in Colombia, though, so read the app's pickup notes and match the plate before you get in.
Wifi is easy to find in Medellín's cafes and coworking spaces, in Bogotá hotels and in most hostels. It gets patchier once you head out to smaller towns, coffee farms around Salento or the beaches near Santa Marta, and that's exactly when you want a map and a way to call a ride. Like anywhere, mobile coverage is strongest in cities and along main roads and thins out in remote national parks.
A local prepaid SIM is cheap but means a store visit with your passport, and US carrier daily passes cost around $12 a day. If you're spending a few weeks here, maybe working remotely from Medellín, an eSIM set up before you leave gets you connected from the jet bridge without either hassle.
Plans run on Movistar in Colombia. Data-only, prepaid, no contract. Prices in USD.
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia 1GB | 1GB | 7 days | $8.99 |
| Colombia 3GB | 3GB | 30 days | $22.99 |
| Colombia 5GB | 5GB | 30 days | $36.99 |
| Colombia 10GB | 10GB | 30 days | $64.99 |
| Colombia 20GB | 20GB | 30 days | $122.99 |
Prices checked October 1, 2026. All prices in USD, one-time payment.
| Network | Movistar |
|---|---|
| Phone number | Not included. Data only, your regular number keeps working for calls and texts |
| Validity starts | When the eSIM first connects in Colombia, not when you buy or install it |
| Delivery | QR code by email, usually in about 3 minutes |
| Top-ups | Available |
| Phone needed | eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked |
Plans run on Movistar in Colombia. Popular stops for travelers:
Colombia is fairly light on data if you use wifi where you sleep. A 1GB plan works for a short city break where you only need maps, rides and WhatsApp. For a week of exploring, 3GB is a realistic baseline. For two weeks or more, especially if you're working remotely or hotspotting a laptop in a cafe with shaky wifi, 10GB to 20GB is the safer choice.
The drier months, December to March and again in July and August, are the most popular for the Andes and the coffee region. Cartagena and the Caribbean coast are hot all year and driest from December to April, which is also peak season, so book early around Christmas and New Year. Medellín's mild weather makes it a good visit almost any month, though April, May, October and November bring more rain.
Sources: migracioncolombia.gov.co · colombiamove.com · policymagazine.ca · go-to-colombia.com · worlddialer.com. Information checked October 2026. Entry rules and fees change, so confirm with official sources before you travel.