eSIM for Colombia: prices, coverage from Cartagena to the Amazon, and phone safety (2026)
What a Colombia eSIM costs, how much data a trip uses, where signal drops on the Lost City trek and in the Amazon, ride apps, and how to use your phone safely.
· 7 min read
A travel eSIM is a good fit for a trip to Colombia. You get prepaid data on a Colombian network as soon as you land in Bogotá, Medellín or Cartagena, and your usual number keeps working for calls and texts. With Cabin Mode, 3 GB for 15 days costs $10.20 and 10 GB for 30 days costs $36.50. Colombia is one of the pricier countries per GB, so it pays to size the plan carefully.
Colombia plans and prices
The Colombia-only plans at trip-sized allowances:
| Data | Valid for | Price (USD) | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.76 | $3.76 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $10.20 | $3.40 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $10.50 | $3.50 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $20.00 | $4.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $36.50 | $3.65 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $68.00 | $3.40 |
Prices checked 25 September 2026. They can change, and the app shows current prices in your currency. As an approximate conversion at the 24 September 2026 reference rate, 10 GB at $36.50 is about A$52, £28 or €32. Cabin Mode charges in the currency shown in the app.
How to read this table. The 5 GB plan is the worst value per GB in the Colombia range, at $4.00. If 3 GB looks tight, compare two options: the 3 GB plan plus a top-up in the app when you need it, or going straight to 10 GB if you know you'll use it. The 3 GB 15-day and 30-day plans are only 30 cents apart, so take the 30-day version unless you're certain of your dates.
Every Colombia plan starts on first connection to a network in Colombia and lists 5G where the network offers it. See every Colombia plan.
How much data a Colombia trip uses
A week in Cartagena or Medellín. Maps, ride apps, WhatsApp with your host and tour operators, restaurant searches and photos. Somewhere around 2–3 GB, so the 3 GB plan fits.
Two weeks: Bogotá, the Coffee Region and the Caribbean coast. Plan on 5–8 GB. Long bus rides between Medellín and Salento, or down to Santa Marta, eat data if you stream. Download on Wi-Fi before you leave.
The Lost City trek or a stay in the Amazon. Those days barely count, because there's no network to use (see below).
A month of remote work in Medellín. Video calls and hotspotting a laptop can pass 20 GB. At these prices, a Colombian prepaid SIM is often the better tool for a stay this long.
For a fuller breakdown by app, see how much data do I need for a trip.
Coverage across Colombia
Coverage and speed depend on the local partner network. The broad picture is consistent.
The cities
Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta have strong 4G, and 5G is arriving in the larger cities. In Cartagena's walled city, the thick colonial walls can weaken signal indoors, much as old stone does in Europe.
The Coffee Region
Salento, Filandia and the towns around Pereira and Manizales are covered. In the Cocora Valley, signal fades as you climb away from the trailhead, so download the loop route before you set off.
Tayrona and the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
Around Tayrona National Park, you'll get signal near the entrances and in parts of the park, but not everywhere along the beach paths. The multi-day Lost City trek in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a different matter. Expect to be offline for most of it. Tell people at home, and switch to Airplane Mode to save battery.
The Amazon
Leticia, Colombia's Amazon gateway, can only be reached by air. The town has mobile coverage, but lodges up the river mostly don't. Leticia also sits on the three-way border with Brazil and Peru. Near the border your phone may pick up a Brazilian or Peruvian network, and the Colombia plan won't carry data on those. If data stops, set the network manually in Settings › Cellular › [travel eSIM] › Network Selection and pick a Colombian network.
San Andrés and Providencia
These Caribbean islands are part of Colombia and covered by the Colombia plan. Coverage is thinner on Providencia.
Apps you'll actually use in Colombia
- WhatsApp. Almost everything runs through it: guesthouse check-in, tour bookings, restaurant reservations and your driver's "I'm outside". The travel eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp keeps your normal number and runs over Colombian data. The setup is in keeping WhatsApp and bank codes working abroad.
- Ride-hailing. Uber, DiDi, inDrive and Cabify are widely used in the big cities. The UK Foreign Office notes that well-known taxi companies can be booked through Uber and Cabify. Private-car ride-hailing still sits in a legal grey area in Colombia as of September 2026, and airport pickup rules vary, so at the airport the official taxi rank is often simpler.
- Check-MIG. Colombia's migration form is completed online before you travel. Do it at home, and keep a screenshot of the confirmation.
- Offline maps. Download the areas around Salento, Tayrona and anywhere else you'll hike.
Using your phone safely in Colombia
Colombians have a phrase for making yourself an easy target: dar papaya, "giving papaya". Waving an iPhone around on a busy street is the classic example. The UK Foreign Office's advice for Colombia (as of September 2026) is specific on a few points that involve your phone:
- Street crime. Pickpocketing, mugging and armed robbery are a problem in the major cities. Don't display phones on buses.
- Taxis. Don't hail taxis on the street. Book by app, or have your hotel or restaurant arrange one. Express kidnappings have happened in unlicensed taxis, sometimes starting near ATMs at night.
- Dating apps. Criminals use dating apps to target foreigners travelling alone. Don't invite strangers to your accommodation, and don't go to theirs.
- Drugging. Scopolamine has been used to incapacitate and rob victims. Never leave a drink unattended, and don't accept anything from strangers.
On your iPhone:
- Turn on Stolen Device Protection in Settings › Face ID & Passcode.
- Set a SIM PIN on your home line in Settings › Cellular › [your usual line] › SIM PIN.
- Share your location with someone you trust in the Find My app, and keep Find My iPhone on.
- Check the map in a café or shop doorway rather than at the kerb, and put the phone away before you walk off.
Setting up for arrival
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. There's a walkthrough in how to install a travel eSIM on iPhone.
- After landing, turn off Airplane Mode.
- In Settings › Cellular, choose the travel eSIM for Cellular Data.
- Turn Data Roaming on for the travel eSIM and leave it off on your usual line.
Your iPhone needs to be an XR or later and carrier-unlocked. Cabin Mode is iPhone only, and its plans are data only, with no Colombian number and no SMS.
When Cabin Mode isn't the cheapest option
For a short trip, a travel eSIM saves you a phone-shop queue on your first day. For a long stay, such as a few months in Medellín, a Colombian prepaid SIM usually costs less per GB and gives you a local number for deliveries and banks. That's the better choice there. eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM sets out the trade-offs. If Colombia is one leg of a longer South America trip, compare the options in the South America backpacking guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does an eSIM work in Colombia?
Yes. Any eSIM-capable iPhone that isn't carrier-locked can use a Colombia travel eSIM for mobile data from arrival. Your usual number stays active for calls and SMS codes.
How much data do I need for two weeks in Colombia?
Most travellers use 5–8 GB over two weeks. The 10 GB plan covers that with room to spare. For a lighter trip, start with 3 GB and top up in the app if you need more.
Is Uber legal in Colombia?
Uber, DiDi, inDrive and Cabify operate openly and are widely used in the cities, but private-car ride-hailing is not formally authorised under Colombia's transport rules as of September 2026. The UK Foreign Office recommends booking taxis by app or through your hotel rather than hailing on the street.
Is there phone signal on the Lost City trek?
For most of it, no. Plan to be offline for the multi-day trek, download everything you need beforehand, and let people at home know when to expect you back in range.
Is it safe to use my phone in Medellín or Bogotá?
Yes, with care. Don't use it at the kerb or on buses, and put it away while you walk. Turn on Stolen Device Protection and a SIM PIN before you travel.
Will my Colombia eSIM work in Leticia?
Yes, in town, on Colombian networks. Near the Brazil and Peru border your phone may connect to a foreign network, where the Colombia plan won't work. Choose a Colombian network manually in Network Selection.