May 28, 2020, 5:40 pm

Traveling to Colombia doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from the rest of the world. In fact, having access to a working phone and internet during your trip to Colombia can be immensely helpful while trying to find things to do in Colombia, great restaurants or if you get lost. Luckily, you have plenty of internet companies in Colombia that will help you stay connect during your holiday.

If you are just passing through, consider a prepago plan, which is similar to a pay-as-you-go plan. It’s ideal since you won’t need a long-term contract. You can simply pay for one day, one week or one month and be done with it. Below are the most popular cell phone plans and companies in Colombia. As in any country, plans and deals are always changing, but this information can help you plan so you can stay connected during your trip to Colombia:

Virgin

Prefer to keep your money in your pocket? No problem. If don’t anticipate using your cell phone much, but would still like some data and minutes just in case, Virgin’s plans are pretty attractive.

Their prepago plans are called antiplanes and start with a very tarif per month which you will get 1 hour of calls, unlimited WhatsApp and 50MB of Facebook. And in case you do need more data or minutes, you can always re-charge just one or the other with what Virgin calls bolsas. This is ideal if you don’t plan on using your phone much. Although it does the job, do not expect great connection and speed.

Avantel

Expect great deals! This is perfect for people who don’t even want a 1-month plan. Starting with plans per week for 320 MB, 25 minutes of calls and unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp, you really can’t go wrong. I think it’s plenty for a week and you can always extend or upgrade if you need more.

Tigo

Tigo really pushes their 2-day, 6-day and 7-day plans. If you’re in town for a short time, for 2 days Tigo offers plans with 50 MB of internet, 10 SMS, and 20 minutes of calls.

Claro

Like Tigo’s offering but are looking for more long-term options? Claro also offers very similar packages and prices, but extend to 10, 20 or 30 days. If you are a heavy browser and like to do some gaming, you can get 1000 MB, 200 minutes and 1000 SMS for a very good tarif per month.

ETB

ETB is known for having the best internet speed on the market in Colombia. Starting with plans of 420MB, 20 mins of calls and 100 SMS for a week, this is a great option for those who are looking for good connection and flexibility.

Pro Tip:

It’s best to get your plan from a store located in an area that has a lot of foreigners. The sales person might only speak Spanish, but at least he or she will be accustomed to helping people with foreign smartphones who only need short-term options. Some sales people require Colombian identification to begin a cell phone plan. If that happens, ask if you can use your passport. If the answer is no, try a different sales person or different store. When it comes to customer service in Colombia, sometimes you have to keep asking different people until you hear a “yes.”  

Pro Tip:

Make sure your smartphone is “unlocked” before traveling to Colombia. If you are still paying your phone off in your home country, you might have a problem using a Colombian SIM card. In that case, it might be best to buy a cheap Colombian phone and plan depending on how long you will be here.  

And if you're planning your trip to Colombia, have a look at our tours to give you some ideas. 

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