Telephone and electricity networks in Colombia
How do you communicate and recharge your phones in Colombia?
During your stay in Colombia, it's important to be familiar with the country's telephone and electricity networks to make your journey easier. In our article, you'll find all the information you need to avoid being caught out once you're in the country, while spending relatively little to stay connected to the modern world, even abroad.
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Telephony & Internet in Colombia
Colombia offers a modern, relatively well-developed telephone and Internet network in most parts of the country, given the natural obstacles (mountains, Amazon, after all!). You’ll find several cell phone operators offering prepaid SIM cards or monthly packages.
How can I call a mobile or landline number in my country of residence from Colombia?
Imagine you’re a Frenchman, a Brazilian or a Canadian on vacation in Colombia, but you need to call someone in France, Brazil or Canada. What to do?
- Use Skype (recommended): yes, you read that right! You can make international calls to landlines and mobiles from the Skype application. Simply credit your account and you're ready to go. So far, we haven't found a cheaper solution: 1h call costs around €2-4, depending on the destination.
- Off-plan (not recommended): of course, you could also simply use your usual package, but being abroad, the cost of making an international phone call could be expensive. Bad idea.
How can I get Internet on my phone in Colombia?
As with most countries in the world, there are a number of very simple solutions for staying connected while travelling in Colombia.
- Use a local SIM card: this is THE main solution we recommend to any traveler wishing to visit Colombia, whether for 1 week or 6 months. It's easy to get a local SIM card on the spot
- Use the mobile package of your country of residence: depending on your country of residence, and your phone operator, you may be able to get data abroad with Colombia included in the list of countries (like Free in France with its €9.99/€19.99 5G package, or SFR RED with its €35 South America Stay Pack option). However, very few packages in Europe offer data for Colombia, and we can't say for sure how well it works once you're in the country.
- Free wifi: many public places (hotels, restaurants, airports, some public parks, etc.) also offer a free wifi connection (sometimes limited in time, and of variable quality). There are also cyber cafés with computers if you don't have a mobile phone.
Where and how can I buy a SIM card in Colombia?
Getting a local SIM card in Colombia is quick and easy, whatever your chosen telephone operator.
All you need is your passport. You’ll pay for the SIM card itself (around 3,000 – 5,000 COP) + the prepaid package you want.
And of course you need an unlocked cell phone, otherwise it won’t work.
- Visit an official store (recommended): visit an official Claro, Movistar or Tigo store in all major cities (Bogotá, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, Santa Marta, etc.) and medium-sized towns (Armenia, Pereira, Manizales, Popayán, Ipiales, Neiva, etc.). You can pay by credit card or in cash.
- Go to a grocery store/kiosk: many small grocery stores ('tienda' in Spanish) also sell SIM cards and packages. These tiendas can be found literally everywhere, even in small villages. Beware, however, of surprises when it comes to data credit, if the seller wants to rip off a tourist.
- Please note that if you are staying in Colombia for more than 30 days, you must register your cell phone. In a bid to curb illegal cell phone trafficking, all handsets must be registered to be considered non-theft/legal, in the event of a stay of more than 30 days. When you buy your SIM and package, we advise you to ask the seller to register your phone, so that you don't have to worry about it afterwards. He'll need your passport and your IMEI number (obtainable by typing *#06# on the phone).
Which Colombian telephone operator to choose?
Colombia has 3 well-known telephone operators: Claro, Movistar and Tigo. And let’s be clear from the outset, we recommend taking a prepaid SIM card from Claro, which has by far the best coverage in the country.
Beware, however, that no matter which operator you choose, there is more than one area in Colombia where there is NO signal. But don’t worry, it’s only isolated places, “at the end of the world”, such as deep in the Llanos, certain parts of Amazonia, etc., that are concerned. No problems on major tourist routes, in large towns and small villages alike.
Below is a comparison of prepaid packages from each operator, excluding the purchase of a SIM (around 3,000 – 5,000 COP).
Claro
30-day package-
30-day package
-
30 GB of data
-
Unlimited calls (Colombia only)
-
Unlimited SMS (Colombia only)
Movistar
30-day package-
30-day package
-
12 GB data + 3 GB bonus
-
Unlimited calls (Colombia only)
-
Unlimited SMS (Colombia only)
tigo
14-day package-
14-day package
-
10 GB of data
-
Unlimited calls (Colombia only)
-
Unlimited SMS (Colombia only)
-
Comparison made in July 2023.
For longer stays (e.g. 2 months) or shorter stays (e.g. 10 days), there are of course other packages, more or less expensive, to suit your needs.
Power grid in Colombia
It is important to note that in some more rural and isolated areas, there may be variations in the quality and stability of the electricity supply. So it’s a good idea to find out about the specific situation in the region you’re planning to visit, so you can prepare yourself beforehand.
The electrical grid in Colombia operates on alternating current, with a standard voltage of 110-120 volts and a frequency of 60 Hz, compared with 230 volts and 50 Hz in Europe. The most commonly used electrical outlets are type A and B, which have two flat pins.
It’s important to note that some more modern hotels or accommodations may also offer type C (two-round pin) or type F (two-round pin with a grounded plug) sockets, as in Europe. But this is still very rare.
Just check that your different devices are compatible.
- If you live in Europe, you'll need an AC adapter to recharge your electrical devices (smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.). We've been using this Welly adapter bought on Amazon, which also has USB ports, and have had no problems whatsoever.
In Colombia’s major cities, notably Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, the power supply is stable and reliable, comparable to that in developed countries. Hotels, restaurants and shopping malls generally offer broadband connectivity to recharge your devices and stay connected.
However, in more rural or isolated areas, the situation can vary. The power supply may be less stable, with occasional power cuts. If you’re staying in the Amazon, the ecolodges only have electricity for a few hours each day.
If you need medication or medical equipment that depends on electricity, be sure to check the specific health requirements before travelling to Colombia.
Practical information about Colombia
Advice
Here’s our advice on how to be prepared for every situation in Colombia. Ensuring a minimum of comfort, especially in remote areas, can be important, especially if you’re staying for several days.
Beware of roaming charges
Roaming charges refer to the extra costs charged by your mobile phone operator when you use your phone or mobile data in a foreign country that is not covered. So don't forget to deactivate roaming charges just before you leave for Colombia, and until you have activated a Colombian SIM card (if you wish). Otherwise your next bill could be very high!
Using WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a free Internet-based instant messaging application. WhatsApp is extremely popular in Colombia, and widely used by individuals and businesses alike. You can contact your hotel, travel agency or guide this way. It's also a simple, effective way of keeping in touch with family and friends. All you need is an Internet connection (hence the local SIM card!).
Take an external battery
An external battery, also known as a power bank, is an essential accessory for modern travelers. This small, portable power source lets you recharge electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras or headphones when you don't have access to an electrical outlet. We recommend this Charmast battery on Amazon, with good autonomy and well-supplied ports.
Using a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an application that enables you to surf the Internet anonymously, as the websites you visit cannot trace your identity or location (via your IP address). Being able to change location is a great feature when traveling. You can book internal flights before you leave, or continue to watch your country's audiovisual programmes, even in Colombia! For our part, we use Proton VPN.
Practical travel guide Colombia
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