You might also be interested in these articles:
– Best VPNs in Colombia: our comparison
– Colombia’s best eSIMs: our full comparison
And check out our selection of must-have items and photo equipment!
Since 2023, we’ve been using Surfshark on a daily basis. From France, it gives us access to the Netflix catalogs of countries like Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. When we’re in Colombia, we use it to watch our favorite French content while securing our smartphones on public Wi-Fi networks. And the best part? That’s because we’re fully satisfied!
Travelling in Colombia is a real pleasure: breathtaking landscapes, bustling cities, dream beaches… but the connections aren’t always easy. Between the sometimes dubious public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels or hostels, our banks’ websites blocking us because we’re abroad, and Netflix or Amazon Prime refusing our usual catalog… we can quickly find ourselves frustrated.
Thankfully, Surfshark is there to save the day. As soon as we arrive in a new city, it reconnects us to our series as if we were at home, lets us consult our bank accounts in total security, and above all, protects us on those public Wi-Fis where anyone could spy on our data.
Whether we’re digital nomads, expatriates or just out and about, Surfshark gives us the peace of mind we need to enjoy our travels without digital stress. In this article, we tell you about our experience in Colombia: local performance, streaming, security… everything you need to know to stay connected and serene.
Why use a VPN when you travel?
When you’re traveling, staying connected can quickly become a real headache. This is where a VPN comes into play. But what exactly is a VPN? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Think of it as a secure tunnel for our data on the Internet , between our device and a server located in the country of our choice: everything we send or receive passes through this tunnel, safe from prying eyes.
Without a VPN, a number of problems can quickly arise:
- Risks on public Wi-Fi: we love to connect in cafés, hotels or airports, but these networks are often not very secure. Without protection, our passwords, e-mails or banking information can be intercepted by hackers.
- Geographical barriers: our Netflix or Amazon Prime catalog is not always available abroad. Some local TV channels may also restrict access depending on location.
- Access to our banking services: some banks detect a connection from abroad and block access to our accounts, for our own safety… but this can quickly become frustrating when we need to pay or check our transactions.
Fortunately, an easy-to-use VPN can solve all these problems in just a few clicks. It secures our connection, lets us find our favorite content as if we were at home, and gives us hassle-free access to our bank accounts. When traveling, it really is an indispensable companion for staying connected and serene.
Introducing Surfshark
So let’s talk about Surfshark. This is a VPN that was created in 2018 and has quickly gained popularity, especially among travelers and digital nomads. Why? Because it combines safety, speed and simplicity, while remaining very affordable.
Here’s what really sets it apart:
- Servers in over 100 countries: whether you’re in Bogotá, Medellín or Cartagena, you can connect to a server almost anywhere in the world. Ideal for accessing our usual content like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
- Unlimited connections: you can protect all your devices at the same time – computers, phones, tablets… no questions asked.
- Solid encryption and modern protocols: Surfshark uses AES-256, the most secure standard, and protocols like WireGuard, which combine speed and security.
On top of that, Surfshark offers features that may seem a little technical at first, but are extremely useful in everyday life:
- Kill Switch: if your VPN goes down, it automatically cuts your connection so that your data doesn’t leak.
- MultiHop: you can run your connection through two servers instead of one, for even greater protection.
- NoBorders and obfuscated servers: perfect for bypassing restrictions or censorship in certain countries.
- CleanWeb: no more intrusive ads, trackers and malicious sites.
The best part? It’s all designed so that even someone who knows nothing about VPNs can use it in just a few clicks. Install Surfshark, choose a server and connect – it’s literally instantaneous.
In a nutshell, Surfshark doesn’t just secure our connection: it also keeps us free and connected, just like at home, wherever we are in Colombia.
Surfshark and streaming from abroad
We’re not going to lie: one of the great pleasures of traveling is being able to relax in the evening with your favorite series or film. But as soon as we leave our country, it’s a real nightmare: Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. often block access to our usual catalog. Frustrating, isn’t it?
This is where Surfshark really becomes our best ally. With servers in over 100 countries, it lets us pretend we’re still at home. In practical terms, even in Colombia, you can :
- Watch Netflix with the French, American or British catalog.
- Access Amazon Prime or Disney+ exactly as if you were at home.
- Take advantage of geo-restricted local and foreign TV channels.
All without any complicated handling. You simply choose a server in the country of your choice, connect, and voila: your usual content appears as if by magic.
What’s more, Surfshark is fast and stable, even in HD streaming. There’s virtually no buffering, and it works on all our devices: computer, tablet, smartphone… and even some smart TVs.
In short, if your goal is to never miss an episode or a movie, even on the other side of the world, Surfshark really does the job. No need to sacrifice our Netflix evenings to discover the world!
Surfshark and security on public Wi-Fi
Travelling is great, but staying connected at home can be stressful. We love to sit in a café in Medellín or use the free Wi-Fi at a youth hostel… but these public networks are a real playground for hackers. Passwords, e-mails, banking information and even our conversations can be intercepted. Yes, it’s scary!
This is where Surfshark becomes our digital shield. Thanks to AES-256 encryption, all our data passes through a secure tunnel. Basically, even if someone tries to intercept them, everything they see will be unreadable.
And that’s not all:
- Kill Switch: if our VPN goes offline, it immediately shuts down the Internet to prevent data leakage.
- MultiHop: for those who want even more security, our traffic can pass through two servers instead of one, making tracking almost impossible.
- NoBorders and obfuscated servers: perfect for bypassing local restrictions or heavily filtered networks, such as those found in hotels and Internet cafés.
We’ve tested Surfshark in various locations in Colombia: airports in Bogotá and Medellín, cafés in Cartagena and youth hostels in Salento… and every time, we’ve felt calm, protected and free to surf like at home.
When traveling, Surfshark isn’t just a VPN: it’s our digital insurance. We can check our e-mails, consult our bank accounts and surf the Internet without fear of someone spying on our personal data.
Performance and user experience
When it comes to VPNs, two things really count for us travelers: speed and stability. And in this respect, Surfshark holds its own, even against more expensive services.
Speeds measured in recent tests
Several independent tests show that Surfshark can deliver very high speeds, especially with the modern WireGuard protocol:
- On local connections, Surfshark achieved download speeds of up to ~1,615 Mbps, making it one of the fastest VPNs on the market.
- Even on international connections (e.g. Europe → USA), speeds in excess of 350 Mbps were recorded – more than enough for 4K streaming, gaming or video conferencing.
To put this in perspective: you only need around 25 Mbps to watch a 4K video without jerks. So even speeds much lower than these are still very comfortable for most uses.
Realistic speed tests
On fast networks (1 Gbps), Surfshark offers :
- ~285-310 Mbps throughput on remote servers like New York or London.
- A speed reduction of typically 25-30% on nearby servers, and sometimes more for long-distance connections – still a very high performance for a VPN.
These figures show high speed retention, especially with WireGuard, today’s fastest VPN protocol.
Latency and ping
Latency, or ping, is the time it takes for a data packet to travel back and forth. It’s important for :
- Live streaming and videoconferencing: less latency = a fluid experience.
- Online games: less lag = better reactivity.
Surfshark often displays very low pings on local or regional servers, keeping real-time usage comfortable.
Concrete user experience
Beyond the raw numbers :
- The interface is simple and intuitive, with “fastest” servers recommended automatically.
- WireGuard connection is fast (often less than 2 seconds), even on cell phones or when changing Wi-Fi networks.
- Stability is good, with few unexpected interruptions or frequent reconnections.
Surfshark also continues to optimize its servers with 10 Gbps ports and technologies such as FastTrack to further enhance performance.
Rates and value for money
If we had to sum up Surfshark in one word: affordable. For a VPN that offers unlimited connections, servers in over 100 countries and top-level security, we can easily install it on all our devices without blowing the budget.
Here’s an overview of the most common plans:
| Subscription duration | Monthly price (“Starter” offer) | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | ~ $15 / month | No obligation, perfect for test or short stay |
| 12 months | ~ $3.00 / month | Good balance between price and duration |
| 24 months | ~ $2.00 / month | Best overall fare, ideal for regular travellers |
What’s more, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the service risk-free.
Up to 70% savings
AND 3 MONTHS FREE
Why it’s great value for money
- Unlimited connections: we can protect all our devices at the same time, which is rare even with premium VPNs.
- Comprehensive features: MultiHop, Kill Switch, CleanWeb, access to streaming and online banking… all included, at no extra cost.
- Solid performance: speed, stability and low latency for streaming, remote working or online gaming.
In short, for just a few dollars a month, Surfshark gives us the security and digital freedom we need when traveling, while remaining simple to use. Compared with other, often more expensive VPNs, value for money is clearly one of our strong points.
Conclusion: why Surfshark is an excellent choice for travel
When traveling, there are a thousand things to think about – the Internet connection doesn’t have to be a source of stress. With Surfshark, we have found a reliable companion that offers us security, freedom and simplicity:
- Security: our data remains protected on public Wi-Fi thanks to AES-256 encryption, Kill Switch and MultiHop options.
- Access to streaming: we can find our usual catalogs of streaming services as if we were at home.
- Bank accounts and online services: no more annoying blockages, now you can manage your finances securely from anywhere.
- Simplicity: quick installation, intuitive interface and unlimited connections for all our devices.
In short, Surfshark lets us enjoy our travels to the full without worrying about Internet restrictions or risks. That’s exactly why we use it, and why we recommend it to anyone who wants to travel with peace of mind. If you want to test without risk, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
