You have two good ways to get online in Medellín: an eSIM installed before you fly, or a local prepaid SIM bought in the city with your passport. The wrong way is expecting to buy one in the arrivals hall — there is no SIM counter there. Here is what each operator sells, what it costs at our last check, where to buy it, and how to decide.
Decide in ten seconds
- Under a week, want it working when you land: buy an eSIM (Airalo or similar) before departure. Colombia plans ran from roughly $12 for a few days to around $90 for a month of heavy data at our last check — verify on the provider’s site, prices move.
- A week or more, phone unlocked, comfortable with a shop visit: a local Claro or Movistar prepaid SIM costs a fraction of an eSIM per gigabyte and gives you a Colombian number for WhatsApp bookings.
- Phone locked to your home carrier: eSIM if the phone supports it, or your carrier’s roaming pass.
The four Colombian operators
| Operator | Coverage | Tourist-style prepaid price (last check) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claro | Widest in the country, best on day trips and in the mountains | About 85,000 COP for 12 GB / 30 days | Anyone leaving the city — Guatapé, coffee country, Jardín |
| Movistar | Good in cities, thinner rural | Roughly 25,000–30,000 COP for 30 GB / 30 days via resellers | Data-heavy city stays |
| Tigo | Good in Medellín and the valley | Roughly 20,000 COP for 10 GB / 15 days | Short, cheap |
| WOM | Newest network, cheapest plans, patchier outside cities | Aggressive promos; operating normally in Colombia, though the brand is in a naming dispute and may rename | Budget, city only |
All Colombian SIMs must be registered to a passport (or cédula de extranjería) at purchase — a legal requirement, not a shop policy. Bring the physical passport, not a photo.
Where to buy
- Airport: the Claro kiosk (Tech Port Business, open around the clock) is on the departures floor upstairs, not in arrivals. Useful if you are flying out with a Colombian number to return; not the plan for arrival day.
- Operator stores: every mall — Santafé and El Tesoro in El Poblado, Unicentro in Laureles, Oviedo — has Claro, Movistar and Tigo counters that activate while you wait; 15–30 minutes with the passport.
- Corner shops and Éxito supermarkets: sell SIMs and top-ups (recargas), but registration is easier at an operator store.
- Top-ups: any pharmacy, Éxito, or the operator app, in 5,000-peso steps.
eSIM: what to know
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi, activate it on landing; keep your home SIM on for texts and banking codes.
- eSIMs are data only — no Colombian number. Restaurants and tour operators book by WhatsApp, which works fine on your home number over data.
- Coverage rides on Claro or Movistar depending on the provider; check which before buying if you plan mountain day trips.
Realistic data needs
Maps, WhatsApp, ride apps and photos back up to the cloud: 1–2 GB a day for most visitors. Hotel and café Wi-Fi in El Poblado and Laureles is reliable; the metro has none. A 10–12 GB plan covers a week comfortably.
FAQ
Can I buy a SIM at Medellín airport? Only at the Claro kiosk on the departures level; there is nothing in arrivals. Plan on an eSIM or a city shop.
Which is the best SIM card for Colombia? Claro for coverage, especially outside cities; Movistar or Tigo for cheaper data if you stay in Medellín.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM? Yes — registration to a passport is required by law.
Does Airalo work in Colombia? Yes; check the current Colombia plan prices on their site before you buy, and confirm which local network the plan uses.
Sources: operator and airport-kiosk information via Gigago’s MDE guide, Airalo Colombia pricing pages, Revista C-Level and Infobae (WOM status), checked August 2026. Prices are indicative and change often.
