Mobile data in Medellín for visitors
Medellín fills a valley ringed by mountains, and the city climbs them by cable car. Between the metro, the Metrocable, Comuna 13 and a day at Guatapé, the phone hardly leaves your hand. The Colombia eSIM connects to Claro on 4G, comes in 3 GB and 20 GB, and is data only, so your WhatsApp number does not change.
At a glance
- Does an eSIM work in Colombia?
- Yes. It connects to Claro (4G).
- Price
- From 13,79 € (3 GB, 15 days).
- For a one-week trip
- 20 GB for 30 days: 69,79 €.
- Does an EU phone plan work there?
- No: Colombia is outside EU roaming, so even a plan from an EU country charges it as abroad.
- When does the plan start?
- When your phone first connects to a network in Colombia. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
Rionegro, not Medellín: the airport over the hill
International flights land at José María Córdova, which is in Rionegro, on the high plateau east of the city, not in Medellín itself. Airport buses run to a stop at the San Diego shopping centre, about four blocks from Exposiciones metro station; the ride takes around 45 minutes to an hour, and you can pay in cash, by bank card or with the Cívica card or app. Taxis leave from the official rank at arrivals.
Some domestic flights use Olaya Herrera instead, a smaller airport inside the city with regional routes, so check which one is on your ticket. Switch on the eSIM line when you land in Rionegro, and the map and your hotel address will be ready for the drive down into the valley.
eSIM for Colombia
Data on your phone the moment you land in Colombia. No account, no app, no shop.
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For one to two weeks of maps, messaging and the odd video.
Buy up to 180 days before you fly: the plan only starts when the eSIM connects at your destination.
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Will it work on my phone?
On iPhone: Settings → General → About, and scroll to EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Every iPhone from the XS (2018) onwards does.
On Android: Settings → About phone → Status, and look for EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Most Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and later do.
It also has to be carrier-unlocked. If you bought it outright or your contract is over, it almost certainly is.
Not sure about your model? Ask us before you pay and we will tell you — a person answers within 24 hours.
How it works
- 1Choose and payCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No account.
- 2Install it at homeThe QR arrives by email. Scan it on wifi in a minute.
- 3Connect when you landTurn on data roaming for the eSIM and you are online.
Metro, Metrocable and paying with a QR code
The metro has two rail lines, A and B, linked to the Metrocable cable cars, the Ayacucho tram and the Metroplús buses. Line K climbs from Acevedo to Santo Domingo, and from there line L continues to Parque Arví with its own separate fare. For Comuna 13, ride to San Javier station and take a feeder bus or walk up to the outdoor escalators.
You pay with the Cívica card or with a QR code from the Cívica app, which the validators on every line read; according to the metro, the QR works even without a data connection. If the app will not let you register, single tickets and Cívica cards are sold at the station ticket offices.
Guatapé, Jardín and the coffee country
Buses to Guatapé leave from the Terminal del Norte and take about two hours, passing El Peñol on the way; at weekends they fill up, so buy the ticket ahead. Climbing the Piedra del Peñol, the granite rock above the reservoir, is the classic photo, and the painted town of Guatapé is a few minutes beyond.
From the Terminal del Sur, buses to Jardín take about three hours into the coffee hills of south-west Antioquia, and longer routes reach Salento and the coffee region. All of it is Colombia, so the pack keeps working, but on mountain roads Claro's signal can drop between towns: download the area in your maps app before leaving the terminal.
Remote work or a short stay: which pack
Medellín draws many people who work from a laptop for weeks at a time. If that is you and the laptop runs on the phone's connection, the 20 GB pack, valid for 30 days, is the one: a few days of video calls would use up 3 GB. A coworking space or a flat with good wifi changes the maths, and the hotspot is there for the day it fails.
For four or five days with the metro, a Comuna 13 tour and a day at Guatapé, the 3 GB pack, valid for 15 days, is enough. If it runs low, top up the same eSIM with nothing to reinstall. Buy it up to 180 days before you fly; it starts on its first connection in Colombia. The packs are on the Colombia page, and the Cartagena guide covers the coast.
Which airport serves Medellín?
International flights use José María Córdova, in Rionegro, east of the city. Olaya Herrera, inside Medellín, handles regional flights.
Can I pay for the metro with my phone?
Yes, with a QR code from the Cívica app, which the validators read; the metro says it works even without data. The app pays, not the eSIM: the eSIM keeps the app and the map online.
Does the eSIM work in Guatapé?
Yes, Guatapé and El Peñol are in Colombia. On the road there the signal can drop for stretches, so download the map first.
Is 3 GB enough for a month of remote work?
Not if the laptop runs on your phone's data. Take the 20 GB pack for 30 days, or start with 3 GB and top up if your flat's wifi does most of the work.
Get your eSIM before you fly: the QR arrives by email in minutes and the plan only starts when you connect at your destination.
See eSIMs for Colombia