Destinations
Roaming in Colombia: what leaving the phone on costs you
An international zone, two-week trips and a country where the phone gets heavy use. How to check your plan and what to leave switched off.
Tomás Berruezo 5 min Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash Colombia is outside the European Union, so included roaming does not reach it. And it is a destination where the phone works hard: ride-hailing in the cities, messaging for everything and constant maps.
How you are billed
As in any international zone: daily pass, data bundle or pay-as-you-go, depending on your plan. What is worth checking is what happens when the bundle runs out, because some plans switch to charging by the megabyte with no more warning than a text.
Where the usage takes off
- In Bogota and Medellin, where ride-hailing is the usual way to get around and consults the map continuously.
- On the transfers between cities, with domestic flights and long road journeys.
- Sharing photos and videos, which on a two-week trip adds up to more than everything else put together.
What to do before boarding
- Check which zone Colombia is in on your plan.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line.
- Leave the line switched on for calls and texts, which is how your bank's alerts arrive.
- Set backups and updates to wi-fi only.
Which plan fits a trip around the country is in how to choose the best eSIM for Colombia.
A local habit
In the big cities people use their phone inside shops or on transport, not in their hand on the street. That is what locals do and it saves trouble, whatever card you happen to have in it.
Frequently asked questions
Is roaming free in Colombia?
No. It is an international zone on European plans and depends on what yours includes.
How much does it cost?
It depends on your operator: daily pass, data bundle or pay-as-you-go. It is also worth checking what happens when the bundle runs out.
Where does most of it go?
In Bogota and Medellin, because of ride-hailing, and on sharing photos and videos during the trip.
How do I avoid it?
By turning off data roaming on your line and leaving it switched on for calls and texts only.
Is it safe to use a phone in the street?
In the big cities the local habit is the sensible one: use it inside shops or on transport rather than in your hand while walking.
