Buying Movistar SIM Cards and eSIM for tourists: Guide to Get and Activate 2024

Are you excited about your upcoming trip to Colombia and want to make sure you stay connected and have access to data on your phone without worrying about expensive roaming charges or slow data plans? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! 

In this guide, we’ll help you find the best Movistar SIM cards and eSIM for your trip to Colombia, so you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

I. Quick Facts about Movistar

Movistar is a major telecommunications provider owned by Telefónica, operating in Spain and Hispanic American countries

• Full name: Colombia Telecomunicaciones S.A. ESP
• Founded: 25 July 1995
• Services: Landline, broadband, mobile services, and pay television (Movistar+),…
• Award: Movistar is Colombia’s Speedtest Awards Winner for fixed network speed during Q1-Q2 2023, Telefónica Colombia wins Red Hat Innovation Awards 2022,…

II. Why Movistar When Traveling Colombia – Coverage and Speed

Movistar can guarantee a smooth trip in Colombia for travelers: 

1. Coverage

Movistar has wide coverage throughout Colombia.

Many parts of the country are covered by 2G, 3G, 4G. 

2. Speed

Download Speed Experience and Upload Speed Experience are 10.4 Mbps and 7.5 Mbps, respectively.

Movistar often hold the third fastest speed in the chart and this means it can up to customers’needs

III. What are the Best Connectivity Options of Movistar for Travelers to Colombia?

There are many ways to stay connected in Colombia. However, I still recommend travelers to use Movistar SIM Card/eSIM. Let’s explore why I tell like this: 

	Advantage	Disadvantage
Free wifi	–It is free of charge. -There is nothing to install on cell phones.	–It is difficult to find free access wifi networks. -Public wifi networks are often slow or give connection problems. -Have to fill in forms and share your personal data.Some free wifi networks have limited time.
Pocket wifi of Movistar	-Can be used by several devices at the same time. -No need to install anything on our cell phones.	-It is one of the most expensive options. -In addition to the data plan, you have to pay for rental, insurance and shipping costs. -The battery lasts 6 hours maximum. -You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it.
Movistar roaming	-There is no need to install anything on our cell phone. -You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately.	-This is the most expensive option. -Sometimes it is activated without us realizing it. -Not all telephone companies offer this service.
Movistar SIM Card	-There are a variety of providers and data plans to choose from. -Installation is fast. -They can be purchased online or in physical stores. -You can make calls and send messages with a local number.	-It always replaces your regular SIM, which can be lost or damaged. -Need an unlocked devices
Movistar eSIM	-No physical SIM card required- Easy activation and installation – Multiple profiles on a single device – Simplified switching between carriers – Saves physical SIM card swapping	-Need compatible devices

IV. Best Movistar SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

Movistar has four data-featured prepaid plans:

• IlimiDatos/Unlimited Data (combo)

Price	Data	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
1500 COP	Unlimited	N/A	N/A	30 minutes
2500 COP	Unlimited	N/A	N/A	1 hour
5000 COP	Unlimited	N/A	N/A	2 hour 30 minutes
10 000 COP	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	1 day
23 000 COP	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	3 days

• Paquetes Todo En Uno/All In One Packages (combo)

Price	Data	Social Data 1	Local Minutes	International Minutes 2	Local SMS	Validity
4000 COP	400 MB	Unlimited	Unlimited	N/A	Unlimited	3 days
7000 COP	2 GB	Unlimited + 800 MB Youtube	Unlimited	10 minutes	Unlimited	7 days
8000 COP	3 GB	Unlimited + 1.2 GB Youtube	Unlimited	15 minutes	Unlimited	8 days
10 500 COP	4 GB	Unlimited + 1.6 GB Youtube	Unlimited	20 minutes	Unlimited	10 days
15 500 COP	5 GB	Unlimited + 2 GB Youtube	Unlimited	45 minutes	Unlimited	15 days
16 000 COP	6 GB	Unlimited + 2.4 GB Youtube	Unlimited	45 minutes	Unlimited	30 days
21 000 COP	10 GB	Unlimited + 5 GB Youtube + 5 GB Instagram & TikTok	Unlimited	100 minutes	Unlimited	30 days
25 000 COP	12 GB	Unlimited + 6 GB Youtube + 6 GB Instagram & TikTok	Unlimited	200 minutes	Unlimited	30 days
31 000 COP	13 GB	Unlimited + 6.5 GB Youtube + 6.5 GB Instagram & TikTok	Unlimited	250 minutes	Unlimited	30 days
41 000 COP	19 GB	Unlimited + 9.5 GB Youtube + 9.5 GB Instagram & TikTok	Unlimited	350 minutes	Unlimited	30 days
63 000 COP	30 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	N/A	Unlimited	90 day

• Libres Paquetes /Free Packages (combo)

Price	Data	Social Data 1	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
44 990 COP	65 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited 2	Unlimited	30 days
54 990 COP	90 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited 3	Unlimited	30 days
65 990 COP	125 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited 4	Unlimited	30 days

• Navega/Browse (data)

Price	Data	WhatsApp Data	Validity
1000 COP	N/A	Unlimited	1 day
2000 COP	50 MB	Unlimited	1 days
4900 COP	1.1 GB	Unlimited	3 days
13 900 COP	5 GB	Unlimited	7 days
40 000 COP	20 GB	Unlimited	30 days

V. Does Movistar Support eSIM in Colombia?

Yes, Movistar is a top choice for eSIM support in Colombia. With one of the widest coverage in the country, you can count on a strong network connection wherever you go. Known for their high-quality service and excellent customer support, Movistar consistently ranks among the top carriers in Colombia. 

Whether you’re a traveler or someone who uses multiple devices, their eSIM support makes it convenient to stay connected. Choose Movistar for reliable coverage, great customer service, and eSIM convenience in Colombia.

VI. Where to Buy a Movistar SIM card and eSIM?

There are some places you can consider to find the best ways for yourself: 

1. Buy Movistar Colombia SIM Card

1.1. Buying before departure

Before you travel to Colombia, you have the option to purchase a prepaid SIM card from online stores that offer international shipping. Just make sure to double-check if the supplier can deliver to your country. It’s also a good idea to find out which local operator you’ll be connected to once you’re in Colombia, as this can impact your internet speed and coverage.

1.2 Buying in Colombia

Colombia has 14 international airports, making it convenient to get a SIM card upon arrival. 

However, there are a couple of things to consider. You may have to spend time in queues and visit different stores to find the SIM card that suits your needs. Apparently, you will not have the Internet immediately when you arriving in Colombia and this can lead to some inconvenient circumstances. 

2. Buying Movistar eSIM

eSIM, short for embedded-SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. 

Colombia eSIM has some advantages which outweigh other options: 

• Convenience: The eSIM is embedded directly into your device, eliminating the need to carry and swap physical SIM cards.
• Flexibility: eSIM allows you to switch between multiple mobile network operators without needing to physically change SIM cards. 
• Remote Activation: You can often activate an eSIM by scanning a QR code or through a mobile app, without needing to visit a physical store.

If you wonder which eSIM provider for Colombia travel is the best, consider Gigago eSIM. Gigago offers multiple data plan options for the United States. 

For Colombia, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $8.90 . What is great about Gigago’s Colombia eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $8.90 – $35.90 . 

VII. How to Activate Movistar SIM/eSIM in Colombia?

Using a Movistar SIM/eSIM for Colombia is not difficult. If this is your first time using it, please check the instructions below.

1. How to Use Movistar SIM Card in Colombia?

You only need to follow these simple steps and everything will be ready.

1. Insert the SIM card: Locate the SIM card slot on your device
2. Power on your device: Turn on your device and wait for it to recognize the SIM card
3. Activate the SIM card: In most cases, the Movistar Colombia SIM card will be pre-activated
4. Set up APN settings if you can not use the eSIM.
5. Check your services.

2. How to Activate Movistar eSIM?

Getting started with an Movistar eSIM for Colombia is quite easy as follows:

1. Install the eSIM
2. Activate the eSIM
3. Set up the eSIM
4. Start using the eSIM: Once the eSIM is activated and set up, you can start using its services.

Please check your detailed instructions below:

• Activate eSIM on IPhone (https://gigago.com/installation-guide/iphone/ )
• Activate eSIM on Samsung (https://gigago.com/installation-guide/samsung/ )
• Activate eSIM on Google Pixel (https://gigago.com/installation-guide/google-pixel/ )

VIII. How to Top-up Movistar SIM/eSIM

Movistar website use both Spanish and English, so you can follow some steps below to top up Movistar SIM Card: 

• Visit the Movistar website 
• Scroll down or use the search function to find the section on “Medios de Pago” or “Payment Methods.”
• Look for information related to topping up your SIM card or “Recarga” in Spanish.
• Select the option for “Recarga en línea” or “Top up online” if available.
• Enter your Movistar phone number and the desired top-up amount.
• Choose your preferred payment method, such as credit card, debit card, or electronic wallets like Nequi or Daviplata.
• Enter the necessary payment details and confirm the transaction.
• Once the payment is successful, your Movistar SIM card will be topped up, and you should receive a confirmation message or notification.

IX. FAQs about Movistar Colombia 

X. Conclusion

I hope you found the tips above helpful in finding the perfect Movistar SIM card for your trip to Colombia! If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to leave a message below. I’m here to help!