Bottom line: A Claro or Movistar prepaid SIM card costs $10–$15 for 30 days of unlimited data. WhatsApp is the primary communication platform in Colombia — your surgeon, coordinator, clinic, and delivery apps all use it. WiFi is standard at recovery houses, hotels, and Airbnbs (50–100 Mbps typical). Connectivity is not a concern.
Setup Options
| Option | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Claro prepaid SIM | $10–$15/month | Best coverage, buy at airport or any Claro store |
| Movistar prepaid SIM | $8–$12/month | Good urban coverage, slightly cheaper |
| eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) | $10–$20 | No physical SIM needed, set up before travel |
| T-Mobile Magenta+ | Included in plan | Already a T-Mobile customer (2G data, texts free) |
| Google Fi | Included in plan | Already a Fi customer (full-speed international data) |
WhatsApp Is Everything
If you don't have WhatsApp installed, download it before your trip. In Colombia, it's used for:
- Surgeon communication (post-op questions, photo updates)
- Coordinator messaging (appointment reminders, pharmacy requests)
- Uber-style ride booking (though Uber and InDriver apps also work)
- Rappi orders (food delivery, pharmacy delivery, groceries)
- Video calls home to family
Buy your SIM at the airport
Claro has kiosks at Medellín (MDE) and Bogotá (BOG) airports. The process takes 5 minutes: passport required, pay cash or card, they install and activate it. Walk out with unlimited data. Don't wait until you're at the hotel — you'll want connectivity for the Uber ride from the airport.
Stay Connected
Your medical vacation keeps you connected at every step. WhatsApp your surgeon, video-call home, stream Netflix during recovery.
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