Product info
Cartagena eSIM plans
| 3GB prepaid eSIM · 14 days | $10.49$3.50 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| Ohayu recommends5GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $15.49$3.10 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 10GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $27.49$2.75 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 15GB prepaid eSIM · 60 days | $39.99$2.67 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 20GB prepaid eSIM · 90 days | $44.49$2.22 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 50GB prepaid eSIM · 90 days | $132.99$2.66 / GB | Buy eSIM |
Plan details
How much mobile data you need
What's the best eSIM for Cartagena?
Long weekend – 3 GB
Maps, photos, restaurant bookings.
A week – 10 GB
Navigation and a boat day or two.
Caribbean coast – 20 GB
Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona.
Longer stay – 50 GB
Tethering from Getsemaní.
Coverage and network
Coverage inside the walls and out to sea
Colombia mobile networks
Cartagena is small, hot and mostly walkable, and the historic core is well covered. The gaps are offshore - and since half the reason people come here is to get on a boat, that is worth planning for. (Speedtest by Ookla, June 2026)
Speedtest Global Index · Mobile · Colombia · June 2026
Download
45.48 Mbps
Upload
14.74 Mbps
Latency
26 ms
Global rank
#82 of 98
Cartagena, specifically
- The walled city and Getsemaní: Reliable throughout, including inside the thick colonial walls and the narrow streets.
- Bocagrande and the beach hotels: Strong along the high-rise strip.
- Rosario Islands and boat days: Signal fades once you are out in the bay. The Rosarios have patchy service at the busier islands and none at the quieter ones, so a day trip is largely offline.
- Cruise arrivals: If you are in port for a day, coverage in the terminal area and the old town is good - and a data plan avoids the ship's satellite pricing.
Coast and country
The plan covers all of Colombia, so Santa Marta, Tayrona or an inland leg to Medellín are all included.
How to install eSIM
Connected in 3 steps
- 01
Buy before you fly
Choose your data plan before your trip.
- 02
Download & install
Log in to your account, tap your eSIM, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- 03
Land & activate
Activate when you arrive in Colombia. Turn on roaming for the eSIM and it connects to a local network.
Before you buy, make sure your phone supports eSIM — see Ohayu compatible devices list or dial *#06#. It's a free request to your phone's settings. If you see the EID number — your phone is eSIM-compatible.
Arriving in Cartagena
Airport Wi-Fi at CTG
Free Wi-Fi covers the terminal, though its name is not officially published. Travellers report it is weak around check-in and better past security and near the international gates.
Side by side
Cartagena eSIM Comparison
Indicative comparison based on publicly listed Colombia plans as of August 2026. Competitor pricing and policies change - check their sites for current terms.
Frequently asked questions
Where to buy a SIM card in Cartagena?
Official operator stores in the Bocagrande malls. Street sellers in the old town cannot register a foreign passport, so do not bother. The airport has limited options.
Can I buy a prepaid SIM on a passport here?
In an official store, usually yes - a passport is an accepted document type in the operators' registration systems, and Colombian law requires every line to be tied to one. The problem is retail: the resellers and kiosks you actually walk past in Cartagena tend to want a cédula de extranjería and will send you away. Go to Claro, Tigo or Movistar directly, or skip it - an Ohayu plan comes with no Colombian number to register.
Will I have signal on a Rosario Islands trip?
Not dependably. Coverage drops as the boat leaves the bay, the busier islands have patchy service and the quieter ones have none. Treat a Rosarios day as offline: agree a return time with your boat, and download anything you need beforehand.
eSIM not working in Cartagena?
Out on the water there is often nothing in range. In the city, the usual fix is making sure the phone is actually using the Ohayu line for data with roaming permitted, then a quick Airplane mode toggle. Chat and support@ohayu.com are open 24/7.
