Claro Colombia SIM Cards and eSIM: a Comprehensive Guide for Tourists

Colombia is a beautiful country with diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and friendly people. As a tourist visiting Colombia, having a local SIM card for your phone is highly recommended to stay connected with unlimited data, calls, and SMS. One of the top network providers in Colombia is Claro.

I. Quick Facts about Claro Colombia

Claro is the largest mobile network operator in Colombia with excellent nationwide coverage. Here are some key facts about Claro Colombia:

• Founded: 1994
• Full Company Name: Comunicación Celular S.A. (COMCEL S.A.)
• Services: Mobile services (voice, data, SMS), fixed telephony, fixed broadband
• Subscribers: Over 60 million
• Coverage: 99% population coverage in Colombia
• Stores and Agents: Over 1000 Claro shops and kiosks across Colombia

For nearly 30 years, Claro has worked hard to connect Colombian communities and bring innovative technology to homes and businesses. They’re committed to delivering excellent service throughout Colombia.

II. Why Claro When You’re Exploring Colombia – Coverage and Speed

1. Claro Network Coverage in Colombia

Claro, one of the mobile operators in Colombia, performs exceptionally well in terms of network coverage. According to the Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report for July 2023, Claro wins the Coverage Experience award by a significant margin. This award measures the geographic coverage of populated areas and reflects the experience users receive while traveling.

Claro secures the top position in Colombia with a score of 8.6 out of 10, which is more than double the score of the second-placed operator, Movistar, with 4.2 points. Tigo and WOM hold the third and fourth positions, respectively. Claro’s strong coverage means that users can expect a reliable connection across a wide area.

2. Claro Colombia Speed

• For Download Speed Experience, Claro places second with an average speed of 12.3 Mbps, behind Tigo which achieved 14.1 Mbps.
• Claro’s 4G download speed averages 13.8 Mbps, again placing second behind Tigo.
• For Upload Speed Experience, Claro places second with an average of 7.2 Mbps, trailing Tigo’s 8.2 Mbps. Claro’s 4G upload speed was 8.3 Mbps.

While Claro doesn’t have the absolute top speeds, it provides Colombia’s best coverage across cities and towns. Download and upload speeds are very close to the fastest provider Tigo. Overall, Claro delivers reliable connections for most users in Colombia.

III. Claro Connectivity Options for Travelers to Colombia

Claro Colombia offers multiple SIM card and eSIM options for tourists in Colombia:

• Prepaid SIM Card: No-contract prepaid SIM card with data bundles
• Tourist SIM Card: Preactivated SIM with bundled data, minutes, SMS
• eSIM: Digital eSIM for your unlocked phone, tablets or smartwatches

Below we discuss the prepaid SIM and eSIM options in detail for connectivity in Colombia.

IV. Best Claro Colombia SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

The two best SIM card options from Claro Colombia for tourists are:

Claro Colombia Prepaid SIM Card

You can purchase a Claro Colombia prepaid SIM from their stores by showing your passport. The cost of prepaid SIM is COP $5,000. It comes with no bundled balance. You need to top-up the SIM to use mobile data or calling.

Claro Colombia Tourist SIM Card

A better option is to get the Claro Colombia Tourist SIM targeted at visitors to the country. The Tourist SIM packs come with preloaded data and call minutes valid for 7 or 15 days.

Some examples of Claro tourist SIM bundles:

• 7 Day Tourist SIM with 6GB, 50 mins, 50 SMS for COP $59,900
• 15 Day Tourist SIM with 12GB, 100 mins, 50 SMS for COP $99,900

This saves you the hassle of finding a Claro store and doing multiple top-ups. The bundled tourist SIMs offer the best value.

V. Does Claro Colombia Support eSIM in Colombia?

Yes, Claro Colombia now offers eSIM service and digital plans in Colombia!

The Claro eSIM allows you to digitally activate their service on your phone without needing a physical SIM. It works through an installed eSIM profile on compatible phones.

Claro eSIM plans provide the same services – mobile data, calls, texts – just delivered over eSIM instead of regular SIM.

In addition, international providers that offer prepaid eSIM plans for Colombia provide connectivity via Claro’s high quality network.

One such provider is colombiaesim.com, which offers affordable prepaid Colombia eSIM data plans on the Claro network.

Some key advantages of colombiaesim.com include:

• Wide coverage across Colombia and 14 other countries using Claro’s extensive 4G/LTE infrastructure.
• Flexible plan durations ranging from 3-30 days and data allowances from 1-5GB to suit various travel needs.

• Hassle-free digital activation by scanning a QR code via email – no need to swap physical SIM cards.
• Automatic activation upon connecting to Claro in Colombia for an instant, seamless experience.
• Cost savings versus roaming charges by using a local prepaid eSIM plan instead of your regular SIM.
• Can be used alongside a physical SIM for those requiring both data and voice services.

colombiaesim.com provides a convenient and affordable eSIM solution for travelers to stay connected in Colombia without roaming charges, leveraging Claro’s reliable cellular network. It’s a great choice for prepaid data access during trips via eSIM technology.

VI. Where can You Buy a Claro Colombia SIM card?

You can purchase a Claro Colombia SIM card from the following places:

• Claro Stores (Tiendas Claro)
• Authorized Claro dealers and retail agents
• Supermarkets like Exito, Jumbo, Carulla
• Airports like El Dorado International Airport in Bogota

Remember to carry your passport when buying the SIM.

VII. How to Activate Claro Colombia SIM Card/eSIM in Colombia?

1. How to Use Claro Colombia SIM Card in Colombia?

Follow these steps to activate your Claro Colombia SIM:

1. Insert the new Claro SIM in your phone and power it on.
2. Select the Claro network when prompted.
3. You will get a welcome message from Claro via SMS.
4. To make calls, recharge your SIM at Claro stores, agents or online using credit/debit card.
5. Dial *611# to check balance. Then, dial USSD codes like *101# to add data packs.

2. How to Activate Claro Colombia eSIM?

To activate Claro eSIM on your phone’s eSIM slot:

1. Install the Claro Colombia app from Google Play or App Store.
2. Register with email and international credit card.
3. Go to eSIM section and choose a data plan.
4. Scan QR code or download the eSIM profile.
5. Follow activation process and finish setting up the eSIM.

You can manage and recharge your Claro eSIM through the app.

VIII. Claro Colombia Call & SMS Rates

Claro Colombia has very affordable rates for calls and SMS when used within Colombia:

• Local Calls: COP 109 per minute
• National Calls: COP 109 per minute
• SMS: COP 109 per SMS
• MMS: COP 219 per MMS

For international calls, rates start from COP 799/min. Receive calls are free on Claro Colombia.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for Claro Colombia SIM Cards

Here are some useful USSD codes to manage your Claro Colombia SIM:

• *101# – To check data balance
• *105# – To check call and text balance
• *611# – To check account balance
• *888# – To buy combo packs

X. How to Top-up Claro Colombia SIM

You can recharge or top-up your Claro Colombia SIM through various ways:

• Claro Stores – Pay in cash or card
• Online – Use international credit card on Claro website
• Vouchers – Enter top-up code from voucher
• Apps – Recharge through Claro Colombia app or third-party apps

XI. FAQs about Claro Colombia SIM Cards

XII. Final Words

A Claro Colombia SIM card or eSIM provides excellent connectivity through its fast and extensive 4G network covering the country. For maximum convenience, get a prepaid tourist SIM card from Claro with bundled data and minutes. Or activate eSIM if you have a compatible phone. With affordable data rates and wide availability, Claro is your best bet for staying connected as you explore magical Colombia!