Bogota arrival guide
Why Skipping the "Claro" Stand at El Dorado Airport Saves Your Day
You've just landed at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota after a long flight. You want to order an Uber and get to your hotel, but first, you need data. You see the Claro kiosk in the arrivals hall, and so do 100 other passengers. The queue is massive, the process requires scanning your passport, and then there's the infamous Colombian IMEI registration law. Here is why savvy travelers skip all of this and arrive with an eSIM already activated.
Quick verdict: Buy Saily before you fly. Land, turn on your phone, and call your Uber while everyone else is still filling out paperwork.
Performance
Why the airport kiosk is a trap
Colombia requires all mobile devices to have their IMEI registered to prevent theft. If you buy a local physical SIM, you must go through this bureaucratic process, or your phone may be blocked from the network after 30 days.
Registering passports, choosing plans, and swapping physical SIM cards takes 5-10 minutes per person. Multiply that by a flight full of tourists, and you're waiting an hour.
Roaming and travel eSIMs like Saily operate differently and typically bypass the strict local IMEI registration requirements for short-term visitors, keeping things simple.
With an eSIM active the moment you land, you can connect to the cellular network, order your Uber, and be on your way to the city center while others wait in line.
The Arrival Strategy
How to handle your connectivity
Download the Saily app and purchase your Colombia plan while you are still at home on your fast Wi-Fi. Install the eSIM profile on your phone but leave it turned off.
When the plane touches down in Bogota and the captain says you can use your devices, simply go to your settings and turn the eSIM on. By the time you reach immigration, you'll be online.
No lost SIM cards
Don't risk losing your tiny home country SIM card while fumbling with a paperclip on an airplane tray table.
Keep your WhatsApp number
eSIMs let you keep your primary line active for calls and SMS while using Saily solely for data.
Safer than Airport Wi-Fi
Public airport Wi-Fi networks are notorious for security vulnerabilities. A cellular connection is encrypted by default.
Live picks
Top 5 Colombia-ready packages in the live feed
Saily
Colombia 1GB 7 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Saily in Colombia is data-only. You will not receive a +57 Colombian phone number.
Saily
Colombia 3GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Saily in Colombia is data-only. You will not receive a +57 Colombian phone number.
Saily
Colombia 5GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Saily in Colombia is data-only. You will not receive a +57 Colombian phone number.
Saily
Colombia 10GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Saily in Colombia is data-only. You will not receive a +57 Colombian phone number.
Saily
Colombia 20GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Saily in Colombia is data-only. You will not receive a +57 Colombian phone number.
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