eSIM for Cartagena: Stay Connected in the Walled City

Cartagena is a short trip. Most tourists come for 3-5 days: Old Town, a beach day or two, maybe a boat tour to the Rosario Islands. An eSIM for a trip this short costs $22.99, installs in under two minutes before you board, and works from the moment you land at Rafael Núñez.

Here is the complete connectivity guide for Cartagena: coverage in the city, what to know about beach and boat tour signal, and some practical notes about traveling in extreme heat.

Network coverage in Cartagena

Coverage is generally strong across Cartagena's main tourist areas. Colombia eSIM plans on Tigo and Movistar:

• Old Town (Ciudad Amurallada)Strong 4G LTE throughout the walled city. Narrow streets and thick walls can weaken indoor signal in some historic buildings, but outdoor coverage is reliable.
• Bocagrande5G rolling out. Strong 4G across this beach resort area. Best coverage in Cartagena.
• GetsemaníStrong 4G. Popular with budget travelers. Coverage is on par with the Old Town.
• Rafael Núñez Airport (CTG)4G. The airport is small and WiFi is limited. Having your eSIM active on arrival is especially important here.
• Playa Blanca (Barú)Patchy to no coverage. Playa Blanca is on the Barú peninsula 30km from Cartagena. Download offline maps before the trip.
• Rosario IslandsNo coverage. The islands are 35-45km offshore. Plan for offline maps and minimal data during boat tours.

Where you will use data in Cartagena

Old Town walking and dining

Cartagena's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with colorful colonial architecture, restaurants, and boutique hotels. Navigation within the walled city requires data because the street layout is irregular and not intuitive. You will use Maps constantly here.

Most restaurants in the Old Town have WiFi for seated diners, but you need data for navigation between spots.

Beach days: Playa Blanca and Rosario Islands

If you are taking a day trip to Playa Blanca or the Rosario Islands (and almost every tourist to Cartagena does), plan for no coverage:

• ✓Download offline maps for the Barú peninsula before you leave
• ✓Inform your hotel or contacts of your itinerary before boarding the boat
• ✓Send any important messages before departure
• ✓Download any offline entertainment (Spotify, Netflix, podcasts) on hotel WiFi the night before

Tour boats typically depart from the marina near the Old Town or from Muelle de los Pegasos. These areas have good coverage. You will be connected until the boat clears the bay.

Volcán del Totumo

The mud volcano at El Totumo is a popular excursion from Cartagena, about 50km northeast on the Caribbean coast. Coverage along the route varies. The volcano site itself has limited signal. Download your navigation offline before the trip.

The heat factor

Cartagena averages 90°F (32°C) year-round with high humidity. Tourists often find their phones overheat faster than usual, particularly when using GPS navigation and camera simultaneously. Overheating can temporarily disable GPS and data.

Carry a portable power bank. Phone batteries drain faster in heat, and you will need your phone for ride apps and navigation throughout the day. This matters more in Cartagena than in Bogotá or Medellín.

Getting from Rafael Núñez Airport to the Old Town

Rafael Núñez Airport (CTG) is only 4km from the Old Town. Transport options:

• Uber or InDriver$4 to $8 to the Old Town. 10-15 minute drive. Have data active from landing.
• Official airport taxi$8 to $15. Fixed rate available at the taxi booth inside arrivals. No app required.
• WalkingTechnically walkable but not recommended in the heat with luggage.

Recommended data plan for Cartagena

Cartagena is a compact, walkable city. Data needs are lower here than in Bogotá or Medellín because distances are shorter and the tourist area is dense. Most of your beach day will be off-grid anyway.

• Weekend trip (3 days)

  Navigation in Old Town, Uber, messaging

  5GB

• 5-7 days with day trips

  Beach days consume less data; city time is the main use

  5GB to 10GB

• Combined Bogotá/Medellín/Cartagena trip

  Multiple cities, more transit navigation

  10GB to 20GB

For help deciding how much data you need for your full Colombia itinerary, see the data usage guide. For the Bogotá guide, see eSIM for Bogotá.