Colombia
Useful apps for Colombia: transport, maps, translation
Install four apps before you land: a ride-hailing app (Uber, DiDi, InDrive or Cabify), Google Maps with offline maps downloaded, WhatsApp for hotels and tour operators, and a translation app with Spanish offline. Add Check-MIG for border formalities and your bank's app for card controls. Coverage thins in Tayrona, Ciudad Perdida and the Amazon, so download offline data first.
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GuideColombia
Key facts
- Ride-hailing
- Uber, DiDi, InDrive or Cabify — all operate in the big cities
- Maps
- Google Maps works well in cities; download offline areas before rural routes
- Messaging
- WhatsApp is the default for hotels, tour operators and drivers
- Translation
- Google Translate or DeepL with Spanish downloaded offline
- Border form
- Check-MIG, via the Migración Colombia website
- Payments
- Cards and contactless in cities; Nequi and Daviplata are local wallets
- Weak coverage
- Tayrona, Ciudad Perdida, Amazon — offline maps and cash matter more
Details
Set the phone up before departure, not at the airport. Download the apps on home wi-fi, sign in, add a card if the app accepts foreign cards, and download offline maps for each region you plan to visit. In Colombia the practical stack is small: one ride-hailing app, Google Maps, WhatsApp, a translator, and Check-MIG for entry and exit paperwork.
Ride-hailing: Uber, DiDi, InDrive and Cabify all operate in Colombia's larger cities, and the parent country facts list all four. Availability and pickup rules vary by city and can change, so install two and treat the second as a backup. InDrive lets you name a fare; Uber and Cabify usually charge by the app. At airports, follow the app's designated pickup point rather than accepting a street offer.
Maps: Google Maps is reliable for city streets, addresses and transit in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena, and it is the map most locals and drivers use. Rural mountain roads and trailheads are less complete, so download the offline area and keep a screenshot of your accommodation address in Spanish. For hiking routes, a dedicated offline map app is worth the download.
WhatsApp: hotels, tour operators, drivers and even some restaurants run bookings through WhatsApp rather than email. Save your accommodation's number before you arrive and expect voice notes in Spanish. A translation app with the Spanish pack downloaded offline covers menus, pharmacy labels and taxi conversations when there is no signal.
Check-MIG: Colombia's migration service uses the Check-MIG form for arrivals and departures. Fill it in online within the window stated on the Migración Colombia site before you fly, and keep the confirmation on your phone. Rules and timing windows change, so verify on the official site each trip.
Money and connectivity apps: your bank's app for card controls and travel notices, plus a currency converter for the Colombian peso. Nequi and Daviplata are the wallets locals use, but they generally need a Colombian number and ID, so most visitors stay on cards and cash. Sort out a SIM or eSIM early — see the SIM and eSIM page — and remember coverage is thin in Tayrona, Ciudad Perdida and the Amazon.
Summary table
| Need | App | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-hailing | Uber, DiDi, InDrive, Cabify | Install two; pickup rules vary by city |
| Maps | Google Maps | Download offline areas for rural routes |
| Messaging | Default channel for hotels and tours | |
| Translation | Google Translate or DeepL | Download Spanish for offline use |
| Border form | Check-MIG | Via the Migración Colombia website |
| Payments | Bank app, Nequi, Daviplata | Nequi and Daviplata usually need a local number |
| Connectivity | Airline or local eSIM | Coverage thin in Tayrona, Ciudad Perdida, Amazon |
Tips
- Download offline maps and the Spanish language pack before you fly.
- Save your hotel address and phone number in Spanish as a screenshot.
- Install two ride-hailing apps; one may be unavailable in a given city.
- Keep some cash: cards work in cities, less so in small towns and parks.
- Fill in Check-MIG on the official Migración Colombia site, not a third-party copy.
- Use WhatsApp for tour confirmations; replies can take hours, so ask early.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which apps do I need in Colombia?
A ride-hailing app (Uber, DiDi, InDrive or Cabify), Google Maps with offline areas, WhatsApp, a translation app with Spanish offline, and Check-MIG for migration paperwork. Add your bank's app and a currency converter for the peso.
Does Uber or a local taxi app work in Colombia?
Uber, DiDi, InDrive and Cabify all operate in Colombia's larger cities, but availability and pickup rules vary by city and can change. Install two apps and use the designated pickup points at airports. Verify locally on arrival.
Does Google Maps work well in Colombia?
Yes in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena for streets, addresses and transit. Rural mountain roads and trailheads are less complete, so download offline areas and keep a screenshot of your address in Spanish.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMigración Colombia – Check-MIG
- secondaryWikivoyage – Colombia