Getting There and Away

Written by Marcus Kayode, Marika Maslanka, Santiago Rodriguez
03/08/2025
Aerial view of downtown Bogotá, Colombia showcasing modern skyscrapers and urban layout.
Juan Felipe Ramírez, Pexels

Bogotá's primary transport hub is El Dorado International Airport (BOG), one of the busiest in South America. For ground travel, the city is served by several bus terminals, with Salitre Bus Terminal being a major hub for intercity connections.

By Air:

El Dorado International Airport (BOG) is Colombia's main international airport, with direct flights from 101 airports in 96 cities across 29 countries. Major airlines like Avianca, LATAM, Satena, Wingo, and JetSMART offer direct flights to Bogotá from various domestic and international cities, including Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and several U.S. cities like New York, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Los Angeles. Flight durations vary, for instance, flights from Medellin take approximately 1 hour with fares ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 COP, while those from Santa Marta take about 1 hour 30 minutes with fares between $150,000 and $250,000 COP. International flights from the U.S. can start from around $167-$309 USD.

From El Dorado International Airport to City Center:

Travelers have several options for reaching the city. The TransMilenio, Bogotá's bus rapid transit (BRT) system, connects directly to the airport via route K86, requiring a rechargeable Tullave card, which costs 5,000 COP, with a single trip fare of 2,400 COP. The journey by bus to the city center can take around 14 to 45 minutes, depending on the route and destination within the city. Taxis are also readily available, with a fare from the airport to areas like La Candelaria costing around $15 USD (approximately 35,000-40,000 COP), and to Chapinero around $20 USD. An additional airport charge of 5,000 COP applies to taxis. Private transfers and hotel transportation services are also options.

By Bus (Intercity):

Bogotá is centrally located and accessible by direct bus from major Colombian cities. The main intercity bus terminal is Salitre Bus Station. Bus travel from Medellín to Bogotá averages 10-11 hours, with fares around $70,000-$100,000 COP. From Santa Marta, the bus journey is approximately 16 hours with a fare of about $100,000 COP. From Cartagena, it's roughly 22 hours, also costing around $100,000 COP.

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