Getting round in Colombia – Lonely Planet

Overlaying an space almost twice the dimensions of Texas, Colombia is a large nation. And with a spine shaped by the Andes Mountains and huge swathes of forest overlaying greater than 70% of its land space, this is not the simplest place to navigate overground.

Fortunately, getting round in Colombia is made simpler by a strong community of transport choices, permitting you to cowl giant distances comparatively simply – though you’ll battle to suit each spotlight of the nation in only one journey.

Whereas some distant elements of Colombia are finest averted due to ongoing guerilla or paramilitary exercise, exploring this nation is now safer than it’s ever been. Most guests use a mixture of cheap home flights, reasonably priced long-distance buses and pocket-friendly native transport – with the latter being the one technique of exploring a few of the nation’s extra rural stretches.

Nonetheless you journey, getting round in Colombia is an expertise in itself, and utilizing public transport ought to be an integral a part of any journey to this energetic South American nation. 

Getting round by air saves time, however not carbon

Due to a flood of no-frills airways making their mark in Colombia, it’s by no means been simpler to show all-day bus journeys into brief flights. Viva Air Colombia and EasyFly are the primary finances firms, and also you’ll discover fares are solely a bit of larger (if not the identical) because the comparable bus journey, making home flights an especially reasonably priced and time-saving resolution (although you will have to issue within the carbon price).

Bear in mind that costs skyrocket throughout December and January when Colombians rush to the Caribbean coast for his or her holidays – locations corresponding to Cartagena, San Andrés and Santa Marta are closely affected. Reserving upfront is usually suggested, however you may generally discover good offers on the final minute.

For a lot of distant coastal and Amazon areas, flying is the one choice, with Leticia, Nuquí and La Macarena among the many locations but to be related by street. Flights are largely served by the state-owned airline Satena, utilizing small jets and ATR turboprops.

Buses are the spine of public transport in Colombia

As in most nations in South America, buses are the primary mode of transport in Colombia. Most cities have a central bus station from which giant public buses depart for locations throughout the nation. If you happen to’re sticking to a backpacker budget, touring by in a single day bus will save prices on lodging and allow you to stretch your cash additional. 

For the nine-hour bus experience from Medellín to Bogotá, you may anticipate to pay round COP$65,000, whereas the 11-hour bus experience from Bogotá to Cali will set you again round COP$80,000. This affordability comes with different prices, nevertheless. On most bus journeys in Colombia, you may anticipate to be handled to music so loud you’ll be anxious about bursting your eardrums, or excessively violent movies performed for everything of the journey.

Earplugs are a should, and bringing sufficient food and drinks to get you thru the lengthy hours can also be important. Air con is often cranked as much as Arctic ranges, so convey loads of layers, even in case you’re touring in a scorching a part of the nation. Preserve your passport helpful as you could be requested to indicate ID at army checkpoints en route.

Colombia is crisscrossed by snaking mountain roads, and bus drivers typically put their foot down on the gasoline on open stretches, so you will have to be sturdy of abdomen or convey anti-sickness capsules to stave off movement illness. Be cautious together with your belongings – don’t flash costly cameras or telephones round and keep away from preserving valuables in baggage positioned beneath the bus or within the overhead lockers. Preserve valuable objects shut by at your toes the place you may see them always. 

Selecting a bus firm

Not all bus firms are created equally. Touring across the nation is safer than it has been for years, however for long-distance journeys in Colombia, it’s nonetheless finest to guide with one of many costlier bus firms corresponding to Expreso Bolivariano and Flota Occidental, quite than counting on cheaper operators. 

On these premium companies, buses don’t cease to choose up passengers mid-journey, which reduces the chance of being hijacked (it is unusual however nonetheless a attainable state of affairs). These buses even have extra legroom, functioning bogs and generally even Wi-Fi, and they’re extra more likely to keep on with schedules and get you to your vacation spot on time.

Colectivos and chivas are helpful for shorter journeys in rural Colombia

For shorter journeys between regional locations, the quickest route is usually by buseta or colectivo – interchangeable phrases for a minivan, which will likely be packed to the max with folks squeezed in alongside baggage and probably even livestock. Due to their small measurement and velocity, these autos can cowl shorter distances between cities and cities a lot sooner than bigger buses, and so they cost a slight premium because of this. Typically colectivos additionally take the type of shared taxis with simply 4 passengers.

Fares are sometimes paid on to the driving force, who decides the worth, and the van or automotive gained’t depart till full. It’s higher to higher to search for a automobile with passengers on board that’s nearly able to depart, quite than committing your baggage to an empty automobile.

Within the espresso area, you may also encounter old school Willys jeeps – small 4WD autos which have room for a few passengers seated up entrance, and extra clinging on on the again – although this generally is a hair-raising solution to journey. Iconic chivas, colourful however growing older native buses with seating inside and on the roof, are nonetheless a fixture in rural areas. You’ll largely discover them crawling up mountain roads or supplied for hire as raucous get together buses across the greater cities.

City transport in Colombia is protected and environment friendly

In Colombia’s bigger cities, you may anticipate finding clear and protected public transportation. In Bogotá, the TransMilenio bus community serves town utilizing devoted bus lanes (the TransMi App is nice for route planning). Calí has the Masivo Integrado de Occidente (Mio), which works in an analogous means.

In Medellin, the Metro is town’s delight and pleasure, and it effectively joins up with the Metroplús bus community and the Metrocable cable automotive. The latter takes you into the encompassing hills and is price using for the spectacular metropolis views.

To experience on any of those types of transport, you have to a chargeable card particular to that metropolis, which may sometimes be bought at stations and, within the case of Bogotá, at El Dorado International Airport.

Utilizing an app is the most secure solution to summon a taxi in Colombia

Components of many Colombian cities are harmful at evening, so it’s at all times price taking a taxi quite than trying to stroll again to your lodging after darkish. Apps corresponding to Simple Taxi and Uber (which is wrangling within the courts over regulatory points however remains to be in operation) have made taking a taxi in Colombia a a lot safer endeavor.

Yellow cabs which you can hail on the road are commonplace in all Colombian cities and are sometimes metered. Nonetheless, utilizing an app will help make sure you don’t get ripped off when it is time to pay your fare. If utilizing a cab from the road, it’s finest to go to a taxi rank quite than flagging down a transferring automobile. Whereas robberies are unusual, they do occur, so take a photograph of the taxi registration plate earlier than you get in and ahead it on so you’ve a protected copy.

Within the cities, taxis are sometimes metered, however fares in Bogotá may be significantly difficult. Reasonably than displaying costs, the meter counts up from 25, and also you’re anticipated to decode the fare in accordance with a tariff sheet connected to the again of the passenger seat.

To simplify this obtuse system of calculations, obtain the Calculadora de Tarifas app or seek the advice of together with your lodge in regards to the fare you may anticipate to pay and make sure this with the driving force earlier than accepting a experience. In small cities and rural areas the place taxis are unmetered, it’s normal apply to agree on the fare earlier than you get in.

Touring by bicycle is an journey

Colombia is considered one of Latin America’s biking hotspots, and native individuals are very keen on hitting the tarmac on two wheels. Whereas the terrain isn’t straightforward for thigh-powered transport, biking round Colombia is a whirlwind of an journey, and you’ll find bicycle outlets dotted across the nation that may hire you a motorcycle or allow you to restore your individual.

If you happen to’re in Bogotá on a Sunday, hit the streets alongside a whole bunch of different cyclists and pedestrians when the capital closes 120km (75 miles) of its roads to autos for the weekly Ciclovía event.

Boats zip alongside the Caribbean and Pacific shorelines

Alongside the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, it is typically sooner (and extra scenic) to achieve remoted settlements, hidden seashores and gloriously distant islands by lancha (boat). The attractive Islas del Rosario islands can solely be reached by boat from Cartagena, whereas chartered speedboats are the one solution to attain a few of the most picturesque elements of Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona.

Boats can sometimes be organized on the harbor of the city nearest to the vacation spot you want to attain. You may normally have to attend till the skipper is glad he has sufficient passengers to make the voyage worthwhile earlier than you depart. 

Accessible transportation in Colombia

Colombia isn’t a very accessible vacation spot for vacationers with disabilities. Wheelchair-friendly transport is uncommon in most elements of the nation, though Bogotá’s TransMilenio system is generally wheelchair-accessible, with a chosen area for wheelchairs on metropolis buses. Touring with your individual transportable ramp is beneficial in case the bus stops too removed from the curb.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis are uncommon (or nonexistent) in most cities, so it is best to journey with a folding handbook wheelchair or small collapsible journey scooter that may be saved within the trunk (this requires you to have the ability to switch your self into the automobile). Few long-distance buses are accessible, so flights are a greater different. For extra info, obtain Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel Resources information.