Air
Colombia has several airports but most international travellers will fly into Bogota or Cartagena. Avianca, the country’s national carrier, flies regularly from Miami and New York to Bogota. American, Continental and Delta also provide service between regional US air hubs and Bogota. Travellers from the UK can take British Airways direct to Colombia. Unfortunately, there are currently no direct flights from Canada or Australia.

The majority of visitors fly into Bogota’s El Dorado Airport, located 11kms east of the city. The airport has two terminals: El Dorado, the main terminal and Puente Aereo, a newer terminal which handles Avianca’s flights to the US. Facilities are good and include banks, ATMs and bureaux de change kiosks, eateries and a bar, information desks and first aid facilities. There are also first aid facilities and excellent amenities for disabled passengers. The airport is not a place you want to be wandering around, so make your transportation arrangements before you arrive. Your hotel can arrange a pick up or you can hire a taxi directly at the airport. These are the only two means of ground transfers available for arriving passengers.

Cartagena’s San Javier International Airport is the second most popular destination for overseas visitors. This busy and efficient terminal handles many international and domestic flights each day. It is a safer airport than Bogota, but you should still be careful when choosing your transportation into the city, the two most preferable options are hotels shuttle services and licensed taxis which can be found at arrivals.

Bus
TESPA buses connect Colombia with Venezuela and Ecuador every day. Since bus travel is the most common form of transportation for Colombians, the coaches are comfortable and the services are generally good. The massive Terminal de Transportes, in the heart of Bogota, is where long-distance buses arrive and depart. You will find all the major bus companies here.

The risk of theft on the bus is fairly low, but it’s well worth the few extra dollars to take a first-class bus. The basic service buses, called corriente, could present a few headaches. The bus stations in Colombia are major hot spots for theft, so keep your money, camera and valuables hidden.

Car
Colombia only has road connections with Ecuador and Venezuela. They are well-travelled and shouldn’t present any problems crossing the border. However, driving anywhere in Colombia is not recommended. It’s much safer to simply fly between cities, take a tour bus or hire a driver. If you have to drive yourself, don’t travel at night.

Sea
With ports on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, it is possible to arrive by boat. The sea traffic is busier on the Caribbean side, as boats frequently come in from the US, Mexico and Central America. Colombian ports on the Caribbean coast include Cartagena, Santa Marta, Baranquilla and Turbo. Buenaventura is the main port city along the Pacific coast. Many cruise lines include a stop in Cartagena. For something more exciting, you can take a sailing boat from Panama through the San Blas islands to Cartagena.

Air
Colombia has a very well-developed domestic airline system which offers one of the most extensive flight networks in South America. These flights offer a quick and easy way to get to the various towns of Colombia without the danger often associated with road travel.

Avianca is Colombia’s main airline and services nearly every airport in the country. AeroRebublica is the second largest airline, followed by Aires and Satena. Although domestic airfares seem rather expensive compared to other parts of the world, there are frequent promotional discounts. Always reconfirm your flight 72 hours in advance and be prepared for frequent rescheduled or postponed flights.

Bus
Travelling by bus is the most popular way to get around Colombia and there are many companies to handle the demand. The buses are clean and efficient and by far the best way to travel between relatively short urban distances.

Despite the cheap and comfortable nature of travelling by bus in Colombia, it is still not recommended. Flying is by far the safest way to travel between cities. However, the bus is much safer than driving by car. The main roads throughout the country are fairly good, but if you plan to visit a remote town then be prepared for some bumpy, slow driving. Always be aware of your surroundings when you travel by bus.

Car
The airports are home most of the major car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz and Dollar, but it’s not recommended that you do any driving in Colombia. The country’s highways and roads are generally in an appalling state, which makes the driving even harder and during the rainy seasons many of the smaller roads turn to mud or wash away completely. Road signs around the country are spotty at best, so always carry a good map with you. Official tolls are common along the major highways.

Taxi
Taxis are one of the safer transportation options in Colombia and should be used whenever possible. They are excellent value and can even be hired for long distance drives between cities or to outlying attractions. Taxis are required by law to have a meter, but they don’t always turn them on. Always make your driver start the meter when you take off, otherwise negotiate the fare. After dark, fares increase by about one-third.

Hailing a taxi on the street is possible, but not always a safe bet. It’s always safer to call for your taxi, especially in the northern parts of Bogota, where much of the taxi crime seems to take place. The taxi company will inform you of the number of your taxi and when you are picked up the driver will ask you for the last two digits of the phone number you called from. It is vital to use licensed taxis to prevent becoming a victim, so keep a couple of taxi company phone numbers with you at all times and use them.

Sea and Lake
Water transport within Colombia is not commonly used. Along the Pacific coast, where there are no roads, boats ply passengers from place to place, but the transport is primitive and irregular.