Getting Around

Getting Around by Water

Cargo ships from Cartagena to San Andrés occasionally take passengers; however the trip takes several days. Information can be obtained from the Maritima San Andrés office.

The Magdalena River is the main artery of Colombia. Some cargo boats take passengers, though this is a slow way to travel. Paddle steamers no longer run services up and down the river and hiring can be expensive.

From Leticia, on the Peruvian border, a number of operators run sightseeing tours and jungle expeditions up the Amazon. It is necessary to make enquiries locally, and wise to shop around before booking on any one trip.

Getting Around by Rail

Although trains still carry freight, inter-city passenger services are virtually non-existent. A restored steam train, Turistren, runs from Bogotá to Zipaquirá and Cajicá (tel: (1) 375 0557; website: www.turistren.com.co).

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the right. A good highway links Santa Marta in the east with Cartagena, and passes Barranquilla en route. The Trans-Caribbean Highway has placed Barranquilla only five hours away from Venezuela. Northeast of Santa Marta, in the Guajira Peninsula, roads are usually passable except during rainy periods. There is highway transportation between the coastal cities and the capital and other cities of the interior, but much of the highway is rutted. Travellers should seek advice before driving in rural areas to avoid any areas where guerilla and paramilitary groups have a strong presence.

Bus: The long distances make air travel advisable. Among the best bus lines are Flota Magdalena (website: www.flotamagdalena.com), Expreso Bolivariano (website: www.bolivariano.com.co) and Expreso Palmira (website: www.expresopalmira.com.co). There are also collectivos (taxi-buses) for shorter distances.

Car hire: The major international companies have offices, but driving in cities is not recommended.

Regulations: Seat belts in the front seats are mandatory; however, car seats for children are not. Children under 10 cannot sit in the front seat. The urban speed limit is 45-60kph (28-37mph), and the rural speed limit is 80kph (50mph).

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Bogotá’s bus service, TransMilenio (website: www.transmilenio.gov.co), is the most efficient way to travel round the capital. There are also shared taxis (buseta) which are not expensive and stop on demand. Taxis are fairly cheap; passengers should insist that meters are used. Drivers are generally not tipped. Medellín, Colombia’s second largest city, has a metro train service. The newest addition to the system is MetroCable, a cable car.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times from Bogotá (in hours and minutes) to other major towns/cities in Colombia.