Coming to Colombia
Flights to Colombia
From France and Europe in general, we recommend Air France, which offers almost daily direct flights from Paris; the journey takes around 11 hours. On other days, KLM flies via Amsterdam. Other options include Colombian airline AVIANCA, German airline Lufhansa, Portuguese airline TAP, Spanish airline IBERIA (daily flights via Madrid), Turkish airlines or American airlines via the U.S. Finally, if you’re planning a trip that combines a visit to Colombia and Panama, we recommend KLM.
We are not authorized to book long-haul flights from Europe, North America, Asia or Africa. However, we can take care of booking domestic flights, as well as cross-border flights in the case of combined trips with Terra Group destinations.
By water
You can reach Colombia by sea cruise (linking, for example, the Panamanian archipelago of San Blas to the city of Cartagena) or by cruise on the Amazon River from Peru or Brazil. As members of Terra Group, with agencies established for many years in these border countries, don’t hesitate to consult us on this subject.
Getting around Colombia
Domestic flights
Most cities are well served by the following airlines: Avianca (Star Alliance), Copa Airlines (Star Alliance) and Lan Colombia (One World). We can take care of booking domestic flights with the airlines mentioned (in business or economy class). It is often necessary to transit through Bogotá for a stopover, or even to make a connection. Details of schedules and airlines for your trip will be communicated to you at the time of booking. We’ll also keep you informed of any changes made by the airline that may affect the price and/or itinerary of your trip. If you have any preferences, please let us know, as the service is approximately the same from one airline to another. If you’re a frequent flyer on Star Alliance or One World, let us know your membership number, and we’ll include it in your booking to earn you a few extra miles. Of course, we can charter a plane or helicopter for specific needs.
By road
Vehicle with private driver
On our tours, we give priority to private transport, i.e. a vehicle driven by a Spanish-speaking driver.
Fuel, parking and tolls, as well as personal expenses (accommodation, meals) are included in our price proposal, so there’s nothing for you to worry about (except possibly his tip). The vehicle is adapted to the size of your group and is totally private, i.e. intended solely for you. No one else will be on board.
If there are fewer than 3 people in your group, we’ll usually use a comfortable car, such as a sedan or 4×4. On the other hand, if your group is made up of more than 4 people, we’ll provide a van (short, medium or long, depending on the size of your group). This mode of transport is generally preferable, as you don’t have to worry about anything (road conditions, travel time, driving style, etc.) and it’s safer (you have a driver who knows the region inside out)
Car rental
It’s entirely possible to visit certain regions of Colombia as a « self-tour »; we’ll be happy to help you rent a car on site
Local buses and shuttles
Comfortable, fast and fairly punctual, scheduled bus travel is a good option for those on a tight budget.
For certain itineraries, particularly to link certain cities on the Caribbean coast (Mompox, Santa Marta, Cartagena, Riohacha…), we can include « shuttle » trips, which offer a good alternative between a private service and the public bus.
These shuttle trips are « door-to-door » (departing and arriving directly at your hotel, on most routes); they are operated by private companies with regular schedules, with a Spanish-speaking driver and several passengers. Please note, however, that departures may be early in the morning, with frequent stops to pick up or drop off other passengers, or even to change vehicles en route (depending on destinations). For greater comfort, we recommend the private vehicle option
Cabs in town
As soon as you arrive, we’ll be able to recommend the best cab companies in Bogota, Cartagena or Medellin (fares are based on the meter, or on a flat-rate basis if the distance is long).
Travel time
By road
Colombia is a vast country with a varied topography, and its road network is generally of good quality.
It’s important to note that these routes are not comparable to those we’re used to in Europe or North America, and that some regions may be difficult to access due to topography, climate, isolation..
The journey times we provide (on request) are therefore given as a guide only. As far as possible, we try to plan itineraries that do not exceed 5 hours’ driving in a single day. In Colombia, the notions of « time » and « schedules » are understood differently than in Western countries..
By plane
Some regions can only be reached by plane. Most cities are well served, with average flight times of one hour (for more isolated regions, such as theAmazon or theSan Andres Archipelago, flight times of around 2 hours are required). It is not uncommon to have to transit via Bogotá for a stopover, or even to make a connection.
