Transportation

Getting Around in Colombia

Transportation is affordable and generally efficient in Colombian cities. Most expats live without cars.

Ride-Hailing Apps (Essential)

Use these instead of street taxis:

• Uber - most widely used
• DiDi - Chinese alternative, often cheaper
• Cabify - another good option
• InDriver - negotiate price, popular for longer trips

Why not street taxis:

• Safety concerns (express kidnapping risk)
• Overcharging foreigners common
• No ride record/accountability
• Apps provide driver info and trip tracking

Typical costs:

• Short trip (15 min): $2-4 USD
• Cross-city (30-40 min): $5-10 USD
• Airport transfer: $10-20 USD

Public Transit by City

Medellin Metro:

Colombia's only metro system. Clean, efficient, covers main areas.

• Single ride: ~$0.60 USD
• Monthly pass available
• Integrates with buses and cable cars (Metrocable)
• Metrocable offers amazing views of hillside comunas

Bogota TransMilenio:

Bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Extensive but crowded.

• Single ride: ~$0.70 USD
• Can be very crowded at rush hour
• Covers most of the city
• SITP buses supplement TransMilenio

Other cities:

Most cities have bus systems but less developed infrastructure. Ride apps often more practical.

Walking and Biking

Walkability:

• El Poblado, Laureles (Medellin): Very walkable
• Usaquen, Chapinero (Bogota): Walkable but watch traffic
• Cartagena old town: Extremely walkable

Biking:

• Medellin: EnCicla bike-share system, some bike lanes
• Bogota: Extensive cicloruta network, weekly ciclovia (streets closed to cars on Sundays)
• Hills in Medellin can be challenging for casual cyclists

Inter-City Travel

Buses:

• Extensive bus network connects all cities
• Quality ranges from basic to luxury
• Major companies: Bolivariano, Expreso Brasilia, Copetran
• Bogota to Medellin: $25-40 USD, 8-9 hours

Domestic Flights:

• Avianca (national carrier)
• Latam
• Viva Air (budget)
• Wingo (budget)
• Bogota to Medellin flight: $40-100 USD, 45 minutes

Tips:

• Book flights in advance for best prices
• Bus terminals (Terminal de Transporte) in each city
• Always book with established companies

Driving in Colombia

Do you need a car?

Most expats say no. Ride apps + public transit cover daily needs.

If you want to drive:

• Foreign license valid for 3-6 months
• After that, need Colombian license
• Process requires written and practical exams
• International Driving Permit helpful but not always accepted

Buying a car:

• Possible without residency
• Requires RUT (tax ID)
• SOAT (mandatory insurance) required
• Prices higher than US for equivalent vehicles
• Maintenance generally affordable

Traffic:

• Bogota traffic is notoriously bad
• Medellin better but still congested at rush hour
• Aggressive driving style common
• Motorcycles everywhere (and often ignoring rules)

Motorcycle Taxis

"Rappi" style delivery:

• Rappi, iFood apps deliver anything
• Motorcycles zip around cities

Traditional motorcycle taxis:

• Common in some areas
• Not recommended for safety reasons
• If you must: wear helmet, hold on tight