Cartagena de Indias Airport Transfers

Cartagena airport is located about 10 kilometres from the Walled City, the epicentre of this destination. Once you arrive at the airport, the first thing to do is to opt for a means of transport to get to your hotel, which is likely to be in the hotel zone, located next to the historic centre, which is home to most of the best things to do in Cartagena de Indias.

Among the transportation options from the airport, the private or shared minivan transfer is the most popular, mainly because it will allow you to hire it in advance and easily include it in your travel itinerary. However, you can also choose from other alternatives such as bus, taxi, Uber or even a rented car, a rare but available option.

The private transfer from the airport of Cartagena de Indias to the hotel zone, which is located near the Walled City, is one of the most used alternatives, due to the fact that it is the favourite option for tourists looking for a comfortable and exclusive means of transport.

With a private transfer hired in advance, you can avoid the stress of having to hire transport on arrival and you can be sure of a comfortable vehicle to get to your accommodation. In addition, at the time of booking you will be asked for your flight information, so the professional driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals area with a sign indicating the name of the buyer.

This alternative, then, will allow you to comfortably reach your hotel in a journey of approximately 20 minutes along the scenic Via Perimetral. Also, during the trip you will receive information from the driver about the best tours of Cartagena de Indias and about the excursions you can do from the city.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 21 euros per person.
• Duration of the tour: about 20 minutes.
• How to book this method: you can book in advance online or hire the service once you are at the airport, at the offices of the tourist service providers.
• Advantages of using this method: you will be able to travel comfortably in an exclusive service.
• Recommended if... you are planning to visit Cartagena de Indias in a group, with a large family, with children or with a lot of luggage.

If you want to have access to a minivan transfer from Cartagena de Indias airport but you want to do it at a more affordable price than private transfers, you can hire a shared transfer, which will allow you to arrive comfortably at your hotel with an excellent price-benefit ratio. These transfers can usually be booked in advance online or purchased once you are at the airport.

Bear in mind that the journey time from the airport to the hotel zone near the Walled City is approximately 20 minutes, although the final time will depend on the number of intermediate stops the minivan has to make to accommodate the itinerary of all passengers. In addition, some of these services have fixed stops at the main sites, as is the case of the Fort of San Felipe de Barajas or the Museum of Cartagena de Indias.

Consider also that these options, if you want to hire them at the moment of your arrival at the airport, may not be available or may operate with reduced services if you arrive during the night. In that case you will have to opt for transfers that are more favourable to last-minute bookings, so if you want to travel on a shared transfer the best way to secure your place on this service is to book it in advance.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 12 euros per person.
• Journeytime: around 20 minutes, although this will depend on the location of your hotel and the number of stops in between.
• How to book this method: you can either book it in advance online, which is the recommended alternative, or book it once you are at the airport.
• Advantages of using this method: you will be able to access a service similar to private transport at a better price.
• Recommended if... you want to ensure your transfer before your arrival in Cartagena de Indias without compromising your travel budget.

If you prefer traditional transport, which is also very popular in Cartagena de Indias, you can opt for the bus to take you from the airport to the hotel zone. There are usually several companies that provide this service, although the best known is Guianza Express.

The bus will take you from the airport to the entrance of the walled city, but not along the Via Perimetral, which is the most famous panoramic artery of Cartagena de Indias and will give you open views towards La Boquilla, but through the interior, where it shares stops with the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus of the city. This detail could go unnoticed during the night, but if you arrive during the day you will miss a very nice first approach to this destination.

Note that these services are available from the airport car park and can be booked in advance online or at the bus offices located in the arrivals lobby. Generally, if you book in advance you can get better prices. The approximate initial cost of the ticket is 11 euros per person and the frequency between each bus is 30 minutes.

Useful details

• Price: approximately 11 euros per person.
• Journeytime: about 40 minutes from the airport to the hotel zone.
• How to book this method: you can book it in advance online at the official website of one of the companies offering the service or you can book it once you are in Cartagena de Indias.
• Advantages of using this method: it is a very popular option with good frequency and includes stops at different points of the city.
• Recommended if... you plan to arrive at the airport during the night or you need a local alternative because you did not hire any service in advance.

Taxis are universally used for last minute transfers and Cartagena de Indias is no exception. If you plan to arrive at the airport during the night or you have not hired any transport service in advance, you can opt for this traditional alternative, which is neither the cheapest nor the most efficient, but it is still available to reach the Walled City and its surroundings.

After your arrival at the airport you can get a taxi in the arrival gate area, although you should be aware that in Cartagena de Indias, as in other South American cities, haggling is very common, so I advise you to negotiate the fare before getting into the vehicle, as taxis are not usually metered. In general, a trip from the airport to the hotel sector near Getsemaní will cost between 3 and 5 euros, but it will depend on the distance of the journey.

For reference, a trip from the airport to the Clock Tower Monument, which marks one of the entrances to the Walled City, will cost approximately 4 euros and will take about 15 minutes. However, bear in mind that the final time will depend on the state of traffic, which in Cartagena de Indias is somewhat chaotic.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 5 euros, although bear in mind that you will have to negotiate the fare before getting into the taxi.
• Journeytime: around 15 minutes, although this will depend on traffic conditions.
• How to book this method: you can hire a taxi at the door of the airport arrivals hall.
• Advantages of using this method: you will be able to negotiate the price, if that doesn't cause you stress, and you will have an option available at any time.
• Recommended if... you plan to arrive at the airport during the night and have not booked transfers in advance.

Requesting an Uber car upon arrival at the airport could solve several problems in Cartagena de Indias. Firstly, you won't have to haggle over the price, as you will know the price beforehand and it will be established based on the demand at the time and the distance you have to travel. Secondly, it will be a safer option than a taxi, as you will have information about the driver and the vehicle.

Note, however, that Uber cars are generally not allowed to enter the airport, as this area is reserved for taxis, so you will have to go to the airport entrance. This may discourage this alternative, especially if you plan to visit Cartagena de Indias with a lot of luggage.

An Uber ride from the airport to the hotel zone has an initial cost of approximately 6 euros, which can be modified due to high demand and the final distance of the contracted route. However, app cars are very popular for rides to other nearby places, such as Baru or Playa Blanca, and other coastal destinations in the Colombian Caribbean.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 6 euros, although this will depend on demand at the time of hire and the distance travelled.
• Journeytime: around 15 minutes, although it will depend on traffic conditions.
• How to book this method: you can request it from the app when you arrive at the airport or leave it programmed in advance of your arrival.
• Advantages of using this method: it is a safer option because you will know the details of the driver and the vehicle.
• Recommended if... you want a safer option than a taxi and you don't want to haggle over the price of the trip, a custom that is typical in this destination.

Although it is a rare alternative, if you plan to rent a car as soon as you arrive in Cartagena, the best option is to pick it up directly from the airport, which will allow you to reach the hotel zone in the rented vehicle. In general, due to the heavy traffic in Cartagena de Indias and the poor condition of the roads in the region, tourists are generally discouraged from driving.

On the other hand, bear in mind that the city is well developed in terms of excursions from Cartagena de Indias, so touring the nearby sites, which is where the best beaches and some of the main cultural attractions, such as San Basilio de Palenque, are located, you won't need to hire a car.

However, if you opt for this alternative anyway, you can get mid-sized cars for hire from as little as 32 euros per day. To this cost you'll need to add tolls, where applicable, fuel and parking fees, as it's not possible to park for free on the streets in the city centre.

Interesting details

• Price: the cost of renting a car starts at approximately 32 euros per day.
• Travel time: about 15 minutes from the airport to the hotel zone.
• How to book this method: Ideally, you should rent the car in advance online, although you could also rent it once you are at the airport at the rent-a-car offices.
• Advantages of using this method: You will have the possibility to move around at your own pace, although you should bear in mind that the condition of the surrounding roads is not the best and that traffic is often very heavy.
• Recommended if... you want to discover some places further away from Cartagena de Indias or the southern beaches, which are less popular on organised full-day tours.

The answer as to which alternative airport transfer to the hotel zone is best for you will depend on your travel plan. If you have no budget limitations and want to opt for a comfortable and exclusive option, a private transfer will provide you with the ideal conditions to reach your accommodation efficiently after a tiring trip.

However, if you plan to save money, you can opt for a shared transfer by minivan or bus. These three are the most comfortable and efficient alternatives, as they have a fixed fare and you won't have to haggle over the price as you would with a taxi. Whichever way you choose, I advise you to book in advance to confirm your seat, freeze the fare and make sure the driver is waiting for you at the arrival gate.

If you choose to travel by taxi, be sure to negotiate the fare before you get into the vehicle to avoid misunderstandings. If you choose to hire a car instead, be aware that the roads are not in the best condition and traffic in and around the city is often heavy. If you choose a rental car because you want to get to know the region in depth, bear in mind that excursions from Cartagena de Indias are very popular and work perfectly.