Getting here

Flying to Bogotá

El Dorado International Airport (BOG) is one of the busiest in Latin America, with non-stop flights to more than 100 destinations in around 30 countries. There are direct connections with Europe and with North, Central and South America.

Hover over a point on the map to see the city. Drag and zoom to explore.

Entering Colombia

Citizens of most countries in the Americas and Europe, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, can visit Colombia without a visa, usually for up to 90 days. The rules depend on your nationality and can change, so please check the requirements for your passport with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the nearest Colombian consulate well before you travel.

• Passport. It must be valid when you arrive. The Colombian authorities recommend at least six months of validity beyond your planned departure.
• Check-Mig. This free online form from Migración Colombia can be completed between 72 hours and one hour before your flight. It is optional at the time of writing, and it can speed up immigration. Use only the official site: other websites charge for the same form.
• Fees. Citizens of a few countries pay a reciprocity fee on arrival (Canada, at the time of writing).
• Vaccinations. Bogotá, at its altitude, is not a yellow fever risk area. A certificate may be required if you arrive from a country with risk of transmission, or if you travel on to some lowland regions of Colombia. If you plan to visit the Caribbean coast, the Amazon or other lowland areas, ask a travel clinic in good time.
• Invitation letters. If you need a letter for a visa or a funding application, please contact us.

From the airport to the congress area

El Dorado is about 14 km (8.7 mi) from the congress area. By car the trip takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, and longer at rush hour (roughly 6 to 9 am and 4 to 8 pm on weekdays).

Ride-hailing apps

Uber, DiDi, Cabify and inDrive all work in Bogotá and are widely used by locals and visitors. You see the price before you confirm and can pay by card in the app, which also tells you where to meet the driver. Ride-hailing sits in a regulatory grey area in Colombia, so a driver may ask one passenger to sit in the front seat.

Taxi

Authorised taxis wait at the official rank outside the arrivals hall. Ignore anyone who offers you a ride inside the terminal. The fare is set by the meter plus an airport surcharge, and to the congress area it should come to the equivalent of USD 20 at most, paid in pesos. Have some cash, as not every taxi takes cards.

Public transport

TransMilenio, the city’s bus rapid transit system, is by far the cheapest option. You need a TuLlave card, sold and topped up at the airport.

• The free feeder bus 16-14 links the terminal with Portal El Dorado, where the rest of the network begins. The ride takes 10 to 15 minutes, plus a 5 to 10 minute walk at Portal El Dorado to reach the M86 platform.
• From Portal El Dorado, the dual service M86 runs along Calle 26 and then north along Carrera Séptima. Get off at Carrera 7 – Calle 92 or Carrera 7 – Calle 94, a ten to fifteen minute walk from the Parque de la 93 area. In the opposite direction it is the K86. It runs Monday to Saturday, 4:00 am to 10:00 pm, and Sundays and public holidays, 5:00 am to 9:00 pm. This leg takes 30 to 40 minutes.

All together, allow 45 minutes outside rush hour, and 60 to 75 minutes at rush hour, not counting the walk from Carrera 7 to your accommodation.

Check routes, stops and timetables in the official TransMiApp, especially on Sundays and public holidays. We do not recommend public transport if you arrive at rush hour, or with large luggage.

Hotel transfers

Most hotels can arrange a pick-up if you ask in advance. It costs more than a taxi and saves you the queue.

Leaving Bogotá

For international flights, plan to be at the airport three hours before departure, and allow extra time for traffic on weekday afternoons.