From the eternal spring to the Caribbean in an hour, or thirteen. Choose the hour.
The ways#
| Time | Feel | Book | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | ~1h15 in the air; ~4h door to door | Easy | Weeks ahead for cheap fares |
| Overnight bus | 13–14h | Cheap, exhausting | Days ahead |
| Drive | 13h+ | Not recommended | |
| Train | None |
Flying#
José María Córdova (MDE) is 45 minutes from the city by taxi or shared van (airport guide). Several flights a day; the budget carriers are very cheap a few weeks out. Cartagena's airport is ten minutes from the walled city. Check your bag allowance on the budget fares.
The bus#
Terminal del Norte, overnight, 13 to 14 hours through the mountains and across the plain. For the truly tight budget or the committed. Take a blanket; the air conditioning is arctic.
Cartagena or Santa Marta#
Cartagena vs Santa Marta: the walled city and the nightlife, or Tayrona and Minca. Both, four hours apart by bus, is the common answer.
In Cartagena#
Cartagena travel guide, 3 days in Cartagena, where to stay, is it safe?, day trips, nightlife, for couples, on a budget.
Before you leave Medellín#
The 3-day itinerary, day trips, Bogotá vs Medellín if you're still planning.
Arrive knowing someone#
Post your Cartagena dates on Roavi Community before the flight: travellers landing the same days appear together, and Local Friends in Cartagena reply. Rent a Local Friend in Cartagena; travel buddy in Colombia for sharing the trip.
Heading to the coast? Post your Cartagena dates and arrive knowing someone.
Post your tripFrequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Medellín to Cartagena?
About an hour and a quarter in the air, from José María Córdova airport (45 minutes from the city). Several daily flights on Avianca, LATAM and the budget carriers; fares are low a few weeks out and rise sharply in the last days.How long is the bus from Medellín to Cartagena?
Thirteen to fourteen hours, usually overnight, from the Terminal del Norte through the mountains and across the Caribbean plain. Cheap, uncomfortable, and arriving tired. Fly unless the budget truly can't.Can you drive from Medellín to Cartagena?
Technically, in 13 or more hours on mountain roads and highways. Not recommended for visitors: long, tiring, and far more expensive than a flight once fuel, tolls and a one-way rental are counted.Should I go to Cartagena or Santa Marta from Medellín?
Cartagena for the walled city, the colour and the nightlife; Santa Marta for Tayrona National Park, Minca and the beaches, with a less polished city. Many trips do both; the two are four hours apart by bus.
