How to Get from Medellín to José María Córdova International Airport

After a few action-packed days in Medellín, it was time to continue our trip through Colombia with a few days in Leticia, in the Amazon region. That meant heading out to José María Córdova International Airport, which serves Medellín but is actually located near Rionegro, about 30 km outside the city.

The most economical way to get there is by airport bus. Buses depart from near San Diego Mall, in the El Poblado / city-center area (📍bus stop), and also from Terminal del Norte (📍map). Since we were staying near the former, we simply walked from our accommodation to the stop with our backpacks.

We were lucky—the bus had already started pulling away when the driver spotted us, stopped, and waved us over. Services run regularly throughout the day, and the ticket cost 20,000 COP per person, significantly cheaper than a taxi, which can range between 20 and 30 USD. Upon return, since we landed around midnight, we had to take a taxi and paid 100,000 COP, sharing it with two more passengers who paid as much.

The ride took about 40 minutes. First, the road climbs steadily out of the Aburrá Valley, then passes through the long tunnel beneath Parque Arví, which we had visited just a few days earlier.

Busy Medellín roadway with buses, motorcycles, and mountain views in the background — Busy thoroughfare in downtown Medellín

Affiliation disclosure: By purchasing goods or services via the links contained in this post, I may be earning a small commission from the seller's profit, without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!

Accommodation & Activities in Medellín

Use the map below to explore stays, or check out my full guide on where to stay in Medellín.

Stay22 is a handy tool that lets you search for and compare stays and experiences across multiple platforms on the same neat, interactive map. Hover over the listings to see the details. Click on the top-right settings icon to adjust your preferences; switch between hotels, experiences, or restaurants; and activate clever map overlays displaying information like transit lines or concentrations of sights. Click on the Show List button for the listings to appear in a list format. Booking via this map, I will be earning a small cut of the platform's profit without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!

View More Tours