Editor’s note: This post was updated in January 2020.
The MDE International Airport is situated 7,300 feet above sea level on a plateau in the Andean highlands. Medellin is about 40 kilometers away so you’ll need reliable transportation to get into the city.
When you’re ready to make your 40-60 minute journey down the well-kept scenic drive to Medellin, here’s how you can go about it.
The Locals Choice – Shuttle Bus
Around 9,500 COP (~ $3.00 USD)
If you’re up for a little safe adventure rubbing shoulders with locals, the official airport shuttle bus is a fun option. They are clean, reasonably comfortable, and depart from MDE every 15 minutes or so from sunup to 10pm.
Here’s the hitch – the bus ride drops you off at the San Diego Mall in the city. Unless your accommodations are within walking distance you’ll need to take another bus or hire a taxi cab to get to your final destination. Add another 7-10,000 COP for the second leg.
Colectivo – a/k/a Shared Taxi
+/- 15,000 COP (~ $5.00 USD)
Solo travelers or couples familiar with shared taxis don’t mind cozying up with other travelers to save a few bucks and swap stories. Depending on the amount of luggage you and your fellow passengers have, this is a viable and interesting way to get down the mountain.
Here’s the hitch – A colectivo will end it’s trip at San Diego Mall in the city. Perhaps you can convince the driver to take you on to your final destination, but if not, you’ll need to hop on a bus or hail a taxi to get where you want to be. Add another 7-10,000 COP for the second transport.
The Travelers Express – Private Taxi
Set Price – 75,000 COP (~ $25.00 USD)
The most common way for travelers to get to Medellin is by official airport taxi. The taxi drivers you’ll find on-site are authorized to serve outgoing taxi service from the airport.
They typically speak some English, are often equipped with GPS and know the city well. They will take you exactly where you want to go for one fixed price. It’s a good way to go when you just want to get to your destination without distraction or secondary trips once you reach the city.
Here’s the hitch – It’s about two to three times more costly than shuttle buses or colectivos, including secondary transport.
VIP Personal Private Driver
Kia Niro $40 usd, Mercedes Benz $60 usd.
It’s easy and very reliable to pre-arrange for an English-speaking personal private driver to transport you from the airport. They’ll be waiting upon your arrival to take you wherever you wish. They’ll even make stops along the way if you need food or beverages for your stay. You can contact Jorge Jaramillo at the number +57 350 537 6846 to book your airport transfer.
Special Tip
However you decide to travel into Medellin, you might want to have a bottle of water and a light snack on hand. It’s altitude after all so keeping hydrated is good to remember.
Happy and safe travels!
About the author:
Steve Wiley
Copywriter – Traveler
Business Consultant
I’m originally from the mountains of Colorado. When the great recession slammed the US economy in 2007 I sold my business and decided to shift gears. So, I laced up my boots, grabbed a bunch of maps and got out into the world in a deep immersive way. The last 12 years I’ve been happily spending my time in many countries throughout Asia and The Americas. I stay busy with freelance copywriting, business consulting gigs, and getting lost as often as I can.
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View Comments
Like to see ways to get back to the airport, I am in las Palmas and see a bus on its way up the hill every now and then on its way to the airport, but have no idea were it starts and how often. The port aria told me there's a number you can call to get him to stop, but has no idea how to do this. Thanks
You can just wave your arm at just about any local bus and they'll stop and pick you up in Colombia.
I've been told in the past you can pick up the airport shuttle near San Diego Mall, which is at the start/end of Las Palmas highway, but if you're already further up it, then I'd just try to pick it up from the road.
You can also try to get a share taxi from the Terminal del Sur (Southern bus terminal), but it could take a long time for anyone else going there to show up.
I just pay for taxis nowadays.
I will be arrival in Jose Cordova Airport around 10:30pm and pretty much forced to take the taxi for the first time in Medellin. Do you have any recommendations or tips on which airport taxis are official and which will are red flags? Thanks for your help.
Pretty much any white taxi at the departure area is official. The rate is too, 60,000 pesos or about $30. Confirm it when you get in, but I've never had an issue with airport taxis trying to rip me off. You'll find most drivers pretty honest, which is something I appreciate living in the city.
Will the taxis take dollars or can I get pesos in the airport?
You can exchange dollars or use ATMs at airport
How much luggage can you take on the white bus? The first stop is by the GHL San Diego Hotel? Thxs!
Hi. I'm only traveling to Medellin to take a bus to Pereira from Terminal del Sur. Do you know if there is any direct way to get from JMC airport to terminal del sur?
Thanks,
Marc
I don't know. The airport shuttle bus normally terminates in downtown Medellín. You might be able to find a share taxi (colectivo) that is going to Terminal del Sur. If you don't want to spend $30 on a taxi yourself, take the shuttle bus and get off at the first stop which should be near the San Diego Mall, then switch to a taxi, which will be a lot cheaper to Terminal del Sur at that point (about $5).
Howdy! I just arrived in Medellin and I went from the airport to the Hotel Diez for a total of 15,800 pesos. The bus from the airport was 8800 pesos. I had one very large suitcase and two smaller ones and they put them nicely in the back of the bus and gave me 3 tickets one for each piece. I got off at the San Diego first stop. A young kid got me a taxi, I gave him 2,000 pesos or so and the taxi cost 7,000 pesos to hotel Diez en el Poblado. So, my math is bad, it cost me 16,000 pesos. So, in my opinion, I see no reason to take a taxi unless you wish to save a little time. I believe a taxi is now 75,000 pesos one way which is around 37 to 40 US dollars. So round trip $80 taxi verses $16 give or take a few dollars. Kind of nice to save $64. BTW If you are staying in the Lleras Poblado area and you need to change dollars or maybe Euros too (Not sure?) there is a place called INTER-Dollar right by MONDONGOS Restaurant. They don't ask for ID or anything. Fast and a better ate than the banks. 1960 pesos per dollar! Mondongos is pretty good Colombian dishes as well.
UPDATE ON CHANGING money....Official rate is about 2400 COP to the dollar now in January, 2015. You should get about 2200 COP at an ATM. You might want to just check out the ATMs at the airport where I hear the rate is high. Most agree that using ATMs is better than the hassle and rate at the banks.
Taxi to airport from anywhere in town or back, door to door, is 58,000 COP for a cab full of people or just you, which with the current rate is much less that $30 US one way.. and NO TIPPING is required....BTW I've been here 4 years or so, I take cabs exclusively around town, and I have never had a rip-off or criminal activity perpetrated by a cab driver on me. Of course be as guarded as you would be in any city. There is no night rate or holiday rate.
The official 2014 yellow taxi rate to/from the airport is actually 60,000 pesos ($25) - not 58,000 pesos. This is posted inside most taxis and also listed on the Medellín city government website at http://www.medellin.gov.co/transito/taxis.html.
The white Aeropuerto taxis have a special rate for going to the airport, which is 52,000 pesos from Medellín or 57,000 pesos from Envigado. You will have to call for a white Taxi Aeropuerto at 261-1616.
If you have a very late flight it can be difficult to find a taxi at the airport so they may charge a bit more.
The other way round, is it possible to get the bus from san diego mall to the international airport?
Yes, however you may want to heed the following comment which was left on our post about bus routes:
Thanks.
I don't know if this article can be updated, but it's a little out of date and some things need corrected, and some clarifications. To get to the bus at the airport, you go left out of baggage claim. There may or may not be a bus waiting, but there will probably be a line of people waiting during the day. There are two bus routes to Medellin - one to San Diego Mall area, the other to downtown near Hotel Nutibara. They alternate, so ask the driver or the guy who is directing the buses. I think the fare is now 8000 COP. Going from Medellin to the airport, it is best to go to the area near Hotel Nutibara. Any taxi driver should know where it is. The driver will put your luggage in the luggage compartment and give you a rubber tag to claim it. You will pay the fare after you are on the bus, both to and from the airport.
I have never used the colectivo taxis. Does anyone know where they are at the airport?
Thanks for the updated info John. I wan't aware of a colectivo taxi option, only the shuttle bus which I thought always stops at San Diego before ending in downtown.
Just used the bus recently to get to Medellin from the airport. You go to the right about 50m when exiting the baggage claim area.
The cost was 9000cop.
Easy cheap way to get into town.
Hi, I will be arriving at Jose Cordova Airport at approximately 8.00pm. By the time I collect my luggage, clear immigration and customs I guess that will add another 60 minutes (?). Will the bus still be running around 9pm? When do the buses actually stop running? Thanks.
Bump...