El Dorado (BOG) is Bogotá's international airport, about 15 km west of the centre. This is what to sort out before you land, and what to expect after: the immigration form, the terminals, getting online and the way into the city.
Before you land
Migración Colombia asks travellers to fill in Check-MIG, its online form, between 72 hours and one hour before the flight. Use only the official Check-MIG site; the form costs nothing there.
If you bought an eSIM, keep its QR code, or the codes to type in, where you can open them without internet: printed or on a second device, for example.
Terminal 1 or Terminal 2
International flights and most domestic flights use Terminal 1. Terminal 2, the former Puente Aéreo, handles a few domestic flights, so check the terminal on your booking if you fly on within Colombia. The two buildings are not joined by a walkway: a free bus runs between them.
Getting online
The airport has free Wi-Fi. Pick the airport's free network, open the browser and register with your details. Free sessions are time-limited, and a paid premium tier is sold for video calls and streaming.
Adding an eSIM from a QR code needs an internet connection, so the Wi-Fi helps if you have not added yours yet (how to install it). Once the eSIM is on your phone, turn its line on after landing and choose it for mobile data, as in switch it on after landing. If it does not connect, go through the checks in order.
From the airport to the city
Taxi. Take a yellow taxi from the official rank outside arrivals. The fare is what the meter shows plus a fixed airport surcharge set by the city. Ask for a receipt. Traffic decides the time: around half an hour when the roads are clear, far longer in the morning and evening rush.
Bus and TransMilenio. Bus 16-14 is free and links Terminals 1 and 2 with Portal El Dorado, a TransMilenio station. It runs from early morning to around midnight (4:30 am to 12:20 am on weekdays when we checked). From the portal, TransMilenio buses run into the city. You pay with a TuLlave card, sold inside the airport at entrance 4 on the ground floor and topped up at stations.
Good to know
- Altitude. Bogotá sits at about 2,640 m (8,660 ft). Some travellers feel it on the first day, with a headache or shortness of breath. Take it easy and drink water.
- Time. Colombia is on UTC-5 all year, with no daylight saving time.
- Emergencies. Call 123, the free national emergency line for police, fire and ambulance.
