Getting to Cartagena & Medellín: Smart Travel Tips for Your Culinary Journey

Travel from Cartagena to Medellín

Planning to explore Colombia’s cultural and culinary capitals? Whether you’re organizing your own multi-city trip or joining a curated experience, these smart tips will help you navigate travel to and from Cartagena and Medellín with confidence. And if you’re still wondering why visit Colombia at all, the country’s mix of cultural vibrancy and natural beauty might just win you over before you even land.

Arriving in Cartagena (CTG)

While my family and I personally took a boat from Panama to Cartagena, you will most likely be arriving by plane. If you’re flying into Colombia from abroad, chances are you’ll be landing in Cartagena—one of the country’s most accessible and charming entry points. The Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) welcomes direct and connecting flights from major U.S. cities and European hubs. Many travelers fly through Bogotá or Panama City for convenient international connections.

Flights into Cartagena often arrive in the afternoon or evening, so it’s worth checking your itinerary for timing and transfer options before booking accommodations or activities.

Favorite travel tools:

• Skyscanner for flexible flight searches

• Rome2Rio to explore route options and travel time

Traveling Between Cartagena and Medellín

Whether you’re organizing your own multi-city trip or joining a curated experience, these smart tips will help you navigate travel to and from Cartagena and Medellín with confidence—and give you insight into what travel in Colombia really feels like beyond the stereotypes. The fastest way to connect these cities is by air. Domestic flights in Colombia are generally affordable and frequent.

• Flight time: Around 1 hour 15 minutes

• Airlines to consider: Avianca, LATAM, Wingo, Viva Air (check current routes)

If you’re planning multiple stops or want to explore both cities, book your internal flight early, especially during peak travel seasons.

Arriving in and Departing from Medellín (MDE)

Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) is your gateway home—or on to your next destination. Located outside the city in Rionegro, it’s about a 45–60 minute drive from most central neighborhoods.

We suggest:

• Allowing buffer time for traffic when planning your departure flight

• Staying one extra night if your flight is early

• Checking availability of direct flights vs. those that transit via Bogotá

If you’re extending your trip in Medellín, you might also consider visiting a local coffee farm to learn how coffee is grown, processed, and brewed just outside the city.

What to Do with Your Luggage (and When to Travel Light)

If your travel schedule means you’ve got hours between check-out and flights—or you’re planning to explore before heading to the airport—Bounce is a luggage storage solution we’ve personally tested and recommend. They have multiple secure storage spots in both Cartagena and Medellín, and the booking process is simple.

Especially helpful if:

• Your hotel checkout is hours before your flight

• You’re planning an overnight in Bogotá or another stop before flying out

• You want to enjoy a museum, meal, or last market stroll without bags

And if you’re extending your stay in either Cartagena or Medellín, don’t miss our hand-picked list of where to eat and drink while you’re there.

Extending Your Stay or Adding Bogotá

Want to see more of Colombia beyond Cartagena and Medellín? Many travelers add a few nights in Bogotá, the country’s high-altitude capital. While not everyone includes Bogotá in their plans, it’s a major transport hub and home to notable museums, markets, and restaurants.

Rome2Rio and Skyscanner will help you piece together ideal routes based on your departure city.

And of course, if you work with a trusted travel advisor, now’s a great time to consult them. They can help you with multi-city flights, hotel bookings, and pre/post-tour planning.

If you’re joining us for a Let’s Eat Colombia culinary holiday, we’re happy to advise you on timing, logistics, or how to make the most of your route. Learn how this tour—and our broader Let’s Eat The World ethos—came to be.

Let’s Eat Colombia: Arrival & Departure Tips

If you’re joining our culinary holiday, here’s what you need to know:

• Generally, the tour officially begins in Cartagena on a Monday, so we recommend arriving on Sunday to rest and be ready to meet your hosts and fellow travelers. Whatever the start date, arriving the day before will help you ease into and enjoy the experience, especially if you are traveling from far.

• The tour ends in Medellín on a Sunday morning, with activities wrapping up the day before. That means you can schedule your return flight for Sunday afternoon or Monday, depending on your preferences.

• If you’re extending your stay in either city, we’re happy to offer local recommendations for dining, exploring, or relaxing.

This tour involves multi-city travel, so we strongly recommend booking your international flights into Cartagena (CTG) and out of Medellín (MDE). Most major airlines and flight search tools will allow you to select different arrival and departure airports using the “multi-city” option.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out—we want your journey to be seamless from start to finish.

Explore more of our chef-curated culinary holidays and feel confident planning your culinary journey from city to city.