How to get to and from Medellin Airport to the center

Okay, so this is a bit of a boring piece, but if you are about to travel to Medellin, this might actually help you out. Because how to get there? When we travelled from the airport to Medellin, we couldn’t find any information about cheap transportation to the center anywhere. We only read about taking taxi’s. Let’s start with those (and next I’ll tell you the cheaper alternative):

Now a taxi will cost you about $20,- to $25,- USD for a ride to the center or to El Poblado (and I’ll advise you to have a stay in the latter). This might seem a lot, but the airport actually is quite far away. The ride through the mountains will take some 50 to 60 minutes. If you want to have a convenient ride to Medellin, choose this option and try to split the amount with other tourists that are waiting at the airport. Taxista’s charge you only a bit more to drive you to the two locations. We did it like that on our way to the city and it cost us some $6,- per person (4 in total, for a stop at both El Poblado and the city center). Not bad at all.

However, there’s a way of getting there even cheaper if you’re on a tight budget: by minibus! The following information might be convenient as well if you’re looking for how to get back to the airport, when it won’t be possible to split a taxi.

Here’s the step by step explanation for that option:

• Once you get out of the airport, look for a white and green mini bus that says ‘Aeropuerto JMC’ and is run by Combuses S.A. 

• A ticket (bought inside the bus) will cost you $9,000 COP.
• Sit down and chill as it will take the bus about an hour to get to the center of Medellin.
• The minibus will stop at the center of Medellin, close to the Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero. The exact place is Carrera 51, behind Hotel Nutibara, a large building with a big Nutibara sign on it. 
• Next you take the metro, which is close by (just a short walk, ask the drive what direction). Figure out beforehand where you ho(s)tel is and what the nearest metro stop will be. The metro ticket will cost you less than $2,000 COP to get to your destination. You need to buy a metro card at the box office.

In total, without a taxi, this route will costs you somewhat $9,000 COP, that is $3,-. You saved yourself quite a bit of dinero with that.

Hours of the minibus: while going to the airport the shuttle runs every 15 to 30 minutes from 4:00 am – 8:00 pm. Coming from the airport,the minibus runs from 6am – 12pm. Just one note: only take the minibus if you arrive during the day. The place where you’ll end up in town can be a bit uncomfortable when it’s dark or about to be. 

That’s it, enjoy Medellin!