TRANSPORTATION BY LAND

 

Train
The trains function, fundamentally, to transport goods between cities. Passenger trains are viritually nonexistant. During the last several years, the trains have been suspended frequently because of financial difficulties. The principal route of the trains of Colombia connect Santa Fe de Bogota with Santa Marta.

Roads
Roads are usually good except during the rainy season. During the rainy season there are often long delays on the roads due to landslides that block the roads. There are few highways and the majority of them have only two lanes.
Some roads have become quite dangerous because of guerilla activity or delincuency. It's advisable to travel during the day.

 

Bus
There are many bus companies. Those that stand out are Flota Magdalena, Expreso Boliviano and Expreso Palmira. Approximately 42 companies with modern buses and micro buses make trips within Colombia to virtually every Colombian city.

Some short trips in rural zones are operated by the famous Chivas or jeeps Willis, that have become a symbol of the country. Thechivas are wooden, colorful buses used by people who live in rural zones to transport their products (plantain, chickens, coffee etc.). They are built to work and it's common to see people and products piled on the roof.

Car Rentals: Avis, Hertz, Budget and National have car rental offices in the country. To rent a car you need an International Driver's License.

Urban Transportation
In medium-sized and big cities, there's extensive bus and micro bus services available that operate with set fees.
Bogota and Medellin are the only cities in the country, thus far, that have a massive, organized transportation system. Bogota is now a model city throughout Latin America and the world because of its bus service called the Transmilenio. In 2006, Pereira is expected to have its Transmilenio functioning as well. Medellin is the only city in Colombia with a metro. It also has Gondolas that go to the top of the mountains, saving people from these neighborhoods hours of transportation, traffic jams etc.

Taxis: If you are going in taxi, insist that the driver use its meter. In the case that the taxi doesn't have a meter, negotiate a price before entering the taxi. Taxi drivers can add a supplement to those travelers that leave city limits or go to and from the airport. In Bogota, the airport has a taxi service. If you punch in your destination, it will print out how much your taxi should cost. Also, if staying in a hotel, ask the concierge to call a taxi. This is more secure, as the taxi numbers are recorded.

For more information about road status and transportation in Colombia, please consult the Web page www.eltransporte.com.co

 

More information and reservations:

Tel. (57)(6) 3349883 - 3349916 Pereira
Carrera 13 No 14-60 Local 9 Centro Comercial Marbella / Pereira - Colombia
turiscolombia@andes.com

Prices listed on the Website do not include tax or hotel insurance.

 

	Web www.turiscolombia.andes.com