Tips About El Dorado International Airport Of Bogota

Almost all foreign travelers who visit Colombia will have to spend some time in Bogota’s El Dorado International airport, as it is the country’s most important hub and where most international flights land and take off. In an average Colombia Tour Package, travelers visit this airport around 3 to 4 times.

Even though this airport is very efficient, we all know that for each flight you take, you will need to spend at least 1.5 hours inside the airport. Multiplying this estimated time by the 3 or 4 visits you will do during your trip to Colombia, gives you a total time spent inside this airport of something between 4.5 and 6 hours.

That is a lot of time! Especially if you don’t use that time to do something productive. Luckily, El Dorado International Airport is a fantastic airport with plenty of services and facilities that can make your time there much more enjoyable.

However, some of the airport’s best places are not that easy to find, and the signs are not always as clear as they could be. Additionally, the information you find on the airport’s official website or on Google isn’t always complete or up to date.

After having spent hundreds of hours in this airport, I already know every corner of it, and I have discovered some hidden gems that will certainly help any foreign traveler passing through this airport.

But before I share all my tips and recommendations on how to make the most of your time at El Dorado, let’s start with a quick overview of how the airport is organised and a few interesting facts about it.

Facts about El Dorado International Airport:

El Dorado International Airport is Colombia’s largest and most important airport. Located in the west of Bogotá, it serves as the country’s main gateway for international travelers and the primary hub for domestic flights.

With more than 45 million passengers passing through its terminals every year, El Dorado is currently the busiest airport in Latin America and the Caribbean. Besides connecting Colombia with destinations around the world, it is also one of the region’s most important cargo airports.

At the beginning of 2019, there were 42 airlines operating from this airport. Out of these 42 airlines, 21 operate international flights, 6 operate domestic flights and the other 15 are cargo airlines.

El Dorado is not only one of the largest airports in the region, but also one of the best. It has been recognised multiple times by Skytrax as the Best Airport in South America, a reflection of its modern facilities, efficient operations and overall passenger experience It has been awarded as the best Airport in South America for the last 6 years and it currently ranks as the 37th best airport in the world, according to Skytrax (an entity in charge of evaluating and ranking all airports in the world).

General Structure of El Dorado International Airport:

In general terms, El Dorado Airport is divided into two terminals. Terminal 1 is by far the largest of the two and handles all international flights as well as the vast majority of domestic flights.

Terminal 2 (formerly known as Puente Aéreo) is much smaller and is mainly used by Clic Air, SATENA and JetSMART for selected domestic routes. Although it has been modernized in recent years, it offers fewer facilities than Terminal 1.

The two terminals are located next to each other and are connected by a frequent free shuttle bus, making it easy to transfer between them if needed.

Since almost all international travelers and most domestic passengers will use Terminal 1, this guide focuses on that terminal.

Terminal 1 consists of two main levels: the ground floor is used for arrivals, while the upper floor is dedicated to departures.

With that introduction in mind, let’s dive into the most useful tips and recommendations to help you make the most of your time at El Dorado International Airport of Bogota.

1.Money:

One of the most useful things you can do while you’re at the airport is sort out your money for the rest of your trip.

If you’re arriving in Colombia, you’ll probably want to get some Colombian pesos in cash. If you’re leaving the country, you may want to exchange your remaining pesos back into your own currency.

There are two good ways of doing this at El Dorado Airport:

a

Casa de Cambios Guendi

As a general rule, we recommend avoiding airport exchange offices. In most airports around the world, they offer significantly worse exchange rates than exchange offices in the city.

Bogotá’s airport is no exception. Most exchange offices inside the arrivals hall offer relatively poor rates. However, there is one exception that we’ve consistently had good experiences with over the years: Casa de Cambios Guendi.

Unlike the exchange offices located directly inside the international arrivals area, Guendi is tucked away in a quieter part of the terminal. Perhaps because of its less visible location, it has often offered exchange rates that are surprisingly competitive, sometimes very close to what you would find in Bogotá itself. The difference with the other offices in the airport is huge (around 100 Colombian pesos per dollar).

Our recommendation is therefore simple: if you decide to exchange money at the airport, take a few extra minutes to walk to Guendi instead of using the first exchange office you see. The difference in exchange rate can easily make the short walk worthwhile.

To find it, leave the international arrivals area and turn right. Continue walking past the domestic arrivals section until you reach the end of the corridor. Guendi is located on your right-hand side. Why is Guendi offering such a better rate than all the other exchange offices in the airport? I guess it is because of its disadvantageous location.

Most exchange offices (such as Aerocambios or Alcansa) are strategically located in the luggage collection area or in the international arrivals’ hall. The rates offered in these places are really not great, so we don’t really advise travelers to change their money there.

Alternatively, click here and let Google Maps guide you there.

Note: You’ll never receive the official exchange rate you see on Google or other financial websites. All exchange offices in Colombia buy and sell foreign currencies at their own rates, which include a profit margin. Airport exchange offices generally offer less favorable rates than those in city centers, so don’t be surprised if the rates at Guendi or any other airport exchange office are significantly lower than the official rate.

ScotiaBank´s ATM:

One of the best ways to get cash in a foreign country is to withdraw it from an ATM. While there are usually some bank fees involved, it is often a better deal than exchanging money at a currency exchange office.

However, there is one frustrating drawback in Colombia: many ATMs have relatively low withdrawal limits, especially when using a foreign card.

The maximum amount you can withdraw varies depending on the bank, the ATM, and your own bank’s policies. While some ATMs allow withdrawals of COP 2,000,000 or more, others limit you to just a few hundred thousand pesos. Since most foreign banks charge a fixed fee per withdrawal, making several small withdrawals can quickly become expensive.

To minimize these costs, we recommend paying by credit card whenever possible. That said, you’ll still need cash during your trip, especially in smaller towns, local markets, and for some restaurants or taxis. In our experience, the best strategy is to combine card payments with exchanging some USD or EUR at a currency exchange office and making only a limited number of ATM withdrawals.

Another common frustration is that not every ATM in Colombia accepts foreign debit or credit cards, even if it displays the Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, or Cirrus logos.

After trying most ATMs at Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport with cards from different international banks, we’ve found that the Scotiabank Colpatria (formerly Citibank and now under the name DAVIbank in most parts of Colombia) ATM tends to work with the widest range of foreign cards. While withdrawal limits may vary over time, it has consistently been one of the most reliable options for international visitors

There is only one ScotiaBank ATM in the airport. It is located on the departures floor, between entrance 5 and entrance 6. Click here and let Google Maps guide you there.

2. Internet:

I have already mentioned several times, “Click here and let Google Maps guide you there.” You may be wondering how that is supposed to work if you don’t have internet on your phone.

You’re absolutely right. Fortunately, El Dorado International Airport offers free WiFi throughout the terminal.

As soon as you arrive, turn on your phone’s WiFi and connect to the Airport_El_Dorado network. You’ll be asked to complete a short registration form before gaining access to the internet.

If your connection is interrupted or expires, simply reconnect. You can do this as many times as you need at no additional cost.

The free WiFi is more than sufficient for using Google Maps to find your way around the airport, sending a message to let your family know you’ve arrived safely, ordering an Uber, or simply browsing the internet while you wait.

Wondering where to eat and drink in El Dorado Airport? Check our recommendations here.

3. Transport:

For all customers who book a Colombia Tour Package with us, we always coordinate airport pick-ups and drop-offs to make their arrival and departure as safe and stress-free as possible.

However, if you don’t have a pre-arranged transfer, the following tips will help you get to and from El Dorado Airport safely.

Transport from the airport:

– Avoid anyone (and I mean ANYONE) who approaches you inside or outside the terminal offering a taxi or Uber service. No matter how professional they look, they are not part of the airport’s official transport system. They may offer you an attractive price at first, only to demand much more money once you arrive at your destination. Simply ignore them and continue walking.

– Instead, use one of the airport’s official Taxi Imperial pick-up points. Airport staff are present to organize the queue and assign passengers to the next available taxi, making this the safest and easiest option for most visitors.

Once you are in the taxi, make sure the taximeter is switched on before the journey begins. In Bogotá, the meter should start at 28 units, which is the official starting fare. Then simply tell the driver where you would like to go.

Payment is made directly to the driver at the end of the journey. While most taxis now accept card payments, not all do, so it is still a good idea to have some Colombian Pesos in cash. As a reference, a taxi from El Dorado Airport to a hotel in La Candelaria will typically cost between COP 45,000 and COP 65,000, depending on traffic and the applicable surcharges.

Transport to the airport:

– There are several ways to get back to El Dorado Airport.

Our recommendation is to take a standard yellow taxi or arrange a transfer through your hotel. Both are reliable, widely available, and will drop you off directly at the correct terminal.

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber also operate in Bogotá and are used by many locals and visitors. However, because the legal framework surrounding these services is still different from that of official taxis, pick-up and drop-off procedures at the airport can occasionally vary. If you prefer the simplest and most straightforward option, an official yellow taxi or a hotel-arranged transfer remains the best choice.

4.Luggage Carts:

Around the luggage collection belts, you will probably notice staff offering luggage carts.

These carts are operated by the airport’s official provider, Trolley2Go. You can either take a self-service cart by paying a refundable deposit of COP 15,000 (approximately USD 4 or EUR 4), or pay for a porter service if you would like someone to help you with your luggage.

According to El Dorado Airport, the deposit is fully refunded when you return the cart to one of the designated return areas. However, the airport does not clearly indicate where these return areas are, which can make recovering your deposit less straightforward than it sounds.

For that reason, our recommendation is simple: unless you are traveling with heavy luggage that would be difficult to carry by yourself, you are probably better off skipping the luggage cart altogether.

El Dorado International Airport – Conclusion:

Nowadays, most independent travelers and people who buy a Colombia tour package end up spending quite a lot of time at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport.

Most people simply sit and wait for their boarding call. However, there are plenty of ways to make use of your time at the airport in a productive and efficient way.

Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport is an excellent airport. However, like most major international airports, it is not always easy to find your way around or know the best options for the services you need.

With this post, I hope to help foreign travellers make the most of their time at the airport by sharing some essential information about a few of the most common things people do there: getting cash, connecting to the free WiFi, arranging safe transport to and from the airport, and using the luggage carts.