Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport

Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport is about 12 km from central Barranquilla. It sits in the neighboring municipality of Soledad, south of the city, so reaching downtown, El Prado or the northern hotel districts is a short drive by taxi, rideshare or private car. Traffic in the metro area can add time at rush hour.

Not technically. The airport is in Soledad, a separate municipality in the department of Atlántico that borders Barranquilla to the south. Soledad is part of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, which is why the airport is known as Barranquilla Airport and is the main air gateway for the city.

Barranquilla airport has one passenger terminal. Inside it, domestic flights use one pier and international flights use another, so both kinds of passengers share the same building, entrances and arrivals exit. An older separate building is used as the cargo terminal and is not open to passengers.

Avianca, LATAM Airlines, JetSMART and Wingo connect Barranquilla with Bogotá, Medellín and other Colombian cities, while Clic and SATENA serve smaller regional airports. International flights include American Airlines and Avianca to Miami, JetBlue and Avianca to Fort Lauderdale, Copa Airlines and Wingo to Panama City, and Z Air to Curaçao. All flights use the single terminal.

Yes. Taxis wait in the official taxi area just outside the terminal exit. Use this line rather than accepting offers from people inside the arrivals hall, and agree on the fare before you leave. Expect a surcharge at night, on Sundays and on public holidays, which is standard for taxis in Barranquilla.

There is no dedicated airport train or express bus. Barranquilla's Transmetro bus system and city buses run in the metro area, but they are hard to use with luggage and do not give a simple link from the terminal. Most travelers take a taxi, a rideshare or a pre-arranged car into the city.

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Cabify, DiDi and inDrive operate in Barranquilla, and many travelers use them from the airport. Uber operates in a legal gray area in Colombia, so drivers may ask you to sit in the front seat or meet slightly away from the taxi line. An official taxi is the more predictable option.

Check-MIG is no longer mandatory for entering or leaving Colombia by air, according to 2026 reporting on Migración Colombia's rules. It is still recommended because it can speed up immigration checks. The free form can be completed online between 72 hours and one hour before your flight. Visa rules depend on your nationality.

Cartagena is roughly two hours or more by road from Barranquilla, heading southwest along the Caribbean coast. From the airport you can go by taxi, rental car or pre-arranged transfer, or take a taxi into Barranquilla and catch an intercity bus there. Travel time depends on traffic leaving the Barranquilla metro area.

Santa Marta is roughly two hours by road east of Barranquilla, and Tayrona National Park lies beyond it. You can drive or use a pre-arranged transfer straight from the airport, or take a taxi to an intercity bus departure in Barranquilla, where companies such as Berlinas, Marsol and Brasilia run regular services.

Barranquilla uses Colombia time, UTC-5, all year, with no daylight saving time. The currency is the Colombian peso (COP), and cash is still common for taxis and small purchases. The climate is hot and humid throughout the year, so light clothing is the norm when you land.

Since September 1, 2024, Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport has been operated by Aerocivil, Colombia's civil aviation authority, after the end of the private concession. The airport handled more than 3 million passengers in 2025, and Aerocivil and the national infrastructure agency are planning further upgrades to the terminal.