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If you are arriving in Medellín as a solo female traveller for the first time, and it also happens to be late in the evening, making your way from the airport to the city centre safely will probably one of your main concerns.
Especially since Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, where you will most likely arrive, is about a 30-minute car ride away from El Poblado, which is the area where tourist most likely stay in. It is also not located in Medellín directly, but in a city called Rionegro. While there is also an airport located in Medellín (Olaya Herrera Airport), however, this one only serves domestic flights and is a lot smaller as well.
So in this post I wanted to give you a little summary of what to do if you arrive late in Medellín as a solo female traveller.
Get an E-Sim before travelling to Colombia so that you have internet on arrival
Alternatively, you can buy a Colombian SIM card once you are in the city, but you might not be able to do that directly at the airport, or all the shops might be closed already when you arrive.
Getting an E-Sim (with an E-Sim provider such as Airalo) beforehand would save you the hassle of sorting out a SIM card on arrival, and you will be able to call an Uber, check directions, or message your friends right when you arrive.
Make sure to get some Colombian currency before leaving the airport
In order to pay the bus or taxi, or however you will be travelling to the city, make sure you have some local currency on hand. There are plenty of ATMs at the airport in Medellín when you arrive. So make a quick detour here before you exit the airport.
And I would also recommend getting some snacks and something to drink at the airport quickly, so you don’t need to leave your accommodation any more once you arrive at night.
Ways to travel from Medellín airport to the city centre late at night
I have travelled to Medellín by plane twice during my Colombia trip, and while I took the bus the second time I arrived, the first time I wanted to be on the safe site and booked a private transport option. Also because, the first time I arrived in Medellín, it was also late in the evening. So that would also be my recommendation, but first, here are all the options you have when travelling from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport to the city.
1. Take the bus from the airport
There is a bus that runs from the airport to the city and stops either at San Diego Mall or Downtown Medellín. This is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the city. From San Diego Mall, you could then take an Uber or standard yellow to your final destination. I have done that during the day but wouldn’t recommend this way of travelling if it’s your first time arriving in Medellín alone, and it’s late at night.
The other stop would be in the city centre of Medellín (El Centro). Do not get out in this area as it can be dangerous at night, and it is recommended to not be in the centre of Medellín once it starts getting dark.
2. Collectivos
Collectivos are shared taxis that fit 4 people and leave once they are full. Just like the bus, they drop you off at San Diego Mall. From there, you could take an Uber or yellow cab to your destination. I would probably not recommend this after a long day of travelling, as you probably just want to arrive at your destination right away. It is also not the best way to travel if you have a lot of luggage with you.
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3. Travel with a standard Taxi
Of course, you can also take a standard taxi, which you will see outside the airport waiting for you. There should be white taxis that have a fixed price and the standard yellow cabs. If you take a yellow cab, make sure to agree on the price beforehand. The fairs should not be more expensive, just because you are travelling at night.
In general, Airport taxis with a fixed rate should be quite safe (definitely safer than hailing a random yellow cab off the street), so you should be okay as a solo traveller in Medellín.
4. Private Transport
The private pick-up is similar to a taxi, without having to figure out the price, waiting for a taxi and having to wonder if one would be available. You can book private pick-ups beforehand, and they will drop you off right at your accommodation. It’s about €26 and properly the easiest and least stressful way to travel from the airport to the city as a solo female traveller arriving in Medellín. This option is also super safe!
It’s good to have your E-SIM activated so you can communicate with the driver, as he could tell you where he is waiting, or you can message him if you will be a bit later.
I opted for this option and my driver texted me while I was still having my stopover in Miami, and my flight was a bit delayed, so I could tell him that already 🙂
5. Travel by Uber
In general, Ubers are the safest option to travel throughout Medellín. I have done it plenty of times and never had any issues. The only catch is that whilst you can get Ubers in Colombia, they are technically illegal. So that means, when you get into an Uber always take the front seat, so that it doesn’t look like you are getting into an Uber. And that also means that at an airport where there are regulated taxi services, it can be a bit more risky for Uber drivers to get to.
So if you can get an Uber, that is great, but know that it might not be available as well. And also do tip your Uber drivers, as it’s a lot cheaper than taxis and they are taking a risk.
Also note, the Uber regulations in Colombia have changed quite a bit over the years, so maybe do some research on this again before your trip.
Where to stay in Medellín? I’ve stayed in 5 different hostels in Medellín and Los Patios hostel was my favourite <3
6. Get a hotel near the airport and travel to the city the following day
Of course, if you are not comfortable travelling all the way to the city at night, then it’s always an option to first stay at an airport near the hotel and travel to the city the following day during daylight. A lot of hotels will have pick-up services from the airport, as they are probably just a couple of minutes drive away. The next day you can continue travelling by Uber or let the hotel call you a taxi from a registered taxi company. There are plenty of hotel options near the airport!
Read more in detail about solo female travel in Colombia.
To conclude, if it’s your first time arriving in Medellín as a solo female traveller, I would recommend to either treat yourself with a private transport (that’s what I did the first time as well) or to take a white Taxi. For any other travels throughout the city, Uber will be your best option. Definitely do not take the bus that will go to El Centro, most likely your accommodation won’t be in that area and I would really avoid El Centro once it’s dark.
Hope this answers your question of how to best deal with arriving late in Medellín as a solo female traveller. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Talk to you later
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