From the plane to the arrivals exit
Almost all international and domestic flights arrive at the main terminal. It works like any large airport, with three things worth knowing in advance:
- Immigration: check before you fly whether your case requires Migración Colombia's Check-MIG form, and have it done; at peak times the foreigners' queue can take a while.
- Money: there are ATMs in the arrivals area. Take out some pesos for small expenses; with a private transfer the tolls are already included, so you need no cash for the road.
- Phone: activate an eSIM before landing or connect to the airport wifi. WhatsApp is the normal way to talk to your driver, your hotel and almost any business in Colombia.
One last tip: in the arrivals hall people will offer you rides. Don't accept one from someone who approaches you unasked; use the official taxi queue or the driver you booked.
Ways to get from the airport to Boyacá
1. Taxi to the bus terminal, then bus
Take a taxi from the official queue outside arrivals to the Terminal Salitre. Buses leave from there to Tunja, where you change to a smaller bus or shared colectivo for Villa de Leyva, Ráquira or Paipa. Fares and schedules are set by each company; check them at the terminal or on their websites.
- You pay per person, and the taxi and each bus are paid separately
- Departures thin out after dark, and the connection in Tunja works by day
- Luggage goes in the hold, with limited space
It works if you land early, travel light and have the whole afternoon for the trip.
2. Sleep in Bogotá and leave the next day
If you land at night and are in no hurry, staying near the airport or downtown and leaving the next morning is a relaxed option. It costs a hotel night and half a day of travel, but you arrive rested and in daylight.
3. Private transfer from the airport exit
A driver waits for you at the arrivals exit with a sign bearing your name and takes you straight to your accommodation in Boyacá, with no stop at the bus terminal.
- Fixed price per vehicle, not per person — to Villa de Leyva from COP 520,000 for up to 4 passengers
- Time: about 3 h 30 min to Villa de Leyva and 4 h 30 min to Paipa, door to door
- The driver tracks your flight and, if it is late, waits at no extra charge
- Tolls and fuel included
Split between two people, the transfer to Villa de Leyva comes to about COP 260,000 each; between four, COP 130,000 each.
Should I continue that night or sleep in Bogotá?
It depends on your arrival time and how you plan to travel:
- You land in the morning or early afternoon: any option works. If you go by bus, leave the airport as soon as you can to make the Tunja connection in daylight.
- You land in the late afternoon or at night: the bus stops being practical. Either sleep in Bogotá or continue by private transfer and wake up at your destination.
- You come off a long-haul flight, with children or several suitcases: a private transfer saves you the terminal and the changes of vehicle, which is exactly what weighs most after ten hours in the air.
If you continue at night, do it with a professional driver: the road is good, but it has foggy stretches between Bogotá and Tunja that you don't want to drive for the first time in the dark.
How an airport pickup with Andes Transfer works
- When you book on WhatsApp, send us your flight number, arrival time and destination address.
- On the day, we track your flight. If it lands early or late, the driver adjusts the pickup time.
- When you come out of immigration and customs, the driver is waiting at the arrivals exit with a sign bearing your name.
- Before you come out, we message you on WhatsApp with the driver's name, so you know who to look for.
You can add stops on the way: the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá or the Boyacá Bridge, depending on the route. See the prices under stops and surcharges; entrance fees to attractions are not included.
Prices from El Dorado (2026)
| Destination | Private transfer, per vehicle | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Villa de Leyva | from COP 520,000 | ≈ 3 h 30 min |
| Ráquira | from COP 540,000 | ≈ 3 h |
| Tunja | from COP 420,000 | ≈ 3 h 30 min |
| Paipa | from COP 550,000 | ≈ 4 h 30 min |
| Chiquinquirá | from COP 480,000 | ≈ 3 h |
| Lake Tota | from COP 580,000 | ≈ 4 h 30 min |
Prices per vehicle for up to 4 passengers, including tolls, fuel and driver. For the way back, Villa de Leyva → airport costs from COP 520,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the driver meet me at El Dorado?
At the arrivals exit, after immigration and customs, holding a sign with your name. Before you come out, we message you on WhatsApp with the driver's name.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
We track the flight and the driver adjusts the pickup time. Waiting caused by a flight delay costs nothing extra.
How long does it take from El Dorado to Villa de Leyva?
About 3 h 30 min by private car, door to door, depending on traffic leaving Bogotá.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle, for up to 4 passengers, with tolls and fuel included. The more people travel, the less it costs each of them.
Can we stop at the Salt Cathedral on the way?
Yes, as a stop within the trip, for an extra charge depending on the waiting time. The Cathedral entrance fee is not included.
Is it safe to continue to Boyacá at night?
With a professional driver, yes: it is a main paved road. What we don't recommend is driving it yourself at night for the first time, because of the fog on the high stretches.
Do I need cash for the trip?
No. Tolls and fuel are included in the fixed price.
Book your airport transfer
Andes Transfer runs private transfers from El Dorado to Villa de Leyva, Paipa, Tunja and the rest of Boyacá, with FUEC, SOAT and valid insurance policies. Fixed price per vehicle, confirmed on WhatsApp within minutes.
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