Cali Flights

Two airlines have flights from Cali to San Andrés, Copa and Avianca. Most of the flights have a connection in Bogotá, and there is usually one direct flight daily with Copa (operated by Aerorepublica). I booked the direct flight. It was a night flight, with the departure from Cali at 10:30pm and arrival to San Andrés at 12:25am. It was US$ 205 one way. Since it was the high season, only a few days before the New Year, I booked three months in advance.

The owner of the homestay in the village of San Luis where I was going to stay, she was supposed to wait for me at the airport with her taxi driver friend. But she did not come. Later she explained that she confused the dates. It was in fact very tricky as the date of my departure differed from the date of my arrival.

While I was waiting for my transportation to San Luis a local tourist agent offered me to join another passenger in a shuttle van which was COP 20.000 (December 2008). She knew the place and they delivered me right to the door (we had to wake up the owner). I was really happy not to be alone in the middle of the night.

When I arrived early in the morning to the airport in Cali I was told my plane, leaving at 6.45, was cancelled and that the next one left at 9.50. So I had another three hours to spend at the airport. There are some shops and cafes so I sat down at Donkin Dounuts to have breakfast (4000 pesos) and read a book.

The flight to Guapi took about 35 minutes and onboard a small sandwich and something to drink was served. In Guapi we all were registered in a book by a military and we got our luggage. Then the gates were unlooked and we could leave the terminal. As I was on my way to Isla Gorgona I was met by a man from Aviatur (the company that organises the tours to Isla Gorgona) and so were to other persons. We were taken to a counter were we could confirm our return tickets. The other two persons had some trouble confirming their tickets, but Aviatur was going to solve the problem during the day.

It seems to be very common that the departure time for the flights between Cali and Guapi are changed. My plane from Guapi, back to Cali, was first leaving at 10.05, but some time before I heard it was leaving at 10.50. Before you check in your luggage you must open your bags for the military to have a quick look. There is a café in the airport where you can have a coffee while you are waiting. Leaving Guapi I had a very nice view over Guapi, the river and the ocean (with Isla Gorgona in the distance). In Cali we got the luggage quick and just outside the terminal was the bus for the bus terminal.

For the plane ticket Cali - Guapi - Cali I paid 393 564 pesos (July 2008).

Airport is quite far away from the city, it will take you to get here at least 30-40 min. The building is modern and clean, but could benefit from a/c.

If you are a foreigner and have not had to buy a visa (such as a citizen from US), you will have to pay an exit tax at the airport prior to booking, about $25. To do that you will have to go to the second floor into the far corner where there is a sign "Guardia Civil". There you will find a cashier who will take your money and will give you a receipt. Take it to the airline counter when boarding.

Avianca generally has good service, very decent food and perhaps the best airline magazine I have seen (as long as you can read Spanish). Be sure to arrive early, such as at least 2 hours in advance for international flights. The lines are very long and inexplicably move VERY slow.

Cali has an international airport called 'Alfonso Bonilla Aragon' located just a few miles from the city of cali. There are about 18 flight between Bogota and cali served by AVIANCA, the National Airline of Colombia. AMERICAN AIRLINES has also direct flights from Miami. Other major south american airlines also has direct flights into Cali.

The Main port and the biggest in Colombia is Buenaventura Port.

Popayan also is called the 'white city' because it has got a large number of colonial mansions, all painted in white. You can peer into Colombia' colonial past by simply walking admist the mansions of Popayan.

As elsewhere in Colombia, there are a lot of them and they are cheap. Most taxis come in unexpectedly small cars, such as Hyundai Atos.

If you need to catch one at night or in an iffy neighborhood, call one in. The operator will give you a number as a code and will take your name. When a taxi appears, typically within 3-5 minutes, give the driver the code number.

Taxis are very cheap. Ride from the airport is quite lengthy however and will set you back about COP 40,000.

DO NOT RENT A CAR! DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

Taxis are soooo cheap, it is unbelieveable. I do not see how they can even cover gas expenses.

Its going to cost only2 or 3 bucks to go wherever you need to go.

I once hired a taxi to drive me around for over 5 consecutive hours, and it came to only 40 dollars.