Transportation in Barranquilla
For transportation in the city, you can use the Transmetro, among others. Personally, we find it more efficient (and safer) to use cabs and cab apps, such as InDriver. For the prices of the cabs you don’t have to miss out! Continue reading here for more information on transportation in Barranquilla.
Metro, cab, cab apps
Transmetro
The Transmetro is a modern system, with 29 bus routes and nearly 600 stops. There are connector buses to transport travelers to the Transmetro stations. More information can be found on the website Transmetro and in the Moovitapp
Cab
Traveling by cab is efficient and inexpensive. The larger hotels usually have a “concierge” who arranges cabs for the hotel’s guests. We found this service very efficient, because due to the concierge’s many contacts, we never had to wait long for a cab. If you use this cab, you will be more expensive than if you use a Taxi App. For such an app you do need a Colombian phone number. Do not stop cabs on the street, but let your hotel order one for you, or use the Taxi apps.
Prices
For a 1 km ride, you pay about COP8000/€2. For a 5 km ride, about COP40,000/€10.
For a driver who drove us around for half a day, we paid COP60,000/€15.
Apps
In addition to the Uber app, there are other cab apps in Colombia, such as InDriver, Didi and Easy Tappsi These apps work like Uber, where you can track the driver. This makes it a safe, alternative way of ordering a cab.
Uber is known among locals as the more expensive app. We ourselves have had good experiences with InDriver. The app is easy to use and both during the day and at night, we never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for a cab.
How does InDriver work?
Unlike the other apps, you, the customer, offer a price for the ride. The drivers can accept your price or make a counter-offer. There are often more than one driver willing to do a ride, so you can make your choice and even view reviews about the driver if you want.
The minimum fare is COP8000/€2 for a short ride.
Rent a car?
Because of the hectic traffic, we do not recommend a rental car (in the city) unless you have nerves of steel, or are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of town.
Bus Transportation
Bus transportation to/from Barranquilla
How to get to Barranquilla by bus? Barranquilla has good bus connections to other destinations on the Caribbean coast, such as Cartagena and Santa Marta, and major cities in Colombia. The bus terminal, Terminal de Transportes Metropolitano, is located in Soledad, a suburb of Barranquilla in the south of the city. Soledad is not one of the safest neighborhoods in Barranquilla and should you be at the terminal, it is better to stay there and not “go on an adventure” in Soledad.
Price Indication:
- Cartagena: 2.30h, COP30,000/€7.50.
- St Marta: 2h, COP COP30,000 /€7.50
- Bogotá 17h, COP175,000 / €44
- Medellín 14h, COP 190,000 / €47.50
Minibus transportation Santa Marta and Cartagena
If you are traveling from Barranquilla to Cartagena or St. Marta, we find it convenient to use the minibuses of MarSol travel. Instead of taking a cab to the (chaotic) bus terminal in Soledad, catch the minibus at one of MarSol’s offices in El Prado, or at the 93 (Riomar). In Cartagena or Santa Marta (Centro or Rodadero), you’ll be dropped off at their office. There are set times, including several buses per day on weekends. You can make reservations via WhatsApp.
Price estimate:
Barranquilla- Santa Marta: COP45,000/€11 (one way), 2h.
Barranquilla- Cartagena: COP45,000/€11 (one way) 2.5h. Also Berlinas offers this service.
