Medellin To Cartagena: FULL Transport Guide 2023

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Looking for the best ways to get from Medellin to Cartagena? You’re in the right place! Medellin is one of the main tourist hubs in Colombia, and taking a trip to Cartagena, a beautiful city on the Colombian coast, is another popular option for ocean fans!

We lived in Medellin for two months as it is the perfect place in Colombia for digital nomads. However, at the end of our trip, we were craving the sea air and sunshine, so we booked a week’s trip to colourful Cartagena!

This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from Medellin to Cartagena, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more. But as always, if you still have a burning question to ask, be sure to drop me a message on Instagram to ask.

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Medellin to Cartagena!

🇨🇴 Other Colombia posts:

• Yellow Fever Vaccine Cartagena: Tourist Guide
• Palenque Tour Cartagena: The BEST Day Trip!
• Getsemani Cartagena: FULL Travel Guide
• Cartagena To Minca: Best Routes + Ways To Travel

Medellin To Cartagena: A Summary

The journey between Medellin and Cartagena is roughly 400 miles (650km). It will take around 13-15 hours to drive directly between the two locations, depending on traffic, road conditions and mode of transport. The most popular way to travel between Medellin and Cartagena is by flying.

In summary, there are three ways to get from Medellin to Cartagena. These options are:

• Flying (easiest, quickest and my recommended option)
• Shuttle bus 
• Hiring a car

If you are backpacking Colombia and are short on time, I highly recommend flying between Medellin and Cartagena. When you add up costs, the flight isn’t much more expensive than the bus, and it will save you over 12 hours of time!

But, you can make your own mind up by reading the rest of this post. So, let’s get down to the ins and outs of travelling between two of my favourite cities in Colombia; Medellin and Cartagena!

⚠️ Need the yellow fever vaccine whilst in South America? You’re in luck! The yellow fever vaccination is FREE in Colombia for tourists, and we were able to get it in Cartagena. You can check out my full yellow fever vaccine in Cartagena guide here!

1. Medellin to Cartagena by flying

Flying from Medellin to Cartagena is straightforward and quick. It is definitely the best option to travel between the two locations if you are short on time (and don’t feel like sitting on a shuttle for over 20 hours).

The flight time between Medellin and Cartagena is roughly one hour, and costs between $30-60 USD (depending on the time of year and when you book the flight).

When you arrive in Cartagena, there are hundreds of yellow taxis and drivers offering to take you to your accommodation. I recommend getting an Uber to ensure you pay the right amount and are not taken advantage of as a tourist.

2. Medellin to Cartagena by tourist shuttle

I am a huge advocate for shuttles in South America, but this one is a little crazy (just like the mammoth shuttle journey from Antigua to Leon, I don’t recommend it).

The shuttle from Medellin to Cartagena will take around 19-21 hours, depending on the road conditions, traffic, stop-offs and other hectic things that happen on South American roads (if you know, you know).

You will need to pre-book your bus (I highly recommend the trusty Bookaway for this) and prepare yourself for the giant journey across the country. There are currently 6 journeys a day between Medellin and Cartagena, and you can choose your date and time on Bookaway here.

Shuttles run from Terminal Del Norte in Medellin and arrive at Terminal de Transporte Cartagena. From there, you can grab an Uber to your accommodation (or walk if it is close enough). If you’re staying in El Poblado in Medellin, you will need to get an Uber to the bus station.

As I said, flying is not much more expensive than getting a tourist shuttle, but it’s up to you.

3. Medellin to Cartagena by private transfer

The next option is to travel via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you, you want your own space or you are short on time.

Similar to a taxi, private transfers will pick you up from your hotel or hostel in Medellin and take you directly to your accommodation in Cartagena. But of course, it’s expensive! I’d only suggest this mode of transport if you’re not travelling on a backpacker’s budget.

Private transfers from Medellin to Cartagena can take from 15-16 hours (depending on traffic, road conditions and other factors). Most hostels and hotels can organise this, or you can book a private transfer online here.

Hiring a private driver to travel around Colombia is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country.

Where to stay in Medellin

It’s important to note that Medellin is a big city. If you are visiting as a tourist or backpacker for the first time, I recommend sticking to either El Poblado or Laureles. Both of these locations are safe and well-located for first-timers in the city.

We stayed in both El Poblado and Laureles, but we preferred El Poblado. For us, it had everything. Coffee shops, transport links, restaurants, bars, nightlife, parks, green spaces and most importantly; it was safe!

💻 If you’re a digital nomad in El Poblado, I recommend staying in this apartment. We lived here for over two months and it was perfect – it was a few minutes walk from Provenza (where the restaurants are in Poblado), it was safe with 24/7 security and felt like a home away from home. Just note it’s a 30-day minimum stay.

For backpackers and short-term tourists, I recommend one of the following:

• Los Patios (El Poblado): for solo backpackers who want to party in Medellin.
• Masaya (El Poblado): for solo backpackers and couples – the perfect location with an amazing rooftop bar!
• The Wandering Paisa Backpackers Hostel (Laureles): a party hostel in Laureles.
• Sui Posada Boutique (El Poblado): for couples in Medellin.
• Marquee Medellin (El Poblado): for a luxury stay in Medellin.

How long should I stay in Medellin?

If you are visiting Medellin for the first time, I recommend staying for at least 4-5 nights. This gives you enough time to do some of the best tours (including Comuna 13 and a coffee-making workshop), explore the local areas (especially Laureles and El Poblado) and try some of the amazing local food!

We stayed in El Poblado for over two months and loved it. It is the perfect location for digital nomads; and is somewhere we could have stayed for a lot longer!

Where to stay in Cartagena

Cartagena is another big city in Colombia, and there are many different areas to stay in. I’ll be doing a post in the near future about all of the accommodation areas in Cartagena, but if you’re visiting for a short stay, I recommend booking accommodation in Getsemani.

Getsemani is the main ‘hub’ of Cartagena and is home to the biggest backpacker hostels. It’s also known for its colourful streets, range of restaurants, bars and nightlife.

For backpackers and short-term tourists in Getsemani (Cartagena), I recommend one of the following:

• Life Is Good Hostel: perfect for any short-term tourist. It’s a boutique hostel in an ideal location, and it was one of our favourite hostels in Colombia for a number of reasons. Stay here if you can!
• Viajero Hostel: another good location a few minutes from Getsemani; perfect for solo travellers or couples.
• Hotel Dorado Plaza Calle del Arsenal: a hotel with a rooftop in Getsemani.

How long should I stay in Cartagena?

If you are visiting Cartagena for the first time, I recommend staying for around 3-4 nights. This gives you enough time to spend a day at the beach, take some day tours out of the city (snorkelling or to Palenque), and to roam the colourful Cartagena streets.

Related post: Cartagena To Minca: Best Routes + Ways To Travel

Medellin to Cartagena: FAQs

1) How far is Medellin from Cartagena by plane?

The flight time between Medellin and Cartagena is roughly one hour, and costs between $30-60 USD (depending on the time of year and when you book the flight).

2) Is it better to go to Medellin or Cartagena?

This depends on whether you want a beach holiday or a city break! Medellin is perfect for those who want a fast-paced city with an abundance of restaurants, bars and epic nightlife. Cartagena also has great nightlife, but it also has rooftop pools and easy beach access.

3) How long is the bus ride from Medellin to Cartagena?

The shuttle from Medellin to Cartagena will take around 19-21 hours, depending on the road conditions, traffic, stop-offs and other hectic things that happen on South American roads (if you know, you know).

Related post: Cartagena To Minca: Best Routes + Ways To Travel

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Medellin to Cartagena: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Medellin to Cartagena. When you’re planning a trip to Colombia, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Colombia content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇨🇴 Other Colombia posts:

• Yellow Fever Vaccine Cartagena: Tourist Guide
• Palenque Tour Cartagena: The BEST Day Trip!
• Getsemani Cartagena: FULL Travel Guide
• Cartagena To Minca: Best Routes + Ways To Travel