Transportation
Bogotá Buses:
Bogotá’s private buses are pretty old and chaotic – but they’ll get you there! And they usually pick you up and drop you off wherever you like, with no concern for designated stops. Information about the city’s bus lines is available at: http://www.urbanobogota.com/
The city’s Transmilenio express bus system is much more modern, ordered, faster and efficient. Its system of designated lanes and train-like stations has been copied in other cities worldwide. When using Transmilenio, be sure to be sure of which is the right bus for you. You can find a system map and look for your bus on this handy page. Some are expresses, and if you get on the wrong express line, you might not be able to get off until it reaches the end of the line – and Bogotá is a big city. Because it doesn’t suffer from traffic congestion, TM may very likely get you where you’re going faster than a taxi – and much more cheaply.
Since it’s a good system, Transmilenio buses are often crowded, so be careful of your wallet, camera, backpack, etc.
(The Transmilenio system is now being expanded along Carrera 10 and also Ave. El Dorado (26th St.), which leads to the airport. That has caused traffic jams and delays getting to the airport.)
Inter-city Buses:
Bogotá’s main bus terminal is located west of La Candelaria, off of 26th St. This page allows you to look up bus schedules. Call: 423-3600 .
The national bus line with the best reputation is probably Bolivariano, which has a useful website. In Bogotá, call 424-9090; Call toll-free nationwide: 01 8000 11 92 92 .
You can find a list of Colombian bus companies on this page.
Airport
Bogotá’s international airport is El Dorado, located along Ave. El Dorado, to the west of La Candelaria. (The Transmilenio express bus system is now being expanded along Carrera 10 and also Ave. El Dorado (26th St.), which leads to the airport. That has caused traffic jams and delays getting to the airport.)
Taxis
Find a list of some Bogotá taxi lines here . In Bogotá it’s a good idea to call for a taxi instead of flagging one down on the street, as there have been cases of passengers being kidnapped for a few hours in a taxi while the driver and his accomplices for the passenger to withdraw money from ATM machines. When you call, they’ll give you the taxi’s number and even a code number.
The Savannah Train
The Tren de la Sabana will take you north to places including Zipaquira, the town famous for the Salt Cathedral, in style – but not so quickly. The steam locomotive’s train’s elegant station is on 13th St., on the Transmilenio line, about a mile west of La Candelaria. The steam train runs only on weekends, and takes the scenic route. You can get to Zipaquira in about an hour by taking Transmilenio to its northern terminal and then transferring to a second bus, but of course the charm’s not there.
The city government has a page about transport here: http://www.bogotaturismo.gov.co/ciudad/informacion/transporte.php
