How reliable is public transport in Colombia?
I’m going to Colombia next month, so that is about the time to make some plans. I am flying to Bogota and 16 days later flying back form Barranquilla.
My question is how frequent and how reliable bus service is in Colombia? According to google average speed would by 50km/h traveling by car is it the same for bus?
One more thing I know that most of these journeys will be longer than 5 hours. Is it possible to travel at night, are there any night services? And loosing chance to see all of the landscapes is this price is worth to pay?
Best Answer
From my experience... Yes, traveling in Colombia is rather easy, often time consuming but what to expect from such a vast country.
Long distance buses - they are rather comfortable, usually with toilets and WiFi. Finding schedule is a problem but you can always ask at the bus station (e.g. at the arrival), We had no problems with reservations or anything like that, being an hour before departure was enough to buy a ticket or two. There was always few seats free (that's in April). I would recommend to equip your self with headphones/earplugs or prepare for Tai martial art movie with Spanish dubbing at max level of sound :)
Local transport... wow, that was an experience, loads and loads of buses, minibuses everywhere and cheap (2-5k cop). They will help you to squeeze in :) and they don't care about time (especially your time). Because there is nothing like bus stop (not many people use them anyway) you and others can jump in and out anywhere you like, safety?... what safety? If you don't know what bus to take, just ask there is always someone to direct you (even if you don't speak Spanish - that's me)
If you travel in a small group, taxi would be often a better option than minibus. Just a bit more expensive (5-15k cop) but you'll be taken straight to place you want. Just agree the price first!
Pictures about "How reliable is public transport in Colombia?"
How is public transportation in Colombia?
As there are practically no passenger trains in the country, bus transport is the most popular way of getting around Colombia. The bus network has intercity buses running between major cities, and local bus services in most towns, often reaching even the smallest villages.Is it easy to get around Colombia?
Traversing around the country is a question travellers ask most often because getting to Colombia is easy, but getting around in Colombia is not an easy task if you're not prepared. Take it from someone who has covered over 40,000 km by road in this country!What is the most common transportation in Colombia?
Bus Travel Around Colombia Travel by bus in Colombia is probably the most widely-used form of transport.What does Colombia use for transportation?
Bus is the primary means of transportation for locals in Colombia both around town and between cities; although visitors may prefer air travel for longer journeys as the roads can be arduous. Advanced booking is strongly recommended for intercity trips as buses often fill up well ahead of time.Public Transportation System in Bogota Colombia – Colombian Travel Guide
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Images: Ono Kosuki, furkanfdemir, Erik Mclean, Nextvoyage