How to Get From Bogota to San Gil (Colombia Travel Guide)

Posted 02/08/2024 | 2nd August, 2024

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Bogota and San Gil are two very different yet equally interesting places to visit in Colombia. They are both very popular stops on the typical Colombia backpacking route, but getting between them isn’t the most straightforward of journeys.

There are two main options when travelling from Bogota to San Gil. The first is to take the bus (my preferred option), and the second is to fly.

Table of Contents

Option One – Bogota to San Gil by Bus

When travelling from Bogota to San Gil, I recommend using the bus. Although this means you will have an inevitably extremely long travel day, it is comfortable and inexpensive.

Step One: Central Bogota to Bus Station

The transport options in Bogota are not great (which surprised me for a capital city with a population of over seven million people). As such, I recommend taking a taxi to the bus station, leaving ample time for the often chaotic traffic in the city.

The bus from Bogota to San Gil departs from Terminal de Saltire, which is around a thirty-minute drive from the La Candelaria area of the city.

Uber is illegal in Colombia, yet it is still widely used. If you use Uber, your driver will likely ask you to sit in the front to appear as friends rather than a job. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, use Cabify instead or ask your accommodation to order a taxi on your behalf.

Step Two: Bus From Bogota to San Gil

You won’t struggle to book your bus tickets upon arrival at Terminal de Salitre. However, if you want to save yourself the hassle and have them ready in advance, I recommend using Busbud.

You should prepare for a very, very long day when making the journey from Bogota to San Gil. In fact, this was one of the most untimely busses we took throughout the whole of Colombia.

Firstly, the bus was around two hours late to depart. Then, it took around three hours longer than originally billed! This was frustrating, but the bus was large and comfortable. It was also less than half full, so there was plenty of room to spread out.

Throughout the journey, the bus stopped three times for around ten minutes. Then, at 5 pm, it stopped for half an hour to allow people to purchase dinner and use the restrooms.

If the bus is quiet, ensure the driver knows you’re heading to San Gil, because almost all buses on this route continue and terminate at Buccaramanga.

Step Three: San Gil Bus Station to Hotel

The bus station in San Gil is just outside the city. However, the area is very small, so getting a taxi is not a problem. Expect to pay around COP 5,000, and the journey takes around 15 minutes.

Option Two – Bogota to San Gil by Flight

I must start this by saying that I would not recommend this option. Its only really worth it if you have some activities you would like to do in Bucaramanaga.

This is because San Gil does not have an airport. You instead need to fly from Bogota to Bucaramanaga, then arrange onwards travel to San Gil.

I did spend a couple of nights in Bucaramanaga, and other than the activities in the surrounding areas (adventure sports, visiting Barichara, etc.), there isn’t much going on.

Also, depending on where you are heading next in Colombia, you will likely have to travel back to Bucaramanga as part of your onward travel.

However, if you’re set on taking the flight from Bogota to San Gil, here are the steps:

Step One: Bogota Center to Aiport

The first step is to travel from your hotel in Bogota Center to the Airport. As mentioned above, public transport in Bogota is pretty lacking, so I recommend taking a taxi. Taxis are cheap and efficient, and you won’t struggle to find one to take you to the airport.

Step Two: Flight from Bogota to Bucaramanga

This part is, of course, the most straightforward.

Bogota has a huge international airport, so I recommend arriving at least two hours in advance, even for a domestic flight. The flight takes just over an hour, and you will more than likely fly with either Avianca or LATAM, the two most popular South American airlines.

Step Three: Bucaramanga to San Gil

To reiterate, the flight from Bogota does not drop you off in San Gil but in the much larger city of Bucaramanga.

I couldn’t find a direct bus from Bucaramanga Airport to San Gil, so you would need to take the bus from the airport to the main bus terminal (around 30 minutes and then another bus from Bucaramanga to San Gil (around two hours).

Alternatively, you could book a direct driver from the airport to San Gil. I recommend doing this ahead of time, which will cost around $50 USD.