Traveling to Colombia from Europe

In Cartagena, Colombia, the temperature hovers around 31 degrees Celsius, while Krakow, Poland, barely reaches 2 degrees. What’s left to do but think about traveling to Colombia from Europe? Outside my window, a small snowstorm fits the saying “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. I can imagine that I am not the only one dreaming of the hot sun at such a moment. Especially since it is shining in South America around our noon. Let me clarify, my preference for Colombia is not accidental. Of all the Latin American countries I’ve visited, Colombia ranks first. It’s a country of contrasts, vibrant colors, astounding nature, stark poverty, and a myriad of other elements and issues that captivate travelers. See this post: Travel to Colombia? God Forbid!

Now, let’s consider how to travel to Colombia from Europe

Most affordable flights to South America, or nearby, land in Bogota, Colombia; Panama City, Panama; Sao Paulo, Brazil, or Cancun, Mexico. Other countries and airports usually require more layovers and are generally more expensive. Sadly, this doesn’t mean tickets to these cities will be cheap. Recently, post-pandemic prices have been quite high. If our destination is Colombia, we will be landing in either the capital, Bogota, or the renowned city of Medellin. If our flight lands in Panama, Brazil, or Mexico first, we would then search for flights to Colombia on local airlines such as LATAM, Avianca, or Copa.

Flying from Europe, we have two main options: choose direct flights from major airports like Barcelona, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, or London, or count on at least one transfer. Keep in mind, flights with transfers are usually cheaper than direct flights.

Below, I’ve described some potential routes involving transfers

1. Europe – USA (New York, Miami) – South America (Colombia: Bogota, Medellin). Direct flights to the USA are offered from all major European airports by various carriers. From New York/Miami, we can then catch a flight to Bogota or other cities in Colombia via Avianca, or to other South American countries with Copa or LATAM.
2. Europe – Germany (Frankfurt/Munich) – Colombia (Bogota, Medellin). Flights on this route are operated by Lufthansa.
3. Europe – France (Paris) – Colombia (Bogota, Medellin). Flights on this route are operated by Air France.
4. Europe – Netherlands (Amsterdam) – Colombia (Bogota). Flights on this route are offered by KLM.
5. Lastly, the potentially cheapest option involves departing from regional airports via low-cost airlines (EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizzair, etc.) to Spain or Portugal. Then, catch a flight from Barcelona or Madrid to Colombia (Bogota, Medellin) with Avianca or to Brazil from Lisbon with the Portuguese carrier TAP. When departing from the Iberian Peninsula, you may sometimes find good deals to Lima (Peru), Buenos Aires (Argentina), or Santiago (Chile).

Remember to consider various combinations of flights and trips, especially if your travel dates are flexible. Occasionally, you can find inexpensive connections to tourist or business destinations, such as Cancun in Mexico or Panama City. These destinations allow you to combine sightseeing in South America with a visit to Central or North America (Mexico). Particularly if purchased last minute, cheap charters to the Yucatan Peninsula can be a viable option.

Finally, keep in mind a few points when purchasing an airline ticket for a long and multi-segment route

1. Stopover/transfer: Our preparation for landing and stopover/s is checked at the departure airport. If we fly through the USA or Mexico, we must pick up checked luggage (if any) and re-check it, going through passport control again. In the case of the United States, this involves immigration control, just as if we intended to stay in the USA. This should be considered when buying tickets, as it involves filling out an ESTA application and paying for it. Keep this in mind and ensure that you have ample time for the transfer. Especially if you are inexperienced in these matters.
2. Exit ticket: South American countries often require proof of a return ticket. If you plan to travel one way or move between countries, considering the return later, this can be a hurdle. Some countries will not allow you to board without an exit ticket. Thankfully, there are ways around this. Instructions on how to buy a refundable flight ticket, which can be cancelled within 24 hours at minimal cost, are available online. Buy such a ticket a few hours before departure, show it at check-in, and then immediately cancel it.
3. Covid certificate: Lastly, always remember to check the Covid restrictions at your transfer airports. Let’s hope that this won’t be necessary soon.