Practical Guide to the Cartagena Airport: Rafael Nuñez International Airport in Cartagena, Colombia

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Looking for info on the Cartagena, Colombia airport?

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade have flown in and out of the Cartagena airport, named Rafael Nuñez International Airport many times, on both international and domestic flights.

Here, I’ll be sharing all that experience with you so you can know what to expect upon arrival to and/or departure from the Rafael Nuñez airport yourself.

So, read on to learn everything you need to know about the Cartagena airport!

Cartagena (CTG) Airport Overview and Quick Tips

First, the Cartagena, Colombia airport, as mentioned above is named Rafael Nuñez International Airport. The Cartagena airport code is CTG.

While there are plans to build a larger airport outside the city, for the time being the Cartagena airport is quite small, with limited food options and amenities.

On the plus side, it is located near the northern edge of the city, in the neighborhood of Crespo, just a short drive from the main tourist areas in and around the Walled City of Cartagena.

By the way, if you’re curious about getting to and from the airport, a taxi is the most convenient option.

You’ll just need to make sure get a ticket from the electronic kiosks so you don’t get overcharged (see the section below or read this post on Cartagena airport taxi prices for more info on that).

If you’d rather not deal with the hassle of getting a taxi, click here to book a private airport transfer with my partner travel agency (use code ExploreColombia20 for a discount on that or any of their Cartagena tours).

You can also use Uber some other ride share apps like InDrive.

It’s usually fairly quick to fly out of, but the immigration line can get backed up, especially during peak travel seasons, for arrival.

I’ll cover some more details on what to expect when arriving and departing in the more detailed sections below, but that covers the basics.

Please do check out my tips on where to stay in Cartagena if you don’t have your accommodations yet as well as my tips for what to do in Cartagena to get the most out of your trip.

Detailed Guide to the Cartagena Airport

In the sections that follow, I’ll be giving some more detailed and practical tips on navigating the Cartagena (CTG) airport, including what to expect for the immigration line, what options for food and dining there are, and more details on transportation options.

I have split this info into what to expect on arrival and what to expect on departure, so if you’re only traveling through Rafael Nuñez Airport one way, or only reading this before on leg of your trip, you may want to scroll down to the section.

Finding Flights to the CTG Airport

Once again, the airport code for the Cartagena, Colombia airport is CTG.

You’ll want to make sure you use that for any online flight searches or forms where you’ll need to fill in your arrival airport (make sure you’re not accidentally choosing Cartagena, Spain!).

By the way, if you still need to buy your flights, I’d suggest checking the prices of flight with hotel packages on a site like Expedia, or checking aggregate sites like Kayak, or CheapoAir, where you can see prices of different airlines.

It’s worth taking a look at individual airline sites too.

In my experience, I often found the airlines Avianca and LATAM running flash sales at good prices, especially for domestic flights in Colombia and some international flights.

I was also a big fan of taking the JFK to Cartagena direct flight on JetBlue, probably my favorite airline overall, and I’ve done that flight at least half a dozen times.

A Practical Guide to Arrival at Rafael Nuñez International Airport

In this section, I’ll go over everything to expect when arriving to the Cartagena airport, from what to expect in the immigration line, to where you can exchange money or get cash, to a detailed discussion of your transportation options.

If you want similar information on what to expect when departing the airport in Cartagena, scroll down to that section.

What to Expect in Immigration at the Cartagena Airport

Of course, if you’ve already entered Colombia at another airport, say in Bogotá or Medellín, then you won’t need to worry about immigration here.

However, if Cartagena is your point of entry into Colombia, you will need to go through immigration (or Migración, in Spanish).

Travel Requirements and Documents to Have Handy

You’ll generally need the following information handy when arriving to Colombia, whether at the airport in Cartagena or elsewhere:

• Passport
• Address of where you’ll be staying
• Return ticket or ticket out of Colombia

The airline often checks if you have a return ticket or ticket for onwards travel out of Colombia when you check in before departing, so immigration officers do not always ask for it.

However, it is Colombian law and they could ask for it.

If you’d like some flexibility, keep in mind there is a 24-hour cancellation rule (you can find the about half way down this page) that applies to all airlines that operate in the United States.

You can also search on a site like Expedia and filter for fares that are refundable or that don’t charge change fees so you can show evidence you have a flight out of the country but maintain some flexibility.

Also, there is a form known as the Check Mig form. It was required for a long time and also had a reputation for being finicky.

It technically is not required anymore, but I still hear of airlines asking for it before letting people board, so I recommend just filling it out. If it gives you trouble, read my step by step guide to the Check Mig form for some help.

How Long Does Immigration Take at the Airport in Cartagena, Colombia?

Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess.

I’d love to tell you something more concrete.

I’d especially love to tell you it’s a breeze.

Actually, I am happy to tell you, I’ve had plenty of times going through where it has been a breeze, and I’ve gotten through in 15 minutes.

However, I’ve also had some longer waits.

I’ve even seen plenty of anecdotal reports in my Cartagena Travel Tips Facebook Group of it being slogs of 2-3 hours.

So, the truth is, it can be a total crap shoot and varies widely depending on how many people are arriving around the same time and how many immigration agents are working.

I guess the only practical, actionable advice I can give here would be to prepare for the worst, and be pleasantly surprised if it’s quicker.

So, I would advise against planning anything that is a can’t miss or that can’t be canceled and refunded or changed until at least 4 hours after your planned arrival time just to be on the safe side.

Transportation from the Airport to Cartagena

The easiest way to get from Cartagena airport into town is to take a taxi. Taxis line up just outside the exits from both the domestic and international arrival sections.

However, Cartagena’s taxi drivers have a bit of a reputation for overcharging.

That goes for foreign tourists and even locals.

If you’d like to avoid the hassle of wondering if you’re paying the correct price and have nicer, more comfortable transportation that will be waiting for you upon arrival, you can book a private transfer with our partner travel agency (use the code ExploreColombia20 for a 20% discount).

You can also book private transfers from the airport via GetYourGuide and Viator.

If you’d feel more comfortable using a ride share app, I’d recommend InDrive, which is very common in Cartagena and lets you set your own price.

If you do go with a regular taxi (to be honest, that’s what I always did), do yourself the favor, and make sure you get a ticket from the little yellow, electronic kiosks.

You’ll find a kiosk just outside the door to the waiting area at international arrivals.

Meanwhile, on the domestic arrivals side, you’ll find it just outside the doors from baggage claim.

You’ll need to know the address, or at least the neighborhood of where you’re going.

Punch that in, and the kiosk will print you a little ticket to give the driver with the correct price.

Take that to the line of taxis waiting, and avoid the guys standing around offering taxis.

They usually charge more and are parked a block or two away.

See prices for a taxi from the airport in Cartagena here and check out this post on taxi prices in Cartagena for a better idea on prices around town as well.

Oh, and also be aware that there are often guys out here who pick up your bags to put in the taxi and want a tip.

These guys sometimes just kind of like pushily start doing it for you without really asking if you want the the help. I know it’s happened to me at least once where I assumed it was the taxi driver loading our bags, but it turned out it was another guy standing there who wanted a tip after.

There are also guys at baggage claim who offer to load and push your luggage on carts, some of which sometimes also operate in a similar let me load your bags before you realize what’s going on kind of way.

So, just be aware and don’t feel bad about turning them down, but also do tip them if you accept their services.

Can You Take a Bus from the Airport to Cartagena?

Sort of.

There is a bus system known as Transcaribe (a metrobus system) that runs close to the airport.

However, you need a card to pay the fare, which can only be bought at larger stations or certain stores.

So, I don’t recommend taking a bus from the airport to Cartagena unless you already have a card from a previous trip. Plus, the buses are often crowded, so it’s really not worth it unless you’ve packed very light either.

If you do want to take the bus and have a card, you can catch it by exiting and going one block over to the road that runs parallel to the airport.

Unless you’re going to the north of the city, you’ll want to cross the street and look for a bus stop that has with a big rectangle in the street that says SITM (sistema integrado de transporte masivo) on it.

Learn more about using the Transcaribe Cartagena bus system here.

Collective Taxis from the Airport to Cartagena

Another cheaper form of transportation is a collective taxi, or colectivo. You can get colectivos that go to the Walled City on the road a block over that runs parallel to the airport.

Look for taxis that beep their horns in quick succession and hold up a finger as they go by (you can also hold up one finger). These shared taxis pack 4 passengers in, so you really only want to use them if you have a bag that fits comfortably on your lap.

If you just have a larger backpack, duffle, or something that’s easy to carry or roll, you could also just walk out to this street and get a regular taxi to save a few thousand pesos on the airport surcharge as well.

Where Can I Exchange Money at the Cartagena Airport?

There is a money exchange in the little international arrival waiting area just outside the exit from immigration and international baggage claim, next to the taxi kiosk.

There is also one just to the right when exiting the domestic arrival baggage claim area.

For what it’s worth, I have seen lots of people report that the exchange places in the airport do not have as good of rates as places in town proper.

To be honest though, I usually recommend just using ATMs as they give a better rate even if you do have to pay some fees.

That way you avoid the hassle of carrying large amounts of cash.

You can find ATMs, by going into the main departure section of the airport and look for a large room in a corner to the left just before the entrance to security for domestic departure on the right side of the airport when facing the airline check in desks.

Practical Tips Upon Departure from Rafael Nuñez Airport

Ok, now that we’ve covered what to expect when arriving to the Rafael Nuñez Airport in Cartagena, let’s talk about what to expect when departing.

How to Get to the Cartagena Airport

Much like transportation from the airport, to get to the airport in Cartagena, you have several options.

Again, for most people, doing a taxi is probably the most convenient. Or doing an Uber or InDrive, if that’s been their preference while in town.

For more comfort and reliability, you can click here to book a private transfer (use the code ExploreColombia20 for a 20% discount).

Taking a Collective Taxi to the Airport in Cartagena

If you’ve packed very light and have plenty of time, you could also take a taxi colectivo. You can get these near the Exitó San Diego.

Be sure to confirm it’s going to Crespo (the colectivos that go to Bocagrande park nearby). It will go when its full (4 passengers).

Just tell the driver you’re going to the airport, and he’ll leave you on the road that runs parallel to the airport a block over.

You can learn more about using collective taxis in Cartagena here.

Can You Take a Bus to the Cartagena Airport?

Finally, you can also take the Transcaribe bus. I would only advise doing this if you have used the bus during your stay, since you need a card.

If you do already have the card and have money left on it, it’s a cheap option if you aren’t in a hurry and don’t have a lot of luggage.

To take Transcaribe, you’ll want to take Route T102 Portal-Crespo, which only stops at the Centro Station across from Centro Uno and Exito Matuna.

If you’re coming from Bocagrande, you can take the T103 Bocagrande-Portal to the Muelle del Bodeguita station, then you can take the T101-Centro-Portal or T100E Centro-Portal to the Centro Station. All the X routes also stop at both the Bodeguita and Centro stations.

As you ride, once you go past the big curve where there is a small Exito, press one of the red buttons to ask for the next stop.

If you pass by the Kokoriko on the right, you’ve gone too far, so be sure to press the button and get the next stop that is just past the airport.

How Early Should You Get to Airport in Cartagena?

Like the section above on how long immigration and customs takes at the Rafael Nuñez Airport, this can be a bit tricky.

The general universal guideline is 3 hours for international flights and 2 hours for domestic flights, and to be on the safe side if you’re asking my official advice, I’d say stick to those guidelines.

However, if you’re asking me about my experience and promise not to blame me for missing your flight, I’ll say the airport in Cartagena is often pretty quick.

I can’t think of many times it’s taken me longer than 20 minutes to get through security for domestic flights.

Oh by they way, if you are only flying domestically, you generally don’t have to take off your shoes and can generally take food and drinks through, but they will take lighters from you.

The lines to check your bags is usually what takes time, and it usually takes longer the closer you arrive to your flight time, so it’s a bit of a double edged sword.

So, I would say stick to 1.5-2 hours for domestic flights if you’re checking a bag or need to get your boarding pass. If you aren’t checking a bag and already have your boarding pass printed or on your phone, you can likely arrive around an hour before your departure time.

For international, I would say give yourself at least 2.5 hours.

Better to be safe and bored at the airport than sorry and miss your flight. I have also heard of them giving you a hard time if you arrive less than 3 hours before an international flight.

Passing through security when departing on an international flight usually takes longer since you have to pass through immigration first.

Maybe, if you’re not checking a bag and already have your boarding pass, you could arrive closer to 2 hours and most likely be fine.

Keep in mind they have started making you take off your shoes and they are much stricter about liquids on international flights, following the 3.4 oz or 100 ml rules like in the US.

I’ve also had them open up and search my carryons whenever I’ve carried bags of coffee and books on several occasions. So, if you’re carrying anything at all that might look like a bag or block of something on the x-ray, don’t cut the time too close.

I’ve also had my checked bag searched (they will call you in the waiting room for this) a few times. I’m pretty sure that might have been because of coffee too.

Return of the IVA Sales Tax

You can get what you paid for sales tax returned on some goods, such as clothing, when departing the airport.

You’ll need to save your receipts and either go to the kiosks or the DIAN window near the international departure security checkpoint.

You should give yourself a bit of extra time to do this and do it before you check your bags since they can ask to see the merchandise. You also have to make sure you get a special receipt known as the factura electronica that includes your name and passport number from the stores where you shop.

Foreign residents of Colombia and Colombian citizens, whether they reside full time in Colombia or not, are not eligible for the return of sales tax.

Cartagena Airport Food

There are really only handful of options for Cartagena airport food.

If you can, I’d suggest trying to eat before heading to the airport in Cartagena (see my suggestions for restaurants in Cartagena here), since the options aren’t that great.

Plus, like airports pretty much everywhere, prices are inflated.

However, sometimes based on your flight times, there just isn’t much choice but to eat some food at the Cartagena airport. There are much better Cartagena airport food options in the domestic departures section than the international departure sections though.

Cartagena Airport Restaurants Before Security

Outside the airport, you’ll find a Subway, it’s located to the right of the domestic arrivals exit.

Inside the main building, the departures section, you’ll find a Juan Valdez coffee shop which has snacks and pastries in addition to coffee and other drinks.

There are also some souvenir shops that sell things like candy, packaged snacks, and drinks in this main area.

In the international arrivals waiting area, you can find a Mr. Bono bakery that sells breads, pastries, and drinks.

There are some more options for food at the Cartagena airport past the security checks in the international and domestic departure sections as well.

Food at the Cartagena Airport Past Security in International Departures

Honestly, if you can eat before coming to the Cartagena airport for an international flight, I strongly, strongly, recommend you do it.

No, like seriously, eat before you come!

Because the options for airport food in Cartagena’s international departure terminal are awful.

There is a place that used to be called Bukash and had empanadas, arepas, hot dogs, sandwiches and other snacks like that. They were extremely overpriced, pretty meh, and there was always, always, a super long line.

I noticed it had rebranded during our last flight. I didn’t even bother to check it out, especially since I saw there was a long line.

There is also a little grab and go sandwich place hidden in a corner that is also overpriced and pretty meh called Gokela too.

In a pinch though, it is what it is.

Cartagena Airport Shops in the International Departures Section

There is a small “duty free” shop just past security.

If you want to grab a bottle of aguardiente or something to take home, you can do it but it’s not any cheaper than in town. In fact, it’s probably more expensive. They do sell headphones here too if you need a pair.

There is also a small shop called El Market if you need a last minute gift or souvenir.

Food at Cartagena Airport in the Domestic Departure Terminal

There are a lot more options for food in the domestic departures section of the Cartagena airport!

You’ll find the following restaurants in Cartagena’s airport on the domestic side:

• Subway
• Black Coffee
• Presto (burgers and chicken)
• Dogger (hot dogs)
• Kokoriko (chicken)
• Bukash (empanadas and other small snacks with a few Arabic plates; they also serve liquor here)
• Cupertino (a little bar, not sure if they have food)

Shops in the Cartagena Airport Domestic Departure Section

There are also handful of shops in the domestic departures section of the airport in Cartagena.

These include El Market, good for souvenirs gifts, a Velez, which sells leather shoes, bags, and luggage, and, and Inkanta, which sells fancy travel bags, bottles, and other things of that nature.

There is also a little shop that sells drinks, magazines, and snacks like chips and candy bars. There are a few other stores as well that sell jewelry, purses, and hats as well.

Finally, there is also a “duty free” store where you can buy liquor bottles on this side too.

More Info and FAQs About the Cartagena International Airport

Here is a bit more information on the Rafael Nuñez International airport in Cartagena, including some common FAQs.

Is there Wifi at the Cartagena, Colombia Airport?

There is free wifi available in the Cartagena Airport.

You should be able to find it under the name SACSA Aereopuerto Rafeal Nuñez or something along those lines. You should be able to connect to it pretty easily in both the international and domestic departures section.

On our last trip, they had implemented a policy of only 30 minutes free access and you had to pay for more time.

It can be a bit hit or miss in my experience when in the immigration line, and frankly isn’t super fast anywhere.

So, I wouldn’t plan an important zoom call or something while waiting for my flight at the airport in Cartagena.

Are there ATMS at the Cartagena airport?

Yes, there are a handful of ATMs from different Colombian banks at the Cartagena airport.

You can find ATMs in a little nook just to the left if facing the security checkpoint to enter the domestic departures section.

You can also find a couple ATMs on the far side of the sidewalk outside of the airport. They are to the right hand side facing the airport, or to the left when exiting.

Cartagena, Colombia Airport Guide Conclusion

Now you know everything you need to know about the airport in Cartagena.

Keep in mind you can book private transfers via our partners BnB Colombia Tours and get a discount with the code ExploreColombia20. You can also see all their day tours here and get a discount on any and all of them with that code.

If you’d rather not pay the premium for private transfers, a taxi is the best choice for nearly everyone else.

Keep in mind you’ll want to get to the airport 2-3 hours early for international flights and 1-2 for domestic flights.

There are ATMs and Wifi at the airport, and while there are decent food options in the domestic departures waiting area, there are not good options in the international.

I hope you found this guide useful for planning your flights into or out of Cartagena. Please do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan your trip.

Here’s hoping for a safe, hassle free, no delays flight!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!