How Much is a Cartagena Airport Taxi?: A Practical Guide

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Are you wondering how much is a taxi from the Cartagena airport to the city or vice versa?

The truth is, the cost of Cartagena airport taxis are both simple and complex.

How much a taxi costs to or from the airport in Cartagena depends on where exactly you’re coming from or going to, but it also comes with the caveat that many taxis in Cartagena, airport taxis or otherwise, attempt to overcharge.

So, in this post, I’m going to arm you with some knowledge about just what price you should expect to pay for a Cartagena airport tax, based on my 11 years living in Cartagena.

Cartagena Airport Taxi Prices: What to Expect

If you read my complete guide to Cartagena taxi prices, you’ll see that there are a few issues with taxis in Cartagena, airport taxis included:

• Cartagena taxis don’t have meters
• Taxi drivers in Cartagena often try to overcharge
• The established fares can be kind of confusing
• You always need to agree on price when you get in the taxi (and I mean, always!)

However, there are set fares, and, actually, ensuring you get the correct cost of a taxi from the Cartagena airport to the city is pretty easy.

At least, if you know what you’re doing!

That’s where I come in.

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade, and flew in and out many a time. So, here I’ll be sharing some insider tips on making sure you pay the correct price for a taxi from the Cartagena airport.

Some Quick Dos and Don’ts of Airport Taxis in Cartagena

Here are some quick things to do and avoid when getting your taxi from the Cartagena airport into town:

• Do have Colombian pesos, preferably smaller bills
• Do use the kiosks to get the correct price (more on that below)
• Do get the taxis waiting in the official line
• Don’t go with the guys standing around the airport exit trying to corral you
• Don’t feel like you need to tip (unless you want to)

Alternative Options to Official Airport Taxis in Cartagena

If you want the best combination of comfort and convenience, book a private Cartagena airport transfer with my partner agency here.

They use nice SUVs, bigger than taxis, and will be waiting for you when you arrive. No need to worry about negotiating or ensuring you get the right price, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Just hop in and go.

Given the penchant for Cartagena taxi drivers to overcharge, it’s also very common for people to use ride share apps.

There is a lot of misinformation about Uber being illegal in Colombia because it was banned in the past, but it currently operates completely legally. You can read my post on Uber in Colombia for more info.

If you want to use Uber, so you have a set and agreed upon price on your phone, go for it. You might want to read my guide to Uber in Cartagena here too.

However, I don’t think Uber is really worth it at the airport. You likely won’t save many, if any, pesos, and you’ll have to wait and maybe be hassled since there isn’t a designated Uber pickup area.

I also like InDrive a lot better as a ride share app too, personally.

However, I still think taxis from the airport are easiest overall. You just need to take an extra step to make sure you get the right price.

You can compare all your transportation options in the city in this guide to getting around Cartagena, by the way.

The Kiosk is Your Friend

That extra step is to use the price kiosks!

Like I mentioned above, avoid the guys waiting around offering taxis when you exit the airport. They almost always overcharge, and, even if they don’t, you’ll need to walk to their cars a block or more away.

The taxis in the official line are best.

However, they also sometimes try to overcharge.

You can print tickets that look like little receipts at yellow electronic kiosks outside both the international and domestic arrival sections.

Just enter the address or name of the neighborhood of your destination. It will print a little ticket with the officially established fare on it. Give that ticket to the first taxi in line.

Read my guide to the Cartagena airport for more info on where the kiosks are and what to expect when you arrive or depart.

How Much is a Taxi from Cartagena Airport to the City?

The cost of a taxi from the Cartagena airport to the city is based on distance, with certain designated fares to different neighborhoods based on how far away they are from the airport.

Do keep in mind, taxi prices are higher from the airport than comparable distances around town. The taxis have to wait in a line, so you pay a bit of a surcharge.

If going to the airport, you might pay a little less.

Consult that link above with all the taxi prices to see the price to Crespo, which some taxi drivers will accept when going to the airport, but not departing the airport.

If you’ve traveled light, you could also walk out a block from the airport and get a taxi charging the normal Crespo fare, or even get a collective taxi.

Most of the main best areas to stay in Cartagena will cost between $20,200 and $34,400 Colombian Pesos (approximately equal to between $5 and $10 USD).

So, if you’re wondering what is the cost of a taxi from Cartagena airport to the Walled City, or anywhere else, you should get a good idea in the list below.

I’m not going to give an exhaustive list, but instead focus on the areas most tourist are likely to go here.

These prices have been confirmed as up to date in March 2026.

Prices usually go up incrementally each year, with new prices usually taking effect sometime between February and April.

So, if you’re reading this in 2027 or beyond, you might want to be prepared to add a couple thousand pesos.

Below is a quick list of the prices for the most common neighborhoods to which you might want to take a taxi from the Cartagena airport to the city:

• Airport to Centro (Walled City or Old Town): $20,200
• Airport to Getsemaní: $20,200
• Airport to Cabrero: $20,200
• Airport to Marbella: $20,200
• Airport to Crespo: $20,200
• Airport to the Muelle de la Bodeguita Docks: $24,300
  • Where most boats to the Rosario Islands depart
• Airport to La Boquilla: $24,300
• Airport to the Hotel Zone in Centro*: $24,300
• Airport to Manga: $28,500
• Airport to Pie de la Popa: $28,500
• Airport to Bocagrande, Castillogrande and Laguito: $34,400
• Airport to Manzanillo (including the Hotel Estelar and Karibana: $51,000
• Airport to the Terminal del Transporte: $51,000

*To be frank, I’m not sure what the designation of a “hotel zone” means because there isn’t really a hotel zone apart from the rest of Centro, hotels are just scattered around. I guess I’d come prepared to pay this cost of a taxi from Cartagena airport to Old Town hotels, and be pleasantly surprised if they charge you the lower number.

Ready to Navigate Arriving and Departing Cartagena Now?

You should have everything you need to know to make sure you pay the correct amount for your Cartagena airport taxi now. I hope you found this post useful.

I’d love to know in the comments if you took a taxi, used private transportation, or used a ride share app and what you thought.

Please also do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan your trip to Cartagena!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!