Money

Cash advances on credit cards are available at most of the major banks; most of them also have ATMs that accept foreign Visa and debit cards. The banks may also change cash, but you will probably get similar or even better rates (and will save time) at casas de cambio (currency-exchange offices).

Bancolombia (cnr Avs Colombia & Carabobo) Banks that are likely to change traveler's checks at reasonable rates include this one, in the center.

Banco Santander (cnr Avs Oriental & La Playa) Also likely to change traveler's checks at reasonable rates and it's also in the center.

Centro Comercial Villanueva (Calle 57 No 49-44) There are several casas de cambio located here.

Giros & Finanzas (Local 241) In the Centro Comercial Villanueva, this casa de cambio is the agent of Western Union.

Dangers & annoyances

The security situation in Medellín has dramatically improved. The poor outer suburbs can still be dangerous, but the city center and El Poblado are safe during the day. Exercise caution after dark in the city center, and rely on taxis for late-night outings.

Tranport

Bus

Medellín has two bus terminals. The Northern Bus Terminal (Terminal del Norte), 3km north of the city center, handles buses to the north, east and southeast, including Santa Fe de Antioquia (US$4, three hours), Cartagena (US$39, 13 hours), Barranquilla (US$32, 14 hours), Santa Marta (US$35, 16 hours) and Bogotá (US$20, nine hours). It is easily reached from the center by metro in seven minutes (Estación Caribe), or by taxi (US$2).

The Southern Bus Terminal (Terminal del Sur), 4km southwest of the center, handles all traffic to the west and south, including Quibdó (US$17, 10 hours), Manizales (US$11, five hours), Pereira (US$11, five hours), Armenia (US$12, six hours), Cali (US$18, nine hours), Popayán (US$22, 12 hours) and Pasto (US$30, 18 hours). It's accessible from the center by the Guayabal bus (Ruta No 143) and the Trinidad bus (Ruta No 160). Alternatively, go by taxi (US$2).

ir

Medellín has two airports. The new José María Córdoba airport, 35km southeast of the city, near the town of Rionegro, takes all international and most domestic flights, except for some flights on light planes which use the old Olaya Herrera airport right inside the city.

At the time of writing, there were direct flights to Cali and Cartagena with SAM and to San Andres with Avianca. For other destinations you will likely have to change planes in Bogotá. Fortunately, connections are frequent. Avianca alone has more than a dozen Bogotá-Medellín flights daily.

 

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