Medellín stands out as one of the few cities in Colombia that has two airports for commercial flights: José María Córdova International Airport and Olaya Herrera Regional Airport. Each offers a different variety of flights, and the transportation options to and from them also vary.
After having used Medellín’s airports numerous times for both domestic and international travel, I decided to create this guide to share everything you need to know if you plan to visit Medellín by air.
What Will You Find in This Post?
José María Córdova Airport [Outskirts of Medellín]
- How to Get to or From José María Córdova Airport?
- By Taxi
- By Ride-Hailing Apps (Uber / Didi / Cabify / InDriver)
- By Bus
- In Your Own Vehicle
- Internet at José María Córdova Airport
- Covid-19 Restrictions at Rionegro Airport
- Schedule: Can You Spend the Night at the Airport?
Olaya Herrera Airport [Within Medellín]
- How to Get to or From Olaya Herrera Airport?
- Internet at Olaya Herrera Airport
- Schedule: Can You Spend the Night at Olaya Herrera Airport?
José María Córdova Airport [Outskirts of Medellín]
José María Córdova Airport is the main gateway to the capital of Antioquia. However, something that few people know is that it is not actually located within the city of Medellín, but in a nearby city called Rionegro, which is 24 kilometers away.
All major national and international airlines with direct connections to Medellín operate through this airport. These include Viva Air, Avianca, Latam Airlines, Wingo, Ultra Air, Spirit, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, among others.
If your flight to Medellín is from any city in Colombia (except towns in Antioquia) or any other country, you will most likely arrive at Rionegro airport. Therefore, you should plan that your arrival time at your hotel, Airbnb, or place of stay will be at least one hour after your plane lands.
Although this airport has only one terminal and is small, it can be divided into two sections. The north section (on the left side facing the runway) houses the boarding and arrival gates for international flights, while the south section (on the right side facing the runway) is for domestic flights.
All arriving flights, both domestic and international, have the same exit point: the airport basement. Here you will find the official terminal taxis, the pick-up point for private vehicles, and the bus parking lot.
The only difference between arriving on a domestic flight versus an international one is that in the latter case, you will have to go through a migration process to register your entry into the country (this applies to both Colombians and foreigners). In my experience, this process can take between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on your arrival time.
Similarly, when leaving Medellín from José María Córdova Airport, you must go through a migration line of about 30 minutes before reaching the waiting rooms.
On the other hand, the security check for domestic flights is quite simple and, at worst, could involve a 15-minute wait.
How to Get to or From José María Córdova Airport?
Prices to/from Medellín Airport:
- By Taxi: $90,000 COP per trip
- By Ride-Hailing Apps: Between $90,000 and $120,000 COP per trip
- By Bus: $10,000 per trip
- By Private Vehicle: $7,000 per day for parking
There are several ways to get to Rionegro airport: by car, bus, or taxi. It’s important to note that, despite Medellín having a comprehensive public transportation system, neither the metro, metrocables, nor the tram connect directly to the airport. The best option for you will depend on your budget and the time you have available.
By Taxi

Getting to the Airport by Taxi
To reach the airport by taxi, you can take any Yellow Taxi from the city of Medellín. The taxi fare is standardized at $90,000, which includes the toll fee, so your driver should not ask for additional money. Keep in mind that if you hail a taxi on the street, you will need to have cash in local currency.
If you prefer not to use cash, you can opt for apps like Cabify or Didi, which allow you to pay for the taxi with a credit card.
Getting to Medellín by Taxi from Rionegro Airport
If you want to get to Medellín by taxi from Rionegro airport, the only option is to take a white taxi located in the airport basement. Yellow taxis from Medellín are not permitted to pick up passengers at the airport, so you are unlikely to see any available.
Ride-Hailing Apps: Uber, Didi, Cabify, InDriver
All these apps allow you to request a private vehicle to travel to or from Rionegro airport. Having worked as a Marketing Manager for both Uber and Cabify for several years, I can assure you that both options are quite reliable and safe for travel.
However, there is one detail to consider: transportation in private vehicles through these apps is not regulated in Colombia. This may lead drivers to make some special requests that might seem unusual. Here are a few examples:
- Traveling in the Front Seat: Drivers may ask you to sit in the front seat to avoid suspicion from police checks, as they could be fined if discovered transporting passengers through apps.
- Pick-Up on the Second Floor of the Airport: It is common for drivers to ask to pick you up on the second floor of the airport (above the basement) to avoid direct contact with official airport taxi drivers.
- Agreeing on the Pick-Up Point: Drivers may try to call you to agree on the pick-up point. If you don’t have a local phone line, I suggest using the app’s chat feature or contacting them via WhatsApp. You can use the airport’s free WiFi network for this.
By Bus
The most economical option to get to or from José María Córdova Airport is by bus. This service costs $9,500 pesos per person (approximately $2 USD). The bus will take you to the San Diego shopping center, where you will likely need to take a taxi or an Uber to reach your final destination.
In Your Own Vehicle
If you prefer to arrive at the airport in your own car or a rented car, you have two options. The first is to leave the vehicle in the official airport parking lot, and the second is to use one of the nearby parking lots.
- Official Parking Lot: The cost is $26,000 Colombian pesos per day (about $5 USD). It is the most convenient and direct option, as you will be just a few steps from the boarding gates without needing to use another means of transportation.
- Nearby Parking Lots: Options like Ecopark, El Rompoy, or San José allow you to leave your car one kilometer from the airport and then take you in a van to the boarding gate at no additional cost. This option costs between $7,000 and $10,000 pesos per day (less than $2 USD).
Another cost to consider is the tolls, which are $19,000 pesos per trip. This price must be paid in cash.
Internet at José María Córdova Airport
One of the most common questions when traveling, especially if you are from another country, is whether there is internet at the airport. Fortunately, you can connect for free to the Wifi network AeropuertoRionegro-JMC for periods of 30 minutes.
The internet quality is quite good. I have used it for work video calls, social media, downloading files, and it generally works perfectly.
Covid-19 Restrictions at Rionegro Airport
Currently, no vaccination card or negative covid test is required to enter the airport. These requirements may be requested by airlines depending on your destination country. What is mandatory is the use of a surgical mask inside the airport. Authorities are strict with this from the access control points and queues for migration processes.
Schedule: Can You Spend the Night at the Airport?
The JMC airport in Medellín is open 24 hours, as it has flights arriving and departing almost all the time. If you plan to spend the night there, keep in mind that the temperature drops, so I recommend going well wrapped up.
The airport does not have very comfortable chairs for spending the night, so you will probably have to sleep on the floor. Additionally, most businesses (restaurants and shops) close from 10 PM, and the same applies to VIP lounges.
In general, after 11 PM and until 5 AM, there will not be much activity in the place. However, no one will prevent you from staying.
Olaya Herrera Airport [Within Medellín]
This airport connects with rural or intermediate destinations in Antioquia and Colombia. Unlike Rionegro airport, Olaya Herrera is just a couple of kilometers from El Poblado, one of the most important tourist and hotel areas in the city.
Only local airlines like Satena and EasyFly operate here, transporting in smaller capacity planes and connecting Medellín with areas like Urabá, Caribbean towns, and municipalities in southern Colombia.
However, Olaya Herrera does not offer flights to popular tourist destinations in Colombia, such as Cartagena, Santa Marta, and San Andrés. It has few connections with cities like Cali and Medellín, which are more expensive because they allow travelers to land directly in the city.
How to Get to or From Olaya Herrera Airport?
The options to get to or from Olaya Herrera airport are by taxi, bus, ride-hailing apps, or private vehicle.
Being within the city, getting to or from there is no different from any other destination in Medellín. Prices will depend on your point of origin/destination and the means of transportation you choose.
I recommend using a taxi or ride-hailing apps, as the airport is in a very central point of the city, and generally, you will not have to pay more than $25,000 Colombian pesos (a little over $5 USD).
If you prefer to arrive in your own vehicle, you can also do so, as Medellín airport has parking service. The cost is $24,000 Colombian pesos per day (about $5 USD).
Internet at Olaya Herrera Airport
Just like at Rionegro airport, Medellín airport offers free Wifi service, as both airports are operated by the same company.
Schedule: Can You Spend the Night at Olaya Herrera Airport?
The schedule of Olaya Herrera airport in Medellín is much more limited than that of Rionegro, as it does not have night flight operations. The airport opens at 4:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM. For obvious reasons, you cannot spend the night there, so if your flight is very early, you will have to arrive at the opening time.