Cartagena Airport Transfer Guide
🇨🇴 Rafael Núñez International (CTG) — Updated 2026
Rafael Núñez International (CTG) is 3 km from Cartagena's UNESCO-listed walled Old Town — closest international airport to a UNESCO Old Town in the Americas. Despite the 3 km distance, pre-booked transfers are still worth it for the meet-and-greet Colombian arrival: (1) English-speaking driver for the first-day transition; (2) cruise-port coordination for the 300+ annual embarkations; (3) direct hotel-arrival to boutique casa colonial B&Bs deep in the walled city where GPS navigation is unreliable. Pre-booked transfer: USD 25-45 to Old Town / Getsemaní / Bocagrande beach, 10-20 min.
3 km / 10-20 min to walled Old Town
Pre-book your Cartagena airport transfer
English-speaking driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed prices, flight tracking, free cancellation up to 24h.
- Flight tracking — delay-aware pickup
- Fixed price · no surge · free cancellation
- Cars, vans, minibuses for 1–8 passengers
via Welcome Pickups · CTG
Cartagena airport transfer options compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups (pre-booked) | USD 25–55 | 10–20 min | Meet-and-greet, English driver, cruise-port + walled city coordination. |
| Kiwitaxi (pre-booked) | USD 30–60 | 10–20 min | Marketplace — instant quote. |
| Yellow airport taxi (fixed) | COP 25,000–45,000 | 10–20 min | Fixed zone rate at kiosk in arrivals. |
| DiDi (app) | COP 15,000–35,000 | 10–20 min | App-based, cheaper than official taxi. |
| Uber (limited) | COP 20,000–40,000 | 10–20 min | Smaller supply than DiDi. |
| Hotel car service | USD 30–50 | 10–20 min | Pre-booked by hotel, meet-and-greet standard. |
Top destinations from CTG
Walled Old Town (Centro Histórico)
UNESCO walled city, casa colonial hotels, 10-15 min.
Getsemaní
Trendy + bohemian district next to Old Town, 12-18 min.
Bocagrande (beach)
Modern beach + hotel strip, 15-20 min.
Manga (residential)
Quieter residential area, 15-20 min.
Cartagena Cruise Port
For cruise embarkation, 15 min.
Rosario Islands ferry pier
Ferry to Rosario Islands day trip, 15 min.
Booking tips for Cartagena
- → Walled Old Town casa coloniales: pre-book with hotel name — GPS navigation inside walls is unreliable
- → Cruise embarkation days: pre-book with ship-time coordination
- → Getsemaní for boutique hotels + newer + trending district vs traditional Old Town
- → Colombian pesos cash useful for tips; USD widely accepted at hotels
Flights to Cartagena
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Hotels in Cartagena
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FAQ
Walled Old Town or Bocagrande for a Cartagena hotel?+
Walled Old Town for the UNESCO experience: casa colonial B&Bs, walkable to major sights, historic vibe, USD 100-500/night. Bocagrande for beach + modern resort: high-rise resorts, beach access, USD 100-400/night, 5 min taxi to Old Town. For first-time visitors: Walled Old Town. For beach-priority holidays with families: Bocagrande.
Cartagena cruise + airport combined arrival?+
Common — Cartagena is a major Caribbean cruise embarkation port with 300+ turnaround days annually. Pre-book CTG → Cruise Port transfer (USD 30-55) with ship-time coordination. Turnaround days (typically Saturdays + Sundays) are hectic; luggage porter + terminal navigation is where transfer wins over standalone taxi.
DiDi or pre-booked transfer at CTG?+
DiDi (COP 15,000-35,000 / USD 4-9) is the value choice for confident visitors + Bocagrande hotels. Pre-booked transfer (USD 25-55) wins for Walled Old Town casa colonial B&Bs (GPS unreliable), first-time Colombia visitors, and cruise-port coordination. For daytime arrivals + straightforward hotels: DiDi works fine.
Colombia safety at CTG arrival?+
Cartagena is one of Colombia's safest cities for tourists (dramatically safer than Bogotá + Cali). CTG arrivals are safe using pre-booked transfer, DiDi, or official yellow taxi. AVOID unmarked drivers offering "cheap ride" outside terminal. Walled Old Town + Getsemaní are safe on foot during daytime + evening; use taxis after midnight.
Airport transfers in other cities: