Getting To and Away

Getting to and away

By Lorraine Caputo

The main bus terminal is about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) from the center, at Carrera 18D (Avenida Simón Bolívar) and Calle 45, where the Cacique Upar monument is.

To Maicao: Cootracegua—hourly 4:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours. Taxis from in front of the bus terminal, leave when full, $11.55 (beware of overcharging). Other buses from Calle 44, near terminal.

To Riohacha: Cootracegua—8:15 a.m., $10.50, 4 hours. Buses from Calle 44, near terminal. Or take a Maicao-bound bus to Cuatro Vías crossroads and flag down another to Riohacha.

To El Banco: Cootracegua—seven departures 3 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $13.25, 4.5 hours.

To Mompós: Cootracegua—5:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., $13.15, 4.5 hours.

To Santa Marta: Costa Line—4:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 2 p.m., $12.55, 3.5 hours.

Cootracosta—hourly 3 a.m.-4 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours. Copetrán—7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours. Berlinas / Libertadores—11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours.

To Barranquilla: Costaline—hourly 4 a.m.-6 p.m., $12.10, 4.5 hours. Cootracosta—hourly 3 a.m.-4 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours. Copetrán—4:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., $13.15, 4.5 hours. Also Brasilia.

To Cartagena: Copetrán—same as Barranquilla, $21, 7 hours.

To Bucaramanga: Cootaxi—6:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., $34.65, 8-9 hours. Copetrán—12 departures 4 a.m.-9:45 a.m., $37, 9 hours.

To Cúcuta: Cootragua—8:30 a.m., $39.65, 14 hours.

To Bogotá: Copetrán—6 departures 1-8:30 p.m., $61, 16 hours.

Valledupar's Aeropuerto Alfonso López Hangar is located on the road to Codazzi, south of the city. A taxi there costs $2.65. Avianca has direct flights to Bogotá ($130-204) and Aires to Barranquilla ($129).