Getting To and Away

By Bus
The Centrales de Transportes S.A. de Cali (Ca. 30N, 2AN-29. Tel: 668-3655, E-Mail: info@terminalcali.com, URL: www.terminalcali.com) is a sprawling, three-story cement building and may appear somewhat daunting at first glance. It is well
policed and fairly easy to navigate, though. All bus companies are on the second floor.

Several bus companies, including Expreso Palmiro (Tel: 668-5341), Expreso Bolivariano (Tel: 668-7617) and Velotax (Tel: 668-7200/5587), offer services from Cali to Bogotá. Buses leave at least hourly between 3:30 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. The trip takes about 10 hours and costs $28-45.

Expreso Palmira runs buses to Popayán (3 hr, $5.60-28) every 15 minutes between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. Multiple other companies do this same route, with the last bus leaving at 10 p.m.

Bus, taxis and vans serviced by Cooredor Vial del Pacífico leave for Buenaventura every 30 minutes between 4 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., costing $9-12 and taking about 3.5 hours.

A few different companies do the Cali-Medellín route (7-8 hr, $21-39), including Expreso Bolivariano, Expreso Trejos, Expreso Palmira and Flota Magdalena. The first bus leaves at 5 a.m. and the last at 11:40 p.m.

Buses to Buga (1 hr, $3-4) leave every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., with less frequent departures before and after those times.

By Train
The tourist train, Tren Turístico Café y Azúcar (Av. Vásquez Cobo 23N-47. Tel: 666-6899/620-2324, E-mail: trenturistico@ert.com.co, URL: www.trenturisticocafeyazucar.com), runs trips to Cumbre, Buga, La Tebaida, San Cipriano and Zarzal on weekends. Trains leave at various times; call for schedules. This service is not just transport, but includes live music and partying as well.

By Air
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport, also known as Palmaseca airport (Tel: 418-5000, URL: www.aerocali.com.co) is located about 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) outside of Cali. Both international flights and internal flights land here.

A taxi from the city to the airport, and vice versa, will set you back more than $25. The cheapest way to get here from the center is to go to the bus terminal first and head to Lineas Consul, which has vans leaving every 15 minutes for the 30-minute ride. The cost for one passenger is about $1.75. To get from the airport to the city center is the same—go to the exit point for national flights and from there, you can catch a similar van for the same price.

Here are some related tips to help plan your trip to Cali: Getting Around, Highlights, When to Go, Holidays and Festivals and Safety.