Barranquilla’s Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (IATA: BAQ) is located in Soledad, about 10km south of the city centre. It’s a compact, functional airport — you’ll be through arrivals in 20 minutes — but knowing your onward transport before you land saves time and money.
Getting From the Airport to the City
Uber & InDriver — Recommended
Open your Uber or InDriver app once you exit the terminal building. The fare to El Prado (the best area to stay) is typically $8–14 USD and takes 20–35 minutes depending on traffic. This is the safest and most reliable option — tracked driver, fixed price, no negotiation.
Important: Do not accept rides from people approaching you inside the terminal. Walk outside and order via the app.
Official Airport Taxis
There is an official taxi rank outside arrivals. Fares are metered or pre-negotiated — agree on the price before getting in. Expect to pay $12,000–18,000 COP ($3–4 USD) more than the Uber equivalent. Safer than hailing a random taxi but more expensive.
Private Airport Transfers
If you’re arriving late, travelling with luggage, or want the certainty of a driver holding your name sign, a pre-booked private transfer is worth considering. These are bookable in advance and range from $25–45 USD for a standard vehicle.
→ Book a private airport transfer on Viator
→ Book airport transfers on GetYourGuide
Hotels Near Barranquilla Airport
Most visitors should stay in El Prado rather than near the airport — it’s only 20–30 minutes away and El Prado is where the restaurants, bars, and attractions are. The airport area (Soledad) has budget business hotels but no particular reason to be there unless you have a very early morning flight.
If you do need an airport-adjacent hotel for an early departure:
→ Browse hotels near Barranquilla Airport on Booking.com
For El Prado hotels — which is where you should actually base yourself:
→ Hotel El Prado (best overall) | → Dann Carlton (best luxury) | → Estelar Alto Prado (best mid-range)
Airport Facilities
Size: One terminal, compact and manageable. Peak times (Monday mornings, Friday evenings) can have queues at security but rarely cause missed flights.
Food & drink: Limited inside the terminal — eat in the city before arriving if you have a choice. There are a couple of café/snack options airside.
ATMs: Available in the terminal. Rates are standard — no worse than city ATMs.
SIM cards: Claro and Movistar have desks in the arrivals area. Good option for grabbing a local SIM on arrival. See our SIM card guide for what to buy.
Car hire: Available in arrivals — Hertz, National, and local operators. Only useful if you’re planning road trips; not recommended for navigating the city itself.
Airlines & Routes
BAQ has direct connections to Bogotá (multiple daily, 1h15), Medellín (several daily, 1h), Miami (American Airlines, direct), Cancún, and several other international routes. Most European and North American connections go via Bogotá or Miami.
Domestic carriers: Avianca, LATAM, Wingo, JetSmart. Prices are competitive — check all carriers when booking.
Leaving Barranquilla: Arrival at the Airport
Allow 90 minutes before departure for international flights, 60 minutes for domestic. Security is quick when it’s not peak time. Uber/InDriver to the airport from El Prado costs the same as the reverse journey — order from the app, don’t pre-arrange with a hotel driver (they mark up significantly).