Bogotá to Medellín is Colombia’s flagship domestic shuttle — a barely one-hour hop between the capital and the City of Eternal Spring, with departures almost every hour on multiple airlines. The one thing to get right is the airport: most jets land at Rionegro (MDE) out of town, while a few turboprops use the little downtown field (EOH). This guide covers who flies where, fair fares in pesos, and how to save.
Route: Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) → Medellín José María Córdova / Rionegro (MDE) or Olaya Herrera / downtown (EOH)
Distance: approximately 240 km (150 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 55m – 1h 10m
Direct flights: Yes — Avianca, LATAM, Wingo and JetSmart fly non-stop to Rionegro (MDE); Clic and Satena fly non-stop to the downtown airport (EOH) on turboprops. No connection needed either way.
Fares from Bogotá to Medellín (COP)
This is a short, high-frequency route, so fares are among the cheapest domestic options in Colombia most of the year. Prices spike over the December–January holidays, Semana Santa (Easter week, around early April in 2026) and the June–July school break; September and the shoulder weeks are the quietest and cheapest. The figures below are typical economy return fares in Colombian pesos, with the lowest being cabin-bag-only fares.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high |
| February | — | medium |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium-high (Semana Santa) |
| May | — | low-medium |
| June | — | high (school holidays) |
| July | — | high (school holidays) |
| August | — | medium |
| September | — | low |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | medium |
| December | — | very high |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, this route is far cheaper than the figures usually quoted: the floor is COP$ 148.651 and the median COP$ 148.874 for a return, not a one-way. Eighty-five of the hundred cheapest fares are JetSmart, and they sit in a band of just COP$ 148.651 – 156.297. So a return around COP$ 150.000 is simply the going rate rather than a deal, and there is little to gain by waiting. Avianca is COP$ 162.946 and LATAM COP$ 224.610 and up, with a bag included on most standard fares.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop to Rionegro (MDE), about 1h 05m on jets:
- Avianca — the busiest operator, near-hourly Airbus departures and the widest schedule for onward connections.
- LATAM — frequent full-service non-stops with a checked bag on most standard fares.
- Wingo — Copa’s low-cost arm; straightforward point-to-point fares that are often the best value.
- JetSmart — ultra-low-cost; the lowest headline prices, with bags and seats charged as extras.
Non-stop to Olaya Herrera (EOH), the downtown airport, about 55m on turboprops:
- Clic — regional ATR turboprop service straight into the city-centre airport; handy if you’re staying in El Poblado or the centre and want to skip the long Rionegro transfer.
- Satena — the state regional carrier, with a limited turboprop schedule into EOH.
Most travellers fly the jets into MDE (Rionegro) for the frequency and price. The downtown EOH flights are fewer and can cost more, but they save you the 45-minute drive down the mountain — worth it if your time or your hotel location makes the transfer a hassle.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–6 weeks ahead for the domestic sweet spot; the huge number of daily seats keeps ordinary dates cheap, but holiday flights only get pricier.
- Avoid the peaks: December–January, Semana Santa and June–July school holidays are the most expensive; shift a few days either side if you can.
- Check the airport before you book: MDE (Rionegro) is about 35 km out of town; EOH is in the city. A cheap-looking downtown fare can still beat a Rionegro fare once you add the transfer.
- Fly midweek: Tuesday and Wednesday are usually cheaper than the Friday–Sunday rush on this popular weekend route.
- Mind the bags: the lowest Wingo and JetSmart fares are hand-luggage only — add any checked bag online in advance, never at the airport counter.
Arriving in Medellín
The main airport is José María Córdova International (MDE) in Rionegro, about 35 km and 45 minutes to an hour from the city, up in the hills. Shared minibuses (colectivos) run to the centre for around COP$ 25.000 – 35.000, while an official taxi is roughly COP$ 90.000 – 110.000. If you flew a turboprop into Olaya Herrera (EOH), you’re already in the city — it’s minutes from El Poblado and the centre, with a taxi to most neighbourhoods costing only about COP$ 12.000 – 25.000. Check your ticket, because the two airports are on completely different sides of the drive.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Bogotá to Medellín?
The non-stop flight takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes — one of the shortest busy routes in Colombia. Jets into Rionegro (MDE) average around an hour; the downtown turboprop flights into Olaya Herrera (EOH) are a touch quicker in the air. There are no connections on this route.
Are there direct flights from Bogotá to Medellín?
Yes, plenty. Avianca, LATAM, Wingo and JetSmart fly non-stop to Rionegro (MDE), and Clic and Satena fly non-stop on turboprops to the downtown airport (EOH). With near-hourly departures you never need to connect — every fare we found was direct. JetSmart into Rionegro held the cheap end at COP$ 148.651; the downtown turboprops were the dearest option, from COP$ 254.419.
How much does it cost to fly from Bogotá to Medellín?
A typical economy return runs about COP$ 148.651 – 156.297 on JetSmart, the carrier behind most of the cheap seats, with Avianca at COP$ 162.946, LATAM from COP$ 224.610 and the Satena turboprop to the downtown airport from COP$ 254.419. The dearest fare in our whole sample was COP$ 308.044. The December peak and the school holidays price above all of these.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Bogotá to Medellín?
September is usually the cheapest, with the February and May shoulder weeks close behind. In the dates we could price, returns started at COP$ 148.651. Steer clear of December, January, Semana Santa (around early April in 2026) and the June–July school break, which are the busiest and most expensive times to fly.
Which airlines fly from Bogotá to Medellín?
To Rionegro (MDE), cheapest first in our fare data: ultra-low-cost JetSmart (COP$ 148.651 – 156.297, 85 of the 100 lowest fares on the route), Avianca (COP$ 162.946, and the most frequent) and LATAM (COP$ 224.610 – 225.591). To the downtown airport (EOH): Satena on turboprops at COP$ 254.419 – 308.044 — the shorter transfer into Medellín costs roughly twice a JetSmart fare into Rionegro. Wingo and Clic also fly the route but did not appear among the cheapest when we checked. Avianca and LATAM include a bag on most standard fares; the low-cost carriers charge extra.
Which airport do I fly into in Medellín?
It depends on the airline. Jets land at José María Córdova (MDE) in Rionegro, about 35 km and 45–60 minutes from the city. A few turboprop flights use Olaya Herrera (EOH), right in the city centre. Always check your ticket, as the transfer time and cost differ hugely between the two.
How far in advance should I book Bogotá to Medellín flights?
Aim for 3 to 6 weeks ahead for the best everyday fares. For peak dates — Christmas, New Year, Semana Santa and the mid-year school holidays — book two to three months out, because those flights fill first and prices climb steadily.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes. Tuesday and Wednesday departures tend to be cheaper than the Friday-to-Sunday weekend rush on this popular short-break route. Flying out and back midweek, and staying flexible by a day or two, is one of the simplest ways to cut the fare.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — check the live fare before booking.
