Which option suits your arrival?
El Dorado has no rail link. You choose between TransMilenio buses, which need a tuLlave card, and metered taxis from the rank the airport runs with its authorised operator, Taxi Imperial. Bus hours, group size and luggage matter more than distance here.
| Option | Cost | Hours (weekday) | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| K86 (dual route) | COP 3,550 + tuLlave card | 05:30–23:00 | Solo, light bags, heading along Calle 26 |
| Feeder 16-14 to Portal El Dorado | COP 3,550 + tuLlave card | 04:30–00:20 | Early or late arrivals who will change at the Portal |
| Airport-rank taxi | Meter + COP 8,000 surcharge | 24 hours | Groups, heavy luggage, after 23:00 |
| Pre-booked Taxi Imperial car or van | Check on the airport booking page | 24 hours | Families, lots of bags, arrival after a long-haul flight |
The bus hours come from the airport's public transport page. On Saturdays K86 runs 06:00–23:00 and 07:00–22:00 on Sundays and holidays. The 16-14 runs 05:00–00:20 on Saturdays and 05:30–23:20 on Sundays and holidays.
How do I take TransMilenio from El Dorado?
Buy a card first. The airport says the tuLlave kiosk is on Floor 1 opposite Terminal 1, Door 1, and both airport routes take tuLlave only.
TransMilenio's fare page lists the personalised tuLlave card at COP 8,000. It lists the single fare at COP 3,550 for TransMilenio trunk buses, zonal (blue) buses and TransMiCable. According to the 2026 fare explainer, the fare went up from COP 3,200 in 2025. Only personalised tuLlave holders get free transfers within a 125-minute window.
The city's June 2026 airport services notice lists K86 as a "dual" route using Calle 26. From Portal El Dorado it lists express routes BK16, BK23, GK43, HK54 and LK10 plus Ruta Fácil 1. When TransMilenio launched the M86/K86 pair in 2014, its launch notice described stops along Calle 26 as far as Museo Nacional. That routing may have changed since, and the airport now gives Portal El Dorado as K86's destination. Check the TransMilenio route finder for your stop before you rely on it.
How much does a taxi from El Dorado cost?
Bogotá taxis charge by the meter. Decreto 042 de 2026 took effect on 12 February 2026, according to the Secretaría de Movilidad, which published the tariff table. The city hall notice confirms that taxis can charge by meter or through a technology platform.
| Item | Standard | With "excellence" factor |
|---|---|---|
| Flag fall | COP 4,500 | COP 4,800 |
| Every 100 m or 24 s waiting | COP 159 | COP 172 |
| Airport / Puente Aéreo surcharge | COP 8,000 | COP 8,600 |
| Night (20:00–05:00), Sunday, holiday | COP 3,800 | COP 4,100 |
| Door-to-door (booked) | COP 1,400 | COP 1,500 |
| Minimum fare | COP 8,000 | COP 8,600 |
The airport says taxis load on Floor 1, lane 1, between Doors 8 and 10, with uniformed staff between Doors 7 and 10 assigning cars. The airport's taxi page names Taxi Imperial as the authorised operator. It has a fare calculator but warns that the final cost varies with traffic, weather and demand. On the booking page you can reserve a car and check a plate number. The airport pages do not describe a printed fare slip, so ask the dispatcher if you want a written estimate.
Worked examples: one traveller and a group of four
The airport does not publish a distance to any neighbourhood, so these figures use the official tariff for every 10 km of driving. Adjust them to your own route.
One traveller, 14:00 weekday, one suitcase. TransMilenio costs COP 8,000 for the card plus COP 3,550, so COP 11,550 for the first ride. A daytime taxi costs COP 4,500 flag fall, plus 100 units × COP 159 for 10 km (COP 15,900), plus the COP 8,000 surcharge. That comes to COP 28,400 before any traffic waiting. Every 15 minutes stopped in traffic adds about 37 units, or roughly COP 5,900. Alone and travelling light, the bus saves the most.
Four adults, 22:30 Friday, four suitcases. By bus, each person needs a fare: 4 × COP 3,550 = COP 14,200, plus cards. By then K86 has only 30 minutes of service left, and trunk buses are awkward with four suitcases. A 10 km taxi at night costs COP 28,400 plus the COP 3,800 night surcharge, so COP 32,200, or about COP 8,000 each. If the bags will not fit in one car, book a Taxi Imperial van. For a group, the taxi costs about the same per person as the bus, and it goes to your door.
Altitude on arrival
The city's health advice for visitors puts Bogotá at about 2,600 metres. It lists dizziness, headache, breathlessness, nausea and fatigue as common symptoms. The city suggests staying hydrated, sleeping well, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and leaving strenuous activity for a day or two. That is one more reason to take the simpler transfer after a long flight rather than haul bags between buses.
Before you leave the arrivals hall
Check three things. Is it before 22:30 (weekday) if you want K86? Is your accommodation close to a Calle 26 stop? Do you have more bags than hands? If any answer points to the taxi, go to Doors 8 to 10.
If you have not arranged pesos yet, see paying in Colombia with pesos, cards and ATMs. Immigration rules are in the Colombia entry and Check-MIG guide. If you are flying on to Medellín, see José María Córdova airport to Medellín.