Internal transfers¶
Domestic hops for the main Colombia spine (Bogotá → coffee → Cali → Bogotá; Medellín skipped) plus optional coast / detour notes. Not booked yet — sample one-way fares from Google Flights (GBP, taxes/fees included for 1 adult; checked 8 Aug 2026 unless noted). ULCC fares (Wingo / JetSMART) often exclude cabin bag — filter “Bags” or budget extras. Prefer morning flights when booking for real (Internal flights & transport).
Route ideas: Possible itinerary · booking plan Overview.
Hassle ranking (for this trip)¶
Prefer fewer airport days and short nonstops. Rough order of pain for this window:
| Pattern | Hassle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay in one dance city + local bus day trip | Low | e.g. coffee jeep days |
| BOG → AXM nonstop; coffee → Cali by bus; CLO → BOG | Low–medium | Current spine |
| Bogotá bus to Villa de Leyva | Medium | ~3–4 h each way; no flight |
| AXM → CLO flight | Medium–high | Often 1-stop via BOG (~3–6 h, from ~£58 on 26 Aug sample) — bus may win |
| Fly to Santa Marta (SMR) | Medium | Extra flight day after Cali — usually skip if calling Colombia done |
| Barichara via San Gil / BGA | High | Full day transfers; avoid on a dance-first plan |
Sample date skeleton (adjustable)¶
| # | When | Move | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Sun 23 Aug | Bogotá → coffee (AXM) | Hosts’ invite — prefer 11:50→12:50 Avianca — Coffee with hosts |
| B | Wed 26 Aug | Coffee → Cali | Prefer bus/van; if flying, AXM→CLO 26 Aug (sample ~£58 1-stop via BOG — 8 Aug check). Not hosts’ AXM→BOG |
| C | Sun 30 Aug | CLO → BOG | After Sat Cali night — buffer before United Mon 23:10 — Final plan |
| D | Mon 31 Aug | Intl BOG 23:10 | UA 559 → EWR → UA 122 → LHR 21:25 (FareLock HD3DCB) — Flights |
Sample one-way fares (Google Flights, 8 Aug 2026)¶
| Leg | Sample date | Cheapest seen | Sensible option | Google Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOG → AXM | 23 Aug | Avianca £42 (hosts’ 11:50) | same | BOG→AXM 23 Aug |
| AXM → CLO | 26 Aug | £58 Avianca 1-stop via BOG (~3–6 h) | Bus coffee→Cali often better door-to-door | AXM→CLO 26 Aug |
| CLO → BOG | 30 Aug (preferred) | re-check afternoon/evening after Sat Cali | Sun buffer before Mon intl | CLO→BOG 30 Aug |
Older PEI/MDE spine samples (if plans reopen Medellín) remain useful reference but are not the current route — see git history / Medellín page.
Alt legs (coast / samples)¶
| Leg | Sample context | Cheapest seen (order of magnitude) | Google Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOG → SMR | coast branch | ~£41 (sample Aug 2026 check) | BOG→SMR |
| MDE → SMR | after Medellín dance | ~£41–45 (e.g. 30 Aug sample) | MDE→SMR 30 Aug |
| SMR → BOG | return via capital | re-check for your exit day | SMR→BOG |
Coast is optional after Cali only if you still want swimming — usually skip if calling Colombia done — After Cali · Santa Marta.
Coffee → Cali without (or instead of) flying¶
AXM→CLO is often a long 1-stop via Bogotá — door-to-door, a bus/van from Salento / Armenia / Pereira toward Cali can win. Compare live schedules the week before; don’t auto-book the £58 connection. Details: Internal flights & transport · Driving → Coffee region.
Rule of thumb: if the only flight is a multi-hour BOG connection, prefer the bus.
When bus beats flight¶
- Villa de Leyva — always bus from Bogotá (no useful airport).
- Coffee → Cali — often bus over AXM→CLO 1-stop.
- Coffee towns after landing AXM — bus/jeep to Salento, not another flight.
- Barichara — bus (or fly BGA + buses); only if accepting high hassle.
Booking notes¶
- Shop these 2–4 weeks out (or sooner if fares climb); internals + international return constrain each other — Flights · TODO Flights shopping.
- Multi-city on Google Flights can price the whole spine at once: Google Flights multi-city.
- Airports: BOG, PEI, AXM, MDE (city is far — budget transfer), CLO, SMR.
See also: Possible itinerary · Itinerary overview · Internal flights & transport · Flights · TODO