How do I get from the airport to Cartagena?

Rafael Núñez International Airport might be the least stressful airport arrival in South America. The terminal sits in Crespo, a residential neighborhood about 3 km north of the walled city. You walk out of the single-terminal building and the heat hits immediately, a wall of 87% humidity and air around 27°C that fogs your glasses if you're coming from air conditioning. The taxi stand is directly outside the arrivals door, maybe 30 meters from baggage claim. No shuttle trains, no inter-terminal buses, no maze of parking garages. The whole airport-to-taxi sequence takes about 5 minutes if your bag shows up on time.

Official yellow taxis at the stand operate on a zone-fare system posted at the dispatcher's booth. Centro Histórico and Getsemaní run 12,000-18,000 COP ($3-$4.50). Bocagrande, the high-rise hotel strip along the peninsula to the south, costs roughly the same since it's about equidistant. The drive to the walled city follows Avenida Santander along the waterfront. On a clear evening you'll see the Bocagrande skyline to your left and smell Caribbean salt through the open window. Traffic can double the 10-minute ride to 20-25 minutes during Friday evening rush or during Fiestas de la Independencia in November, but even the worst Cartagena traffic is mild by Bogotá standards.

Uber and InDriver both function in Cartagena, and fares tend to run 2,000-4,000 COP cheaper than the official stand. The catch is that taxi unions control the airport curb, and ride-hailing drivers will sometimes ask you to walk 100 meters past the taxi queue to avoid confrontation. At 11pm with luggage in unfamiliar territory, that trade-off is not worth $1 in savings. If your hotel offers a transfer, take it. Many properties inside the walled city include airport pickup, and the driver will be holding a sign inside the terminal rather than competing for your attention on the sidewalk outside.

Night arrivals are simple. CTG receives flights until roughly midnight, and the taxi stand operates as long as planes are landing. The 3 km drive stays well-lit along Avenida Santander. One thing to settle before you get in the car. Confirm the fare at the dispatcher's booth, not with the driver. The posted zone rate is the rate. Drivers who quote a flat fee at the curb are freelancing, and you'll pay 30,000-40,000 COP instead of 15,000. The dispatcher exists to prevent exactly this.