Medellín’s Bus Terminals: Everything You Need to Know

TLDR? Medellin has two bus terminals that service Colombia’s southern and northern areas.

The budget-friendly bus is the preferred mean of transport by travelers wanting to save some money. In Colombia, it’s probably the easiest way to get to the most remote villages without worrying about anything.

If you plan to travel from Medellin to any other destination in Colombia, you’ll want to know about the city’s bus terminals.

It isn’t that complicated. Here, let me walk you through it!

An Overview Of Medellin’s Bus Terminals

Medellin has two bus terminals, the North and the South. Both are very close to the city center but offer different destinations.

This bus system has more than 45 years of experience in tourist and local mobility.

Medellin’s terminals aren’t just a place to catch a bus to go out of town: you can also enjoy other services such as a food court, gyms, clothing stores, playrooms, cinema, souvenir shops, and even a synthetic soccer field.

Where To Buy Your Tickets

You can purchase tickets at the Terminal or buy them from the website.

Some people also call the company that takes them to their destination and buy the tickets a few days in advance. This way, a consultant explains to you in detail the schedule and how to get to the respective booth.

North Terminal of Medellin

There you can find a wide variety of products and services: there are over 150 shops if you want to do some window shopping while you wait for the bus departure.

If you like to carry a lot of luggage on your travels, you can store your bags in the baggage room on the mall’s first floor in front of the lockers, so you can relax while shopping and getting some souvenirs.

Terminal services such as buses or taxis are available 24 hours a day, a great advantage if you want to travel all night to reach your destination the next day morning.

As you can imagine, the North terminal takes you to destinations north of the country.

How to Get There

The best way to get to the North Terminal is to take one of the bus routes 286, 313, or M1PC, which leave you in front of the terminal.

You can also take Route A of the metro and get off at the Caribe station, but you’ll have to walk about 30 minutes, which isn’t very convenient.

Bus Schedule

Below you’ll see a list of some destinations, transport companies and how long it takes you to get there.

Destination	Bus Companies
La Union	Rapido Medellin	40 min-1 hour
	Chachafruto
El Peñol	Sotrapeñol	1.5-2 hours
	Sotrasanvicente
Sopetran	Sotrauraba	1-1.5 hours
	Gomez Hernandez
Cartagena	Expreso Brasilia	12-13 hours
	Rapido Ochoa
Santa Fe de Antioquia	Cootransuroccidente	1-1.5 hours
	Sotrauraba
San Rafael	Sotrapeñol	2.5-3 hours

You can also take a bus to José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro. Just go to booths 1, 2, 28, or 20. These buses usually leave every 15 minutes, but the intervals may vary according to passenger demand.

Website: https://terminalesmedellin.com/

Address: Vías Terminal del Nte,Castilla, Medellín, Antioquia

South Terminal of Medellin

In the South Terminal, you can also kill time strolling through the mall’s halls while waiting for the bus departure. You can even take part in dance and yoga classes or watch a movie at the cinema.

This terminal services the destinations south of Colombia.

How to Get There

The quickest way to get to the South Terminal is to take metro route A and get off at Poblado station. Then you just have to walk about 10 minutes to get there.

You can also take one of these bus routes that leave you close to the Terminal:

• 304
• 313

Bus Schedule

Here are some of South Terminal’s data:

Destination	Bus Companies	Traveling time
Jardin	Rapido Ochoa	3.5-4 hours
	Transportes Suroeste
Andes	Coonorte	3.5-4 hours
	Cootransandina
Jerico	Transportes Jerico	2.5-3 hours
Cali	Empresa Arauca	8.5-9 hours
	Expreso Bolivariano
Pereira	Flota Occidental	6-7.5 hours
	Flota Ospina Sanabria
Armenia	Empresa Arauca	7-7.5 hours
	Flota Occidental

Address: Guayabal, Medellín, Antioquia

Tips for Getting Around Medellin Bus Terminals

If you’re traveling with your pets, make sure you follow the necessary rules to ensure the well-being of your pets during the trip.

You should be aware of bus arrivals at the terminal, as most buses don’t report it. And remember to always take care of your belongings, especially in times of a big influx of people.

Keep some cash in your pockets and your ID card in hand. I also recommend you wear sports or comfortable clothes to travel.

Enjoy Colombian Landscapes from the Comfort of the Bus

Traveling by bus is the best way to observe some beautiful Colombian landscapes. Also, saving some money to spend on your destination is never too bad!

Whether you want to admire the natural beauty of Colombia or just take a nap on your long journey, catching a bus in Medellin’s Terminal is the best option.

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