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TLDR? Getting to Medellin from the Dominican Republic is now easier with new direct flights and low-cost airlines!
Once upon a time, getting to Medellin from the Dominican Republic meant having a layover Bogotá.
Not so anymore. Now, arriving from the Caribbean is getting easier than ever. Today, new transit lines have been added from the DR to Medellin, thanks to the increasing flight connectivity in the city.
Discover the routes available from this Caribbean island to this Colombian destination and plan an unforgettable trip for your next vacation.
I personally know that, many times, layovers can be tedious during a trip. Sure, they might be cheaper, but they wear you out like nobody’s business. So, booking direct flights may be the best option.
If you’re looking to get to Medellin on a direct flight from Santo Domingo, some airlines offer this route. A couple of the airlines in question include:
Likewise, there are airlines that cover the direct route to Medellin from Punta Cana.
It’s worth mentioning that the departures aren’t as frequent as those from the capital, but if this city of origin is more comfortable for you, you can find flights on:
Either way, getting to Medellin from the Caribbean is a breeze.
If you decide that a layover is the right pick after all, whether that’s for better time flexibility or cheaper flights, you can also go that route.
In that case, the aforementioned airlines, including LATAM, cover routes from the airports of Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santiago.
However, obviously not all of them are direct and most make stops in the United States or Central America. That seems a bit backwards to me, and can definitely slow down your trip.
There are a few, however, that have layovers in other Colombian cities. Let’s take a look at them.
The Colombian capital will always be one of the scales most used by airlines since they facilitate transit to other secondary cities.
This is a great option if you’re looking for cheaper tickets.
For this route, it’s best that you look for your trip with Colombian airlines such as Avianca, which generally make these stops. Avianca flies Santo Domingo – Bogota – Medellin.
You can also use low-cost flights, like those offered by Arajet, to take you to this destination. They’re not quite as comfortable, however, and you may experience delays.
Cartagena is also a transit city for flights arriving from the Caribbean. As a result, Arajet has direct flights from Santo Domingo to this city at very affordable prices.
In Cartagena you can choose to take another flight to Medellin or travel by land if you’d prefer.
Once you landin Medellin from the DR, there are a couple of things you’ll want to know. Let me break down how to handle your arrival in Medellin.
Medellin has two airports, but when arriving from an international flight, the arrival will be at the largest airport, Jose Maria Cordova. This airport is located in Rionegro, a town in eastern Antioquia, approximately 40 minutes from the city.
It’s a small air terminal so it’s almost impossible to get lost. However, it has national and international sections.
The good news is that both terminals will spit you out on the ground floor of the building. From there, you can exit the building and immediately find public transport.
There you can also find the free Wi-Fi service in case you need to contact someone, see your next reservation, or use Google Maps.
You can also access car rental points, snack shops or restaurants, and even VIP lounges if you’ve been traveling for a while.
Once you exit the airport, you will always find public transport to get to the city.
You can take public buses that arrive at different points of the city such as the center and the southwestern area. Once you arrive at the end of the line, you will find taxis available that can take you to your hotel.
You can also take shared taxis. It’s an option to travel a little more quickly. And of course, the best thing is that by sharing it with other passengers, the rate is cheaper.
Both taxis and buses will typically take the fastest route to the city, which cuts through the Tunel de Oriente.
Once you get to Medellin, you’re no doubt looking for a place to stay and things to do.
Don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered on that front, too!
The DR and Medellin are pretty different. Sure, both are located in the tropics, but Medellin’s vibe is way different.
That said, I recommend booking a place that’s near popular tourist sites. El Poblado and Laureles are the top neighborhoods when it comes to staying in Medellin.
In these two areas you can find apartments for 4 people from $75 USD (subject to change) per night in places like Soul Apartahotel, ideal for short or long stays.
Likewise, you can find apartments for two people from $100 USD per night at places such as Ayamonte. This hotel has prices a bit similar to those of Santo Domingo, where you can find apartments for two people for $89 USD per night (subject to change).
Another thing to note is that as in the DR, you can find penthouses or luxury accommodations such as the Hotel Celestino or the Marquee in Medellín. There, you pay from $87 USD for rooms for two people per night (subject to change).
Basically, there are many options! It all depends on the number of people traveling, how many days you’ll stay, and what your budget is.
Medellin is a mountainous city, and although it doesn’t have a seaport or coast very close, it’s still a great place to check out.
There are tons of ways that you can spend a few days in the city, such as:
Medellin is also a city with a very well cataloged nightlife, as well as outstanding food, so you can’t leave without enjoying these things.
Alternatively, if you want to get out of the city, a few places to look into include:
Any of these places are a nice way to spend a day.
Pro tip: If you’re missing the beach from back home, head out to Guatape! It’s not an oceanfront, but it’s the closest thing to a beach near Medellin.
As a traveler from the Dominican Republic, there are a couple of things to keep in mind on your trip to Medellin.
Let’s go over a few essentials before you touch down in the City of Eternal Spring.
The minimum salary in Colombia is currently around $209 USD, while in the Dominican Republic it reaches $269 USD.
However, the cost of living in the Dominican Republic is much higher than in Colombia, and therefore in Medellin.
For example, in the DR you can expect to pay around $7 USD for lunch. On the other hand, in Medellin, you can find traditional Colombian food for roughly $4 USD (subject to change).
Public transportation also comes with a different price tag in Medellin. In Medellin, a monthly pass costs around $29 USD while in the DR it’ll set you back about $60 USD (subject to change).
For its part, the liter of gasoline in case you decide to rent a car is $0.64 USD, which in the Dominican Republic would be $1.91 USD.
What this all boils down to is that the cost of living in Medellin is a bit more affordable than in the DR. So, if you’re looking for a cheap place to visit, this might just be it.
In Medellin there are no seasons, as in the Dominican Republic. And, thanks to its geography it’s a city with a fairly pleasant climate since it’s like spring all year round.
The average climate of what is called the City of Eternal Spring is 22° C. However, surprise rain showers are common, so it’s always prudent to wear a coat in case the temperature drops a little more.
The big difference between Medellin and the Caribbean island is that in the DR the weather is usually hot most of the time. The island nation has an average of 25 to 27° C throughout the year with dry seasons and rainy seasons that occur between May and October.
It could be said that Medellin is the best city in Colombia in terms of mobility and public transport, since it’s the only city that has an integrated system of means of transport. I’m talking, of course, about the city’s metro system.
The metro crosses all of Medellin from north to south and has integrated bus routes that go to specific neighborhoods. It also features cable cars and a tram system.
Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, also has a metro as a means of mass transportation. In fact, it’s the most extensive train system in the Caribbean, and one of the most modern in Latin America. So, Medellin might have met its match in that regard.
Other aspects of transportation in Medellin include the buses. Medellin has both intercity and local buses. The closest thing to these in the Dominican Republic would be the “guaguas” which are low-cost services or minibus that operate within the same cities with specific routes that pick up any passenger.
The Dominican Republic is a small island, which is why all the cities are close by and there is very good intercity transportation that even reaches Haiti. In Medellin there are also buses that go to other towns and cities in Colombia. These buses operate from two terminals in the city, one in the north and one in the south.
Medellin and Colombia in general, along with the Dominican Republic have a time difference of one hour.
This Caribbean island is one hour ahead, which means that it’s with the Atlantic Standard Time just like New York.
So, when it’s 10:00 am in the Dominican Republic, it’s 9:00 am in Colombia according to Colombian Standard Time.
Note: Neither Medellin nor the DR practice Daylight Savings. So, you don’t have to worry about the time difference changing at any time.
Getting to Medellin from the Caribbean has never been so easy. With the opening of so many direct routes and low-cost trips, it’s a good time to visit Colombia.
Book your tickets from the Dominican Republic to the City of Eternal Spring, and get ready to experience Medellin for yourself.
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