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El Dorado International Airport Insider Guide
BOGLatin America's busiest airport and Avianca's main hub. Terminal 1 handles international and most domestic flights; Terminal 2 (Puente Aéreo) serves select Avianca domestic routes. Modern, well-organized, but can get crowded at peak hours.
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40min
Transit to city
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25min
Immigration
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45min
Security buffer
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Leave with 3–6 hours+
Leave the airport?
OK to leave:
3–6h
6–10h
10h+
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Lounges
| Terminal | Lounge | Access | Showers | Good for | Price (paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 International | Avianca Lounge (International) | Star Alliance biz/gold, Avianca elite | Yes | Full buffet, bar, great views | ~$45 USD walk-in |
| T1 International | El Dorado Lounge | Priority Pass / paid | No | Snacks, drinks, decent seating | ~$35 USD |
| T1 International | Copa Club | Copa biz, Star Alliance biz/gold | No | Quiet, light snacks | ~$50 USD |
| T1 Domestic | Avianca Lounge (Domestic) | Star Alliance biz/gold, Avianca elite | Yes | Good food, comfortable | ~$30 USD walk-in |
Avianca's international lounge is the standout — spacious with a good buffet. PP holders can use El Dorado Lounge. The Wait N' Rest near Gate A13 offers sleep pods via PP.
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Traveler notes
- Bogotá is at 2,640m altitude — you may feel tired or short of breath on arrival.
- Security lines can be long during morning and evening rushes.
- Keep valuables close; petty theft occurs in crowded areas.
- Connecting between T1 and T2 requires a shuttle or taxi (~10 min); allow extra time.
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Sleep / Rest
- Wait N' Rest sleep pods near Gate A13 (international) — bookable via Priority Pass (2h max) or walk-in.
- Airside seating is decent but noisy overnight.
- Hotel & Spa El Dorado: Landside transit hotel in T1.
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Food
- Colombian specialties (arepas, empanadas, bandeja paisa) available airside and landside.
- Juan Valdez and Café Cultor for excellent Colombian coffee.
- International chains and restaurants throughout T1.
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Showers
- Available in Avianca Lounges (international and domestic). Wait N' Rest also has shower access.
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Luggage Storage
- Luggage storage on arrivals level, T1; ~COP 20,000–40,000 per bag per day ($5–10 USD).
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Transit to City
- Taxi: ~40 minutes to city center (traffic-dependent), around COP 30,000–50,000 ($8–13 USD). Use only official yellow cabs from taxi stands.
- TransMilenio bus: Cheapest option, ~60–80 minutes, but not ideal with heavy luggage.
- Uber/DiDi: Work well, pickup from arrivals level.
- Buffer: Back at BOG 3h international, 2h domestic.
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Essentials
- SIM/eSIM: Claro and Movistar in arrivals; tourist SIMs available. eSIM recommended.
- ATMs: Widespread; withdraw COP. Decline DCC, and watch for card skimmers.
- Wi‑Fi: Free (registration required), decent speed.
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