From El Dorado Airport to Downtown Bogotá and Getting Around: TransMilenio, Taxi, Apps and Bus

There are several ways to get from El Dorado airport to the center, and none is best for everyone: it depends on the hour, your luggage and how much traffic there is. This guide summarizes what official sources and the outlets we consulted say. Routes, schedules and fares change, so confirm with TransMiApp and official channels before you set out.

How long it takes

Blu Radio (February 9, 2024) estimates about 30 minutes by taxi from the airport to the center, depending on traffic.

TransMilenio: the M86 route

The M86 is a dual TransMilenio route. According to Publimetro (February 17, 2026), it leaves from Portal El Dorado, which connects with the airport terminal, and runs along the Calle 26 trunk line to the Museo Nacional station. From there it leaves the busway, takes Carrera Séptima north and ends at Calle 118, in Usaquén. The new schedule, in effect since February 16, 2026, is:

• Monday to Saturday: 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Sundays and holidays: 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

A Bogotá city government guide (May 2022) says the buses on the route (then K86-M86) stop at a “Bus satélite aeroportuario” sign in front of airport entrances 1 and 8. That information is several years old, so verify where the stop is today. The same guide also mentions the 16-14 Aeropuerto feeder route, which goes to Portal Eldorado.

How to pay: TransMilenio uses the TuLlave card. According to the city government (2022), the airport has a point to buy a basic card at entrance 4 on the first floor. We haven’t verified current fares; check them with TransMilenio. You can also use the TransMiApp app to plan your trip.

When it makes sense: if you travel light and arrive during the day. The service doesn’t run 24 hours, so with a very late or very early flight you’ll need another option.

Taxi from the airport

• Use only official stops. Blu Radio recommends taking taxis only at the official stops outside the terminals. The British government (FCDO) says El Dorado only allows authorised taxis to pick up passengers, which are yellow with white plates and the driver’s details displayed inside. It also advises not hailing taxis on the street.
• A ticket with the calculated fare. According to Noticias RCN (August 9, 2024), from that date the airport taxi service works with a pre-settlement system: you register your destination at a service point with staff from Taxi Imperial, the airport’s official concessionaire, and receive a ticket with the calculated fare that you hand to the driver. Check whether it is still in place when you arrive.
• Airport surcharge. There is a surcharge for trips to and from El Dorado, and rates are updated every year. Ask or check the current amount.
• Receipt and complaints. Blu Radio says you can ask for a receipt at the end of the trip and that complaints go to the Secretaría de Movilidad on line 123.

Ride-hailing apps

Uber, DiDi, Cabify and inDrive are used in Bogotá, but their legal status is still under debate. According to Publimetro (February 3, 2026), the government withdrew a bill that sought to regulate them, and the Superintendencia de Transporte said it would be revised and presented again. The FCDO, for its part, says well-known taxi companies can be booked through Uber and Cabify.

If you use an app, check the pickup point and the vehicle and driver details in the app itself. We couldn’t verify with an official source where pickup at El Dorado is allowed today.

Bus (SITP) and other routes

Besides TransMilenio, the city government (2022) lists SITP routes that connect to the airport through transfers, and routes from the bus terminals, such as the K301 feeder from the Salitre terminal. These routes change often: plan them with TransMiApp on the day.

Reasonable safety

The FCDO recommends booking licensed taxis by phone or app, or through your hotel, and warns that unlicensed taxis have been linked to “express” kidnappings and robberies. It also advises against displaying valuables, carrying little cash, taking extra care on streets at night and withdrawing cash during business hours inside banks or shopping centers. It adds that there have been armed robberies on buses and muggings in the La Candelaria area.

• Keep your phone and documents handy but out of sight.
• If you arrive late at night or very early, prefer an authorised taxi with a ticket.
• Share your route with someone you trust.

In short

• M86: Portal El Dorado to Usaquén via Calle 26 and Séptima; 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
• Taxi: only at an official stop and with a pre-settlement ticket.
• Apps: their legal status is still being discussed; verify the pickup point.
• Safety: avoid street taxis and don’t show valuables.
• Confirm routes, schedules and fares on the day you travel.