San Gil is a small town tucked into the mountains of Santander, best known for its adventure tourism and white-water rafting. It sits a little off the classic gringo trail, but is still highly frequented by travellers and backpackers. Colombia’s bus network is extensive, affordable, and surprisingly well-connected to San Gil given its size. You’ll just need to learn to navigate Colombia’s crazy (a compliment) bus terminals.
Not sure what to do once you arrive? Read my Complete Adventure Guide on Things To Do in San Gil
Does San Gil Have an Airport?
San Gil does not have an airport. There are no public trains in Colombia either (besides the Metro in Medellin), so buses and driving are your only ground options.
The nearest airport is Palonegro International (BGA) in Bucaramanga, around 3 to 4 hours away from San Gil by bus. Flying into Bucaramanga only really makes sense if you’re travelling from the far south or north of the country; for most international travellers, flying into Bogotá and taking a direct bus to San Gil is the more convenient and affordable route.
The Best Way to Get to San Gil, Colombia
Taking the bus is the best option for the vast majority of travellers, and it’s how most local Colombians get around too. Buses run to San Gil from every major city, they’re affordable, modern, and the journey times are reasonable given the distances involved.This is the method I would recommend you take.
One thing worth knowing before you plan your route: San Gil has two bus terminals, which can be a little confusing on first glance, as they manage two separate types of travel.
The main terminal (terminal de transporte) is where you arrive and depart from if you’re coming from a large city or another department, and likely where you will arrive in to. This is where you need to be for the routes covered in this guide.The terminalito, along with having the cutest name ever, is the smaller, local terminal in the town. It coordinates the buses between San Gil and the surrounding towns within the Santander department. If you’re heading to Barichara or other nearby spots, this is where you’ll go.
How Much Does it Cost to Get to San Gil by Bus?
Prices vary depending on where you’re travelling from. Here’s a current overview in 2026:
| Route | Approx Price (COP) | Approx Price (GBP/USD) | Approx Time |
| Bogotá to San Gil | 60,000 – 90,000 | £12 – £18/$16 – $24 | 6-8 hours |
| Bucaramanga to San Gil | 38,000 | £7/$9 | 3 hours |
| Tunja / Villa de Leyva to San Gil | 40,000 – 50,000 | £8 – £10/$11 – $13 | 4-6 hours |
| Barbosa to San Gil | 40,000 | £8/$11 | 3-4 hours |
| Santa Marta to San Gil | 110,000 – 150,000 | £22 – £30/$30 – $40 | 14-16 hours |
| Cartagena to San Gil | 130,000 – 180,000 | £26 – £36/$35 – $48 | 17-18 hours |
How to Get to San Gil from Every Major City
Bogotá to San Gil by Bus
The most common route for international travellers. Direct buses run from Bogotá’s Terminal de Transportes del Norte. make sure you go to the norte terminal, not the main south terminal, which is a common mistake.
The journey time is approximately 6 to 7 hours depending on traffic, which varies a lot in Colombia. Buses depart frequently throughout the day and evening, and an overnight option is available if you want to save on a night’s accommodation. Prices range from 60,000 to 90,000 COP depending on the operator and seat class.
Copetran and Berlinas del Fonce are the most reliable operators on this route IMO. Book online via Busbud or Redbus in advance if you’re travelling in peak season and to lock in a price and seat before heading to the terminal.
Book your Bogotá to San Gil bus on Busbud now and secure your seat early
Is the Overnight Bus from Bogotá to San Gil Worth It?
For budget travellers, yes. I see overnight buses as a way to save a night of accommodation costs, and you arrive to San Gil in the morning ready to start the day, with the huge caveat being depending on how well you slept. The buses on this route are comfortable enough for an overnight journey, just look for semi-cama or cama seating options when booking if available, which offer more recline than a standard seat.
Tip: Bring a layer as buses in Colombia run their air conditioning freezing cold, and keep your bag with you or in the overhead rack where you can see it. Overnight buses on this route are well-travelled and generally safe, but standard precautions apply. I never had any issues with any buses in Colombia.
Medellín to San Gil by Bus
There are no direct buses from Medellín to San Gil. You will need to make two separate journeys and two separate bookings.
The most common route is Medellín to Bucaramanga, or Medellín to Barbosa (Santander, not Antioquia: Colombia has two), then onward to San Gil. The Bucaramanga connection is often easier and runs more frequently.
- Medellín to Barbosa: approximately 7-8 hours
- Barbosa to San Gil: approximately 3 to 5 hours, around 40,000 COP
- Total journey: 10-13 hours depending on connections
If you’re coming from cities further south, think Cali, Popayán, Pasto, you’ll also need to change, most likely in Bucaramanga as these longer journeys will only go from major city to major city.
Bucaramanga to San Gil by Bus
The shortest and simplest route. San Gil is approximately 100km from Bucaramanga, around 1.5 to 3 hours by bus. The buses run frequently throughout the day from Bucaramanga’s main terminal directly to San Gil, and cost around 38,000 COP on average- but again can fluctuate depending on operator, day, and time before booking. No advance booking needed given the frequency, but Copetran is the major player to look for.
This is the route to use if you’ve flown into Palonegro Airport (BGA) in Bucaramanga. From the airport, take a taxi or local bus into the main terminal, then catch the next San Gil service.
I came this way myself from Medellín, with a night’s stop in Bucaramanga before continuing to San Gil the next morning. Bucaramanga is a large city with some beautiful areas, but it’s not somewhere most backpackers will find a lot to do; I’d only recommend the stop if you arrive late and need a night’s rest before the final leg.
Book your Medellín to Bucaramanga bus here!
Getting to San Gil from the Caribbean Coast
Coming from Cartagena or Santa Marta? Technically there are direct buses, but this is a long journey, around 18 hours from Cartagena. My honest recommendation is to split it up and stop in Bucaramanga (or maybe this is when flying is justified).
Stopping in Bucaramanga overnight breaks the journey into two manageable legs and gives you a rest before arriving in San Gil. Or, consider a short domestic flight from Cartagena to Bucaramanga as it’s often affordable and saves the better part of a day on a bus.
- Cartagena to San Gil direct: 130,000 to 180,000 COP, approximately 18 hours
- Santa Marta to San Gil: 110,000 to 150,000 COP, approximately 14 to 16 hours
- I Recommended: splitting via Bucaramanga or flying the first leg
Save on your Bucaramanga to Cartagena flight with Skyscanner here
Getting to San Gil from Villa de Leyva or Tunja
This is a popular route for travellers doing the classic Bogotá to coffee region circuit with a stop in Villa de Leyva. All routes from this direction pass through Tunja regardless, so buy a ticket to Tunja first, then onward to San Gil from there.
- Tunja / Villa de Leyva to San Gil: 40,000 to 50,000 COP
- Journey time from Tunja: approximately 4 to 5 hours
How to Use Colombian Bus Terminals
If it’s your first time navigating a Colombian bus terminal, you’re in for a treat. Here’s what to expect.
Every city and town has a transport terminal, even small villages have some version of a bus stop or transport office tucked away on the street. The larger terminals are chaotic in the best way: rows of private bus company booths, each with what I like to refer to as “bus reps” calling out destinations, and a sign at the top of each booth listing every stop that company serves. Remember that this is how the vast majority of Colombians get around, so don’t be surprised to see huge families, people with 10 suitcases, pet animals and even shop owners moving their stock around by bus.
To buy a ticket, find an operator that lists your destination, queue up, tell the staff where you’re going and when you’d like to go (or ask when the next bus is leaving), provide your passport details and sometimes a phone number too, pay, and keep your printed receipt. That receipt is your ticket, don’t throw it away.
One tip: you almost always have an allocated seat number on these longer journeys, don’t make my mistake once and simply sit wherever you want because you didn’t read your ticket properly, people will ask you to move.
Should You Book Online or Buy at the Terminal?
Both work, and there are advantages and pitfalls to each. I say it depends on how you like to travel.
Booking online via Busbud or Redbus Colombia is the better choice if you have a fixed date and time in mind, want to compare prices and operators before you arrive, or are travelling in peak season when buses fill up. You can book online and ask the tour operator that you bought your ticket from to print your ticket on arrival. Easy!
Buying at the terminal has one underrated advantage: if a bus is about to depart with empty seats, operators will sometimes discount the remaining tickets to fill the coach. If you’re flexible on timing and travelling off-peak, this can save you money.
One warning from personal experience: don’t rely on this flexibility around Colombian public holidays or busy periods. I got stranded in Pasto for an extra night over the Easter weekend because every bus seat going north was taken. If you’re travelling around a holiday period, book in advance. And also note, Colombia has many public holidays throughout the year.
Arriving in San Gil: What to Do When You Get There
The main bus terminal sits a short distance from the town centre. Taxis and mototaxis wait outside- agree the fare before getting in, as meters are not standard. A taxi from the terminal to the centre should cost around 5,000 to 8,000 COP.
My advice will always be to take Uber. It’s technically illegal in Colombia, but due to a loophole that I don’t quite understand, as long as you sit in the front seat, you’ll be fine and it’s perfectly safe to use. I actually recommend this over the local taxis that may be more likely to upcharge you. San Gil does have Uber but it may not be as common as other major cities. You can also try other apps like DiDi or inDrive which work in the same way.
The town itself is compact and walkable for most things. For accommodation outside the centre or adventure operators further afield, mototaxis are the standard way to get around and cost very little. Again, you can call these via Uber, or your hostel/hotel will have a number for one.
Looking for more? I have dedicated blogs on San Gil specifically about Where To Stay, it’s White-water Rafting and Paragliding
Enjoy, and safe travels to San Gil!
San Gil sounds like such a fun spot for adventure lovers! I appreciate the detailed breakdown of bus routes—navigating Colombian terminals can be tricky, so having this kind of info is super helpful for planning. For anyone flying in, it’s good to know that Bucaramanga is the nearest airport, even if it’s a few hours away by bus.