Category: Colombia

Categories
Colombia

Bogota

South America > Columbia > Bogota

See: Why hire a car in Bogota ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Bogota car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band: 

Bogota is in car rental price band: 4/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Bogota? 

Sometimes. Car rental is slightly cheaper than global averages.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Bogota between the peak and the off peak season?

5/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 3/10

Non car score:1/10

Balance: 2

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

 

Should I hire a car in Bogota? We don’t recommend trying to hire a car in Bogota.

Why? Visiting Bogota using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Bogota ?

  • Generally not advised here.

Why not? Visiting Bogota without a car

Why don't you need a car in Bogota ?

  • None of the major international car hire providers have offices at Bogota airport, and this is not generally a city that international drivers are likely to want to hire a car in.
  • However, public transport isn’t especially good either – although various railway lines do exist in and around the city, there is currently no scheduled national rail service in Colombia, and traffic is chaotic to say the least. Yet it would be unfair to write Bogota off without looking at the huge investment that has gone into bus lanes in recent years, and without also noting that because of the surrounding terrain, the city of Bogota itself is very compact, and most of the areas of interest are easy enough to walk around.
  • It’s also possible to take a local cable car.

Ratings: How does Bogota compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Bogota? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Bogota, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

 

 

Do you need to hire a car in Bogota? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Bogota (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Bogota? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good. 

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

 

Car hire basics:

 

Public transportation basics:

 

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

 

As you start ....

Does Bogota airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

 

 

 

 

Changelog

Has our advice for Bogota car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 2

2019 - 4

2021 - 2

Average score - 3

Notes:

 

However, as with a number of other South American capitals, the real gems that Colombia has to offer aren’t in Bogota itself, so it’s best to move on, and this will probably mean taking a long distance coach or a short internal flight. In particular, Medellin has garnered a lot of international attention for its regeneration efforts, and it’s well worth a visit, especially to see the expansive network of urban parks within the city.

Should I hire a car in Bogota? No!

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Bogota ?