Colombia's location at the northern edge of South America means it has good and relatively cheap air links with both Europe and North America. Most visitors fly to Colombia's major international airport in Bogotá; the other international airports include Cartagena and San Andrés. The airport tax on international flights is US$23, US$44 if you have a business visa.

The country has road connections with Venezuela and Ecuador only. Travelers planning to use the dangerous Arauca-El Amparo de Apure border crossing or the Puerto Carreño-Puerto Páez crossing into Venezuela should consult their embassy to assess the security situation. Colombian guerilla attacks on Venezuelan army posts resulted in a confrontational build up of troops on both sides of the border in March 1995.

The truly intrepid can enter Colombia from Panama via the Darién Gap - the dense, dangerous and environmentally important jungle which interrupts the Pan-American highway. The trip takes a couple of weeks, requires guides, advance planning, a high degree of self-reliance and some good fortune. Guerrillas are active in the area and kidnappings are not uncommon so this trip is not to be undertaken lightly.

Ports on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts make it possible to arrive or leave by boat. Sea traffic is busier on the Caribbean side: boats are frequently coming and going between the USA, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands and Venezuela. Colombian ports on the Caribbean include Baranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta and Turbo; its major Pacific port is Buenaventura.

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