You have probably heard that getting to Mompos is “difficult” or “complicated”, or perhaps you dozed off during that History class and you are not sure as to where Mompos is located. Mompos is found in the department of Bolivar at just 5 hours from Cartagena and getting here is actually pretty straightforward. Mompos is located within the confines of the Mompos Depression – a large area of wetlands – and is the largest freshwater island in South America. Its isolation has kept this jewel of colonial architecture well preserved and the town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the Caribbean Coast
If arriving from the Caribbean coast you will need to reach Magangue and catch a Ferry. If you are coming from Santa Marta, the route in is different.
Please read carefully.
*The following information is subject to change and prices could have increased since this page was last updated. Remember that prices for public transport rise in high season (December, January, the October Jazz Festival and Easter).
Desde Cartagena
Transporte público: la primera opción es un puerta a puerta: lo recoge en la puerta de su casa u hotel y lo trae hasta la puerta de la Casa Amarilla. Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 6 horas. Horario: En la mañana, a convenir con el transportador. Contacto: Toto Express 3107070838.
Bus Unitransco, sale todos los días en el terminal de transporte de Cartagena. Tiempo: 8 horas. Horario: 6:30 am.
Colectivo a Magangué y desde allí chalupa hasta Bodega-Mompós. El colectivo sale desde la estación de servicio afuera del terminal del transporte de Cartagena. Tiempo: 3:30 horas. Horario: 6:00 am hasta las 5:00 pm. Mire en esta página como llegar desde Magangué.
En carro o moto: Tomé la ruta que conduce a Sincelejo, desvíese en el cruce de el Bongo y diríjase a Magangué. En Magangué diríjase a Yatí para tomar el ferri que lo lleva hasta Bodega. En Bodega continúe hasta Mompós. Consulte los horarios del ferri en esta página. Otra opción es conducir hasta El Carmen-Plato-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós que ahora cuenta con puente sobre el río. Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 5 horas.
Hay vuelos chárter para mas información por favor contáctenos.
From Cartagena
Public Transport: From Cartagena there are various options:
Door to Door Van: Picking you up from your home, hotel or hostel this service brings you directly to the Casa Amarilla. Cost: $75000. Approximate Journey time: 6 hours. Timetable: Your driver will inform you. Contact: Toto Express 3107070838.
Unitransco Bus: This leaves every day from the Cartagena bus Terminal. Price: $65000. Time: 8 hours. Timetable: 6:30 am.
Collectivo to Magangué and from there a boat to Bodega-Mompós. The collectivo leaves from the petrol station outside the Bus Terminal in Cartagena. price: $50,000. Time: 3:30 hours. Timetable: 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. The boat or chalupa leaves when full.
There is also a door to door service from Magangue which leaves at 4:00am with ABC Limusinas. In Magangue you should catch the chalupa to Bodega-Mompos. Price: $50,000. Time: 3:30 hours. Timetable: 4:00am until 5:00pm.
Flights: There are charter flights and for more information please contact us.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road towards Sincelejo, turning off at the crossroads at El Bongo and head to Magangue. In Magangue drive to Yati in order to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue along the road all the way to Mompos. Check Ferry times on this page.
Approximate journey time: 5 hours
Desde Valledupar
Tome el servicio puerta a puerta que lo recoge en la puerta de su casa u hotel en Valledupar y lo trae hasta la puerta de la Casa Amarilla. Se puede comunicar con Lalo al celular 3126735226. Tiempo: 6 horas. Horario: en la mañana, a convenir con el transportador.
Otra opción es tomar un bus de la Veloz o Cootracegua que sale todos los días desde el terminal a las 4 am y otro sale a las 8 am.
En carro o moto: la primera opción es conducir Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós donde hay puente para cruzar el río Magdalena y la segunda opción es Bosconia-Cuatro Vientos-San Sebastián-Mompós. En Santa Ana se cruza por el puente y en San Sebastián los carros cruzan el río en un planchón. El planchón opera hasta las 6:00 pm.
Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 4:30 horas.
From Barranquilla
Public Transport: Take a Unitransco bus from the Barranquilla terminal which goes direct to Mompos. Price: $65,000. Time: 6 hours. Timetable: 6:00am.
There is also a door-to-door service from Barranquilla to Mompós.
Or you can go to Magangue and from there to Mompos.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road to Sincelejo and the turn off at the crossroads at El Bongo in the direction of Magangue. In Magangue head to Yati where you can catch the Ferry to Bodega and then continue on to Mompos. Check the timetables of the Ferry on this page.
Approximate journey time: 6 hours
Desde Santa Marta
Transporte Público: Tome el servicio puerta a puerta que lo recoge en la puerta de su casa u hotel en Santa Marta. Horarios: 4:00 am, 9:00 am y 1:00 pm. Comunicarse al 3114148967 para reservar. Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 6 horas.
En carro o moto: la primera opción es conducir Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós y la segunda opción es Bosconia-Cuatro Vientos-San Sebastián-Mompós. En Santa Ana se cruza por el puente y en San Sebastián los carros cruzan el río en un planchón. El planchón opera hasta las 6:00 pm.
Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 6 horas.
From Magangué
Public Transport: From Magangué take a chalupa to the port of Bodega. Price: $8000. Time: 15 minutes. Timetable: 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. The chalupa leaves when full.
In Bodega take a colectivo taxi to Mompós. Price: $13,000. Time: 40 minutes. Timetable: 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
By Car or Motorcycle: In Magangué head to Yatí to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue on the road to Mompós. Consult the ferry timetables on this page.
Approximate journey time: 1:20 hours
Desde Magangué
Transporte Público: Desde Magangué tome una chalupa hasta el puerto de Bodega. Tiempo: 15 minutos. Horario: 6:00 am hasta las 5:00 pm. La chalupa sale cuando se llena.
En Bodega tome un colectivo hasta Mompós. Tiempo: 40 minutos. Horario: 6:00 am hasta las 5:00 pm.
En carro o moto: En Magangué diríjase a Yatí para tomar el ferri que lo lleva hasta Bodega. En Bodega continúe hasta Mompós. Horarios: 6:00 am, 12:00 pm y 3:00 pm.
Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 1:20 hora.
From Santa Marta
Public Transport: There is a private van that leaves Santa Marta on a daily basis at 3:00 am (yup 3am!) and at 11 am. You can get directly in touch with Omaira on his cellphone 3114148967.
A more economical option is to head to Santa Ana (Magdalena) or Bosconia (Magdalena) and from there to Mompos.
Approximate journey time: 5:30 hours
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road from Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós. The road from la Gloria to Santa Ana is paved and there is a bridge connecting Santa Ana with Talaigua Nueva.
Approximate journey time: 5:30 hours
From Valledupar
Public Transport: Take the door-to-door service which picks you up from your hotel, home or hostel in Valledupar and brings you directly to the Casa Amarilla. You can get directly in touch with Lalo Castro on his cellphone 3126735226. Time: 5 hours.
Timetable: in the morning at the driver’s discretion.
Another option is to take the Veloz or Cootracegua bus which leave every day from the Terminal at 4 am and another leaves at 8 am.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the route from Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós or the route from Cuatro Vientos-San Sebastián to Mompóx. In San Sebastián cars cross the river on a “platform” which runs until 6:00 pm.
Approximate journey time: 4:30 hours
From Sincelejo and Monteria
Public Transport: Take a bus or collectivo taxi to Sincelejo and from there to Magangue. We have detailed information on this page how to get to Mompos from Magangue. Time: 1:40 hours, Sincelejo to Magangue: Time: 1:30 hours, timetable: All transport leaves when full.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road to Sincelejo and then towards Cartagena turning off to go to Magangue. At El Bongo, just one half an hour from Sincelejo find the the highway to Magangue. In Magangué head to Yatí to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue on the road to Mompós. Consult the ferry timetables on this page.
Approximate journey time from Monteria: 5 hours
Approximate journey time from Sincelejo: 3 hours
From the Interior
From the interior of the country you will need to head to El Banco (Magdalena) for all journeys aside from if you are coming from Medellin which requires passing through Magangue on the road going to Monteria.
Desde Medellín
Transporte Público: Desde Medellín tiene dos opciones la primera es tomar el bus directo a Magangué y la segunda es tomar un bus hasta Sincelejo y de allí un colectivo a Magangué.
Mire en esta página como llegar desde Magangué.
Empresas transportadoras: Expreso Brasilia y Rápido Ochoa.
Vuelos: El aeropuerto más cercano se encuentra en Corozal (a solo 15 minutos de Sincelejo). Luego tomar un colectivo a Magangué. Mire en esta página como llegar desde Magangué.
También puede tomar un vuelo hasta Cartagena o Montería y continuar hasta Mompós (ver transporte desde Cartagena y Montería).
En carro o moto: Tome la ruta que lleva a Montería, pase por Sincelejo y tome la carretera que lleva a Cartagena, para desviarse hasta Magangué. En el encuentro llamado El Bongo, a media hora de Sincelejo tome la carretera hacia Magangué. En Magangué diríjase a Yatí para tomar el ferri que lo lleva hasta Bodega. En Bodega continúe hasta Mompós. Consulte los horarios del ferri en esta página. Otra opción es conducir en la Ruta al Sol hasta El Burro(Cesar) y luego ir Tamalameque-El Banco-Mompós. Tiempo aproximado de viaje: 10 horas.
From Cartagena
Public Transport: From Cartagena there are various options:
Door to Door Van: Picking you up from your home, hotel or hostel this service brings you directly to the Casa Amarilla. Cost: $75000. Approximate Journey time: 6 hours. Timetable: Your driver will inform you. Contact: Toto Express 3107070838.
Unitransco Bus: This leaves every day from the Cartagena bus Terminal. Price: $65000. Time: 8 hours. Timetable: 6:30 am.
Collectivo to Magangué and from there a boat to Bodega-Mompós. The collectivo leaves from the petrol station outside the Bus Terminal in Cartagena. price: $50,000. Time: 3:30 hours. Timetable: 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. The boat or chalupa leaves when full.
There is also a door to door service from Magangue which leaves at 4:00am with ABC Limusinas. In Magangue you should catch the chalupa to Bodega-Mompos. Price: $50,000. Time: 3:30 hours. Timetable: 4:00am until 5:00pm.
Flights: There are charter flights and for more information please contact us.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road towards Sincelejo, turning off at the crossroads at El Bongo and head to Magangue. In Magangue drive to Yati in order to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue along the road all the way to Mompos. Check Ferry times on this page.
Approximate journey time: 5 hours
From Barranquilla
Public Transport: Take a Unitransco bus from the Barranquilla terminal which goes direct to Mompos. Price: $65,000. Time: 6 hours. Timetable: 6:00am.
There is also a door-to-door service from Barranquilla to Mompós.
Or you can go to Magangue and from there to Mompos.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road to Sincelejo and the turn off at the crossroads at El Bongo in the direction of Magangue. In Magangue head to Yati where you can catch the Ferry to Bodega and then continue on to Mompos. Check the timetables of the Ferry on this page.
Approximate journey time: 6 hours
From Magangué
Public Transport: From Magangué take a chalupa to the port of Bodega. Price: $8000. Time: 15 minutes. Timetable: 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. The chalupa leaves when full.
In Bodega take a colectivo taxi to Mompós. Price: $13,000. Time: 40 minutes. Timetable: 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
By Car or Motorcycle: In Magangué head to Yatí to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue on the road to Mompós. Consult the ferry timetables on this page.
Approximate journey time: 1:20 hours
From Santa Marta
Public Transport: There is a private van that leaves Santa Marta on a daily basis at 3:00 am (yup 3am!) and at 11 am. You can get directly in touch with Omaira on his cellphone 3114148967.
A more economical option is to head to Santa Ana (Magdalena) or Bosconia (Magdalena) and from there to Mompos.
Approximate journey time: 5:30 hours
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road from Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós. The road from la Gloria to Santa Ana is paved and there is a bridge connecting Santa Ana with Talaigua Nueva.
Approximate journey time: 5:30 hours
From Valledupar
Public Transport: Take the door-to-door service which picks you up from your hotel, home or hostel in Valledupar and brings you directly to the Casa Amarilla. You can get directly in touch with Lalo Castro on his cellphone 3126735226. Time: 5 hours.
Timetable: in the morning at the driver’s discretion.
Another option is to take the Veloz or Cootracegua bus which leave every day from the Terminal at 4 am and another leaves at 8 am.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the route from Bosconia-La Gloria-Santa Ana-Mompós or the route from Cuatro Vientos-San Sebastián to Mompóx. In San Sebastián cars cross the river on a “platform” which runs until 6:00 pm.
Approximate journey time: 4:30 hours
From Sincelejo and Monteria
Public Transport: Take a bus or collectivo taxi to Sincelejo and from there to Magangue. We have detailed information on this page how to get to Mompos from Magangue. Time: 1:40 hours, Sincelejo to Magangue: Time: 1:30 hours, timetable: All transport leaves when full.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road to Sincelejo and then towards Cartagena turning off to go to Magangue. At El Bongo, just one half an hour from Sincelejo find the the highway to Magangue. In Magangué head to Yatí to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue on the road to Mompós. Consult the ferry timetables on this page.
Approximate journey time from Monteria: 5 hours
Approximate journey time from Sincelejo: 3 hours
From Tolú and Coveñas
Public Transport: Take a bus or collectivo taxi to Sincelejo and from there to Magangue. Look at our page to see how to arrive from Magangue. Time: 1:40 hours; Sincelejo to Magangué: Time: 1:30 hours, Timetable: Transport leaves when full.
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the road to Sincelejo and then towards Cartagena turning off to go to Magangue. At El Bongo, just one half an hour from Sincelejo find the highway to Magangue. In Magangué head to Yatí to catch the ferry to Bodega. In Bodega continue on the road to Mompós. Consult the ferry timetables on this page.
Approximate journey time from Coveñas: 5 hours
Approximate journey time from Tolú: 4:30 hours
From Bogotá
Public Transport: From the Bus Terminal in Bogota there are now direct buses with Coopetrans in Modulo 3 to Mompos.
Approximate journey time: 14 hours. Timetable: 5:00pm. Operators: Coopetran.
If you come with Coopetrans or Omega only as far as El Banco (Magdalena), you’ll reach El Banco at around 6am. From here you must take 4×4 to get to Mompos.
Flights: We recommend catching a flight to Corozal with Satena (Just 15 minutes from Sincelejo) and from there making the overland connections to Magangué-Mompós in public transport (see the section on transport from Magangué). You can also catch a flight to Cartagena and continue to Mompós from here (see the section on transport from Cartagena).
By Car or Motorcycle: Take the highway called the “Ruta del Sol” which leads to Santa Marta. Once you are in the Department of Magdalena just after passing the town of Pailitas and before reaching Pelaya, pass through the Toll booth at El Burro (Magdalena) and the turn off to the left on the road to Tamalameque (Magdalena) and continue on to El Banco (Magdalena) In El Banco take the road to Mompos. On this road there is no point at which you need to take a ferry.
Approximate journey time: 12 hours
From Bucaramanga
Public Transport: Take a night bus leaving from the Bucaramanga Terminal directly to Mompos with Coopetrans. Approximate journey time: 8 hours.
Buses from Bucaramanga to El Banco:
Cotaxi: 3:30 am. Tel: 6372999
Cootramagdalena: 5 am, 5:30 am, 8:30 am. Tel: 6373400
Coopetrans: 5 am, 8:30 am, 11 am, 10:30 pm. Tel: 6376100
You will arrive early in the morning in El Banco. We do not recommend the daytime journey to El Banco because after midday there are very few options leaving El Banco to Mompos. And then you will have to spend the night in El Banco.
In El Banco you should take a 4×4 to Mompos.
A different form of getting to El Banco is to take the boat from Barrancabermeja.
Approximate journey time: 8 hours
By Car or Motorcycle: In your car pass San Alberto (Cesar) and take the Ruta del Sola to El Burro (Magdalena) and then take the road to El Banco (Magdalena). In El Banco take the road to Mompos. On this road there are bridges and you do NOT need to take a ferry.
Recommendation: If you are driving from Bucaramanga remember to leave early since the journey is approximately 7/8 hours and while the road between El Banco and Mompos is mostly paved it is poorly signposted.
