Traveling to Armenia:
By airplane:
El Edén International Airport (IATA code AXM) serves to Armenia. It is located 25min from the conference venue. Direct flights are available from the following cities and airlines:
- Bogotá: Avianca
- Medellín: Aerolínea de Antioquia-ADA (Olaya Herrera Airport)
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Spirit Airlines
Taxis are available at the exit of the baggage claim area. Regular fares from/to airport are approximately COP $25.000 to $30.000.
Other flights options are available to the nearest city, Pereira. Pereira’s Matecaña International Airport (IATA code PEI) provides direct flights to the following cities and airlines:
- Bogotá: Avianca, LATAM, Vivaair, Easyfly
- Medellín: Aerolínea de Antioquia-ADA (Olaya Herrera Airport)
- Cartagena: Vivaair
- Santa Marta: Vivaair
- Panama City, Panama: Copa Airlines
Pereira is located at 45-60min from Armenia. To travel from Pereira’s airport to conference venue, you must ride a taxi from Matecaña Airport to Pereira’s Bus Terminal. At the bus terminal, there are different companies operating direct service to Armenia in van buses or large buses. Van buses are the fastest option since they are usually departing every 15min. In Armenia you can get off at the last bus stop (Armenia’s Bus Terminal) and ride a taxi, or you can ask to the driver to get off at Coliseo del Café and then ride a taxi. Getting off at Coliseo del Café is the fastest way to go to the conference Venue.
By bus:
Armenia is located in one of the main national routes and highways. You can easily travel by bus from the Bus Terminals in all the main cities. There are many bus companies providing direct service. The following are in approximate traveling times between the major Colombian cities:
- Bogotá: 6 ½ hours
- Medellín: 6 hours
- Cali: 3 hours
All the buses stop at the Armenia’s Bus Terminal. Once in the bus terminal, you can ride a taxi by accessing the taxi’s ticketing center located at end left of all terminal exits. Ticketing center gives you a voucher with the taxi number and the trip cost. You pay the taxi driver the amount stated in the voucher after you reach your destination. Fares from Bus Terminal to conference venue are approximately COP $10.000.
Traveling in the city and surrounding areas:
All taxis in Armenia include taximeters so you pay the amount stated in the taximeter. However, there are additional fees for overnight trip (8:00pm to 6:00am), trip to the airport, and a minimum fare of COP $4.400. All fees are printed in a stickers located inside the taxi. Tips to the taxi driver in Colombia are not used.
If you planning to visit the surrounding towns, you can access by buses in the Armenia’s Bus Terminal or designated bus stops in the city. In the information desk at conference venue we can provide you directions on how to access by bus to the different towns and attractions in the Quindio’s area.
Ride a taxi from Armenia to any nearby city is not simple since taxi driver must request a transit permit to the local authorities. These permits are not required if you travel between Armenia and Calarca (where botanical garden and butterfly house is located).