⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic → International
80
minutes
International → Domestic
80
minutes
International → International
95
minutes
Interline Connections
125
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO/SKCL), also known as Palmaseca International Airport, is the primary aviation facility serving Cali, Colombia, and the broader Valle del Cauca region. Located in the municipality of Palmira, it is the third-busiest airport in the country, acting as a major hub for domestic travel across the Andes and providing critical international connections to the United States, Europe, and neighboring South American nations. Its location at a lower elevation than Bogotá makes it a preferred departure point for heavily laden cargo and long-haul passenger flights.
The terminal at CLO is a unified structure that effectively manages both domestic and international passenger flows. Inside, the airport features a wide range of modern amenities, including multiple check-in halls, a vast selection of duty-free shops, and a variety of dining options ranging from traditional Colombian bakeries to international restaurant chains. One of the airport's most unique and pleasant features is its open-air terrace in the departures area, allowing travelers to enjoy Cali's warm, tropical climate and watch aircraft movements while they wait for their flights. Several premium lounges are also available for eligible passengers, offering comfortable seating, business services, and refreshments.
Operational capacity at CLO is anchored by a significant paved runway (01/19) that is 3,000 meters in length, allowing it to support large wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330. Navigating through the airport is relatively easy due to its logical layout and clear signage. For ground transportation, the airport is located approximately 15 kilometers from Cali city center, with a range of options including frequent shuttle buses, official taxi services, and several international car rental agencies located within the terminal. Travelers are encouraged to utilize the authorized transportation services available at the airport for a safe and efficient journey to their final destination.
🔄 Connection Tips
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) is one of Colombia's stronger regional hubs, but the correct connection strategy still depends on distinguishing between the local terminal convenience and the process required for international-to-domestic or domestic-to-international moves. The terminals are close enough that the airport can feel easier than Bogotá, which is true as far as walking goes. The process is still what matters, especially if baggage, immigration, and a fresh check-in are involved.
That means a domestic-to-domestic handoff at Cali can be fairly efficient, while any itinerary that crosses the border or mixes separate tickets should be treated more conservatively. The covered link between terminal areas helps, but it is not the same thing as having no transfer cost at all. For travelers ending their trip in Cali, the airport is a strong gateway to the city and the Valle del Cauca region. For travelers passing through, the safe move is to size the connection to the process, not just to the architecture.
CLO works best when you use the airport's compactness as an advantage without pretending it removes the normal international-domestic friction. The terminal design helps. The smart planning is still in allowing enough time for Colombian outbound or inbound processing when the itinerary gets more complicated than a simple domestic connection.
⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic → International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Alcides Fernández Airport (ACD) is a small commercial airport situated in Acandí, Chocó Department, Colombia. It serves as a crucial aerial link for this remote community, connecting it to the rest of Colombia and, historically, to neighboring Panama. The airport underwent renovations in the early 2000s, which included enlarging its single asphalt runway (17/35) to 1,189 meters (3,901 feet) and improving its terminal facilities.
The terminal building is compact and functional, designed to handle the modest passenger traffic of a regional airport. Due to its small size, it does not feature extensive internal amenities. Passengers can expect basic services such as check-in counters and a waiting area. The airport's layout is straightforward, ensuring easy navigation for travelers.
Amenities at Alcides Fernández Airport are limited. While detailed information about extensive internal terminal amenities is not readily available, travelers should anticipate a focus on essential services. There are no extensive retail shops, dedicated dining facilities beyond perhaps a small snack counter, or luxury lounges. Security procedures are in place, but given the airport's scale, wait times are typically minimal, ensuring a straightforward and efficient process for domestic flights.
🔄 Connection Tips
Connecting through Alcides Fernández Airport involves navigating Colombia's most isolated Caribbean coastal gateway serving Acandí in northern Chocó Department at the Panama border, where SATENA's exclusive service operates the only scheduled commercial route providing a 197-mile connection to Medellín's Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport in 1 hour 14 minutes with service launching March 2026. The airport's strategic importance stems from its role as the sole aerial link for this roadless region, where no highways connect to Colombia's road network or the Pan-American Highway, making aviation and maritime transport the only viable access methods for residents and visitors reaching this remote biodiversity hotspot.
Domestic connections through Medellín enable onward travel throughout Colombia via SATENA's national network serving remote communities, while connections to Avianca, LATAM, and Viva Air at Olaya Herrera Airport provide access to major Colombian cities including Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, and Barranquilla. The airport's primary function extends beyond Acandí itself, serving as the gateway for tourists reaching Capurganá and Sapzurro beach destinations via 25-minute boat transfers covering the coastline journey for 170,000-230,000 COP, significantly more peaceful than the alternative 1.5-hour boat crossing from Turbo across the choppy Gulf of Urabá.
Ground transportation from the airport located 3 kilometers from downtown Acandí includes taxis readily available for the 5-10 minute journey costing approximately 120,000 COP, though fares require negotiation as meters are not used and prices fluctuate with demand. The town's complete isolation without road connections limits rental car utility to local exploration within Acandí's confined footprint, while boat services from the town dock provide essential connectivity to Capurganá, Sapzurro, and Panama's San Blas islands. Weather considerations during Chocó's intense rainy season affect both flight operations and sea conditions for boat transfers, requiring flexible scheduling particularly during October-November when precipitation peaks, while the renovated 1,189-meter runway accommodates regional aircraft despite challenging tropical weather patterns typical of Colombia's wettest department supporting ecotourism and indigenous communities along this pristine Caribbean coastline.
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