Traveling into Venezuela by bus from Columbia

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manbucks1
manbucks1

Hi,
I am wandering what the best route overland is to get to Merida from Columbia.

I have two options:

  1. I have a flight scheduled to Bogota from Santa Marta, from there would a long bus ride to the border at Cucuta be way to long?

  2. Or, cancel the flight back to bogota and travel from Santa Marta into Venezuela (Maricaibo) and then head south to Merida?

The 2nd option looks like a shorter distance, however not really sure. I want to spend a week in Merida, and then possibly fly back to Bogota for my sad outbound flight home.

Any ideas would be great.
Thanks.
mb

Edited by: manbucks1

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saviajaro
saviajaro

It is around 16 hrs to cucuta from bogota. cucuta nothing to do or see here is a little bit on the dodgy side as most boder cities are. You then have get past the border head San Cristobal then onto Merida. It is all pretty straightforward. You can also break up the trip and stay in Pamplona around 2 hrs from Cucuta and stay there the continue on.

The other option is a good idea if you are not interested in seeing Bogota and surrounds. There is a bus to Maracaibo not much to see in this city. Then catch the bus to Merida. It will be a pretty long bus ride.

You can also go from Santa Marta to Bucarmanga see some the sites around. Then head to Palermo and onto Cucuta. Then up to Merida via San Cristobal.

ENJOY

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thberry
thberry

Hi Mb,

Your second choice seems by far a better option. From Santa Marta head through the border town of Maicao. Expect to be asked for papers and even searched at the border checkpoint. As mentioned above you could get to Maracaibo and then take the bus to Merida, This last strach will take you about 8 hours. Alternatively I believe, I would have to check up on this, that there are some direct buses from Santa Marta to Caracas.

Travel safe,

All the best,

Thomas
berry_venezuela@hotmail.com
Caracas

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