Tunja connects: transport, routes, and practical tips
- PELICANOS ONG
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
You’ve arrived in Tunja. Now comes the question everyone asks: how do I get around from here?Because Tunja is not the final destination. Tunja is the hub.
From here, you can be in Villa de Leyva in 1.5 hours sipping coffee in a 400-year-old plaza. You can be in Bogotá in 3.5 hours if you need an air connection. You can be in El Cocuy climbing a snow-capped mountain if you have the kind of soul that seeks altitude. You can be in Ráquira buying pottery made by hands you can meet. You can be in Paipa soaking in hot water that comes from the ground.
And the best news? You’ve got 19 companies making it easier to discover new places with confidence—meaning options, frequency, prices, and main routes departing every 30 minutes.
This blog exists for one purpose: so you know exactly how to move. No surprises. Real information. Verified contacts. Schedules that work.
NEARBY ROUTES: SHORT DISTANCE, HUGE EXPERIENCE
These towns are between 45 minutes and 2.5 hours from Tunja. They’re accessible. Affordable. And each one offers something completely different.
🏘️ COMBITA (45 minutes from Tunja)
How much? $4,500–$5,300
Who runs the route? GRAN COLOMBIANA, AUTOBOY, TRANSPORTE LOS MUISCAS
How often? Every 30–60 minutes
What time? From 6am to 8pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal, direct ticket booth
Combita is the town no one expects to find. Small. Peaceful. People who’ve known each other for 50 years. Cabuya crafts you can see being made on the street. Home-style food. Not a tourist destination. A living town. If you want something quick, authentic, close by, and only have 4 hours: Combita is your answer.
🏛️ SAMACÁ (1 hour from Tunja)
How much? $7,500–$8,000
Who runs the route? COOTAX (WhatsApp: 3123678004 / 3162499264), TRANSPORTE LOS MUISCAS
How often? Every 1–1.5 hours
What time? From 6am to 6pm
Where to buy? Terminal or direct via COOTAX WhatsApp
Samacá is the secret mass tourists don’t know.
While everyone is photographing Villa de Leyva, you’re here in a 300-year-old colonial church that smells of history. A market that sells what locals eat, not what’s on TripAdvisor. A notions shop. A clothing store. A bakery. Reality.
People aren’t waiting for tourists. They talk to you because they want to. They eat boiled potatoes with fresh cheese while chatting with the restaurant owner about their life. This is Boyacá as it was 50 years ago—and you’re still welcome.
If you want pure authenticity without sacrificing proximity: Samacá. One hour. $8,000. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
🌊 PAIPA (2 hours from Tunja)
How much? $8,000–$11,300
Who runs the route? LA REINA, COOTRACHICA, AUTOBOY, COFLONORTE
How often? Every 45 minutes to 1 hour
What time? From 6am to 8pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal, any of the listed companies
Paipa is hot water that comes from the earth.
It’s not a pool. It’s not chemically treated. It’s 45°C geothermal water that the Earth produces because it knows you need to relax.
You enter the water. Muscles you didn’t even know were tense loosen. Your back is grateful. Your mind says: this is what I needed.
There are spa hotels. Restaurants. Streets with people but no crowds. A mountain backdrop. Village air that breathes slowly.
For a weekend: Paipa is the answer. Affordable. Accessible. Effective. Thermal springs.
🏞️ DUITAMA (2 hours from Tunja)
How much? $8,000–$10,500
Who runs the route? AUTOBOY, LA REINA, COOTRACHICA
How often? Every 45 minutes
What time? From 6am to 8pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal
Duitama means Lago Tota. The largest lake in Colombia. Water that reflects the sky. A landscape that breathes.
If you want active tourism (kayaking, fishing, water sports) or just want to sit and look at wide-open water: Duitama. You can also connect to nearby towns from there.
🏛️ SOGAMOSO (2.5 hours from Tunja)
How much? $10,000–$12,800
Who runs the route? AUTOBOY, LA REINA, COOTRACHICA, CONCORDE
How often? Every 1–1.5 hours
What time? From 6am to 7pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal
Sogamoso has history. Santiago de Apóstol Church. Muisca Gold Museum. It’s the gateway to mountain trails. It connects you to the deep eastern part of Boyacá.
🎨 RÁQUIRA (1.5 hours from Tunja)
How much? $15,000–$17,000
Who runs the route? AUTOBOY, COOMULTRANSVILLA
How often? Every 1–1.5 hours
What time? From 6am to 6pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal
Ráquira is where art lives in the street.
It’s not a museum. Not a gallery. It’s a town where 2,900 out of 3,000 people make pottery as a way of life.
White and red walls. Narrow streets. Workshops where masters shape clay like thoughts. They invite you to try. Your hands are clumsy. Theirs are wise. Wordless conversation.
You buy undecorated pottery. The master teaches you how to paint it. You spend hours. When you’re done, you sign it with your name and the date. That’s not a souvenir. That’s art made by your hands, guided by someone with 50 years of experience.
Ráquira is a must. Not optional. Not "if you have time." It's: you have to go.
🏰 VILLA DE LEYVA (1.5 hours from Tunja)
How much? $11,000–$14,800
Who runs the route? AUTOBOY, COOMULTRANSVILLA (route specialist), COOTAX
How often? Every 30–45 minutes
What time? From 6am to 8pm
Where to buy? Tunja terminal
BLOGGER TIP: Arrive before 8am. Tourist buses come later. An empty Plaza Mayor is magic. Take photos before the crowds arrive.
Villa de Leyva is the most beautiful town in Colombia. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s a fact.
400-year-old streets. White walls that look freshly painted. Plaza Mayor fits 500 people and still feels intimate. Santa María Church with a sound shaped by architecture. Cafés where time stops.
It’s colonial. It’s real. It’s not a museum you visit. It’s a life you photograph.
There are restaurants for executives. Hostels for backpackers. Hotels for couples. There’s space for everyone because the town is big but keeps its intimacy.
Once you arrive, you won’t want to leave. That’s the magic of Villa de Leyva.
NATIONAL ROUTES: CONNECT TO COLOMBIA
🏙️ BOGOTÁ (3.5 hours from Tunja)
How much? $35,000–$45,000
Who runs the route? LA REINA, RÁPIDO DUITAMA, COPETRAN, AUTOBOY, CONCORDE, COFLONORTE, LIBERTADORES
How often? Every 30 minutes
What time? From 6am to 10pm (including night trips)Where to buy? Tunja terminal
BLOGGER TIP: LA REINA and RÁPIDO DUITAMA are cheaper ($35k–$38k). COPETRAN is premium, new buses, more comfort ($43k–$45k). Depends on your budget.
Bogotá is the capital. World-class museums. Air connection if your trip continues. Urban life after quiet towns.
🗻 EL COCUY / GUICÁN (6–8 hours from Tunja)
How much? $50,000–$80,000
Who runs the route? LIBERTADORES, COFLONORTE
How often? On demand (not a massive daily route)
What time? Mainly Friday–Sunday
Where to buy? Tunja terminal, ask the day before
BLOGGER WARNING: This is NOT typical tourism. It’s serious adventure.
Guicán is a mountain town. 2,600 meters. Cold. Small. People who breathe altitude like air.
El Cocuy is a snow-covered mountain. 4,200+ meters. Alpine lagoons. Snow in Colombian land.
You’ll need:
24-hour acclimatization
Certified guide ($100k–$150k extra)
Physical fitness
Adventurer mindset
But when you reach the summit at 4,200 meters and see El Cocuy in snow before you, you’ll understand why mountaineers say the mountain changed their lives.
Not an exaggeration. A painful truth.
🌿 YOPAL (8 hours from Tunja)
How much? $60,000–$80,000
Who runs the route? COFLONORTE, CONCORDE, LIBERTADORES
How often? On demand
What time? Varies by season
Where to buy? Terminal, confirm the day before
Yopal is a gateway to the Amazon. Untouched nature. Unique biodiversity.
HOW TO BUY YOUR TICKET (3 WAYS)
METHOD 1: AT THE TUNJA TERMINAL (The safest)Enter the terminal. Find the ticket booth of the company you're traveling with. Tell them your destination and time. They sell you the ticket.
Pros: You see the bus, confirm the departure, pay by cash or card.
Cons: There might be a line.
Best time: 6am–8am or 2pm–4pm (less crowded).
METHOD 2: DIRECT WHATSAPP (Faster) Contact the company via WhatsApp.
CONFIRMED WHATSAPP CONTACTS:
COOTAX: 3123678004 / 3162499264
CITRACOM: 3112889489 / 3103412205
Ask: “Do you have a ticket to (destination) today at (time)?” They respond quickly.
Pros: Fast, digital confirmation, personalized.
Cons: Less formal.
METHOD 3: TICKET APPSFor national routes (Bogotá, Bucaramanga), some companies use booking platforms.
Pros: Online payment, digital confirmation.
Cons: Fewer companies than at the terminal.
REAL INFO YOU NEED
Best departure time: 6am–8am (fresh buses, better speed). Second best: 2pm–4pm.
Fares: FIXED. No bargaining. But ask about group discounts.
Documents: ID for local routes. Passport for national routes.
Money: Withdraw cash in Tunja before heading to towns. Not all have ATMs.
Real time: Add 30 minutes to each trip (weather, traffic, stops).
Rain: Routes are not canceled. Landscapes often look better wet.
Safety: Tunja and nearby towns are safe. Golden rule: travel during the day, watch your belongings.
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK
Should I buy in advance?Local routes: no, same day is fine.Remote routes (El Cocuy): yes, limited demand.
What if I’m late?They leave without you. Arrive early.
Can I get a refund?Usually not. Confirm each company's policy.
Is there food?Short routes: no. Bring snacks.Long routes: vendors at stops.
Bathroom?Short routes: no.Long routes: depends on the stop.
Big backpack?Yes. Goes in the luggage compartment.
FINAL WORD
Tunja is not a destination. It’s a gateway.
You have 19 transportation companies at your service.You have main routes departing every 30 minutes.You have verified information here as of November 2025.
Now you just need to decide: where are you going first?
Blog written for: Travelers who plan with confidence
Verified information: November 2025
Updated: Monthly according to fare/schedule changes
Safe travels from Tunja.
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