Bogota aims to move beyond being just a transit city and become an unforgettable experience for international travelers: The capital of Colombia launched the Stopover Strategy, an innovative initiative aimed at attracting tourists who have layovers at El Dorado International Airport and offering them the opportunity to discover the city in just 24 hours.
Developed by Bogota’s Tourism Office in partnership with Avianca, the country’s flagship airline, this strategy invites international travelers to voluntarily extend their layover and take advantage of their flight connection to explore Bogota. Thanks to this initiative, tourists can stay at least one day in the capital and enjoy specially designed tourist packages. These plans include gastronomic, cultural, and heritage tours that allow visitors to experience the essence of the city in a short amount of time.
Everything you need to know about Avianca’s Stopover in Bogota
Bogota is the first city in Latin America to implement a Stopover model, a program that has already been successful in destinations like Lisbon, Dubai, and Istanbul, becoming a benchmark for promoting transit tourism.
The Stopover program allows passengers to explore the best of Bogota in an express experience that can last from 6 to 24 hours, depending on the traveler’s interest and available time. To take advantage of this benefit, tourists must purchase their flight ticket through Avianca and select the Stopover option. They can choose to make the stop on their outbound trip, return trip, or even both.
Visitors will receive exclusive discounts on hotels, restaurants, city tours, and tourist packages available on VisitBogota.co, making the experience complete and affordable.
Among the plans offered by the program are:
Bogota in 24 hours: a tour of the historic center, museums, gastronomic areas, and shopping spots.
Flavors of the capital: a culinary experience that includes visits to local markets and restaurants to discover Bogotá’s rich food scene.
Natural Bogota: routes through hills, gardens, and green spaces, ideal for those looking to connect with nature in the heart of the city.
Felipe Andres Gomez, Vice President of Sustainability at Avianca, stated that “we want to offer packages tailored to the connection time and interests of travelers, so they can enjoy a pleasant experience and then recommend the city.”
According to Avianca data, the airline holds almost 50% of the international connections market, operating 240 daily flights from Bogota to more than 60 destinations, both domestic and international.
It is expected that over 472,000 passengers will take advantage of the Stopover option between July 2025 and December 2026. The program is projected to generate more than $US 40 million in tourist spending, boosting the local economy and strengthening Bogota’s image as a world-class tourist destination.
In addition to Bogota, Avianca plans to open stopovers options in other cities, including: Lima, Madrid, Miami, Guayaquil, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo.