Flying from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Medellin: what you need to know
Medellin is 2 hours ahead of San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located. Medellin operates on the UTC-5 timezone.
To ensure you get on your flight from SFO to Medellin, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
If you're traveling during a popular month like August, arrive at the terminal even earlier. You'll want to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Check-in and security lines will be longer during high seasons like summer, Christmas and New Year.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even explore a different city. When searching for flights from SFO to Medellin, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
You won't need a visa for Colombia if you hold a passport from United States and are traveling for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements can be subject to change. So before organizing your cheap tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin, be sure to check with your airline and your destination country's local embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
The journey from central San Francisco to SFO takes approximately 47 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 21 kilometers in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Searching for a handy hotel close to SFO? If you've booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Medellin
$203 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $454. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares can change.
To score cheap tickets from SFO to Medellin, book as early as you can. Airlines tend to offer their most competitively priced fares when flights are first made available.
Getting cheap tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin is easy if you can be flexible with your dates. Use the 'Whole month' search tool to see the best prices throughout the month and bag a great deal.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from SFO to Medellin. There's no need to check back in every day to find out if prices have fallen. We'll notify you when there's a change in price.
Use the filters to tailor your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin. Enter your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Airports in Medellin
Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE)
Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) to the center of Medellin takes around 36 minutes by car. It's approximately 24 kilometers away.
If you have a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near MDE:
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH)
Central Medellin is approximately 6 kilometers from Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH). As soon as your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin has landed and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 16 minutes.
Public transport will get you there in around 31 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near EOH. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from SFO to Medellin:
Best time to go to Medellin
August is the most popular month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin. To avoid the crowds, head for Medellin in April when it's quieter.
Lock in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin for August to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 11ºC to 27ºC.
July has average temperatures of between 11ºC and 27ºC. Look for cheap flights from SFO to Medellin sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Medellin
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Medellin right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be difficult to know where to start. Parque Arvi, Comuna 13 and Botero Plaza are major attractions which should be on any well-planned Medellin itinerary.
Complete your Medellin trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medellin isn't our only cool trick. Check out our car rentals in Medellin and explore the city on your own terms. We find deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. Instantly compare rates and then book with no fees.
