Submitted by Hunter via email

First, this tax will only be collected at the five airports that are classified as international, Bogotá, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla. There are certain situations where the airport in San Andres might come under the tax but I really do not think any CH members would be caught with this problem. Since you cannot leave without paying this tax, which airport you exit Colombia becomes a moot point, except for the price.

First, the tax breaks into basically three categories: The first two, tourists in Colombian for 60 days or less and Colombian citizens or residents who have been living outside the country and remained in Colombia for 180 days or less, will pay the reduced rate. (Those traveling on a Colombian may get hassled for the full $45.00) The last are tourists in Colombia more than 60 days and well as Colombian citizens living in Colombia will pay approximately $45.00 USD. There is no way to avoid paying the tax. It should be pointed out those airlines that depart from the USA, Avianca for one, collects taxes for the outward-bound portion of the trip. This is NOT the departure tax. Only the USA airport taxes as assessed as part of the ticket price. This will vary from USA airport to airport. This tax will be reflected as "taxes paid" on the outbound ticket only. It has NOTHING to do with departure taxes.

Second. The tax to depart, salida internacional, is DIFFERENT at each international airport and this is what causes confusion about the amount to be paid. At this time it is Bogotá and Medellin, approximately $29.00 USD; Barranquilla, approximately $36.00 USD, Cartagena $37.00 (notice how they nick the tourists) USD and Cali $27.00 USD-why this is so I have no idea. This can be paid in dollars or pesos. If you travel internally you will have to pay a tax called Tasa Aeroportuaria at all airports. This tax also varies from airport to airport and is usually between 4.200 and 12.000 pesos.

It is my understanding you no longer have to fill out additional Colombian paperwork to get the "tourist" tax break. The DAS entry stamp showing the date you entered Colombia is sufficient. Any person who travels by air will have to pay to an exit tax and an airport tax. As you know things change in Colombia, often without notice, and these amounts can be adjusted periodically. Again, the exit tax is paid solely by travellers who enter with a tourist stay of 60 days or less or a visa and have remained in Colombia less than 60 days, Colombian citizens and Colombians who live outside Colombia who have remained less than 180 days are also eligible for the reduced exit rate.

Likely the most current information you can get is by calling Avianca's call center (located in Medellin) directly at (800) 284-2622. They are most helpful in answering questions.

I travel on AA to Cali frequently, and I've never had to pay any fee to return travel. Maybe all of the taxes are built into the ticket price?... I've never paid the $45 nor $27 (Cali) fees, unless they are paid when I buy the ticket.

I submitted the above information, but I recieved it from Gator.

Some airlines don't pay it, like Avianca, I think I have read somewhere about AA not paying the airport taxs as well.

Hunter

The tax is included in the price of the ticket with American. It is not included with Continental. Those are the only two US airlines I am certain about.

WS

It is also not included with COPA

It is still my understanding that NO airline collects the COLOMBIA departure tax in advance when flying from the USA. That makes sense because it would be a bureaucratic and paperwork nightmare and expense to attempt to remit the tax for a foreign country that was collected in the USA.

I called American Airlines here in Bogotá, 343-2424, and was told American DOES NOT collect the departure tax as part of the ticket price. The very nice young lady said anyone departing on American must pay the tax at the Colombian airport.

As I told Hunter, "There is no way to avoid paying the tax. It should be pointed out those airlines that depart from the USA, Avianca for one, collects taxes for the outward-bound portion of the trip. This is NOT the departure tax. Only the USA airport taxes as assessed as part of the ticket price."

I called AA because I simply do not fly them any more because the flight my wife and I usually took from Miami to Cali was American Airlines Flight 965. This is the flight that on December 20, 1995, crashed 38 miles north of Cali into mountainous and killed 160 of the 164 people on board. We damn near took that flight but returned earlier than planned.

For those not paying the departure tax on leaving Colombia: Sushhhhhhhhhhh!

I have always flown AA, and I have never paid any tax of any kind flying CLO/MIA. If AA doesn't charge it in the ticket price, then this tax isn't collected at CLO (at least for AA /MIA passengers).

Ummm, I could be wrong but isn't it the airport facility's responsibility to make sure that you paid the departure tax. . .?? :-)

Can't speak for Colombia since I haven't been there, but I remember in the Havana airport getting a special tax stamp placed (after paying) on either my ticket or the tourist card, can't remember exactly right now. You would not be able to clear Cuban immigration without proof of payment.

Noticed same thing in a non-mongering vacation to St. Maarten. Immigration agent there was more worried about collecting the proof of payment card for the departure tax and ended up overlooking stamping on my passport the departure date.

Sounds like Colombian airport management could use a few lessons from Fidel. . . ;-)

I left Bogota yesterday. The taxes are simple. There is a booth along the windows. Take your passport there and they will give you a small piece of paper with a stamp on it. Then go to check in. Give them the paper and the tax is $30. Without it, departure tax is $50. If you cannot find the booth, ask the airport people for the tax exemption kiosk. Or go to check in. First they take your luggage and screen it through xray, then the next step in the is the tax person. Ask for the exemption. They will let you go to the booth and then get come directly back to the tax person. One word of Advice, Colombia screens for drugs when you leave bogota. They have x-ray equipment for your body right there. Do not think you can smuggle anything on or in your body. They are friendly y corteous but if they even think you smuggle, they will xray you. It only takes 5 minutes. They also will pat everyone down at security. Write me, I have a lot of information about trips and can help you a lot. I recommend Colombia. One trip and you want to move there. I have taken 3 trips in four months. And at baggage pickup in Atlanta after every trip. The American men raved about their experience. I was all over Bogota and I can tell you how to have the adventure of your life.

Non of the air lines pay the exit tax. The taxes the airlines pay for in your ticket purchase are U.S. taxes. You have to pay the exit tax before you leave Colombia.
They will always make you pay the tax and bring the receipt to the check in counter before you can finish your check in. But many of you may not have paid any tax and this is why. If you are there on vacation and you state clearly that you are on vacation for pleasure only then you can leave Colombia with out paying any tax. You will still have to go to the Tax service counter and get a receipt. Even if you are on vacation and the tax does not apply to you, you still get the receipt before you can finish your check in.

That is not correct, Big.

Everyone pays a departure tax. The reason that some pay nothing is that the airline has collected some tax from you and paid that to Colombia. I have been given a refund, sometimes paid more, and sometimes paid no more than the airline had already collected. The tax mostly depends upon your length of stay in Colombia and the airport you depart from. It also depends upon the person you talk to. There is no uniformity of enforcement in Colombia.

Good luck trying to run a business. It is hard enough to just live here without trying to accomplish anything.

The CO government is getting rid of the fuel surcharge and the departure tax. Fares should be lower soon.