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MDE immigration lines are LONG
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=55859
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Author:  Orange [ Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  MDE immigration lines are LONG

If any of you are planning a trip to MDE, be prepared to wait a few hours in line at immigration.

I've heard as long as 6 hours. Our wait was 2.5 hours on Thursday, arriving 2pm.

It could be better for early or late arrival.

Author:  Kizomba305 [ Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Orange wrote:
If any of you are planning a trip to MDE, be prepared to wait a few hours in line at immigration.

I've heard as long as 6 hours. Our wait was 2.5 hours on Thursday, arriving 2pm.

It could be better for early or late arrival.


There's a way to bypass this, but I won't reveal it on a public forum. It does require additional expense and travel time... but might be better than standing on your feet for 3+ hours straight, with nothing to do.

Author:  SinCity [ Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Quote:
There's a way to bypass this, but I won't reveal it on a public forum. It does require additional expense and travel time... but might be better than standing on your feet for 3+ hours straight, with nothing to do.
[/quote]



Well, yeah, fly into Bogota as your port of entry into Colombia. My 1st 7 or 8 trips I flew a UA flight from Houston into Bogota landing @ 5:30am or so, 2 1/2 hr. layover, of which 1/2-3/4 of an hr. was in an immigration line. Then I switched to Copa Air from Panama City which lands in Medellin. With these 3 hr. immigration lines these days in mde, the total time for both routes is prob about the same unless you land in mde very early or very late.
the afternoons are always a logjam.

Author:  Orange [ Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Kizomba305 wrote:
Orange wrote:
If any of you are planning a trip to MDE, be prepared to wait a few hours in line at immigration.

I've heard as long as 6 hours. Our wait was 2.5 hours on Thursday, arriving 2pm.

It could be better for early or late arrival.


There's a way to bypass this, but I won't reveal it on a public forum. It does require additional expense and travel time... but might be better than standing on your feet for 3+ hours straight, with nothing to do.

The problem is that the immigration agents are deliberately working extra slow in protest. It's a strike but without walking out. They want to get paid while they Phuck up the entry process for tourists to put pressure on the government to pay them more. "Operacion tortuga" it's being called. Bogota is no different, but maybe less since hey have more agents I assume.

Author:  Rolleratnight [ Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Kizomba305 wrote:

There's a way to bypass this, but I won't reveal it on a public forum. It does require additional expense and travel time... but might be better than standing on your feet for 3+ hours straight, with nothing to do.


I am going to make a guess. Have a Colombian meet you in Panama, then proceed to MDE so you can go through the resident’s line with her?

Or

Fly to San Andres, hang out for awhile, proceed to MDE?

Author:  Phoenix Rising [ Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Try to avoid arriving in the afternoon when 5 flights arrive one right after the other.

Author:  Rolleratnight [ Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Phoenix Rising wrote:
Try to avoid arriving in the afternoon when 5 flights arrive one right after the other.


Get a NetJets card and arrive when you want https://www.netjets.com/en-us/

Author:  Orange [ Thu Jul 03, 2025 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: MDE immigration lines are LONG

Rolleratnight wrote:

Get a NetJets card and arrive when you want https://www.netjets.com/en-us/

Might want to verify that your pilot is licensed, had a valid medical, and a type rating on the jet you'll be flying. There have been some bad stuff happening over the last few years with these charter companies, shotty maintenance, and even shottier pilots.

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