Maicao: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Maicao is a city of 166,603 people in Colombia (La Guajira Department), 52 m (171 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Almirante Padilla Airport (RCH), 77 km (48 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Maicao runs from about 11 h 30 min a day in late December to 12 h 50 min in late June (computed for 11.38° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Maicao is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Almirante Padilla Airport (RCH), 77 km (48 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 5,413 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Maicao: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Maicao · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Maracaibo, 107 km (Venezuela) — buses · car rental · tours
- Barquisimeto, 347 km (Venezuela) — flights · buses · car rental
- Barranquilla, 281 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Cartagena, 372 km — flights
- Cúcuta, 387 km — flights
- Santa Marta, 214 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Valledupar, 150 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Barinas, 377 km (Venezuela)
- Cabimas, 139 km (Venezuela) — buses · car rental · tours
- Soledad, 280 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Maicao?
Almirante Padilla Airport (RCH), 77 km (48 mi) from the centre.
How big is Maicao?
About 166,603 people live in Maicao (GeoNames).
What time zone is Maicao in?
America/Bogota, currently UTC-5.
What currency is used in Maicao?
The Peso (COP). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Maicao?
Maracaibo (107 km), Barquisimeto (347 km), Barranquilla (281 km), Cartagena (372 km), Cúcuta (387 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.