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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Turbo
Use Turbo only as a boat hub to Capurganá; stay 1 night if you need the boat, otherwise skip.
Turbo is a small port town on the Pacific coast of Antioquia. Its main draw is the boat connection to Capurganá (and onward to Panama). The town itself has a modest plaza, a short beach and basic accommodation, so a single night is enough for the transit purpose.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season on the Pacific coast)
- Avoid
- May–Nov (heavy rain, river flooding)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 7,000–12,000 excl. bed (check) · Mid COP 12,000–20,000 excl. bed (check) · High COP 20,000+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Boat to Capurganá (one way) | COP 55,000 |
| Coffee at a local café | COP 2,000–3,000 |
| Taxi within town (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi within town (3.1 mi (5 km)) | COP 5,000–7,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- APO · Antonio Roldán Betancourt Airport
- Near Apartadó, about 70 km (43 mi) inland; limited flights.Near Apartadó, about 43 mi (70 km) inland; limited flights.
Typical fares
- Turbo dock → Capurganá boat
- about COP 55,000, 3 h (check)
- Bus Medellín → Turbo
- about COP 55,000, 8 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the compact centre, or take a short taxi or motorcycle ride. A local bus runs to the beach.
See and do
Known for
- boat link to Capurganá
- main plaza
- short beach
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Capurganá | Boat from Turbo dock, 3 h, COP 55,000 | ≈3 h total |
Sleep
- Residencia Marcela
- Simple rooms from COP 7,000; near main plaza.
- Hotel 2000
- Clean rooms from COP 40,000 (single) to COP 90,000 (double, air‑con).
- Hotel Playa Mar
- Beachfront rooms from COP 40,000.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpɛ |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwanˈto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the boat dock? | ¿Dónde está el muelle?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈmweʎe |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Road to Medellín is poor and prone to landslides; bus trips can be delayed.
- Boat rides are rough, may get wet, and luggage fees apply.
- Water around the docks is polluted; avoid swimming.
Turbo is generally safe for day visitors; stay in well‑lit areas, keep belongings close on the boat dock and avoid swimming near the polluted water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Turbo yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- boat link to Capurganá
- main plaza
- short beach
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Turbo, revision 5256288 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5256288
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Turbo
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire123
US consulate in Medellín; Colombian emergency number 123.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/turbo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.