Rionegro - José María Córdova

1Regional ramps - bridge

The road from Medellín to the terminal is overpassed by a bridge. When you arrive by car you have three options before entering the airport: take a detour to the parking lot, another detour downstairs to the national and international exits or follow the road to the bridge and to the airport entrance. The bridge provides you with a view of regional ramp and you can get nice pics from there after noon.

2International gates

The left side of the main terminal building provides views of the international ramp. Spot 2 is located on the other side of the same road of the bridge and also gives views of a part of the cargo area and the main runway. As with spot 1, this is a five minute spot when no aircraft are moving. You have to be looking for the security guards or the police because officially it is not allowed to take pictures from here. Again, after noon, the light conditions are favourable.

3Terminal

In the main terminal, some very nice observation decks were constructed, but for some reason, the airport authorities close them very often for security reasons. If open you can go and take pictures from there very easily. If the decks are closed try to speak with the people in charge of the doors (i.e. the airport authority) and ask if there is any chance to open one of the decks for you. Alternatively, go to one of the restaurants and try to speak with the manager, as the decks are located outside the restaurants. In the late afternoon light conditions are favourable to read some of the military helicopters on the other side of the runway.

4Cargo area

This is one of the best spots of Rionegro. To get there will take you about ten minutes by feet from the main terminal, following the road to the cargo area. After passing the unguarded cargo area gate, turn to your left and follow the road uphill, until you see a little house to your right. There you have to turn right into the woods and follow another path, until you reach the small hill next to the Tampa hangar. To reach this spot, it would be better to be with a local spotter who knows the place because the last part is a little confusing. Just keep the fence on your right though. Once there you have the runway in front of you, the cargo area to your right as well as the threshold for ruway 18. Again, photography is best in the afternoon and when runway 18 is in use.

5Runway 36 - east side

A very hard spot to reach, but definitely worth the effort is spot 5, which is basically the only spot east of the runway. The best thing is to take a taxi from the terminal area and go to the road passing the 36 threshold. Along the east side of the runway, there is a small hill, which provides excellent opportunities for photography in the morning when runway 36 is in use. Again, the advise is to be with a local to go there.

6Approach 36

This spot can only be reached by taxi from the terminal or by bus from Rionegro village. The runway threshold is located high above the road, so aircraft will generally come in fairly high. The spot is suitable for photography in the afternoon, just take some distance from the centerline.