By Plane: Buenaventura’s small airport, Gerardo Tobar López (tel. 312/825-4233) is about 30 minutes outside of the city center. Satena (www.satena.com) offers infrequent flights from Bogotá and Medellín.

By Road: Buenaventura is the only town of any size with a road connection to it. It’s easily reached on good roads and tunnels through mountainous, rainforest-covered terrain on a 3- to 4-hour drive from Cali. Bus and microbus connections with companies such as Expreso Palmira (www.expresopalmira.com.co; tel. 321/890-3597) and Corredor del Pacifico (tel. 2/1701-5633) run between the two cities throughout the day. The terminal is at the corner of Carrera 5 and Calle 7, in the city center.

By Boat: There aren’t any cruise ships plying these waters, at least not yet, but cargo boats make the trip north to Nuquí and Bahía Solano, a rough 18- to 24-hour trip. Ask around at the Muelle Turistico for leads. Here you can also find fast boats to the nearby beach destinations of Juanchaco and Ladrilleros (COP$54,000), a short ride north of the city, or Isla Gorgona (COP$280,000).

There are several ATMS, as well as pharmacies, around and within a few blocks of the Bulevar, the central plaza bordered by the city’s best hotels.

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