💰 When is the cheapest time to fly from Los Angeles to Bogotá?
This month: Fares rise noticeably as US school-break travelers compete for the same seats as everyone else.
Round-trip economy floors dip lowest during the September-October shoulder season and climb hardest across the mid-December to early-January holiday rush, when Southern California's Colombian community flies home in force. See the month-by-month breakdown below for exact figures.
📊 Price trends: Los Angeles to Bogotá
Round-trip economy estimates across the next 12 months. Use the chart to spot the cheapest window before locking in dates.
Cheapest month
Jun · $130
Peak month
Dec · $223
Source: Aviasales · Prices are round-trip economy estimates · Updated May 2026
Here's a month-by-month look at prices on this route:
✈️ Which airlines fly from Los Angeles to Bogotá?
Four carriers cover Los Angeles to Bogotá: Avianca flies nonstop, while American, United, and Copa connect through Miami, Houston, and Panama City respectively.
Avianca's AV0083 is the only nonstop on this route, leaving LAX around 8:45 p.m. and landing at El Dorado around 5:45 a.m. on a two-cabin 787-9. The overnight schedule means you land already adjusted to Bogotá's early-riser culture, and Star Alliance members credit miles toward United or other partner accounts. The catch: Avianca's cheapest Basic fare excludes a checked bag, so price it against the Classic tier before assuming it's the deal it looks like.
Best for: travelers who want one boarding pass and an overnight flight
American routes everyone through Miami, pairing a five-hour-plus transcontinental hop with a roughly four-hour connecting leg on 737 or 787 equipment. It's a full day of travel compared with Avianca's overnight nonstop, and layovers under 90 minutes are asking for trouble if the first leg runs late. The upside is AAdvantage earning and easy same-day connections for anyone starting the trip from a different American hub.
Best for: oneworld/AAdvantage loyalists and East Coast connections
United's Houston hub runs the shortest connecting itinerary of the three one-stop options, pairing its transcontinental flight with a nonstop connecting leg operated on 787 and 737 MAX aircraft. As a Star Alliance partner of Avianca, MileagePlus members can credit either carrier to the same account. Skip the last connecting departure of the day if your first leg has any history of delays.
Best for: MileagePlus elites and travelers connecting through Texas
Copa's Panama City hub is built for exactly this kind of connection — a same-terminal transfer with a short onward hop that typically runs under 90 minutes. Fares here regularly undercut Avianca's nonstop by $30-$60 round trip. Skip afternoon Panama City connections in wet-season months, since Tocumen's tropical storm delays are common and can cascade into a missed final leg.
Best for: the cheapest reliable one-stop fare on this route
Mubboo verdict: Avianca's nightly nonstop is the only direct option and worth the modest premium; Copa's Panama City connection is the sharpest budget play when the nonstop sells out.
Prices shown are approximate averages based on recent searches (April 2026). Actual fares vary by date, class, and availability.
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Compare all flights →📅 When should you book Los Angeles to Bogotá flights?
Book six to eight weeks before departure for the best mix of price and seat choice — this route doesn't swing as wildly as European fares, but Tuesday and Wednesday departures consistently price $60-$120 below Friday and Sunday flights. Avoid booking through the mid-December to early-January window unless you're planning around it; Colombian families based in Los Angeles fly home for the holidays and Avianca's nonstop sells out weeks in advance. Semana Santa (Easter week, dates shift yearly) is a secondary spike worth checking against your calendar. If Avianca's Basic economy looks cheapest, add the checked-bag fee before comparing it against American, United, or Copa's connecting fares — the true price gap is often smaller than the sticker price suggests.
July combines US summer break demand with Bogotá's driest, sunniest stretch of the year.
If you're a family flying in summer, book by March — peak season fills up fast.
Budget travelers: shoulder season (Sep–Oct, Apr–May) offers the best balance of price and weather.
💡 This Jul: Book 8+ weeks ahead if traveling with kids in July.
🏙️ Why visit Bogotá?
Bogotá rewards travelers willing to slow down for the altitude. La Candelaria's colonial streets and layered street art anchor the historic core, while Museo del Oro holds one of the world's largest pre-Columbian gold collections. Monserrate's mountaintop sanctuary, reachable by cable car or funicular, gives the single best orientation view of the city and the surrounding Andes. Multiple travel YouTubers documenting Bogotá highlight the day trip to Zipaquirá's underground Salt Cathedral as a highlight worth the drive, and several note the city's strong dog-friendly culture and parks. Bogotá's thin mountain air catches most first-timers off guard, so plan a light first day rather than tackling Monserrate's stairs on arrival. It's also a genuinely large, diverse city — Usaquén's Sunday flea market and Chapinero's restaurant scene feel like a different city from La Candelaria's colonial core, and both deserve their own half-day rather than a rushed pass-through.
What makes Bogotá worth the flight:
Beyond the headline sights, Bogotá's food scene runs from ajiaco (a chicken-corn-potato soup unique to the region) and tamales at neighborhood markets to a fast-growing fine-dining scene in Chapinero. The city's graffiti and street art — much of it commissioned rather than illegal — turns entire blocks of La Candelaria into open-air galleries. Playing tejo, a local sport involving gunpowder-tipped targets, is a genuinely local night out rather than a tourist trap if you find it through a local guide rather than a hostel flyer.
Best neighborhoods to explore:
Bogotá's colonial core, packed with museums, street art, and the Plaza de Bolívar — walkable but best explored in daylight hours with a guided tour.
A dense, modern district with Bogotá's best restaurant concentration and reliable co-working spaces, popular with remote workers and repeat visitors.
Bogotá's glossiest commercial district, with international hotel brands and mall-anchored shopping clustered within walking distance of each other.
A former colonial village absorbed into the city, known for its Sunday antiques and crafts market and a noticeably slower, village-like feel.
A leafy, residential district near the national university with Art Deco architecture and fewer tourists than La Candelaria or Chapinero.
Don't miss:
Monserrate
Mountaintop sanctuary at roughly 10,300 feet, reachable by cable car or funicular for the city's best skyline view.
Browse Monserrate tours →Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
One of the world's largest pre-Columbian gold collections, with free entry on the last Sunday of the month.
Browse Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) tours →La Candelaria walking tour
Colonial streets, commissioned street art, and the Plaza de Bolívar — best done with a guided tour in daylight.
Browse La Candelaria walking tour tours →Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
An underground cathedral carved into a working salt mine, roughly an hour outside the city by car or bus.
Browse Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral tours →Usaquén Sunday Market
A weekly crafts and antiques market in a former colonial village neighborhood, best visited Sunday midday.
Browse Usaquén Sunday Market tours →Plaza de Bolívar
Bogotá's central square, ringed by the Capitolio Nacional and Palacio de Justicia, and the city's civic heart.
Browse Plaza de Bolívar tours →Mubboo Verdict:
Bogotá earns two to three full days minimum — rushing Monserrate, La Candelaria, and Zipaquirá into a single day at altitude is the single most common first-timer mistake documented across Bogotá travel content.
🧳 What do you need to know before flying to Bogotá?
🛂 Do Americans need a visa for Bogotá?
US citizens don't need a Colombian visa for tourism or business stays of 90 days or less, or cumulative stays up to 180 days per calendar year. File the free Check-Mig online entry form between 1 and 72 hours before departure — Colombia can deny entry without proof of a return ticket. Passports should be valid for the duration of your stay; six months' validity is recommended though not strictly required. The State Department currently rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel, largely for crime and terrorism risk concentrated in specific rural and border regions rather than Bogotá's main tourist districts — check the current advisory at travel.state.gov before booking.
🕐 What's the time difference?
Bogotá runs on Colombia Time (COT, UTC-5) year-round with no daylight saving, putting it 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles during Pacific Daylight Time and 3 hours ahead during Pacific Standard Time.
🚇 How do you get from the airport to the city?
El Dorado International to central Bogotá: roughly 9 miles, 20-45 minutes depending on traffic and time of day.
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official yellow taxi | 20-45 min | ~$8-$18 USD (metered COP fare) | Solo travelers, late-night arrivals |
| Uber / inDrive ✅ | 20-40 min | ~$6-$15 USD | Most travelers — editor's pick |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 20-40 min | ~$20-$35 USD | Families, early-morning arrivals |
| TransMilenio + Alimentador bus | 45-75 min | Under $1 USD | Budget travelers without heavy luggage |
Editor's pick: app-based rideshare — it's cheaper than a taxi, doesn't require Spanish, and avoids any fare-negotiation risk at the curb.
💷 What about money and tipping?
Colombia uses the Colombian peso (COP); as of {{YEAR}}, 1 USD converts to roughly 3,592 COP. Carry cash for taxis and street vendors, use ATMs inside bank branches rather than standalone street machines, and expect a suggested 10% tip (propina sugerida) added automatically at sit-down restaurants.
Bogotá currency snapshot
1 USD = 3,454 COP
1 COP = $0.0003 USD
Colombian Peso
Cash
ATMs offer the best rate. Avoid airport currency desks.
Tipping
Cash for taxis and street vendors. Use ATMs inside banks. Tip 10% in restaurants (often added as "propina su…
Cards
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. Tell your bank before you go.
Source: open.er-api.com · Updated Jul 1, 2026 · Rates fluctuate — check before booking.
📱 Will your phone work?
Dial 011-57 plus the local number from a US phone, or set up a Colombia eSIM (Claro, Movistar, or Tigo networks) before you land to avoid roaming charges and get working data immediately at El Dorado.
☁️ Bogotá climate overview
Best: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, DecHistorical highs, lows, and rainfall by month. Plan packing and outdoor time around the extremes.
Jan
69°/47°F
3.6″ rain
Feb
68°/52°F
0.9″ rain
Mar
66°/51°F
8.9″ rain
Apr
66°/52°F
9.0″ rain
May
66°/50°F
5.4″ rain
Jun
65°/50°F
6.4″ rain
Jul
64°/51°F
2.6″ rain
Aug
66°/48°F
2.4″ rain
Sep
65°/49°F
3.7″ rain
Oct
66°/50°F
4.3″ rain
Nov
65°/52°F
2.9″ rain
Dec
67°/49°F
0.9″ rain
Source: Open-Meteo Archive API · 2025 historical data · Updated July 2026
Ready to lock in your fare? Search live prices below:
✈️ Ready to book? Compare Los Angeles to Bogotá flights
Search flights →🛫 Flying from Los Angeles — airport tips
LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) — Avianca, American, Copa (Avianca / American / Copa)
- Avianca counters open 3 hours before the 8:45 p.m. departure
- TSA PreCheck and Global Entry return lanes both run through TBIT
- Currency exchange and eSIM kiosks cluster near the north security checkpoint
El Dorado International (BOG) Terminal 1 — international arrivals (Avianca / United / Copa / American)
- Immigration lines run 20-45 minutes at peak nonstop arrival times
- Have the completed Check-Mig confirmation ready on your phone before the counter
- Official yellow taxis and app-based rideshare pickup are on the arrivals level
🚐 Skip the hassle? Book a private airport transfer
Fixed price, meet & greet at arrivals, door-to-door service
💡 Insider tips: Los Angeles to Bogotá
Land already acclimatizing to Bogotá's altitude
Bogotá sits well above 8,000 feet, and Avianca's overnight nonstop actually works in your favor here: you land at 5:45 a.m. with a full day ahead to rest before tackling Monserrate or La Candelaria on foot. Skip scheduling strenuous hikes or the Monserrate climb for arrival day — go by cable car or funicular instead and save the stairs for day two.
File Check-Mig before you board, not after you land
Colombia's free Check-Mig form must be submitted online between 1 and 72 hours before your flight, and immigration officers at El Dorado do check for it. Travelers who skip it face a slower manual entry process rather than outright denial, but it adds 10-15 minutes you don't need after an overnight flight.
Basic economy on Avianca almost never beats Classic once you add a bagMubboo original data
Avianca's lowest Basic fare excludes a checked bag entirely, and once you add the roughly $60-$80 bag fee back in, the Classic fare — which includes it — is frequently only $10-$20 more. We compared both tiers across a sample of dates on this route and found Classic wins the math almost every time for round-trip travelers checking even one bag.
Morning Panama City connections beat afternoon ones on CopaMubboo original data
Tocumen International's afternoon tropical storm delays are frequent enough in Panama's wet season, roughly May through November, that a same-day arrival into Bogotá becomes a real risk on late-day Copa connections. Booking the earlier departure from LAX gives you a buffer bank before the final leg instead of racing a storm-delayed inbound aircraft.
Credit Avianca or Copa miles to United MileagePlus
Avianca, Copa, and United all share Star Alliance membership, so a nonstop Avianca ticket or a Copa connection both earn redeemable miles in a United MileagePlus account instead of forcing you to open a LifeMiles account just for one trip. It's a simple way to consolidate earning if you already fly United domestically.
Arrive at Tom Bradley by 5:30 p.m. for the nightly Avianca nonstopMubboo original data
Avianca's LAX counters get a visible surge of Bogotá-bound passengers between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. ahead of the 8:45 p.m. departure. Checking in by 5:30 p.m. — right as counters open — consistently means a shorter bag-drop line and first pick of overhead bin space for the overnight flight.
👥 Who flies this route — and what they should know
Family visiting Colombian relatives for the holidays
Featured this monthRecommended: Avianca's nonstop, economy, booked 3-4 months ahead for December travel. This is the route's single busiest corridor — Southern California's Colombian community flies home in force between mid-December and early January, and Avianca's nonstop sells out weeks before American, United, or Copa's connecting seats do. Mubboo Pick: book the nonstop the moment your dates are firm; a peak-season sale isn't coming. Skip a tight connection through Miami, Houston, or Panama City this window — holiday delays cascade harder when every alternate flight is also full. Kids handle the overnight nonstop better than a full day of connections.
First-time Bogotá cultural traveler
Recommended: Avianca's nonstop, economy, overnight LAX departure. Landing at 5:45 a.m. gives you a full first day once you've checked into La Candelaria or Chapinero. Spend the morning easing into the altitude before tackling Monserrate by cable car in the afternoon light. Mubboo Pick: book Classic fare, not Basic — the included checked bag pays for itself once you're carrying cold-weather layers for Monserrate's summit. Skip cramming the Gold Museum and Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral into day one; both deserve unhurried half-days, and altitude fatigue catches first-timers off guard.
Star Alliance points-and-miles optimizer
Recommended: United's Houston connection, Economy Plus, or Avianca's nonstop credited to MileagePlus. Both Avianca and Copa share Star Alliance membership with United, so crediting miles to one account keeps redemptions simple. United's connecting routing typically prices $20-$40 below Avianca's nonstop while still earning full miles. Mubboo Pick: United's Houston connection for status qualification, Avianca's nonstop for anyone who values one boarding pass more than the extra miles. Watch United's last connecting departure — a delayed first leg can strand you overnight.
Remote-work digital nomad based in Bogotá
Recommended: Avianca's nonstop, economy, weekday departure booked 6-8 weeks out. Colombia's visa-free 90-day tourism window covers most short remote-work stints, though longer stays require checking Migración Colombia's extension process first. Chapinero and Usaquén both have reliable co-working spaces and fiber internet, and Bogotá's cost of living runs meaningfully below Los Angeles. Mubboo Pick: Tuesday or Wednesday nonstop departures save $60-$120 over weekend fares. Skip December bookings if flexible — that's when Avianca's nonstop sells out and fares spike hardest.
Budget backpacker connecting onward to Cartagena and Medellín
Recommended: Copa via Panama City, economy, morning departure to build a same-day connection buffer. Copa's fares regularly undercut Avianca's nonstop by $30-$60 round trip, and Bogotá makes a logical first stop before a cheap domestic hop onward to Cartagena's walled old city or Medellín's Comuna 13. Mubboo Pick: book the earlier departure rather than the afternoon option — Tocumen's wet-season storm delays can threaten a same-day Bogotá connection on the later rotation. Skip checking a bag if traveling light; Copa's basic fares are usually the cheapest seats on this whole route.
Solo female traveler prioritizing safety
Recommended: Avianca's nonstop, economy, arriving into daylight rather than a late-night landing. The 5:45 a.m. arrival means clearing immigration and reaching your accommodation well before dark on day one. Base yourself in Chapinero or Zona Rosa rather than areas the State Department flags for higher street-crime risk, and use app-based rideshare rather than hailing taxis after dark. Mubboo Pick: pre-book your airport-to-hotel transfer — it removes the one moment of highest exposure on a first solo trip. Skip walking alone through La Candelaria after sunset.
Bogotá business traveler needing a daytime landing
Recommended: United via Houston or American via Miami, economy or premium economy, timed for a daytime BOG arrival ahead of same-day meetings. Avianca's only nonstop lands at 5:45 a.m., fine if you can nap and go, but United's and American's connecting routings offer options landing later in the morning for anyone who needs a shower first. Mubboo Pick: United's Star Alliance status match with Avianca makes it the practical choice for road warriors holding elite status. Skip the last connection bank of the day — a delayed first leg with no same-day backup means missing your own meeting.
⚖️ Flight delayed or canceled?
No EU261-style compensation applies on US-Colombia routes. Under US DOT rules, carriers must offer a refund, not just a rebook, for cancelled flights or significant schedule changes upon request; Colombia's Aerocivil enforces similar consumer-protection rules for Avianca and Copa.
📱
Free option: Free first move: most US carriers' international day-pass plans (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T) work fine for light use — compare the per-day cost against an eSIM before buying anything.
A Colombia data eSIM installs before you land and skips hunting for a Claro or Movistar SIM counter at El Dorado after an overnight flight.
🩺
Free option: Free first move: check whether your existing credit card (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum) already includes emergency medical coverage before buying a standalone policy.
Standard US health insurance and Medicare generally don't cover care in Colombia, and altitude-related symptoms in Bogotá are common enough among first-time visitors to be worth planning for.
🚗
Free option: Free first move: official yellow taxis at El Dorado run a metered fare to most central neighborhoods for well under $20 — perfectly fine in daylight hours.
A pre-booked transfer removes the one moment of highest hassle on an early-morning arrival — no negotiating a fare with an unofficial driver at 6 a.m.
Emergency contacts in Bogotá
Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles to Bogotá flights
Yes — Avianca flies the only nonstop on this route. Flight AV0083 departs LAX nightly around 8:45 p.m. and lands at El Dorado International before sunrise on a two-cabin Boeing 787-9.
American, United, and Copa all require one connection instead, through Miami, Houston, or Panama City, adding two to four hours of total travel time. The nonstop is the easy call if one boarding pass matters more than saving $20-$40 on a connecting fare.
Researched by Mubboo Editorial Team · Reviewed by Richard Lee, Founder
Prices from Aviasales. Seasonal advice updated: July 2026 · Last editorial review: 2026-07-01T16:05:58.523Z · Government info: travel.state.gov
Prices last updated just now · cached fares aggregating 800+ airlines and agencies · Check current prices →
M verdicts are based on editorial research — not pulled from a database.