Metered rides from T1 start with Yellow City Taxis
Official Yellow City Taxis queue just outside the arrivals exit at Terminal T1, giving you a marked pickup point as soon as you collect your bags. Look for the branded yellow cars at the signed taxi rank rather than following anyone who approaches you inside the building.
This is the airport’s licensed taxi option, so fares are meter-based from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta and nearby areas. Because they work directly from the terminal forecourt at T1, you don’t need to cross any public roads or leave the airport perimeter to find them.
Yellow City Taxis operate directly from the arrivals level at T1, so you can walk from baggage claim to the stand in under 5 minutes. If you’re arriving late at night, stay inside the terminal until you see the signed official rank and then move straight to the front of the Yellow City line.
You pay the driver in the car, and each ride starts with an initial meter drop from the T1 stand. Always confirm that the meter is switched on before the taxi leaves the airport, and ask for the approximate fare to central Santa Marta from Simón Bolívar International so you have a ballpark number in mind.
From T1, Yellow City Taxis run point-to-point, so there are no fixed intermediate stops or shared-ride arrangements built into the service. If you’re traveling with more than two people or extra luggage, mention your group size at the head of the taxi queue at Terminal 1 so they can slot you into a car with adequate trunk space.
Practical tip: before exiting T1, screenshot your hotel or destination address with full street details, then show it to the Yellow City Taxi driver so they can enter it directly into their phone or GPS without language back-and-forth at the curb.