Quick answer
How do I pay for a flight from Colombia with crypto?
SatFares, a flight booking site paid only in crypto, sells flights from Colombia paid in USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH, SOL or LTC. Top up from $25, search from Bogotá (BOG) or Medellín (MDE), and book. Your balance is held, not charged, until the e-ticket number is issued. As of October 2026, a Bancolombia Visa card adds 1% to purchases in foreign currency, and crypto is legal but not money in Colombia.
Colombia: key facts for flights paid in crypto (October 2026)
| Main international airports | Bogotá El Dorado (BOG), Medellín José María Córdova (MDE), Cartagena Rafael Núñez (CTG), Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO) |
|---|---|
| Card surcharge abroad (Bancolombia) | Visa +1%; Mastercard +0% on US dollar purchases in the United States and +0.45% in other currencies; American Express +0% in US dollars and +2% in other currencies |
| Status of crypto | Not money and not a foreign currency in Colombia (Banco de la República, June 1, 2020) |
| Banks and crypto | Superfinanciera has not authorised its supervised entities to hold, invest, intermediate or operate crypto assets |
| Tax reporting | Crypto service providers report users and transactions to the DIAN from tax year 2026 (Resolution 000240 of December 24, 2025) |
| Bogotá to Madrid | 152,952 scheduled seats in October 2026, both directions (OAG) |
| Bogotá to Panama City | 145,850 scheduled seats in October 2026, both directions (OAG) |
| Routes from Colombia in our list | 4, all on sale: Bogotá to Madrid, Panama City and Miami, and Medellín to Miami |
Search flights from Bogotá or Medellín
Live fares in USD for all passengers, taxes included. Bookings are made on request: nothing is charged until the e-ticket number is issued, and a higher total needs your agreement.
How much does a Colombian card add to a purchase abroad?
From 0% to 2% on top of the exchange rate, depending on the card brand and the currency. Bancolombia's help page, dated July 16, 2026, lists these surcharges (incrementos):
- Visa: 1% on purchases in US dollars in the United States, and 1% in other currencies.
- Mastercard: no surcharge on purchases in US dollars in the United States, and 0.45% in other currencies.
- American Express: no surcharge in US dollars in the United States, and 2% in other currencies.
On an American Express card, a ticket priced in euros carries 2%, against 0% for a purchase in US dollars in the United States. Pay in stablecoins; local tax and exchange rules still apply. Other countries: Card Friction Index.
Is crypto legal in Colombia?
Yes, crypto is legal to hold, but it is not money. In a concept of June 1, 2020, the Banco de la República said that crypto assets are not money. The peso is the only legal tender. It added that they are not a foreign currency either, because no monetary authority recognises them as money. The same concept notes that the Superintendencia Financiera has not authorised the entities it supervises to hold, invest, intermediate or operate crypto assets.
The tax authority now collects data on crypto. DIAN Resolution 000240 of December 24, 2025 requires crypto service providers to report their users and transactions from tax year 2026. The first report is due by the last business day of May 2027 (Holland & Knight, January 5, 2026).
Do I owe tax in Colombia when I pay for a flight with crypto?
Possibly, if your crypto gained value. We have not verified the Colombian income tax rules on spending crypto, so we do not state a rate. From tax year 2026, the platforms you use report your crypto transactions to the DIAN. Keep the date, coin, network and amount of each top-up. Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country; ask a Colombian accountant (contador).
Which routes from Colombia can I book with SatFares?
Four routes in our list of 100 depart from Colombia, and all are on sale. Two are measured by OAG for October 2026: Bogotá to Madrid and Bogotá to Panama City. Medellín to Miami and Bogotá to Miami are in the list for their audience; they are not measured. Destination pages: Madrid and Miami.
| Route | Airports | Distance | In our list as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogotá to Madrid | BOG → MAD | 8,031 km | Measured by OAG: 152,952 seats |
| Bogotá to Panama City | BOG → PTY | 755 km | Measured by OAG: 145,850 seats |
| Bogotá to Miami | BOG → MIA | 2,435 km | Chosen for its audience |
| Medellín to Miami | MDE → MIA | 2,243 km | Chosen for its audience |
Selected airlines: crypto status and availability with us
| Name | Accepts crypto directly | How | Conditions | Dates | Checked | Source | Sold by SatFares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avianca | No | — | Avianca's official help center lists Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, ELO in Brazil and PSE in Colombia; no cryptocurrency. | — | October 12, 2026 (official website) | Avianca, payment methods | Available |
| Copa Airlines | Not checked yet | — | — | — | — | — | Available |
| Iberia | No | — | The official US payment-methods page lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, gift cards, vouchers and Avios; no cryptocurrency. | — | October 12, 2026 (official website) | Iberia, payment methods | Available |
| LATAM | Not checked yet | — | — | — | — | — | Available |
Published by SatFares (TravelGoat LLC), which sells travel paid in crypto: we are not neutral. Each row is dated and links to its source; tell us when a status changes.
USDT or USDC from a Colombian wallet?
Either works if you use a network we accept. SatFares takes USDT on Tron (TRC-20) or Ethereum (ERC-20), and USDC on Ethereum (ERC-20) only. BTC, ETH, SOL and LTC are also accepted.
- TRC-20 needs 20 confirmations; ERC-20 needs 12.
- Send each coin only to the address shown for its network. Funds sent on another network may be lost.
- The minimum top-up is $25; the fare is the fare found live for all passengers, in US dollars, taxes included, with no fee added; the final total is confirmed before you are charged.
Our guide USDT or USDC for flights compares the two.
Held, not charged
Your balance is held at checkout
The exact total shown is held on your balance. Nothing is charged yet.
We book the ticket for you
Bookings are made on request: our team books the ticket with the airline and confirms the final total. If it is higher than the amount held, you accept the new total or the amount is released.
Charged only when the e-ticket number is issued
Your balance is charged when the airline issues the e-ticket number. If we can't get the ticket issued in time, the full amount is released to your balance.
If the total changes before the ticket is issued, you see the new total and choose: accept it, or have the amount released. Nothing extra is ever taken without your agreement.
What does the airline need for a flight from Bogotá?
No ID upload, no selfie at checkout. Airline ID rules still apply. For each traveller: the names exactly as in the passport, the date of birth, the gender and the passport details. We pass them to the airline only. Flights to the United States need the visa that applies to your passport; Spain and Panama have their own entry rules. See what data airlines require.
Flights from Colombia paid in crypto: questions
Can I pay for a Bogotá to Madrid flight with USDT?
Yes. Top up your SatFares balance with USDT on Tron (TRC-20) or Ethereum (ERC-20), search BOG to MAD and check out. The total is held, our team books the ticket on request, and you are charged only when the airline issues the e-ticket number. If it can't be issued in time, the amount is released.
Is crypto legal in Colombia?
Yes, you can hold it, but it is not money. The Banco de la República said in 2020 that crypto assets are not legal tender and not a foreign currency. The Superintendencia Financiera has not authorised supervised entities such as banks to operate crypto assets.
Does the DIAN see my crypto transactions?
From tax year 2026, crypto service providers must report their users and transactions to the DIAN under Resolution 000240 of December 24, 2025. The first report is due by the last business day of May 2027. Keep your own records of each top-up too.
What does Bancolombia charge on purchases abroad?
Its help page dated July 16, 2026 lists 1% on Visa cards. Mastercard has 0% on US dollar purchases in the United States and 0.45% in other currencies. American Express has 0% in US dollars and 2% in other currencies. The exchange rate comes on top.
Which routes from Colombia are on SatFares?
Four routes in our list: Bogotá to Madrid, Bogotá to Panama City, Bogotá to Miami and Medellín to Miami. All four are on sale, and the first two are measured by OAG. The live search also accepts other routes from Colombian airports, such as Cartagena or Cali, and our team books the ticket on request.
Can I book Avianca with SatFares?
Avianca is in our airline dataset as sold on request by SatFares, and so is Copa Airlines. The live search shows which airlines fly your route on your dates. Their direct crypto status is not verified yet in our airline crypto index.
What if the airline cancels my flight from Bogotá?
When the airline cancels your flight from Bogotá or Medellín, you get a refund in USDT or USDC within 7 days, or a balance credit, as you choose. If you cancel yourself, the fare rules of your ticket apply and any refund is credited to your balance. Your flight booking is bound by the fare rules and Conditions of Carriage of the airline. Details: refunds when the airline cancels.
Sources (4)
- ¿Si hago compras en otras divisas debo pagar comisión? — Bancolombia (checked 2026-10-12)
- Concepto C20-29529 de la Secretaría de la Junta Directiva — Banco de la República (checked 2026-10-12)
- La DIAN busca regular el reporte de información sobre criptoactivos — Holland & Knight (checked 2026-10-12)
- Busiest routes right now — OAG (October 2026)