Plan on about 7 h 25 min of driving for the 341-mile (548 km) trip from Barrancabermeja to Cartago, Colombia, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Colombia. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Barrancabermeja–Cartago drive in a few lines
25BAN (43 mi) carries about 13% of the 341 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Barrancabermeja to Cartago: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–191 | 191 | Santander, Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 191–192 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 192–197 | 5 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 197–198 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 198–206 | 8 | Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 206–249 | 43 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 249–341 | 92 | Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca |
- Mile 78 of this route: Santander → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Antioquia → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 284 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 287 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Risaralda → Valle del Cauca (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Barrancabermeja and Cartago
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 168), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 181), El Castillo Museum (mile 187), Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, La Estrella (mile 192), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 196)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Chorrolato (mile 178)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 168), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 181), El Castillo Museum (mile 187), Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, La Estrella (mile 192), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 196)
- With kids: Planetarium of Medellín (mile 181)
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota
Girardota Cathedral is a Neo-Romanesque church of exposed brick, designed by French architect Charles Émile Carré and built over 32 years.
Salto Chorrolato
In the San Félix area of Bello, in the Aburrá Valley near Medellín, Salto Chorrolato (Chorro del Hato) is a multi-step waterfall and a symbol of the municipality.
Planetarium of Medellín
Medellín's Jesús Emilio Ramírez González Planetarium opened on October 10, 1984, an idea first conceived by the astronomical society of the Colegio San José.
El Castillo Museum
In Medellín's El Poblado district, El Castillo Museum displays porcelain and glass, stained glass, antiques, paintings and sculptures in its permanent exhibitions.
Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, La Estrella
Part of the Archdiocese of Medellín, this Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá stands in the municipality of La Estrella, Antioquia.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas
This Catholic cathedral in the Colombian municipality of Caldas is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy and serves as the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Caldas.
Arriving in Cartago
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Valle del Cauca
Two blocks from Bolívar Park in Cartago, Valle del Cauca, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel stands out for a bell tower set twenty meters apart from the church.
Casa del Virrey
A colonial-era building in Cartago, Casa del Virrey takes its name from the popular tradition that it was built to receive Viceroy José Manuel de Ezpeleta.
More drives to Cartago
- Ibagué to Cartago, Colombia
- Bogotá to Cartago, Colombia
- Villavicencio to Cartago, Colombia
- Tunja to Cartago, Colombia
- Yopal to Cartago, Colombia
- Pitalito to Cartago, Colombia
From Barrancabermeja to other places in Colombia
- Barrancabermeja to Sogamoso
- Barrancabermeja to Zipaquirá
- Barrancabermeja to Quibdó
- Barrancabermeja to San Cipriano
- Barrancabermeja to Coconuco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Barrancabermeja to Cartago, Colombia?
About 7 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
What is the driving distance from Barrancabermeja to Cartago, Colombia?
About 341 miles (548 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Barrancabermeja to Cartago, Colombia?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Barrancabermeja and Cartago?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (cathedral, mile 168, 0.9 mi from the route); Planetarium of Medellín (science museum, mile 181, 0.4 mi from the route); Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (cathedral, mile 196, 0.1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.