By road, Barranquilla and Palomino are about 108 miles (174 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 13 min of driving.
Read the full advisory before you go: 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 | 108 mi (174 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 13 min |
| Departments on the route | Atlántico, Magdalena, La Guajira |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Barranquilla to Palomino: the shape of the trip
It runs through 3 departments: Atlántico, Magdalena, La Guajira. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Barranquilla to Palomino: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–108 | 108 | Atlántico, Magdalena |
- Mile 4 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 108 of this route: Magdalena → La Guajira (department line)
Places worth a stop between Barranquilla and Palomino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 21), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 62)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 21), Tayrona National Natural Park (mile 76)
- Museums and history: Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 57), Cathedral of Santa Marta (mile 60), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 62)
- With kids: Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 57)
Salamanca Island Road Park
On the western outskirts of Ciénaga in Magdalena, Salamanca Island Road Park is a protected area where fresh water from the Magdalena River meets the salt water of the Caribbean, supporting abundant plants and wildlife.
Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum
Opened in 1965 by Captain Francisco Ospina Navia, the Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum is a public aquarium and maritime museum in Inca Inca Cove off Rodadero beach in Santa Marta.
Cathedral of Santa Marta
Set in Santa Marta's historic center, the Cathedral of Santa Marta is a Renaissance-style Catholic church that held the remains of Simón Bolívar for 12 years in the 19th century.
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Built in 1608, the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Mamatoco, Santa Marta, is the hacienda where Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830.
Piedra de Donama
Piedra de Donama is a rock about 4 meters across and 3 meters high in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, carved with zoomorphic and abstract petroglyphs.
Tayrona National Natural Park
About 34 km from central Santa Marta, Tayrona National Natural Park protects Caribbean coast and Sierra Nevada terrain rising from sea level to 900 meters.
More drives to Palomino
- Sabanalarga to Palomino
- Cartagena to Palomino
- Santa Cruz de Mompós to Palomino
- Magangué to Palomino
- Sincelejo to Palomino
- Montería to Palomino
From Barranquilla to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barranquilla to Palomino?
About 2 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 108 miles.
How far is Palomino from Barranquilla by car?
About 108 miles (174 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Barranquilla to Palomino drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Barranquilla to Palomino?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 21, 0.4 mi from the route); Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (museum, mile 62, 0.5 mi from the route); Tayrona National Natural Park (national park, mile 76, 2 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.