The Wayro route from Barranquilla to Riohacha is 166 miles (267 km), about 3 h 19 min of driving without stops.
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 | 166 mi (267 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 19 min |
| Departments on the route | Atlántico, Magdalena, La Guajira |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Barranquilla to Riohacha
It runs through 3 departments: Atlántico, Magdalena, La Guajira. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Barranquilla to Riohacha: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–166 | 166 | Atlántico, Magdalena, La Guajira |
- Mile 4 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 108 of this route: Magdalena → La Guajira (department line)
What to see on the way from Barranquilla to Riohacha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 21)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 21), Tayrona National Natural Park (mile 76)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Santa Marta (mile 60), Casa de la Aduana (mile 60)
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.
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.
Casa de la Aduana
On Plaza de Bolívar in Santa Marta, the colonial Casa de la Aduana houses the regional Gold Museum of Colombia's Banco de la República.
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.
When you get to Riohacha
Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral, Riohacha
Consecrated to the Virgin of Remedies, Riohacha Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Riohacha.
More drives to Riohacha
From Barranquilla to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Barranquilla to Riohacha?
About 3 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 166 miles.
How far is Riohacha from Barranquilla by car?
About 166 miles (267 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 Riohacha drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Barranquilla and Riohacha?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 21, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Santa Marta (cathedral, mile 60, 2 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.