The Wayro route from Bucaramanga to Cartago, Colombia is 398 miles (640 km), about 8 h 20 min of driving without 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: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Distance by road | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Bucaramanga–Cartago drive in a few lines
25BAN (43 mi) carries about 11% of the 398 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Bucaramanga to Cartago
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Santander |
| connecting roads | 4–7 | 3 | Santander |
| local roads | 7–247 | 240 | Santander, Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 247–249 | 2 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 249–254 | 5 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 254–255 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 255–262 | 7 | Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 262–305 | 43 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 305–398 | 93 | Caldas, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca |
- Mile 134 of this route: Santander → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 305 of this route: Antioquia → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 341 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 380 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 396 of this route: Risaralda → Valle del Cauca (department line)
What to see on the way from Bucaramanga to Cartago
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 225), Museo Universitario Universidad de Antioquia (mile 238), Parque de la Conservación (mile 242), El Castillo Museum (mile 244), Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, La Estrella (mile 249), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 253)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Chorrolato (mile 234)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 225), Museo Universitario Universidad de Antioquia (mile 238), Parque de la Conservación (mile 242), El Castillo Museum (mile 244), Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, La Estrella (mile 249), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 253)
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.
Museo Universitario Universidad de Antioquia
On the University of Antioquia campus in Medellín, this public museum holds more than 40,000 objects across visual arts, natural sciences, university history and anthropology collections.
University of Medellín Theater
With 1,702 seats, the University of Medellín Theater in Medellín, Colombia, hosts national and international plays and shows.
Parque de la Conservación
Formerly the Santa Fe Zoo and renamed in 2020, Medellín's Parque de la Conservación holds more than 500 animals of 122 species, mostly from the Americas.
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.
Once you reach 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 Bucaramanga to other places in Colombia
- Bucaramanga to Tunja
- Bucaramanga to Sogamoso
- Bucaramanga to Zipaquirá
- Bucaramanga to Yopal
- Bucaramanga to Manizales
- Bucaramanga to Quibdó
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bucaramanga to Cartago, Colombia?
About 8 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
How far is Cartago, Colombia from Bucaramanga by car?
About 398 miles (640 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 Bucaramanga to Cartago drive?
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 Bucaramanga and Cartago?
Closest to the road: Museo Universitario Universidad de Antioquia (museum, mile 238, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque de la Conservación (museum, mile 242, 0.2 mi from the route); Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (cathedral, mile 253, 0.2 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.