Bucaramanga to Pereira is about 385 road miles (620 km): roughly 7 h 53 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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: “Highways may not have lights or signs showing destinations.”
| Distance | 385 mi (620 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Bucaramanga to Pereira drive plays out
25BAN (43 mi) carries about 11% of the 385 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Bucaramanga to Pereira, road by road
| 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 | 305–385 | 80 | Caldas, Risaralda |
- 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 373 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Bucaramanga and Pereira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 225), Planetarium of Medellín (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), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 238), Museo Etnográfico Miguel Ángel Builes (mile 239), 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)
- With kids: Planetarium of Medellín (mile 238)
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.
Museo Etnográfico Miguel Ángel Builes
Founded in 1962 by the Yarumal Missionaries, this ethnographic museum in Medellín's Ferrini neighborhood focuses on the culture and daily life of Colombia's Indigenous peoples.
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.
In Pereira itself
Our Lady of Poverty Cathedral, Pereira
Pereira Cathedral, formally Our Lady of Poverty Cathedral, is the Catholic cathedral of Pereira, capital of Colombia's Risaralda department, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Jardín Botánico
Jardín Botánico (Jardín Botánico de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira) is a center for research, conservation and environmental education at the Technological University of Pereira, Colombia.
More drives to Pereira
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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bucaramanga to Pereira?
About 7 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
How far is Pereira from Bucaramanga by car?
About 385 miles (620 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 Pereira drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Bucaramanga and Pereira?
Closest to the road: Planetarium of Medellín (science 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.