Plan on about 6 h 31 min of driving for the 183-mile (294 km) trip from Cali to Pitalito, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán).
- 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 | 183 mi (294 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | 20HL03 → 45-04B |
| Departments on the route | Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Huila |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Cali to Pitalito drive plays out
20HL03 (5 mi) and 45-04B (5 mi) carry about 5% of the 183 miles. It runs through 3 departments: Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Huila. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cali to Pitalito
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–67 | 67 | Valle del Cauca, Cauca |
| connecting roads | 67–69 | 2 | Cauca |
| local roads | 69–92 | 23 | Cauca |
| connecting roads | 92–94 | 2 | Cauca |
| local roads | 94–158 | 64 | Cauca, Huila |
| connecting roads | 158–162 | 4 | Huila |
| 20HL03 | 162–167 | 5 | Huila |
| local roads | 167–175 | 8 | Huila |
| 45-04B | 175–180 | 5 | Huila |
| local roads | 180–183 | 3 | Huila |
- Mile 20 of this route: Valle del Cauca → Cauca (department line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Cauca → Huila (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cali and Pitalito
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salto de Bordones (mile 160)
- Nature and outdoors: Farallones de Cali National Natural Park (mile 12), Puracé National Natural Park (mile 117), San Agustín Archaeological Park (mile 153), Salto de Bordones (mile 160)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (mile 91), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 91), San Agustín Archaeological Park (mile 153)
Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
Created in 1968, Farallones de Cali National Natural Park lies within the Chocó biogeographic zone and is one of Colombia's most diverse protected areas for wildlife.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán
Also known as Popayán Cathedral, this Catholic basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Assumption.
Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
In Popayán, capital of Colombia's Cauca department, the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art is mainly devoted to displaying sacred art.
Puracé National Natural Park
Southeast of Popayán in the Cordillera Central, Puracé National Natural Park centers on Puracé, an active stratovolcano and one of Colombia's most active volcanoes.
San Agustín Archaeological Park
Near the town of San Agustín in Huila, San Agustín Archaeological Park is a large archaeological area with religious monuments and megalithic sculptures.
Salto de Bordones
Formed by the Bordones River inside Puracé National Natural Park in Huila, the Salto de Bordones drops about 400 meters where the municipalities of Isnos, Saladoblanco and Pitalito meet.
More drives to Pitalito
- Popayán to Pitalito
- Armenia to Pitalito
- Pereira to Pitalito
- Tuluá to Pitalito
- Manizales to Pitalito
- Villavicencio to Pitalito
From Cali to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cali to Pitalito?
About 6 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 183 miles.
How far is Pitalito from Cali by car?
About 183 miles (294 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 Cali to Pitalito?
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: Cauca (excluding Popayán); Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cali to Pitalito use?
In order: 20HL03 and 45-04B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cali and Pitalito?
Closest to the road: Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (museum, mile 91, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Popayán (basilica, mile 91, 1 mi from the route); Salto de Bordones (waterfall, mile 160, 0.8 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.