Cali to Tunja is about 368 road miles (593 km): roughly 10 h 14 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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 | 368 mi (593 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25-04A |
| Departments on the route | Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota, Boyacá |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Cali to Tunja: the shape of the trip
25-04A (8 mi) carries about 2% of the 368 miles. It runs through 6 departments: Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota, Boyacá. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cali and Tunja
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–16 | 16 | Valle del Cauca |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Valle del Cauca |
| 25-04A | 17–25 | 8 | Valle del Cauca |
| local roads | 25–368 | 343 | Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota, Boyacá |
- Mile 99 of this route: Valle del Cauca → Quindío (department line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Quindío → Tolima (department line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Tolima → Cundinamarca (department line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Cundinamarca → Bogota (department line)
- Mile 292 of this route: Bogota → Cundinamarca (department line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Cundinamarca → Boyacá (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Tunja
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botanico (mile 119), Catedral de Jesucristo Nuestra Paz (mile 268), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Engativá (mile 279), Guaymaral y Torca (mile 290), Jaime Duque Park (mile 302)
- Nature and outdoors: Jaime Duque Park (mile 302)
- Museums and history: Museo Aéreo Fénix (mile 14), Jardín Botanico (mile 119), Catedral de Ibagué (mile 160), Catedral de Jesucristo Nuestra Paz (mile 268), Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 278), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Engativá (mile 279)
Museo Aéreo Fénix
In Palmira, Valle del Cauca, the nonprofit Museo Aéreo Fénix tells the story of transportation in Colombia over the years, with a main focus on air travel.
Jardín Botanico
The Quindío Botanical Garden (Jardín botánico del Quindío) is made up of a group of rural properties in Colombia's Quindío department.
Catedral de Ibagué
Formally dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, the Catedral de Ibagué (Catedral Metropolitana de Ibagué) stands on the east side of Plaza de Bolívar in central Ibagué, at Carrera 3 and Calle 10.
Catedral de Jesucristo Nuestra Paz
Commonly called Soacha Cathedral, the Catedral de Jesucristo Nuestra Paz stands in the León XIII neighborhood of Soacha and is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Soacha.
El Burro
El Burro is a wetland of about 47 acres in Bogotá's Kennedy locality, part of the city's savanna wetlands and crossed by Avenida Ciudad de Cali.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
On the main square of Chapinero in northern Bogotá, the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic minor basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes.
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Engativá
Also called Engativá Cathedral, the St. John the Baptist Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the Engativá locality of Bogotá.
Guaymaral y Torca
Part of the Wetlands of Bogotá, Guaymaral y Torca is a combined wetland in the city's north, spanning the Suba and Usaquén localities on the Bogotá savanna.
Jaime Duque Park
Jaime Duque Park is a family amusement park in Tocancipá, in the Bogotá metro area, with the Jaime Duque Zoo, the Museum of Mankind, and replicas of well-known buildings from around the world.
Once you reach Tunja
Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle, Tunja
Tunja Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the Colombian city of Tunja, and the oldest Catholic cathedral in Colombia.
Goranchacha Temple
Named for the mythological figure Goranchacha, this Muisca archaeological site lies in Tunja, Boyacá, known as Hunza in the time of the Muisca Confederation.
More drives to Tunja
- Bogotá to Tunja
- Villavicencio to Tunja
- Ibagué to Tunja
- Armenia to Tunja
- Medellín to Tunja
- Manizales to Tunja
From Cali to other places in Colombia
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cali to Tunja?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 368 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cali to Tunja?
About 368 miles (593 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 Cali to Tunja 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Cali to Tunja?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botanico (museum, mile 119, 0.1 mi from the route); Catedral de Jesucristo Nuestra Paz (cathedral, mile 268, 0.2 mi from the route); Guaymaral y Torca (nature area, mile 290, 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.