Plan on about 8 h 18 min of driving for the 307-mile (494 km) trip from Cali to Zipaquirá, before any 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: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 307 mi (494 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25-04A |
| Departments on the route | Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Cali–Zipaquirá drive in a few lines
25-04A (8 mi) carries about 3% of the 307 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cali to Zipaquirá, road by road
| 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 | 25–292 | 267 | Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Bogota |
| connecting roads | 292–294 | 2 | Cundinamarca |
| local roads | 294–307 | 13 | Cundinamarca |
- 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)
Where to stop on the way to Zipaquirá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (mile 46), Jardín Botanico (mile 119), Salitre Mágico (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Sumapaz Natural Park (mile 258)
- Museums and history: Museo Aéreo Fénix (mile 14), St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (mile 46), Jardín Botanico (mile 119), Museo de Arte del Tolima (mile 160), Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 278)
- With kids: Salitre Mágico (mile 278)
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.
St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga
Seat of the Catholic bishop of Buga, St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral stands in Guadalajara de Buga, Colombia, and is dedicated to the Apostle Simon Peter.
Jardín Botanico
The Quindío Botanical Garden (Jardín botánico del Quindío) is made up of a group of rural properties in Colombia's Quindío department.
Museo de Arte del Tolima
In Ibagué, capital of Tolima, the Museo de Arte del Tolima shows Colombian art alongside contemporary Latin American work.
Sumapaz Natural Park
Sumapaz Natural Park (Parque Nacional Natural Sumapaz) is a Colombian national park spanning parts of the Meta, Huila and Cundinamarca departments and the Capital District of Bogotá.
La Vaca
La Vaca, also called Techovita, is a wetland of about 20 acres in Bogotá's Kennedy locality, part of the Wetlands of Bogotá in the Tunjuelo River basin.
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.
Salitre Mágico
Salitre Mágico is an amusement park in Bogotá's Parque El Salitre, with 39 mechanical rides, including roller coasters, bumper cars and the Castillo del Terror.
La Conejera
La Conejera is a 146-acre wetland in Suba, Bogotá, part of the Wetlands of Bogotá in the Juan Amarillo River basin on the Bogotá savanna.
When you get to Zipaquirá
El Abra
El Abra is an extensive archaeological site in the valley of the same name, stretching from eastern Zipaquirá into the western edge of Tocancipá, Cundinamarca.
Zipaquirá Cathedral
Zipaquirá Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral dedicated jointly to the Holy Trinity, St. Anthony of Padua, and Our Lady of the Assumption in the Colombian town of Zipaquirá.
Tibitó
Tibitó is a dated archaeological rock shelter in Tocancipá, on the northern Bogotá savanna, part of Colombia's Altiplano Cundiboyacense.
More drives to Zipaquirá
- Bogotá to Zipaquirá
- Ibagué to Zipaquirá
- Armenia to Zipaquirá
- Manizales to Zipaquirá
- Pereira to Zipaquirá
- Cartago, Colombia to Zipaquirá
From Cali to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cali to Zipaquirá?
About 8 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 307 miles.
How far is Zipaquirá from Cali by car?
About 307 miles (494 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 Zipaquirá 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 Cali and Zipaquirá?
Closest to the road: St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (cathedral, mile 46, 0.6 mi from the route); Jardín Botanico (museum, mile 119, 0.1 mi from the route); Salitre Mágico (amusement park, mile 278, 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.