By road, Cartagena and Manizales are about 538 miles (866 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 50 min of driving.
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: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Distance by road | 538 mi (866 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Cartagena to Manizales
25BAN (43 mi) carries about 8% of the 538 miles. It runs through 6 departments: Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cartagena to Manizales
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–409 | 409 | Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 409–411 | 2 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 411–416 | 5 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 416–417 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 417–424 | 7 | Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 424–467 | 43 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 467–538 | 71 | Caldas, Risaralda |
- Mile 78 of this route: Bolívar → Sucre (department line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Sucre → Córdoba (department line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Córdoba → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Antioquia → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 503 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 506 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
What to see on the way from Cartagena to Manizales
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 112), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 326), Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (mile 355), San Pedro Cemetery Museum (mile 401), El Castillo Museum (mile 406)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Chorrolato (mile 396)
- Museums and history: St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 112), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 326), Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (mile 355), San Pedro Cemetery Museum (mile 401), Museo Etnográfico Miguel Ángel Builes (mile 401), El Castillo Museum (mile 406)
Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Managed by Colombia's national parks agency, Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary protects one of the last standing native forests of the Montes de María, along with endangered monkeys, especially the red howler.
St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo
Sincelejo Cathedral, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, is a cathedral church of the Catholic Church in Sincelejo, Colombia.
Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy
A minor basilica in Yarumal, the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy belongs to the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos and serves as the parish church.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral
Facing the south side of Bolívar Park in Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia, this cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá.
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.
San Pedro Cemetery Museum
Built in 1842 and named a museum in 1998, Medellín's San Pedro Cemetery Museum was declared a national monument of Colombia in 1999.
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.
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.
Once you reach Manizales
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Manizales
In front of the Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales' historic center, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary rises 119 meters, the tallest cathedral in Colombia.
Basílica menor de la Inmaculada Concepción
In the city of Manizales, the Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción is a Catholic church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
Jardín botánico de la Universidad de Caldas
Run by the Universidad de Caldas in Manizales, Colombia, this botanical garden doubles as an arboretum.
More drives to Manizales
- Ibagué to Manizales
- Cali to Manizales
- Bogotá to Manizales
- Villavicencio to Manizales
- Bucaramanga to Manizales
- Cúcuta to Manizales
From Cartagena to other places in Colombia
- Cartagena to Cúcuta
- Cartagena to Quibdó
- Cartagena to Tunja
- Cartagena to Santa Marta
- Cartagena to Palomino
- Cartagena to Guachaca
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cartagena to Manizales?
About 11 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 538 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cartagena to Manizales?
About 538 miles (866 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 Cartagena to Manizales drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Cartagena and Manizales?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (basilica, mile 326, 0.5 mi from the route); Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (cathedral, mile 355, 0.4 mi from the route); San Pedro Cemetery Museum (museum, mile 401, 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.