By road, Cartagena and Minca are about 149 miles (239 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 18 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: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Total distance | 149 mi (239 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | 90-07A |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
On the road from Cartagena to Minca
90-07A (11 mi) carries about 7% of the 149 miles. It runs through 3 departments: Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cartagena and Minca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–130 | 130 | Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena |
| 90-07A | 130–141 | 11 | Magdalena |
| local roads | 141–149 | 8 | Magdalena |
- Mile 28 of this route: Bolívar → Atlántico (department line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
Places worth a stop between Cartagena and Minca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 101)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 101)
- Museums and history: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (mile 83), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 141)
Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Queen Mary Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Queen Mary) stands in central Barranquilla on the western side of Plaza de la Paz, the city's zero point.
Salamanca Island Road Park
On the western outskirts of Ciénaga in Magdalena, Salamanca Island Road Park is a protected area where fresh water from the Magdalena River meets the salt water of the Caribbean, supporting abundant plants and wildlife.
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Built in 1608, the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Mamatoco, Santa Marta, is the hacienda where Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830.
More drives to Minca
- Sabanalarga to Minca
- Santa Cruz de Mompós to Minca
- Rincón del Mar to Minca
- Cúcuta to Minca
- Tunja to Minca
- Medellín to Minca
From Cartagena to other places in Colombia
- Cartagena to Cúcuta
- Cartagena to Manizales
- Cartagena to Quibdó
- Cartagena to Tunja
- Cartagena to Santa Marta
- Cartagena to Palomino
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cartagena to Minca?
About 3 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 149 miles.
How far is Minca from Cartagena by car?
About 149 miles (239 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 Minca 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 Minca?
Closest to the road: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (cathedral, mile 83, 3 mi from the route); Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 101, 0.4 mi from the route); Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (museum, mile 141, 1 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.