Plan on about 12 h 56 min of driving for the 541-mile (870 km) trip from Cartagena to Quibdó, before any stops.
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: “Highways may not have lights or signs showing destinations.”
| Total distance | 541 mi (870 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia, Chocó |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Cartagena to Quibdó
25BAN (14 mi) carries about 3% of the 541 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia, Chocó. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cartagena to Quibdó, road by road
| 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 | 424–438 | 14 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 438–541 | 103 | Antioquia, Chocó |
- 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 480 of this route: Antioquia → Chocó (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Quibdó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 113), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 326), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos (mile 356), Water Museum EPM (mile 402), Teatro al aire libre Carlos Vieco (mile 403), El Castillo Museum (mile 406)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Chorrolato (mile 396)
- Museums and history: St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 113), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 326), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos (mile 356), Water Museum EPM (mile 402), 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.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos
The tallest building in Santa Rosa de Osos, this Catholic basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercies and serves as the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos's main Marian shrine.
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.
Water Museum EPM
Part of Medellín's Barefoot Park, the Water Museum EPM receives about 1,000 visitors a day, most of them students.
Teatro al aire libre Carlos Vieco
On the north slope of Cerro Nutibara in Medellín, this Greek-inspired open-air theater opened in 1984 and honors Antioquian composer Carlos Vieco Ortiz.
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.
More drives to Quibdó
- Ibagué to Quibdó
- Bogotá to Quibdó
- Villavicencio to Quibdó
- Tunja to Quibdó
- Yopal to Quibdó
- Bucaramanga to Quibdó
From Cartagena to other places in Colombia
- Cartagena to Cúcuta
- Cartagena to Manizales
- 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 Quibdó?
About 12 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 541 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cartagena to Quibdó?
About 541 miles (870 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 Cartagena to Quibdó?
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 Quibdó?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (basilica, mile 326, 0.5 mi from the route); Water Museum EPM (museum, mile 402, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro al aire libre Carlos Vieco (theater, mile 403, 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.