Plan on about 11 h 34 min of driving for the 556-mile (895 km) trip from Cartagena to Tunja, 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: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Distance by road | 556 mi (895 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 34 min |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Sucre, Magdalena, Cesar, Santander, Boyacá |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Cartagena to Tunja drive plays out
It runs through 6 departments: Bolívar, Sucre, Magdalena, Cesar, Santander, Boyacá. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Cartagena to Tunja: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–556 | 556 | Bolívar, Sucre, Magdalena, Cesar, Santander, Boyacá |
- Mile 78 of this route: Bolívar → Sucre (department line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Sucre → Bolívar (department line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Bolívar → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Magdalena → Bolívar (department line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Bolívar → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Magdalena → Cesar (department line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Cesar → Santander (department line)
- Mile 514 of this route: Santander → Boyacá (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cartagena and Tunja
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria, El Banco (mile 213)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria, El Banco (mile 213), Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón (mile 518)
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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria, El Banco
Dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) sits in the south of El Banco, near the town's river dock.
Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón
On Tunja's Plaza Bolívar, the Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón is a museum honoring the founder who established the city for the Spanish Crown in 1539.
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 Cartagena to other places in Colombia
- Cartagena to Cúcuta
- Cartagena to Manizales
- Cartagena to Quibdó
- Cartagena to Santa Marta
- Cartagena to Palomino
- Cartagena to Guachaca
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cartagena to Tunja?
About 11 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 556 miles.
How far is Tunja from Cartagena by car?
About 556 miles (895 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 Tunja?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Cartagena to Tunja?
Closest to the road: Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (wildlife sanctuary, mile 52, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria, El Banco (cathedral, mile 213, 0.6 mi from the route); Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón (museum, mile 518, 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.