Cúcuta to Pereira is about 509 road miles (819 km): roughly 10 h 32 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Norte de Santander.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Within 10 km (6 miles) of the Colombia-Venezuela border.
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: “The Colombia-Venezuela border is not clearly marked.”
| Distance | 509 mi (819 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Norte de Santander, Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Cúcuta to Pereira
25BAN (43 mi) carries about 8% of the 509 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Norte de Santander, Santander, Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Cúcuta to Pereira: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–128 | 128 | Norte de Santander, Santander |
| connecting roads | 128–130 | 2 | Santander |
| local roads | 130–371 | 241 | Santander, Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 371–372 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 372–377 | 5 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 377–378 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 378–386 | 8 | Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 386–429 | 43 | Antioquia, Caldas |
| local roads | 429–509 | 80 | Caldas, Risaralda |
- Mile 80 of this route: Norte de Santander → Santander (department line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Santander → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Antioquia → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 464 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 496 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Pereira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santa Clara (mile 50), Pamplona Colonial House Museum (mile 50), Catedral de la Sagrada Familia, Bucaramanga (mile 125), Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 349), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 362), Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 365), El Castillo Museum (mile 367)
- Nature and outdoors: Saturban Canyon (mile 78)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santa Clara (mile 50), Pamplona Colonial House Museum (mile 50), Catedral de la Sagrada Familia, Bucaramanga (mile 125), Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 349), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 362), Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 365), El Castillo Museum (mile 367)
- With kids: Planetarium of Medellín (mile 362)
Catedral de Santa Clara
Also known as Pamplona Cathedral (Catedral de Pamplona), Catedral de Santa Clara is a Catholic church in the municipality of Pamplona and the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Pamplona.
Pamplona Colonial House Museum
In northeastern Colombia, the Pamplona Colonial House Museum ranks among the oldest museums in the department of Norte de Santander.
Saturban Canyon
Running 2.28 km and reaching 320 m deep, Saturban Canyon (Cañón de Saturbán) marks the boundary between Santander and Norte de Santander in Colombia.
Catedral de la Sagrada Familia, Bucaramanga
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Family is a Catholic cathedral in the city of Bucaramanga, in Colombia's Santander department.
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota
Girardota Cathedral is a Neo-Romanesque church of exposed brick, designed by French architect Charles Émile Carré and built over 32 years.
Planetarium of Medellín
Medellín's Jesús Emilio Ramírez González Planetarium opened on October 10, 1984, an idea first conceived by the astronomical society of the Colegio San José.
Medellín Museum of Modern Art
Medellín's Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1978, is a modern art museum in the Colombian city of Medellín.
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.
In Pereira itself
Our Lady of Poverty Cathedral, Pereira
Pereira Cathedral, formally Our Lady of Poverty Cathedral, is the Catholic cathedral of Pereira, capital of Colombia's Risaralda department, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Jardín Botánico
Jardín Botánico (Jardín Botánico de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira) is a center for research, conservation and environmental education at the Technological University of Pereira, Colombia.
More drives to Pereira
From Cúcuta to other places in Colombia
- Cúcuta to Bucaramanga
- Cúcuta to Barrancabermeja
- Cúcuta to Sogamoso
- Cúcuta to Tunja
- Cúcuta to Yopal
- Cúcuta to Zipaquirá
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cúcuta to Pereira?
About 10 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 509 miles.
How far is Pereira from Cúcuta by car?
About 509 miles (819 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 Cúcuta to Pereira 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: Norte de Santander; Colombia: Within 10 km (6 miles) of the Colombia-Venezuela border). Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Cúcuta and Pereira?
Closest to the road: Catedral de la Sagrada Familia, Bucaramanga (cathedral, mile 125, 0.3 mi from the route); Planetarium of Medellín (science museum, mile 362, 0.5 mi from the route); Medellín Museum of Modern Art (art museum, mile 365, 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.