Cúcuta to Villavicencio is about 428 road miles (689 km): roughly 10 h 1 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.”
| Total distance | 428 mi (689 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | 55 CN 01 |
| Departments on the route | Norte de Santander, Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Bogota, Meta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Cúcuta to Villavicencio drive plays out
55 CN 01 (6 mi) carries about 1% of the 428 miles. It runs through 6 departments: Norte de Santander, Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Bogota, Meta. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Cúcuta to Villavicencio: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–115 | 115 | Norte de Santander, Santander |
| connecting roads | 115–116 | 1 | Santander |
| local roads | 116–327 | 211 | Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca |
| 55 CN 01 | 327–333 | 6 | Cundinamarca |
| connecting roads | 333–334 | 1 | Cundinamarca |
| local roads | 334–428 | 94 | Cundinamarca, Bogota, Meta |
- Mile 80 of this route: Norte de Santander → Santander (department line)
- Mile 218 of this route: Santander → Boyacá (department line)
- Mile 230 of this route: Boyacá → Santander (department line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Santander → Boyacá (department line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Boyacá → Cundinamarca (department line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Cundinamarca → Bogota (department line)
- Mile 374 of this route: Bogota → Cundinamarca (department line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Cundinamarca → Meta (department line)
Places worth a stop between Cúcuta and Villavicencio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chicamocha Canyon (mile 135), Chicamocha National Park (mile 142), Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (mile 269), Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (mile 302)
- Nature and outdoors: Saturban Canyon (mile 78), Chicamocha Canyon (mile 135), Chicamocha National Park (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (mile 269), Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (mile 302), Checua (mile 318), Planetarium of Bogotá (mile 359), Colonial Museum (mile 360)
- With kids: Salitre Mágico (mile 355), Planetarium of Bogotá (mile 359)
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.
Chicamocha Canyon
Carved by the Chicamocha River, Colombia's Chicamocha Canyon has steep walls reaching depths of up to 2,000 meters and runs for about 227 kilometers.
Chicamocha National Park
About 50 km from Bucaramanga, Chicamocha National Park (Panachi) sits along the Chicamocha Canyon, with paragliding, caving, hiking, camping, kayaking, rafting and climbing on offer.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
In Chiquinquirá, Boyacá, this minor basilica houses the venerated image of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, also a national shrine.
Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté
Ubaté's Basílica del Santo Cristo, a minor basilica dedicated to the Divine Savior, stands in the municipality of Villa de San Diego de Ubaté, Cundinamarca.
Checua
About 7 km north of the Nemocón town center in Cundinamarca, Checua is an open-air preceramic archaeological site.
Salitre Mágico
Salitre Mágico is an amusement park in Bogotá's Parque El Salitre, with 39 mechanical rides, including roller coasters, bumper cars and the Castillo del Terror.
Planetarium of Bogotá
Inside Independence Park in Bogotá's International Center, the Planetarium of Bogotá is a cultural center whose dome has a 23-meter projection screen.
Colonial Museum
Founded in 1942, the Colonial Museum in Bogotá holds more than 1,600 objects, with art and exhibits focused on Colombia's colonial period.
In Villavicencio itself
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Villavicencio
Villavicencio Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is a Catholic cathedral in Villavicencio, capital of Colombia's Meta department.
Bioparque Los Ocarros
Bioparque Los Ocarros in Villavicencio is a zoo park that houses animals of the region and works with environmental authorities to protect local wildlife.
More drives to Villavicencio
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cúcuta to Villavicencio?
About 10 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 428 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cúcuta to Villavicencio?
About 428 miles (689 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 Villavicencio 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Cúcuta to Villavicencio?
Closest to the road: Chicamocha Canyon (canyon, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Chicamocha National Park (national park, mile 142, 0.2 mi from the route); Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (basilica, mile 302, 0.5 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.