Maicao to Sabanalarga is about 243 road miles (391 km): roughly 4 h 53 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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 | 243 mi (391 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 53 min |
| Departments on the route | La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Maicao to Sabanalarga: the shape of the trip
It runs through 3 departments: La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Maicao to Sabanalarga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–243 | 243 | La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico |
- Mile 106 of this route: La Guajira → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 210 of this route: Magdalena → Atlántico (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Maicao and Sabanalarga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral, Riohacha (mile 48), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 152), Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 192)
- Nature and outdoors: Tayrona National Natural Park (mile 138), Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 192)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral, Riohacha (mile 48), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 152), Casa de la Aduana (mile 153), Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 157)
- With kids: Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 157)
Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral, Riohacha
Consecrated to the Virgin of Remedies, Riohacha Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Riohacha.
Tayrona National Natural Park
About 34 km from central Santa Marta, Tayrona National Natural Park protects Caribbean coast and Sierra Nevada terrain rising from sea level to 900 meters.
Piedra de Donama
Piedra de Donama is a rock about 4 meters across and 3 meters high in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, carved with zoomorphic and abstract petroglyphs.
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.
Casa de la Aduana
On Plaza de Bolívar in Santa Marta, the colonial Casa de la Aduana houses the regional Gold Museum of Colombia's Banco de la República.
Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum
Opened in 1965 by Captain Francisco Ospina Navia, the Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum is a public aquarium and maritime museum in Inca Inca Cove off Rodadero beach in Santa Marta.
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.
Teatro Rex
Designed as a theater in the mid-1930s by Cuban architect Manuel Carrerá, Teatro Rex is an Art Deco building in Barranquilla, Colombia.
More drives to Sabanalarga
- Bucaramanga to Sabanalarga
- Cúcuta to Sabanalarga
- Manizales to Sabanalarga
- Quibdó to Sabanalarga
- Santa Marta to Sabanalarga
- Riohacha to Sabanalarga
From Maicao to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Maicao to Sabanalarga?
About 4 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 243 miles.
How far is Sabanalarga from Maicao by car?
About 243 miles (391 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 Maicao to Sabanalarga?
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: Within 10 km (6 miles) of the Colombia-Venezuela border). Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Maicao and Sabanalarga?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral, Riohacha (cathedral, mile 48, 0.6 mi from the route); Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (museum, mile 152, 0.5 mi from the route); Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 192, 0.4 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.