Manizales to Sabanalarga is about 546 road miles (879 km): roughly 13 h 0 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Total distance | 546 mi (879 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Caldas, Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre, Bolívar, Magdalena, Atlántico |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Manizales to Sabanalarga
25BAN (20 mi) carries about 4% of the 546 miles. It runs through 7 departments: Caldas, Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre, Bolívar, Magdalena, Atlántico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Manizales to Sabanalarga
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–91 | 91 | Caldas, Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 91–111 | 20 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 111–125 | 14 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 125–126 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 126–144 | 18 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 144–145 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 145–546 | 401 | Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre, Bolívar, Magdalena, Atlántico |
- Mile 69 of this route: Caldas → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Antioquia → Córdoba (department line)
- Mile 410 of this route: Córdoba → Sucre (department line)
- Mile 459 of this route: Sucre → Bolívar (department line)
- Mile 510 of this route: Bolívar → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 520 of this route: Magdalena → Atlántico (department line)
Places worth a stop between Manizales and Sabanalarga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 120), Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 132), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 135), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos (mile 181), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 211), St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 424)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (mile 120), Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 132), Planetarium of Medellín (mile 135), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos (mile 181), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 211), St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 424)
- With kids: Planetarium of Medellín (mile 135)
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas
This Catholic cathedral in the Colombian municipality of Caldas is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy and serves as the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Caldas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Sabanalarga
- Bucaramanga to Sabanalarga
- Cúcuta to Sabanalarga
- Quibdó to Sabanalarga
- Santa Marta to Sabanalarga
- Riohacha to Sabanalarga
- Maicao to Sabanalarga
From Manizales to other places in Colombia
- Manizales to Guatapé
- Manizales to Girardot City
- Manizales to Tuluá
- Manizales to Zipaquirá
- Manizales to Tunja
- Manizales to Sogamoso
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Manizales to Sabanalarga?
About 13 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
How far is Sabanalarga from Manizales by car?
About 546 miles (879 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 Manizales to Sabanalarga?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Manizales and Sabanalarga?
Closest to the road: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Caldas (cathedral, mile 120, 0.1 mi from the route); Medellín Museum of Modern Art (art museum, mile 132, 0.3 mi from the route); Planetarium of Medellín (science museum, mile 135, 0.3 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.