Plan on about 6 h 59 min of driving for the 301-mile (484 km) trip from Medellín to Zipaquirá, 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.”
| Total distance | 301 mi (484 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 59 min |
| Departments on the route | Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Medellín to Zipaquirá is like
It runs through 4 departments: Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Medellín to Zipaquirá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–211 | 211 | Antioquia, Santander |
| connecting roads | 211–212 | 1 | Santander |
| local roads | 212–301 | 89 | Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca |
- Mile 107 of this route: Antioquia → Santander (department line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Santander → Boyacá (department line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Boyacá → Cundinamarca (department line)
Places worth a stop between Medellín and Zipaquirá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 16), Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (mile 241), Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (mile 274)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 16), Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (mile 241), Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (mile 274), Checua (mile 290)
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.
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.
Once you reach Zipaquirá
El Abra
El Abra is an extensive archaeological site in the valley of the same name, stretching from eastern Zipaquirá into the western edge of Tocancipá, Cundinamarca.
Zipaquirá Cathedral
Zipaquirá Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral dedicated jointly to the Holy Trinity, St. Anthony of Padua, and Our Lady of the Assumption in the Colombian town of Zipaquirá.
Tibitó
Tibitó is a dated archaeological rock shelter in Tocancipá, on the northern Bogotá savanna, part of Colombia's Altiplano Cundiboyacense.
More drives to Zipaquirá
- Bogotá to Zipaquirá
- Ibagué to Zipaquirá
- Armenia to Zipaquirá
- Manizales to Zipaquirá
- Pereira to Zipaquirá
- Cartago, Colombia to Zipaquirá
From Medellín to other places in Colombia
- Medellín to Armenia
- Medellín to Ibagué
- Medellín to Girardot City
- Medellín to Tuluá
- Medellín to Cali
- Medellín to Villavicencio
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Medellín to Zipaquirá?
About 6 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 301 miles.
What is the driving distance from Medellín to Zipaquirá?
About 301 miles (484 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 Medellín to Zipaquirá?
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 Medellín to Zipaquirá?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (cathedral, mile 16, 0.8 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (basilica, mile 241, 0.6 mi from the route); Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté (basilica, mile 274, 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.