Santa Cruz de Mompós to Palomino is about 238 road miles (383 km): roughly 4 h 56 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.”
| Distance | 238 mi (383 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 56 min |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Magdalena, Cesar, La Guajira |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Santa Cruz de Mompós–Palomino drive in a few lines
It runs through 4 departments: Bolívar, Magdalena, Cesar, La Guajira. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Cruz de Mompós to Palomino
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–16 | 16 | Bolívar |
| connecting roads | 16–19 | 3 | Bolívar, Magdalena |
| local roads | 19–173 | 154 | Magdalena, Cesar |
| connecting roads | 173–174 | 1 | Magdalena |
| local roads | 174–238 | 64 | Magdalena |
- Mile 17 of this route: Bolívar → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Magdalena → Cesar (department line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Cesar → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Magdalena → La Guajira (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santa Cruz de Mompós and Palomino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Tayrona National Natural Park (mile 205)
- Museums and history: Casa del Telegrafista (mile 140), Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 187), Casa de la Aduana (mile 190), Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (mile 191)
- With kids: Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum (mile 187)
Casa del Telegrafista
Casa del Telegrafista is a museum in Aracataca, the town where author Gabriel García Márquez and photographer Leo Matiz were born.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Palomino
- Barranquilla to Palomino
- Sabanalarga to Palomino
- Cartagena to Palomino
- Magangué to Palomino
- Sincelejo to Palomino
- Montería to Palomino
From Santa Cruz de Mompós to other places in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Cruz de Mompós to Palomino?
About 4 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 238 miles.
How far is Palomino from Santa Cruz de Mompós by car?
About 238 miles (383 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 Santa Cruz de Mompós to Palomino?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz de Mompós and Palomino?
Closest to the road: Casa del Telegrafista (museum, mile 140, 2 mi from the route); Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (museum, mile 191, 0.6 mi from the route); Tayrona National Natural Park (national park, mile 205, 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.