Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar is about 194 road miles (312 km): roughly 4 h 28 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: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
| Distance by road | 194 mi (312 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25ATA |
| Departments on the route | Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
On the road from Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar
25ATA (6 mi) carries about 3% of the 194 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre. Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–63 | 63 | Magdalena, Atlántico |
| connecting roads | 63–64 | 1 | Atlántico |
| local roads | 64–71 | 7 | Atlántico |
| 25ATA | 71–77 | 6 | Atlántico |
| local roads | 77–194 | 117 | Atlántico, Magdalena, Bolívar, Sucre |
- Mile 58 of this route: Magdalena → Atlántico (department line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Magdalena → Bolívar (department line)
- Mile 169 of this route: Bolívar → Sucre (department line)
Stops between Santa Marta and Rincón del Mar
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40)
- Museums and history: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (mile 59)
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.
Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Queen Mary Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Queen Mary) stands in central Barranquilla on the western side of Plaza de la Paz, the city's zero point.
More drives to Rincón del Mar
- Cúcuta to Rincón del Mar
- Manizales to Rincón del Mar
- Quibdó to Rincón del Mar
- Tunja to Rincón del Mar
- Pereira to Rincón del Mar
- Cartago, Colombia to Rincón del Mar
From Santa Marta to other places in Colombia
- Santa Marta to Sabanalarga
- Santa Marta to Sincelejo
- Santa Marta to Montería
- Santa Marta to Tunja
- Santa Marta to Maicao
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar?
About 4 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 194 miles.
How far is Rincón del Mar from Santa Marta by car?
About 194 miles (312 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 Marta to Rincón del Mar?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Santa Marta and Rincón del Mar?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 40, 0.4 mi from the route); Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (cathedral, mile 59, 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.