Plan on about 4 h 10 min of driving for the 201-mile (323 km) trip from Santa Marta to Sincelejo, 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.”
| Distance | 201 mi (323 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25ATA |
| Departments on the route | Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Santa Marta to Sincelejo drive plays out
25ATA (6 mi) carries about 3% of the 201 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Marta to Sincelejo, road by road
| 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 | 77–201 | 124 | 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 166 of this route: Bolívar → Sucre (department line)
Stops between Santa Marta and Sincelejo
- 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: Museo del Atlántico (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.
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.
Museo del Atlántico
History and culture of Colombia's Atlántico department are the focus of the Museo del Atlántico in Barranquilla, which officially opened on December 27, 2011.
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.
Arriving in Sincelejo
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.
More drives to Sincelejo
From Santa Marta to other places in Colombia
- Santa Marta to Sabanalarga
- Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar
- Santa Marta to Montería
- Santa Marta to Tunja
- Santa Marta to Maicao
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Marta to Sincelejo?
About 4 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 201 miles.
How far is Sincelejo from Santa Marta by car?
About 201 miles (323 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Marta to Sincelejo drive?
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 Santa Marta to Sincelejo?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 40, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Atlántico (museum, mile 59, 2 mi from the route); Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (wildlife sanctuary, mile 140, 1 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.