By road, Tuluá and Ipiales are about 359 miles (577 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 8 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán).
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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 | 359 mi (577 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25-04A |
| Departments on the route | Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Nariño |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Tuluá to Ipiales is like
25-04A (27 mi) carries about 8% of the 359 miles. It runs through 3 departments: Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Nariño. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tuluá to Ipiales: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–47 | 47 | Valle del Cauca |
| 25-04A | 47–74 | 27 | Valle del Cauca, Cauca |
| connecting roads | 74–76 | 2 | Cauca |
| local roads | 76–122 | 46 | Cauca |
| connecting roads | 122–124 | 2 | Cauca |
| local roads | 124–359 | 235 | Cauca, Nariño |
- Mile 63 of this route: Valle del Cauca → Cauca (department line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Cauca → Nariño (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Ipiales
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (mile 16), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 145), Morro del Tulcán (mile 145)
- Museums and history: St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (mile 16), Estación del Ferrocarril (mile 52), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 145), Morro del Tulcán (mile 145), St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (mile 302)
St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga
Seat of the Catholic bishop of Buga, St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral stands in Guadalajara de Buga, Colombia, and is dedicated to the Apostle Simon Peter.
Estación del Ferrocarril
Known simply as La Estación, Cali's Estación del Ferrocarril is a national monument opened in 1953 and considered one of the city's most representative buildings.
Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
In Popayán, capital of Colombia's Cauca department, the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art is mainly devoted to displaying sacred art.
Morro del Tulcán
Morro del Tulcán is an Indigenous pyramid in the city of Popayán, in Colombia.
St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto
Pasto Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Pasto and takes its name from St. Ezequiel Moreno, the friar who was appointed the city's bishop in 1895.
When you get to Ipiales
Sanctuary of Las Lajas
Built between 1916 and 1949 inside the Guáitara River canyon near Ipiales, the neo-Gothic Sanctuary of Las Lajas is reached by a bridge about 50 meters long. The Marian shrine also has a museum and a crypt.
More drives to Ipiales
- Cali to Ipiales
- Pereira to Ipiales
- Guayaquil to Ipiales, Colombia
- Cuenca to Ipiales, Colombia
- Portoviejo to Ipiales, Colombia
- Machala to Ipiales, Colombia
From Tuluá to other places in Colombia
- Tuluá to Girardot City
- Tuluá to Guatapé
- Tuluá to Zipaquirá
- Tuluá to Tunja
- Tuluá to Sogamoso
- Tuluá to Yopal
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tuluá to Ipiales?
About 11 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuluá to Ipiales?
About 359 miles (577 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 Tuluá to Ipiales?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán); Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Tuluá and Ipiales?
Closest to the road: St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral, Buga (cathedral, mile 16, 0.6 mi from the route); Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (museum, mile 145, 0.3 mi from the route); Morro del Tulcán (archaeological site, mile 145, 0.4 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.