Bogotá, Salento, Medellín and Cartagena
This is leg 3 of 3, the final leg.
Travel leg · Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean
Medellín to Cartagena
Medellín and Cartagena sit about 461 km (287 mi) apart in a straight line, with Cartagena to the north. It is leg 3 of 3 on our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean itinerary, a 12-day trip. Here is how long it takes by bus, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 461 km · 287 mi
- Est. road distance
- 553–646 km
- Est. drive time
- 5 h 45 min – 10 h
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By bus or car
Our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean guide points to buses for getting around, and a car works too: an estimated 553–646 km of road and 5 h 45 min – 10 h of driving.
Domestic flights on Avianca, LATAM and others link Bogotá, Armenia/Pereira, Medellín and Cartagena cheaply. In the Coffee Region, local buses and Willys jeeps run between Salento, Cocora and Filandia.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Cartagena
Caribbean port with a walled colonial center and island beaches offshore. Stay 3 to 4 days.
Walled City of Cartagena
UNESCO-listed old town of plazas, flower-draped balconies and 11 km of stone ramparts.
Islas del Rosario
Coral archipelago in a national park about an hour by boat, with clear water for snorkeling.
Las Bóvedas
Former vaults in the city wall now holding craft and souvenir shops.
La Cevichería
Small spot near the walls famous for Caribbean ceviches and seafood rice.
Alquímico
Three-story cocktail bar with a rooftop, using spirits and produce from its own farm.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Massive Spanish fortress with tunnels, built on San Lázaro hill to guard the city.
Before you leave Medellín
Valley city with year-round spring weather, cable cars and a busy food scene. Stay 3 days.
Comuna 13
Hillside neighborhood transformed by outdoor escalators, murals and hip-hop, best seen with a local guide.
Parque Arví
Forest reserve above the city reached by Metrocable Line L, with trails and a farmers' market.
Guatapé and El Peñol
Climb 700-plus steps up a granite monolith over a reservoir, then walk Guatapé's painted streets.
On this curated route
Where Medellín → Cartagena sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Cartagena to Medellín is the same 461 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in November, when Cartagena averages highs 6°C warmer than Medellín. Over a year, Medellín gets about 900 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín high | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 23° | 23° | 23° |
| Cartagena high | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° |
| Medellín rain | 134 | 111 | 155 | 230 | 246 | 179 | 183 | 206 | 202 | 232 | 221 | 172 |
| Cartagena rain | 2 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 178 | 135 | 160 | 160 | 182 | 242 | 181 | 56 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Cartagena month guides.
Medellín to Cartagena: questions travelers ask
How far is Medellín from Cartagena?
Medellín is about 461 km (287 mi) from Cartagena in a straight line, with Cartagena to the north. By road, we estimate 553–646 km (344–401 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Medellín to Cartagena?
An estimated 5 h 45 min – 10 h, assuming 553–646 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Medellín to Cartagena?
Our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean itinerary includes this leg. Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean runs about 12 days across 4 stops, best in Dec – Mar.
Getting to Medellín
- Salento to Medellín 179 km
Guides for both ends
- Medellín travel guide
- Medellín weather best time to visit
- Cartagena travel guide
- Cartagena weather best time to visit
Cartagena by month
Plan Medellín → Cartagena with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.