The 14 Best Day Trips from Cartagena
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 14 good day trips from Cartagena, Colombia, led by Barranquilla, Soledad, Sincelejo. The closest is Arjona, about 35 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Cartagena
- 1
Barranquilla, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north-east of CartagenaKnown for Ventana de Campeones.
- 2
Soledad, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-east of Cartagena - 3
Sincelejo, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south of Cartagena - 4
Sabanalarga, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km north-east of Cartagena - 5
Baranoa, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car77 km north-east of Cartagena - 6
Fundación, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km east of Cartagena - 7
Chinú, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km south of Cartagena - 8
Arjona, Colombia
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car23 km south-east of Cartagena - 9
Plato, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car103 km south-east of Cartagena - 10
El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car86 km south-east of Cartagena - 11
Aracataca, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km east of Cartagena - 12
Lorica, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car134 km south of Cartagena - 13
Corozal, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south of Cartagena - 14
San Pablo, Colombia
Half-day tripAbout 55 min by car46 km south-east of Cartagena
A sample day: Cartagena to Barranquilla
- 07:30Leave Cartagena
- 09:05Arrive in Barranquilla (1 hr 35 min drive)
- 09:20Ventana de Campeones
- 11:20Lunch
- 12:35Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Barranquilla
- 15:05Head back to Cartagena
- 16:40Home in Cartagena
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Cartagena?
- The best day trips from Cartagena are Barranquilla, Soledad, Sincelejo, Sabanalarga, Baranoa. The closest is Arjona, about 35 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Cartagena?
- Arjona is the closest, 23 km south-east of Cartagena, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Cartagena?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Cartagena: Arjona (35 min), San Pablo (55 min).
- What is the biggest city near Cartagena for a day out?
- Barranquilla is the largest city in day-trip range, 100 km north-east of Cartagena and about 1 hr 35 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Cartagena?
- For a weekend away from Cartagena, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Aracataca (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Chinú (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Fundación (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Lorica (134 km, 2 hr 5 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Cartagena?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Aracataca at 144 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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