Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Cartagena

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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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.

Day trips from Cartagena at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Barranquilla100 km NE1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Soledad98 km NE1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Sincelejo122 km S1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Sabanalarga68 km NE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Baranoa77 km NE1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Fundación144 km E2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Chinú144 km S2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Arjona23 km SE35 minHalf-day trip
Plato103 km SE1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
El Carmen de Bolívar86 km SE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Aracataca144 km E2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Lorica134 km S2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Corozal122 km S1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
San Pablo46 km SE55 minHalf-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Cartagena

  1. 1

    Barranquilla, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north-east of Cartagena3 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Ventana de Campeones.

    Also nearby: Malambo.

  2. 2

    Soledad, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-east of Cartagena3 hr round trip
  3. 3

    Sincelejo, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south of Cartagena3 hr 50 min round trip
  4. 4

    Sabanalarga, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car68 km north-east of Cartagena2 hr 40 min round trip
  5. 5

    Baranoa, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car77 km north-east of Cartagena3 hr round trip
  6. 6

    Fundación, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car144 km east of Cartagena4 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    Chinú, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car144 km south of Cartagena4 hr 30 min round trip
  8. 8

    Arjona, Colombia

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car23 km south-east of Cartagena1 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Plato, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car103 km south-east of Cartagena3 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car86 km south-east of Cartagena2 hr 40 min round trip
  11. 11

    Aracataca, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car144 km east of Cartagena4 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    Lorica, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km south of Cartagena4 hr 10 min round trip
  13. 13

    Corozal, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south of Cartagena3 hr 50 min round trip
  14. 14

    San Pablo, Colombia

    Half-day trip
    About 55 min by car46 km south-east of Cartagena1 hr 50 min round trip

A sample day trip: Cartagena to Barranquilla

A realistic pace for Barranquilla, 100 km from Cartagena. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Cartagena
  2. 09:05Arrive in Barranquilla (1 hr 35 min drive)
  3. 09:20Ventana de Campeones
  4. 11:20Lunch
  5. 12:35Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Barranquilla
  6. 15:05Head back to Cartagena
  7. 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.
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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