The 14 Best Day Trips from Popayán
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 Popayán, Colombia, led by Cali, Palmira, Pitalito. The closest is Piendamo, about 35 min by car, and 1 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 Popayán
- 1
Cali, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car111 km north of PopayánKnown for Mano de la Resistencia del Paro.
- 2
Palmira, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car127 km north of Popayán - 3
Pitalito, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car90 km south-east of Popayán - 4
Santander de Quilichao, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car65 km north of Popayán - 5
Yumbo, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km north of Popayán - 6
Mocoa, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car143 km south of Popayán - 7
Florida, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car107 km north-east of Popayán - 8
Puerto Tejada, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car91 km north of Popayán - 9
Jamundí, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car92 km north of Popayán - 10
Piendamo, Colombia
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km north of Popayán - 11
Miranda, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north-east of Popayán - 12
El Cerrito, Colombia
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car143 km north of Popayán - 13
Patía, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car64 km south-west of Popayán - 14
Belalcázar, Colombia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car75 km east of Popayán
A sample day: Popayán to Cali
- 07:30Leave Popayán
- 09:15Arrive in Cali (1 hr 45 min drive)
- 09:30Mano de la Resistencia del Paro
- 11:30Lunch
- 12:45Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Cali
- 15:15Head back to Popayán
- 17:00Home in Popayán
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Popayán?
- The best day trips from Popayán are Cali, Palmira, Pitalito, Santander de Quilichao, Yumbo. The closest is Piendamo, about 35 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Popayán?
- Piendamo is the closest, 24 km north of Popayán, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Popayán?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Popayán: Piendamo (35 min).
- What is the biggest city near Popayán for a day out?
- Cali is the largest city in day-trip range, 111 km north of Popayán and about 1 hr 45 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Popayán?
- For a weekend away from Popayán, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: El Cerrito (143 km, 2 hr 15 min), Mocoa (143 km, 2 hr 15 min), Yumbo (128 km, 2 hr), Palmira (127 km, 2 hr). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Popayán?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is El Cerrito at 143 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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