If you’re in Medellin and considering traveling to the Caribbean beaches, find here all the options for getting from Medellin to Cartagena!
1. Book your air ticket to Cartagena here
2. Book your ticket bus to Cartagena here
3. Compare car rentals here and save up to 50 %
From Medellin to Cartagena by Air
The fastest way is to fly directly from Medellin’s MDE Jose Maria Córdova International Airport to CTG International Cartagena de Indias.
The flight takes approximately one hour. There are 48 direct flights daily, operated by Latam and Avianca. The average round trip ticket price is US$ 80.
December, January, and February are considered high season. Consequently, ticket prices tend to increase by around 15% in January and decrease by around 15% in May, which is the cheapest month to fly to Cartagena.
Secure your flight by booking in advance here.
Combining Flight and Bus
Another way to go is flying from Medellin to Tolu/Coveñas, and then taking a bus from Tolu/Coveñas to Cartagena.
Easy Fly departs every day from the domestic airport EOH Enrique Olaya in Medellin and arrives to TLU Golfo de Morrosquillo Airport in Tolu (1h 10min). The average round trip ticket price is US$ 75.00.
The Tolu Terminal is less than 10 minutes from the airport. There take a bus from Expreso Brasilia or Unistransco. Buses leave almost every hour and arrive to Cartagena in 3 hours. The ticket price is US$ 13.00.
You may choose this way if you are on holiday and have time to explore a little more of the north of Colombia. Instead of going directly to Cartagena, you can first arrive in Tolu, an off-the-beaten-path destination that will surprise you with its beautiful beaches – a paradise where locals from Medellin spend their holidays. I assure you that you will not regret this choice. Read here about Tolu and what you can find there.
From Medellin to Cartagena by Bus
Buses from Medellin depart every day from Terminal del Norte and arrive at the Cartagena Terminal in about 14 hours. The distance covered between Medellin and Cartagena is 500 miles (805 km). This route is covered by Expreso Brasilia and Rápido Ochoa. The first departure is at 6:30 am and the last bus leaves at 21:30. The average ticket price is US$ 35.00.
Save time and book your bus ticket in advance here.
From Medellin to Cartagena by Car
If you drive from Medellin, it may take you about 9 hours to cover 655 km and arrive at Cartagena. You will require 14 gallons of fuel (53 l). Along the way, you will encounter 10 road tolls.
The journey starts on Autopista Norte (North highway), heading out of the city.
Bello
The first stop is Bello. To avoid the high rate of accidents in this area, the local government of Bello has established that, since February 2023, the North Highway has a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h for all types of vehicles in both directions. Furthermore, in school or residential zones, the permitted speed will be 30 km/h. This section of the journey is dotted with numerous inns and restaurants.
Barbosa
Next comes the town of Barbosa, The weather in Barbosa is characterized by short and hot summers, long and comfortable winters with a lot of rainfall, and year-round cloudy conditions. Here the route takes a steep climb towards Don Matias.
Don Matías
This town is famous for its Blue Street, a symbol of this place where denim rules supreme, as evidenced by the numerous clothing workshops scattered throughout the place. Additionally, the variety of products crafted with denim is impressive and readily available for purchase. If you are hungry, stop in the town to try its flagship “bendito chicharrón,” which is fried pork and avocado.
The route continues through a stunning high plain until you arrive at the next location.
Santa Rosa de Osos
Santa Rosa de Osos is located at 8,366 ft (2,550 m) ASL. This town is the highest and coldest place in all of Antioquia department, of which Medellin is the capital. Its main attractions are its beautiful churches. They also produce delicious artisanal cheeses that you can buy.
Yarumal
Yarumal is slightly lower but still very cold. There are good places to eat here, just like in Santa Rosa.
From Yarumal, the route takes a final ascent to the next point.
Ventanas
Here you will be at a height of 8,202 ft (2,500 m). It is advisable to drive very carefully in this area due to the possibility of encountering dense fog and small landslides.
The journey then descends towards the next town.
Valdivia
At this point, without any stops, you would have been driving for four hours, covering a distance of 112 miles (180 km) at an average speed of 28.6 miles per hour (46 km/hr).
Then from Valdivia the route continues to Tarazá and Caucasia.
Caucasia
There are some simple and comfortable hotels for an overnight stay in Caucasia.
For example, Hotel Caucasia offers a range of amenities including a garden, shared lounge, restaurant, and bar. Guests can take advantage of the free shuttle service, free parking, room service, and complimentary WiFi available. Additionally, there is a bar for guests to enjoy.
Book here your stay at Hotel Caucasia
Other option is Hotel Tania which offers big family rooms, air-conditioning, free WiFi, room service and free parking.
Book here your stay at Hotel Tania
Planeta Rica
After Caucasia, as you head northwest, you will arrive in Planeta Rica. At this point, you have two route options to continue your journey:
1. The first option is to proceed to Montería, the capital of the department of Córdoba, and complete a 400-kilometer journey. This is the recommended choice if you want to continue your trip towards the Gulf of Morrosquillo.
2. Alternatively, you can take the Sahagún-Chinú route towards Sincelejo, the capital of the department of Sucre, which is a more direct route. You will be arriving from Sincelejo to Cartagena in 3 hours.
Sincelejo is located 45 minutes from the Caribbean city of Tolu and three hours from Cartagena, following the Troncal del Caribe Road. In fact, it was during my first trip to Colombia a few years ago that I discovered Tolu. While stopping in Sincelejo, I heard about this paradise from the locals and decided to make a detour from my planned route. I fell in love with Tolu and have returned to it again and again.
Compare car rentals here and save up to 50 %.
