How to get from Palomino to Cartagena

Why visit Cartagena?

Cartagena is known as Colombia’s jewel on the Caribbean coast. Unlike the rest of the country, it has been a tourist hub for quite a while because it’s a common stop for cruise ships sailing the Caribbean.

Its attraction lies in the almost intact and colourful, colonial-style mansions in the walled old city. Inside these walls, you’ll be transported back in time and into a foodie’s paradise. A tip when exploring Cartagena: for safety, stay out of the city’s outskirts! The tourist centre is generally safe.

There are 3 ways to travel the 350 kilometres (217 miles) from Palomino to Cartagena. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transport. The journey takes 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 56,000 COP ($14).

If you want to save money and don’t want to take the minivan, you can also take the bus from Palomino to Cartagena. However, there is no direct bus, so you’ll first need to go to Santa Marta Bus Terminal and take a bus from there.

Buses to Santa Marta depart from Palomino’s Petrol Station on the main road. They run every 15-30 minutes from 05:30 to 18:00. They are ran by a local small company called Cootransoriente Tayrona.

Buses will pick up passengers from other towns and from Tayrona Park before finally stopping at Santa Marta’s main bus terminal where you should get off.

It is also possible to book a taxi via your accommodation or an official taxi company. Rates start at around 150,000 COP ($37.50). Note that some hotels will charge a commission for booking the taxi so the fare may increase around 30%.

Once at Santa Marta bus terminal, you should look for the buses departing to Cartagena. There are 2 main companies covering this route: Expreso Brasilia and Copetran.

Buses depart roughly every 2 hours from 08:30 to 22:00 and the rate is 45,000 COP ($11.20). You can book them online below.

The bus terminal is well connected to Cartagena city centre and the popular neighbourhoods of Getsemani and San Diego by Transcaribe buses.

You can find these buses just outside the bus terminal. They run once every 30 minutes until 21:00 and the line that takes you to the city centre is X104.

You should get off at the last stop ‘La Bodeguita’ for the old city, or the one before called ‘Centro’ in case you are going to the Getsemani and San Diego areas.

Taxis can be found right outside the bus terminal. Expect to pay 18,000 COP ($4.50) for a ride to the old city. Taxi rates are regulated by the local government, but as a general rule in Cartagena, it is better to agree on the price before stepping in.

Uber does not really work in Cartagena. If you do prefer to use an app, locals use InDriver, which allows you to bid the rate you want to pay and drivers will accept or decline it.

Minivans are a popular choice of transportation to travel around the main destinations on the north coast. Their added value is their door to door service, meaning no extra cost and effort catching public transportation.

Transportes Marsol is the company that operates the route Palomino to Cartagena, with 2 minivans departing every day at 09:00 and 15:00. The trip is quicker than the bus and only takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic and the destination of other passengers aboard.

You can check the availability and book your minivan tickets online through BookAway. Note that for the Palomino to Cartagena route, you must book at least 48 hours before departure and wait for their confirmation. You will be asked to be ready 1 hour before the pick-up time.

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Palomino to Cartagena.

Rates start from 1,264,000 COP ($315) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 421,000 COP ($105) per person. Travel time is around 6 hours 30 minutes.