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Medellin to Santa Marta...

Hello all! I haven't found any post that really knocks out the details I'm looking for... Going to take off with a few amigas to Tayrona for a week or two. I'm going to make the trip by car so I can take in some views and experiences not yet fulfilled since I first started coming to Colombia in 2003 - my first cross-country trip! Only have two problems:

1. What would be the recommended route - Medellin to Santa Marta - anyone know the street system well? I have tried to use several websites to map it but no luck, even with Colombia mapping sites.

2. What would be a recommended agenda for the trip. I would be satisfied in taking several days to get there and get back, rather than pack it all into a 1.5 day rush to get there. I'd really like to hit some interesting places OFF the touristy track while still staying out of any major hot-zones.

Thanks for your input!

By bradenmiami on May 4, 2008, 13:29 in Friendly Talkzone.

jaramillo says on May 4, 2008, 14:28:

There is only one direction that makes sense: North: Medellin-Cartagena-Barranquilla-Santa Marta.

To go to Cartagena take autopista norte past Bello, on to Yarumal, Valdivia, Puerto Valdivia, Caucasia, Sincelejo, San Jacinto, Cartagena.

Drive in one day to Cartagena (a hard day). Some would recommend a stop in Sincelejo, but I would not. But it could be OK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sincelejo). Spend a couple of nights in Cartagena, and drive straight to Sta. Marta. Some would recommend a stop in Barranquilla, but I would not.

Now, Cartagena is somewhat optional. North of San Jacinto you can drive north-east towards Barranquilla, via Sabanagrande, but I think that is quite tiring.

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robi666 says on May 4, 2008, 14:42:

That's not the fastest route, jaramillo.

You go Medellin, Barbosa, Signeros, Puerto Berrio, Puerto Arauyo , San Alberto, Aguachica, Cienaga, Santa Marta.
You can do it in 12 - 15 hours.
Nothing interesting in the middle. You will just say... "oh, this is Macondo...", while passing 80 km per hour.
You can make a detour to Bucaramanga if you're interested. Or to Valledupar.

Near San Alberto, near a toll (cannot remember which exactly), there's a small restaurant which sells buffalo meat only and buffalo milk products. Best hamburger I have been eating in Colombia. Stop there for lunch.

I use to leave 5 AM from Medellin. I'd probably go for some days this week.

Coal trucks are the greatest danger from Cesar to Magdalena.

Police uses laser gun in Cesar, but not anywhere else on the road. They got me three times in the last year.
Last time I did not stop, hoping in their laziness, but they went after me with their motorbike. Tejasmarcos, who was with me, got speechless. They got me at a toll. I swore that I did not see them.
The normal bribing tariff is 40,000.

Take care.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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jaramillo says on May 4, 2008, 15:04:

Right Robi, but it is a dreadful route!

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pedro says on May 4, 2008, 15:10:

Maybe head north on the first day, stopping somewhere like Covenas or Tolu on the Sucre coast. Stay 2 nights, one day, then head on to Santa Marta.

que nota!

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jaramillo says on May 5, 2008, 05:11:

Hey, pedro, not a bad idea at all. Something like Coveñas or Tolú is not as grand a place as the old city of Cartgena, but it is fun and relaxing. You also get to see Monteria, for what its worth.

And Robi, although I swore I'd never go by Puerto Berrio again after a visit in my distant youth, I think I would be willing to give this route a try. Maybe things have changed for the better...

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robi666 says on May 5, 2008, 10:07:

Jara, I don't know how it was back then. I can say that the road from Medellin to Caucasia and Planeta Rica is better, but the whole route is longer.

The road from Barbosa to Cisneros is a typical secondary mountain road. Narrow, lot of curves, but asphalted.

From Cisnero to Puerto Berrio is surely better. It gets closed sometimes for landslide, so it is better to get information at the toll living Medellin, before turning to Barbosa.

From Puerto Berrio on, it is flat, no problems.

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bradenmiami says on May 5, 2008, 11:25:

Thanks for the info so far....working on putting all the ideas together, leaving out stops in Cartagena and Santa Marta, as I have been there too many times. Pretty interesting to hear about the multiple routes and some of the smaller places they have to offer...it will surely be nice to do it by car for a change instead of missing most of what this country has to offer with a view from 13k feet!

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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jaramillo says on May 5, 2008, 19:47:

Have fun braden. Robi's suggestion of a possible detour to Valledupar is worth considering, if you follow his suggested route. That is deep Macondo.

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