Self-drive from Minca/Santa Marta, to Mompox, back to Cartagena

If you take highway 45 south to Cuatro Vientos, then turn right to Guamal, you can cross the river on the new bridge which then takes you to Mompóx without having to take a ferry. Another option is turning off at Bosconia then via Santa Ana taking the other new bridge to Talaigua Nuevo, then on to Mompóx.

Is it possible to drive a regular rental sedan from Bosconia say to Plato by the river, before going south to Mompox parallel to the river.

I don't think this is possible (in any vehicle), you should turn off the Bosconia - Plato road at La Gloria and head for Santa Ana, if you go this way.

By either of these two routes it will probably take you anything from 8-10 hours I would guess; we have driven various sections of these routes but have never all the way from Santa Marta to Mompóx (when we went to Mompóx we went via Magangué).

re safety: driving in Colombia requires (very) defensive driving skills, good Situational Awareness, and patience, however you shouldn;t run into any particular challenge in this region. Don't even think of driving at night, otherwise not a major challenge.

PS: re returning to Cartagena, you could either take the ferry to Yati then drive via Magangue to highway 25 then on to Cartagena. We have driven this route and it took us 8-1/2 hours from Magangue, however we stopped to do a short hike up into the Parque Los Colorados, so it should take around 5 hours without stopping.

Alternatively, take the route via Santa Ana, La Gloria, Plato, and join highway 25 at El Carmen de Bolívar. Probably a little faster than the Magangué route, including the ferry to Yati, although the latter would provide more variety.

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