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

Buena Dia,

Hello all. We are planning a short 4-day drive from Cartagena to Minca for a night stay ...

Then driving from Minca/Santa Marta for a 2-night stay, before heading back to Minca for one more night and driving back to Cartagena ... I do not know the exact drive times, but know it will be a fair bit of drive time.

Guide book shows
A) An express bus of 8 hours from Cartagena to Mompox or ...

B) 3-hour buses to Magangue, Chalupa across the river to Bodega, then collective to Mompox 45 minutes (sum of 4 hours plus connections).

C) The main road from El Banco on the other side suggests using hired 4x4 at this junction if coming from Bogota direction ...

So my question ... Would any of you have any input how much of a drive we are looking at from Santa Marta down to "Bosconia" (or another junction to go towards Mompox if you suggest)and ...
*** 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.

And assuming these areas will be remote, if we are driving as a couple with an 8-year old ... is safety a factor/consideration on the main road to Bosconia or off the main road to Plato --> Mompox?

Appreciate any input in advance,

Peace,
Nima

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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