Santa Marta to Maracaibo by bus
Maracaibo lies 290 km (180 mi) east of Santa Marta, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 5 h 27 min including stops, over roughly 353 km (220 mi) of road.
| Santa Marta | Maracaibo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Colombia | Venezuela |
| Population | 499,192 | 1.8 million |
| Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) | -9,999 m (-32,805 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Bogota) | UTC-4 (America/Caracas) |
Clocks in Maracaibo are 1 h ahead of Santa Marta right now, so a 5 h 27 min journey lands 6 h 27 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Maracaibo
Crossing from Colombia into Venezuela: money changes from the Peso to the Bolivar Soberano (VES); the dialling code becomes +58; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648920 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Where to book buses from Santa Marta to Maracaibo
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Maracaibo
Our booking partner lists 5 places to stay in Maracaibo. Of the 1 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (1). Guests have left 20 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Maracaibo
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Maracaibo from Santa Marta?
290 km (180 mi) in a straight line, east of Santa Marta; by road roughly 353 km (220 mi).
How long does it take to get from Santa Marta to Maracaibo by bus?
About 5 h 27 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Santa Marta and Maracaibo?
Maracaibo is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/Caracas against America/Bogota).
What currency do I need in Maracaibo?
The Bolivar Soberano (VES).
Where can I stay in Maracaibo?
Our booking partner lists 5 places to stay in Maracaibo, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.