South Africa
ColombiaCape Town to Cartagena shipping route.
6,313 nautical miles direct, about 18.8 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Cape Town and Cartagena
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
Cape TownSeaCartagenaShipping time from Cape Town to Cartagena
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 6,313 nm | 21.9 d | 18.8 d | 14.6 d |
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About the Cape Town to Cartagena shipping route
The shipping route from Cape Town, South Africa to Cartagena, Colombia covers 6,313 nautical miles port to port, on a direct course. On a globe the two ports sit 11,012 km apart, so the ship sails 1.06 times the straight line distance. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 18.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 21.9 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 14.6. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Cape Town and Cartagena to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Cape Town to Cartagena move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Cartagena (COCTG) carriers give about 10 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.
Of the 65 port to port routes from Cape Town in this directory, Cartagena is the 31st shortest. Closer destinations include Antwerp (6,298 nm), Ho Chi Minh City (6,297 nm) and London Gateway (6,247 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Cape Town to Cartagena?
The port to port distance from Cape Town to Cartagena is 6,313 nautical miles (11,691 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Cape Town to Cartagena?
About 18.8 days at 14 knots and 14.6 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Cartagena to Cape Town has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Cape Town to Durban875 nm
- Cape Town to
Lagos (Apapa)2,619 nm - Cape Town to
Mombasa2,631 nm - Cape Town to
Santos3,508 nm - Cape Town to
Buenos Aires3,846 nm - Cape Town to
Salalah4,010 nm 
Balboa to Cartagena328 nm
Callao to Cartagena1,714 nm
Houston to Cartagena1,765 nm- Charleston to Cartagena1,820 nm
- Savannah to Cartagena1,829 nm
Manzanillo to Cartagena2,017 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.