Gran Fondo Nairo Fest road closures in Cartagena: what stays shut on October 11 and 12
The Datt's plan keeps the Corredor Histórico closed until noon on Monday, October 12, and adds contraflow on the Vía al Mar on Sunday, October 11. Here are the alternate routes it proposes.
Gran Fondo Nairo Fest road closures Cartagena: the traffic plan keeps the Corredor Histórico closed until 12:00 noon on Monday, October 12, and on Sunday, October 11 adds contraflow (lanes reversed against the usual direction) on the Vía al Mar plus a closure of Avenida Blas de Lezo between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. The times come from the traffic management plan of the Datt, the Cartagena city government's traffic department, as published by El Universal on October 7. Monday is a public holiday, so check with the Datt before you head out in case anything changed.
What stays closed from Thursday through Monday
The plan closes the Corredor Histórico from 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8 until 12:00 noon on Monday, October 12, for the assembly and disassembly of the start and finish gantry. Avenida Daniel Lemaitre, between Carrera 8 and Carrera 9A (Avenida Panamá), is closed from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8 through Monday, October 12 for the setup and teardown of the Gran Fondo concert. The plan does not say what time that avenue reopens on Monday.
Saturday, October 10: the 21K run
Saturday, October 10 was the day of the 21K run. According to the plan, progressive closures were scheduled from 4 to 9 a.m., with roads reopening gradually. There was contraflow on Avenida Santander along the city wall, from Parque de La Marina to the entrance of Bocagrande (the roundabout across from the Transcaribe station), and from 6:30 a.m. controlled contraflow passage from the Parque de La Marina roundabout, for vehicles traveling from Bocagrande to their destinations and back. Carrera 1 in Bocagrande and Diagonal 1 in El Laguito, up to Carrera 3 (Club Cartagena), were also set to close. The Datt expected to restore mobility around 9 a.m. in the Centro Histórico, Getsemaní, Bocagrande and El Laguito.
Sunday, October 11: the cycling event
Sunday is the cycling leg of the Gran Fondo Nairo Quintana, which El Universal describes as Nairo Quintana's farewell from high-performance racing. Between 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the plan sets contraflow on Avenida Santander and the Vía al Mar (route 90A, the road toward Barranquilla) from Parque de La Marina, in the Barranquilla–Cartagena direction as far as Pontezuela. In that same window it also lists the junction toward Punta Canoa and the Pontezuela–Bayunca junction.
In the 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. block, the plan lists Avenida Blas de Lezo, closed in front of the Muelle de La Bodeguita station, and the Centro Histórico and the new Corredor Histórico, which stay closed while the event lasts. For the Centro Histórico and the Corredor, the source does not say until what time. The sources checked do not give the start time of the cycling event. The plan speaks of 10,600 participants: 6,900 cyclists, 3,100 athletes, 300 Nairo Kids and 300 mountain bikers (MTB).
According to another El Universal piece, the 186-kilometer route passes through Cartagena, Ruta 90, El Pozón, Turbaco, Arjona, Sincerín, Mahates, Soplaviento, San Estanislao, Villanueva and Santa Rosa, and then returns. That piece does not mention road closures; the Datt plan is the reference.
Alternate routes the Datt proposes for Sunday
The Datt proposes opening the Bocagrande–Crespo carriageway, from the traffic light at Blas de Lezo to the Túnel de Crespo bridge. From there, Carrera 1 leads toward Crespo and Rafael Núñez airport, or toward the Romero Aguirre–Torices bridge. From Crespo and the airport toward the Zona Norte, the route continues to the Terpel station in Marbella, where there is a controlled crossing to join the contraflow.
Two more points in the plan for Sunday. Calle 70 in Crespo is closed at Carrera 9, and for those heading to Bayunca there is a turnaround after Ramblas, in the Cartagena–Barranquilla direction. The Datt recommends planning ahead, following traffic officers' instructions and using the alternate routes.
Frequently asked questions
Which roads are closed on Sunday, October 11 for the Gran Fondo Nairo Fest?
Per the Datt plan published by El Universal: contraflow on Avenida Santander and the Vía al Mar (90A) from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Avenida Blas de Lezo, in front of the Muelle de La Bodeguita station, from 4:00 to 6:00 a.m.; and the Centro Histórico and the new Corredor Histórico while the event lasts.
Until when is the Corredor Histórico closed?
According to the Datt plan, from 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8 until 12:00 noon on Monday, October 12, for the assembly and disassembly of the start and finish gantry.
What happens on the Vía al Mar on Sunday, October 11?
Between 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. there is contraflow in the Barranquilla–Cartagena direction from Parque de La Marina to Pontezuela, per the plan. The junction toward Punta Canoa and the Pontezuela–Bayunca junction are also listed in that window.
What alternate routes does the Datt propose for Sunday?
The Bocagrande–Crespo carriageway, from the traffic light at Blas de Lezo to the Túnel de Crespo bridge, then Carrera 1 toward Crespo and Rafael Núñez airport or the Romero Aguirre–Torices bridge. Toward the Zona Norte, on to the Terpel station in Marbella, where there is a controlled crossing to join the contraflow.
Until what time is Avenida Daniel Lemaitre closed?
The plan closes it, between Carrera 8 and Carrera 9A (Avenida Panamá), from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8 through Monday, October 12, for the Gran Fondo concert. It does not give the Monday time.
Sources
Published on October 10, 2026