Palomino

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Palomino used to be a peaceful little seaside spot with a few hostels. Nowadays, it’s a very busy Colombian destination that has lost some of its magic.

The place is perfect if you want to meet other travelers and stay in nice hostels or hotels, but for the rest, it’s not really the ideal place.

In fact, apart from a bit of tubing, there is not much to do in Palomino. The beach is not really heavenly; you can’t swim far because the sea is often rough because of strong currents. It is crowded, and you won’t find the village atmosphere. There is a possibility to party a little on the weekends, but not during the week.

If you are looking for a small fishing village typical of this part of the Colombian Caribbean coast, I strongly recommend you add Dibulla to your Colombian itinerary. It is a hidden paradise, little known to tourists, that we visited during one of our last expeditions on the Caribbean coast. A real crush for the atmosphere that reigns there.

Articles about Palomino you must read before coming:

 

Getting to Palomino?

There is only one road to get to Palomino. It’s the same road as Tayrona or Riohacha.

From Cartagena to Palomino:

  • Door to door shuttle | Marsol | 6 – 7 hours

From Santa Marta to Palomino:

  • Take the bus at the Mercado Publico “Public Market” Calle 11 Carrera 11″. The last bus leaves around 6 pm. | 1h30-2h

From Tayrona to Palomino:

  • Wait for a bus on the side of the road | 1 hour

From Riohacha to Palomino:

  • Many buses leave from the terminal | 1h30

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Where to stay in Palomino

There is one long street that leads travelers from the bus station to the beach. It's there you will find most of the hotels in Palomino. You can take a moto-taxi if you don't want to walk the 2 km.

Things to do in Palomino

There is not much to do in Palomino except going down the river on an inner tube and chill at the -nonexistent - beach. Therefore, pick your accommodation thoroughly.

  • Surf

    2 - 3 hours | $$

    Surf

    Small waves, perfect for beginners. Rent a surfboard and take some classes.
    Contact
  • Tubing

    4 - 5 hours | $

    Tubing

    Go down the river on an inner-tube. You have to take a moto-taxi first then walk 30 min.
    Learn more
  • Aruhaco Stay

    2 days | $$

    Aruhaco Stay

    Live for 2 days in an Aruhaco community. Learn about their culture and ideology.
    We recommend
  • Tayrona

    2 - 3 days

    Tayrona

    Don't book a tour. It's useless. Start from Calabazo and explore Tayrona like nobody else. Read our travel guide.
  • Punta Gallinas

    3 - 4 days

    Punta Gallinas

    Go to the northernmost point of South America and admire the beauty of the La Guajira desert. Read our travel guide!
  • The lost city

    4 days | $$$

    The lost city

    4-day trek through lush vegetation to admire the remnants of an old civilization.
    Get the best price

Our articles about Palomino

We spent 1 week in Palomino and we wrote about our travel experiences

Where to eat & drink?

For us, good restaurants and exciting nightlife are important when traveling. We gathered our favorite picks on an interactive Map. Download the APP "Mapstr" and look for "Colombia Insider"!

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More places on the East Coast

Find out all our other favorite places on the Eastern Caribbean Coast

Eastern Caribbean Coast

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