Palomino
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Palomino used to be a peaceful little seaside spot with a few hostels. Today, and I can’t explain why it has become a very busy destination that has lost a lot of its charm.
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 Caribbean coast, I strongly recommend you to 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:
Where to travel after Palomino:
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 à 2h
From Tayrona to Palomino:
- Wait for a bus on the side of road | 1 hour
From Riohacha to Palomino:
- Many buses leave from the terminal | 1h30
Table of Contents
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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.
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Hostel - $
Coco SanKala
10 min away from the beach. Bamboo construction. Peaceful. Great money for value.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$
Villa Eden
15 min walk from the beach. Perfect for couples. Sleek design and a small pool for refreshment.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$
Casa Chapolin
Cheap option, 2 min away from the beach. Delicious food. Quiet place. Lovely gardenGet the best price -
Hostel - $$
Casa de Guadua
Small hotel in bamboo located a little out of the way. Perfect for resting. Pleasant garden with hammocks.Get the best prices -
Hotel - $$
Finca Escondida
Superb beachfront facilities that blend in with the decor. Swimming pool. Delicious restaurant. Staff +.Get the best prices -
Boutique - $$$
Makao
Private beach. Clean, comfortable and modern rooms. Personalized service. Tasty foods.Get the best price -
Boutique - $$$$
Aite
Cut off from the hustle and bustle of Palomino (15 min walk). Beautiful beachfront property, well-laid out. Pool.Get the best prices
Things to do in Palomino
There is not much to do in Palomino except going down the river on an inner tube and chill at the -nonexistent - beach. Therefore, pick your accommodation thoroughly.
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4 - 5 hours | $
Tubing
Go down the river on an inner-tube. You have to take a moto-taxi first then walk 30 min.Learn more -
2 days | $$
Aruhaco Stay
Live for 2 days in an Aruhaco community. Learn about their culture and ideology.We recommend -
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. -
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! -
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"!
More places on the East Coast
Find out all our other favorite places on the Eastern Caribbean Coast
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Specific information by location
Where to sleep? What to do? Where to eat? How do you get from one place to another?
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