Santa Marta is a medium-sized city on the Eastern Caribbean Coast.
It is far from being our favorite city in Colombia because there is not much to do and there is not much interest in visiting the downtown area. On top of that, the beaches are not very pleasant and are crowded with street vendors and tourists.
But besides that, Santa Marta is the ideal place to organize different activities and excursions in the whole region. So there is a good chance that you will make a stop there for a few days.
To minimize the number of nights in Santa Marta, decide in advance which activities you want to participate in and everything should go well. 😉
In addition, maybe you are one of those travelers who could appreciate the luxurious hotels located on the beach of Rodadero and Bello Horizonte.
Why would you like to visit or pass by Santa Marta:
- Exploring the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and Tayrona
- Booking 5-day tour to the Ciudad Perdida
- Birdwatching in the Cuchillo San Lorenzo
- Passing your Open Water Diver Certification
- Because you’re coming from San Gil with the night bus
- Chill in a Luxury Beach Resort Hotel
- Organizing a trip to the desert of La Guajira
Articles about Santa Marta you must read before coming:
- How to find the best-secluded beaches next to Santa Marta
- The best things to do in Santa Marta
- How to be ready for the lost city tour
Would you like to use private transportation?
- Ask Colombian Buddy! Use our online form to contact them and get a 5% discount on all their trips.
Wanna fly over?
Getting to Santa Marta?
We wrote an article about it: Best ways to travel to Santa Marta
From Cartagena to Santa Marta:
- Door to Door shuttle | Berlinastur & Marsol | 4 hours
- Bus from the main terminal | Expreso Brasilia & Copetran | 6 hours
- Or ask for private transportation
From Riohacha to Santa Marta:
- Many buses leave from the terminal | Copetran & many others | 3 h
- Or ask for private transportation
From Tayrona to Santa Marta:
- Wait for a bus on the side of the road | 1 h
- Take a shuttle at the park entrance | 1 h
From Palomino to Santa Marta:
- Wait for a bus on the side of the road | 2 h
From Medellin to Santa Marta:
- Direct flights from the airport | Avianca, Viva Colombia & Latam | 1h15 | Book your flight now
- A few direct buses leave from the North terminal. Schedule – double-check with the bus company | Rapido Ochoa & Expreso Brasilia | 16 h
- Or ask for private transportation
From Bogota to Santa Marta:
- Direct flights from the airport | Avianca, Viva Colombia & Latam | 1h30 | Book your flight now
- A few direct buses leave from the terminal Salitre. Schedule – double-check with the bus company | Copetran & Expreso Brasilia | 20 h
From Cali to Santa Marta:
- Flight with 1 stopover from the airport | Avianca & Latam | 4 h | Book your flight now
From Pereira to Santa Marta:
- 1 Direct flight per day from the airport | Viva Colombia | 1h30 | Book your flight now
From San Gil to Santa Marta:
- One night bus from the terminal.
Schedule – Double-check with the bus company | Expreso Brasilia | 14 h - Or ask for private transportation
S. Marta's airport?
Santa Marta’s airport is next to Rodadero.
- 25 min by taxi.
- 45 min by public transportation
S.Marta's bus terminal?
The Santa Marta bus terminal is located on the outskirts of the city.
It takes about 20min to reach the centre by taxi.
El Mercado Publico?
The “Mercado Publico” at the address “Calle 11 con Carrera 11” also acts as an “annex” terminal for certain destinations such as Palomino and Tayrona.
It takes about 5-10min by taxi to reach it from the “Parque De Los Novios”.
Table of Contents
Click on the orange links below ⬇️ and scroll down ⬇️ to read the chosen section.
- Stay in Santa Marta?
- Stay In Rodadero?
- Things to do?
- Our articles
- Our partners
- Bars & Restaurants
- Nearby places?
- Map of Colombia
Where to stay in Santa Marta
The old center of Santa Marta is tiny and we don't recommend you to pick a hotel in Calle 11 and below. Most of the restaurants are located around Parque de Los Novios. Santa Marta can be quite dodgy at night. Use cabs at night if it's late and be aware of your surroundings. There are mosquitoes in Santa Marta. Take your repellent.
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Hostel - $$
Masaya
Upscale hotels. Nice building. Vast and comfy bedrooms. Bar and two swimming pools. Many social events.Get the best price -
Hostel - $$$
Republica
Large hostel with 2 lovely courtyards. Fantastic social area with a bar and swimming pool. Events.Get the best price -
Hotel Boutique - $$$
Casa Carolina
Fantastic hotel with excellent facilities (Pool & Jacuzzi). Comfortable rooms. Delicious food.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$
Camali
A bit far from Parque de Los Novios but excellent value for money. Pool. Awesome owners.Get the best price -
Hotel Boutique - $$$
Casa Mia
Small hotel with comfortable rooms. Excellent staff, always ready to help. Small pool.Get the best price -
Luxury - $$$$
Don Pepe
Excellent facilities (Pool & jacuzzi) and beautiful rooms. Perfect service.Get the best price
Where to stay in Rodadero & Pozo Colorado
Rodadero is located 20 min away by taxi from the old center. It's like the Boca Grande of Cartagena. There are big buildings called hotel resorts and lots of restaurants. The beach is better than in Santa Marta but there are street sellers everywhere. If you're looking for something quieter and less touristy, I advise you to pick your hotel in Pozo Colorados.
-
Hostel - $$
Playa del ritmo
Lovely hostel with a private beach. Perfect for resting. Friendly staff and quiet location.Get the best price -
Upscale - $$$
Casa verano
Top-notch hotel with excellent services. Small and personalized. Delicious food. Pool. No kid.Get the best price
Things to do in Santa Marta
There is not much to do in Santa Marta. Some tourists decide to rent an apartment in Rodadero and enjoy the crowded beach below their balcony. Other travelers use it as a base to explore the surroundings mentioned below.
-
8 hours | $$
Cristal & Cinto
The best beaches "near" Santa Marta. Nobody knows about Cinto. Gorgeous reef.Get the best price -
8 hours | $$
Playa Concha
Easy day trip to reach a lovely beach. You can get there by taxi (45 min). Or book a sailboat trip.Get the best price -
5 hours | $$$
Diving
You're allowed to dive in Tayrona Park. Not impressive reefs but cheap price.Get the best price -
1 hour | $
Gold Museum
A small collection of gold artifacts and some explanation about Santa Marta's history.Learn more -
2 - 3 days | $$$
Cerro Kennedy
Go to Minca and start a 2-day hike to admire the sunrise from Cerro Kennedy. Great views!Get the best price -
2 - 3 days
Tayrona
Don't book a tour. It's useless. Start from Calabazo and explore Tayrona like nobody else. Read our travel guide! -
3 days
Paso del Mango
Everyone goes to Minca to explore the Sierra Nevada. Be different and travel to Paso del Mango. Read our travel guide! -
3 days | $$$
Punta Gallinas
Go to the northernmost point of South America and admire the beauty of the La Guajira desert.We recommend -
5 hours | $$$
Mountain biking
If you're fit and want to explore the Sierra Nevado on a good mountain bike. It's tough but beautiful.Get the best price -
8 hours | $$$
E-bike
Stop laying back on the beach and explore the Sierra Nevada on an electric bike. It's fun and cheapGet the best price -
2 days | $$
Aruhaco Stay
Live for 2 days in an Aruhaco community. Learn about their culture and ideology. Departure from Palomino.We recommend -
4 days | $$$
The lost city
4-day trek through lush vegetation to admire the remnants of an old civilization. Epic experience!Get the best price -
2+ days | $$$$
Motorcycle Tour
Be part of a biking gang for a couple of days. Excellent gears and guides. Ride wherever you want.Get the best price
Our articles about Santa Marta
We spent more than 2 weeks in Santa Marta and wrote about our travel experiences.
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