Santa Marta, Colombia: Travel Guide
Read our travel guide on the colonial town of Santa Marta and visit with us the first Spanish settlement in Colombia. Our blog post includes the best things to do in Santa Marta, top attractions, best day trips from the city, tips on where to stay, how to get there, and safety advice.
Santa Marta, a coastal town in Colombia, is not a classic travel destination. Despite this fact, we would like to encourage you to give Santa Marta a chance.
Even though it is for many a jumping-off point for exploring nearby towns in the cloud forest or amazing beaches of Tayrona National Park, the city itself deserves at least one day of your time.
What are the best things to do in Santa Marta, and what should you not miss when you made it that far to the very north of this colorful country?
Let's find out.
SANTA MARTA
But before we get to that, we will always remember the journey to Santa Marta.
Sometimes the journey is the destination. We're on a cramped bus to Santa Marta for so many hours that we lost track of time. It's still incredibly hot, though it's pitch black dark outside.
We knew that today is going to be a long day, but it turned out to be much longer than we expected. The roads are horrible in the north departments in Colombia, and it takes forever to cover only short distances.
So to cover 450 kilometers, you need the whole day.
Then there is the bus itself. To put it mildly, the vehicle is not in good shape.
On top of that, there is no aircon, and we can't even recline the seats, otherwise, the Colombian family of four sitting behind us wouldn't fit there.
There is written 'un viaje extraordinario' on the front of the bus. Well, they are not lying about that.
Finally, we arrive in Cienaga, where we have to change the bus, as this one continues to Barranquilla.
Suddenly, the battered bus comes to a stop, and a man jumps in and calls Cienaga repeatedly. It’s dark outside already.
Without any warning, we are being pushed out of the bus on the buzzing street. We feel a little bit drowsy from the long journey, and the tainted air from the fumes of the cars is not helping.
We made our way through the crowd, touts, taxi drivers, and traffic, and we finally found the bus that goes to Santa Marta, though we are not sure where exactly the bus stops.
It takes us at least another forty-five minutes to get to Santa Marta, and if we described the previous bus as battered, then we don't have words for this local one.
The local bus is crowded though we were lucky enough to grab the last seats. It's the constant stopping and picking up people that makes the last part of our journey so challenging.
When we arrive in Santa Marta, the driver drops us off on the highway without a word, still a few kilometers from the hotel, so we need to take a taxi.
Finally, we can check-in. We are so exhausted from the trip, that we decide we need to walk it off and find something to eat.
There is a simple stall on the street with mouth-watering arepas. And we must tell you, those arepas were SO tasty, and that's something we for sure wouldn't say with a full stomach.
As you can see, our arrival in Santa Marta was pretty tiring, but this is also what traveling is about, and situations like this usually create the best memories.
Stories like this always remind us that when everything is not served on a silver plate, we usually appreciate it more.
HISTORY OF SANTA MARTA
Although the indigenous people had been living in the area long before the pre-Columbian era, historians still do not know much about the first inhabitants.
The reason is simple, most of the records were destroyed throughout the centuries.
The city of Santa Marta was officially founded in 1525 by a Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, who arrived at the Colombian shores in 1501, and left some soldiers in the bay of Santa Marta before he ventured off only to come back twenty years later.
In the next several centuries, Santa Marta played a significant role in Colombia's history, mainly due to its strategic location.
Also, if you have heard of Simon Bolivar, aka El Libertador, then you will probably find interesting the fact that he died here in Santa Marta.
More than five hundred years later, from the moment of arrival of Spaniards, Santa Marta is still an important port in Colombia and now is even more popular than ever as tourists use it as a base for their adventures to its beautiful surroundings.
BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SANTA MARTA
We wanted to use Santa Marta as a base for our Tayrona National Park adventure, but soon we found out Santa Marta is pretty interesting.
It is a place worth exploring, and when walking the streets, it is good to feel Santa Marta with all your senses.
Except for visiting the best things to do, looking for the top attractions and must-visit places, you will also hear beating the wild and rough heart of Santa Marta.
The city is actually the first Spanish settlement in Colombia and one of the oldest colonial cities in South America. On top of that, maybe because of that, the city is full of contrasts.
The colonial city center of Santa Marta is still well preserved, but the beach is lined with modern multi-story buildings.
Santa Marta is a colonial town in Colombia, at least the historic part of the city, and even though it is not that well-known such as Barichara or Guatape, we believe you will find it captivating.
Based on our experience, we would seriously recommend you to combine the visit of the city with places such as Tayrona National Park, Minca, or if you are feeling adventurous, focus on Lost City Trek.
Even though Santa Marta is worth your time, some of the best places lie outside the city's limits, that is good to know when creating your Colombia itinerary.
Here is our travel guide including the best things to see and do in Santa Marta, Colombia, and in its surroundings.
COLONIAL TOWN
We have a soft spot for beautiful colonial towns on the shores of the Caribbean sea, and we always look forward to visiting one of them. Santa Marta was no exception.
The historic center of Santa Marta is very compact, and you don't need to carry a guidebook to see all the attractions.
One of the most interesting buildings you should visit is right in the heart of the city, the whitewashed Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta.
Other worthwhile places you must visit in Santa Marta are Parque Bolivar, Plaza San Francisco, Parque de Los Novios, and the Museo del Oro Tairona.
Although the Museum of Gold is not as big as the one in the capital city, Bogota, the entrance is free, and there is much more to see than the gold artifacts as it also nicely outlines the history of this region.
Another top thing to do in Santa Marta is visiting the Simon Bolivar museum, which is actually in the building where this important person of Colombia died.
The museum is a short drive from the city center, but definitely worth your time and efforts.
Santa Marta is also known such as a foodie destination - we found a stall on one of the streets with some of the best arepas filled with cheese.
In case trying traditional food in new destinations is your hobby, consider this food & walking tour.
Once you are out of options and think you saw all the top attractions in Santa Marta, buy a cup of coffee in one of the great coffee shops, and just wander around.
We are pretty sure you are going to find an interesting mural or two on the walls.
BEACHES
How would have been a trip to Santa Marta, a city blessed with the Caribbean Sea, without a day or two spent on a beach?
Well, this is probably what you are thinking when planning the trip. But chances are, you won't like the beach in Santa Marta at all. At least we didn't like it.
First off, it's an ugly and dirty city beach near the marina. Second, if you plan on visiting Tayrona NP, don't bother to sunbathe here, as the park features nice and clean beaches.
Even if you have only one day, it is much better to enjoy the beaches in Tayrona National Park than in Santa Marta.
Even if you don't want to go to Tayrona, it's not the end of the world, as you still have a few more options.
A few kilometers north of Santa Marta is Taganga village, a popular place with backpackers. There you will find a pretty beach, and you can arrange a diving trip there, though the place is struggling with overdevelopment.
Travel a few kilometers south, and you will end up in Rodadero, which is also an option if you are looking for a place where to relax.
To sum it up, do not think of Santa Marta as a beach destination. And if you are looking for beaches, travel to Tayrona National Park instead.
TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
Santa Marta is a gateway town to Tayrona National Park, which quickly became one of our favorite places in Colombia, and also the main reason why we dragged ourselves across half of the country.
And after spending an incredibly cold winter in Calgary, we seriously needed beach therapy. And boy, what a therapy it was.
If you like long stretches of pristine beaches, rugged coastline, hiking trails, wildlife, rainforest, and crystal clear waters, you will have a blast in Tayrona National Park.
We know that many popular places are not perfect, and from time to time won't live up to our expectations. However, we spent incredible four days in Tayrona National Park, and we loved it!
Try to plan your stay outside of weekends, when the Colombians flood the beaches.
Keep in mind that the national park is closed for about a month every year, usually from the end of January to late February.
Oh, and be careful where choosing swim spots, as some of the beaches in the park are not suitable for swimming due to the dangerous waves and treacherous currents.
LOST CITY TREK
Also known as Ciudad Perdida, Lost City Trek is one of the most popular treks in Colombia.
This 5-day trek through the jungle has also one of the coolest stories behind it as it was discovered just recently
At first, we considered putting Ciudad Perdida on our Colombia itinerary, but later we decided to visit other destinations instead.
But if you find this hike appealing, Santa Marta is a great place where you can find a guide and store your luggage.
For us, the trek seemed simply too expensive for what we would get. Instead, we hiked to El Pueblito in Tayrona National Park.
Nevertheless, if you find the information about this trek more interesting than we did, be prepared to visit an ancient archeological site older than Machu Picchu.
Together with San Agustin, which is nestled in the mountains on the opposite side of the country, it's one of the best-known pre-Columbian sites you can visit in Colombia.
You can find many agencies in Santa Marta offering the hike to Ciudad Perdida, but it is also possible to reserve the trek online.
If you prefer to have everything planned in advance, then consider this 4-day Lost City Trek Tour.
MINCA
Minca is a small mountain town popular with backpackers who like nature and jungle adventures.
It's a chilled out place and a peaceful getaway from the bustling streets of Santa Marta. Some of the best things to do in Minca are hikes to waterfalls, coffee farm tours, bird watching, and enjoying sunsets from the large hammocks.
The problem with long-term traveling is that you have to often choose between two or more places that you would want to see.
So in our case, we chose to visit Jardin - a tranquil colonial town near Medellin - over Minca.
We also knew that eventually, our journey will take us to Ecuador, where we wanted to visit Mindo, which is a destination offering quite similar scenery and activities.
But if you plan on staying in Santa Marta for a longer period, visiting Minca is for sure a good idea.
WEATHER IN SANTA MARTA
The weather in Santa Marta is hot and humid and does not change much throughout the year.
The average temperature is almost 30 degrees Celsius, and temperatures are pretty high even during the night.
July, August, and September usually receive the most of the rainfall, which means that the best time to visit Santa Marta is from December to April, which is the dry season.
We arrived in Santa Marta in July, and the days were mostly sunny with a few short showers in the afternoon, so we can only recommend you traveling Colombia offseason because we avoided large groups of tourists.
WHAT TO PACK
What should you pack for visiting Santa Marta then?
As we've already mentioned, Santa Marta is a great place to visit, but it is also a jumping-off point for some of the top destinations in the country.
That's why you should be prepared for sightseeing in the city, but also for hiking through the jungle or enjoying views of the cloud forest high in the hills above the coast.
Bring a swimsuit, travel pouch to keep your valuables safe, a comfortable daypack, and sunscreen.
When traveling in the wet season, pack also a rain poncho.
Trails get muddy after rain so make sure to wear proper hiking boots for hiking adventures.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA MARTA
If you want to leave your backpacks in Santa Marta before your travels to Tayrona National Park, find a well reputable and proven hotel.
It's one of the occasions when you should spend a little extra on accommodation so you can sleep at night without worrying about the safety of your things.
Also, think of the hotel location before you book anything. We stayed a little bit off the historical part, but still within walking distance, so we didn't have to get around Santa Marta by taxi.
We've handpicked the three best hotels to help you decide where to stay in Santa Marta.
Budget | Cacao Hostel - Pleasant backpackers hostel with positive vibes, friendly staff, and basic but clean rooms. Cacao Hostel has an excellent location just a few steps outside of the historical part and also features a swimming pool, which is great as the days in Santa Marta can be super hot. You can also arrange many day trips in the hostel if you want to go beyond Santa Marta.
Mid-range | Hotel Suite Boutique El Cactus - Located in the historical center, this hotel has a rooftop pool, spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and helpful staff. One of the best values for the money.
Luxury | Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa - Located in the Centro Historico of Santa Marta, Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa is a real gem. The staff is very attentive, and you will feel here like at home. The hotel has an excellent location on the plaza which means, that everything is near, and you can enjoy restaurants, bars, and the colonial buildings without using public transport.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
IS SANTA MARTA SAFE?
Questions about travel safety are often tricky. Here we will focus on safety in tourist areas you will most likely visit.
We think that Santa Marta is fairly safe, and we didn't encounter any problems.
However, the historical center is not that polished like the one in a more famous Cartagena de Indias, and you should exercise caution wherever you go.
If you've been to one of the Colombian cities before, you probably know what to do, but if you came directly from the airport, you might feel a bit unsafe.
Some of the buildings are damaged, some alleyways look a little bit shady, and some people look dodgy.
It happened to us more than once that we were wandering around the streets and suddenly appeared in a funny looking street. The rule of thumb is to stay alert of your surroundings.
If you don't feel comfortable, turn around and return the way you came from. But this is common safety tip you should follow in many places in South America in general.
Make sure to read our guide on How to Stay Safe in South America before your travels.
Some of the main shopping streets outside the touristy area are really crowded, so watch your belongings, don't put your smartphone in the back pocket.
Also if you want to spend some time on the beach, leave your valuables in the hotel room, and do not visit the beachfront after dark.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
