What to expect when visiting Santa Marta
Santa Marta is one of the main tourist hubs on Colombia’s north coast. It is the gateway to Tayrona National Park, arguably the most beautiful national park in the country. But to be honest, there’s not much to do in Santa Marta itself.
You can spare a few hours exploring the colonial houses in the Old Town or scuba diving in El Rodadero, which has some of the most affordable scuba diving centres in South America. But we recommend saving your time for the more exciting destinations near Santa Marta — like Tayrona, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Ciudad Perdida.
1 way to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta
The minivan is the only suitable way for travellers to cross the distance of 104 km (65 miles) from Barranquilla to Santa Marta. The journey takes around 2h30m and costs start from 16,000 COP ($4.00)- 20,000 COP ($5.00).Where to stay in Santa Marta?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Santa Marta at the bottom of this page.
Barranquilla to Santa Marta by Minivan
There are a number of companies offering a minivan service, but the most popular ones are Marsol, Caribe Vans, Pro tours and Coche express. They all have set departures every 2 hours, from 08:00 to 20:00.
You can check the availability and book with Marsol through BookAway, providing your pick-up and drop-off addresses. It’s best to book in advance, preferably the day before travelling and wait for their confirmation.
Expect to pay around 30,000 COP ($7.50) to 40,000 COP ($10.00). Prices can increase by around 25% during holiday seasons, though.
You will be picked up at the address you provided before beginning the 2.5 hours to your drop-off address is Barranquilla. You literally don’t have to worry about anything else!
Our favourite places to stay in Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a great jumping-off point to many locations along the coast – Tayrona National Park, Palomino, Minca.
Here you’ll find budget-friendly options, as well as lots of luxury hotels that most of us can only dream about.
PRO:TIP: Santa Marta doesn’t showcase the best of what Colombia has to offer. We’d recommend staying for only 1 night on your way to your next destination.
Check out our recommendations located in the best areas of Santa Marta:
Casa Verano Beach Hotel - Treating Yourself
You can’t get much closer to the beach than at Casa Verano Beach Hotel. 10 steps and your feet will be covered by the golden sand. Here you can switch between the sea and the outdoor swimming pool surrounded by palm trees.
The rooms continue with the oasis feel. They’re the perfect place to retreat to at the end of the day. The staff will also help you to have the most peaceful and memorable stay possible.
- Right next to the beach
- Swimming pool
- Adults only
- Superb breakfast included
Double rooms costs $80+ per night
Casa de Leda - Mid Range
You’re missing out if you don’t stay at Casa de Leda. It’s interior offers a magical mixture of colonial style and modern decor. Here you’ll find a spa, rooftop terrace with a bar and an indoor pool.
You can’t get much better location-wise. You’ll be situated within Santa Marta’s historical centre, and you can enjoy panoramic views of the cathedral.
- Best location
- Stunning interior
- Indoor pool and spa
- Great breakfast included
Double rooms cost between $40-$80 per night
Akuamarina Hotel - Budget Friendly
You won’t quite believe what you get for the price here. Not many budget-friendly places have a hot tub on the roof or a water feature in the centre of the hotel.
The rooms are large and clean, boasting splashes of aqua throughout the room. You can’t ask for a much better location either. It’s close to lots of amenities and the historic centre.
- Rooftop hot tub and bar
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Great location
- Excellent breakfast included
Double rooms start from $20 per night
Frequently Asked Questions about Barranquilla to Santa Marta
What is the distance from Barranquilla to Santa Marta?
The distance from Barranquilla to Santa Marta is 104 km (65 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta?
The fastest way to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta is by minivan and takes 2.5 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta?
The cheapest way to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta is by bus with ticket costs starting from 16,000 COP ($4.00)- 20,000 COP ($5.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Barranquilla to Santa Marta. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Santa Marta Travel Guides
A guide to Santa Marta, Colombia | Best restaurants & things to do
Routes from Santa Marta
Santa Marta to Minca (and back)
Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park
Most popular routes in Colombia
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Hello
We are going to rent a car in Cartagena Will stay few nights in Cartagena, few nights in Baranquila and we want to go to Santa Marta with our car
How we can go ??ourself? ?
It will be in January
Thank you very much
Hello Corina, we don’t have experience with renting a car in Colombia. Bus travel is quite convenient and a safer option as roads conditions are not the best and Colombians aren’t particularly known for being safe drivers. Also do we recommend being careful choosing your area’s where to park in cities like Santa Marta.
If you decided to rent a car, we recommend to check out this car rental blog post. It’s about renting a car in Europe, but the same goes for renting a car in any country. Also this guide about safety in Colombia will before when renting a car. Safe travels!