How to get from Medellin to Santa Marta

Why visit 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.

There are 2 ways to travel the 825 kilometre (513 miles) distance from Medellin to Santa Marta. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 20 minutes to 19 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 90,000 COP ($24.50).

Flying from Medellin to Santa Marta is a convenient option for those short on time. It takes two hours versus the 16-17 hours on the road with the bus.

Combined fares start from 90,000 COP ($24.50), but may increase depending on your mode of transport to and from the airports.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

All flights to Santa Marta depart from Jose María Cordova International Airport, located 20 km from the city centre.

The bus is the cheapest way to get to the airport. Operated by Combuses, a ticket costs 17,000 COP ($4.60) and the ride takes at least 35 minutes. They depart from:

• San Diego Mall – every 15 minutes, 24/7
• Exposiciones Metro Station – every 20 minutes, from 03:00 to 22:00. The bus also stops at Hotel Nutibara in the city centre

The colectivo (shared taxi) is another option at about 28,000 COP ($7.50) per person. They depart from San Diego Mall and wait until all four seats are filled before leaving.

For more convenience, you can book a private ride.

• Uber – from 105,000 COP ($28.50) for a 4-seater
• BookAway – private transfers from 119,000 COP ($32.50) for 2 people

We don’t recommend using yellow city taxis as they’re known to overcharge, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Check out our Medellin Airport guide for more details.

Three airlines fly direct from Medellín to Santa Marta: Avianca, JetSMART and Wingo. You can choose from six to eight flights a day.

The flight takes about 1h 15m.

Prices start from around 70,000 COP ($19) with cabin luggage only. Expect higher prices on weekends and if you book at the last minute.

You can read more about these airlines in our Colombia transport guide.

Simon Bolivar International Airport in Santa Marta (SMR) is located 17 km from the city centre.

To get to your hotel, you can take a taxi from right outside the airport for around 35,000 COP ($9.50). The ride takes about 30 minutes.

A cheaper alternative is the public bus, which costs 3,000 COP ($0.80). But keep in mind the ride is slower, often taking over an hour, and buses can get crowded.

The bus stop, known locally as a “paradero,” is in front of the arrivals area near the airport car park. From here, buses operate to Santa Marta’s city centre and also serve El Rodadero.

Important: Buses in Santa Marta don’t have fixed stops. You’ll need to tell the driver where you want to get off, or ask other passengers for help. Most drivers don’t speak English, so it helps to know your destination in Spanish or have it written down.

The bus ride from Medellin to Santa Marta takes around 15 hours 30 minutes to 19 hours.

For a journey this long, keep in mind that bus tickets are often more expensive than the fare for a 2-hour flight. We recommend comparing both options before booking.

Buses operating from Medellin to Santa Marta depart from Terminal del Norte.

You can get there by Metro for 3,000 COP ($0.90) using a Cívica card. It’s a rechargeable card used for public transport in Medellín. Hop off at Caribe Station, which is directly connected to the terminal by a pedestrian bridge.

The main bus companies on this route are Expreso Brasilia, Flota La Macarena and Rápido Ochoa.

Bus tickets start at 151,000 COP ($41), and the journey takes 15h - 18h 30m. Since it’s a long journey, the buses are usually more comfortable than your average ride.

Most come with reclining seats, air conditioning, charging ports, onboard toilets, and sometimes even individual TVs. A few buses also offer Wi-Fi, but don’t count on it being reliable the whole way.

Night buses are a popular choice, especially if you want to save on accommodation. But they can sell out quickly, and weekends are especially busy, so we recommend booking in advance.

Buses for the Medellin to Santa Marta route in Colombia are generally reliable. Departures and arrivals can still run late, though. That’s often because drivers wait for more passengers to fill up the bus before leaving. Add in things like traffic or roadworks, and delays are pretty common.

TIP: Want to learn more about bus types in Colombia? Check out our Colombia transport guide.

Buses arrive at Terminal de Transportes de Santa Marta. Taxis are usually the cheapest option to the city centre, with fares starting from 8,000 COP ($2.20). Just keep in mind that many drivers try to overcharge, especially tourists who don’t speak Spanish.

Uber also operates in Santa Marta. Fares are just a bit higher, from 13,000 COP ($3.50), and well worth the convenience and peace of mind.

If you’re heading to El Rodadero, expect to pay around 15,000 COP ($4.10) for a taxi and about 34,000 COP ($9.20) for an Uber.