Medellin to Santa Marta
Leaving from...
Going to...
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.
2 ways to get from Medellin to Santa Marta
There are two ways to travel the distance of 825 km (513 miles) from Medellin to Santa Marta: by bus (8h50m-15h20m) and flight (2 hours). The journey takes between 2h - 15h20m and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 116,000 COP ($29.00) for the bus.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.
Medellin to Santa Marta by Flight
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Medellin city centre to airport
All flights to Santa Marta depart from Jose Maria Cordoba Airport (MDE), located 30 km from the city centre.
To get to Jose María Cordoba airport from Medellin city centre, there are three main options available every day: taxi, Colectivo or bus.
Taxis have a flat rate of 80,000 COP ($18.50) and take about 30 minutes. They are the safest option if you are flying at night.
Colectivos are shared taxis where you split the taxi cost with the other people. If there are 4 people you will pay 20,000 COP ($4.60). This option is good only if you do not have a lot of luggage. They depart from San Diego Mall in the city centre and go straight to the airport.
The bus service is provided by the company, Combuses. They depart every 15 minutes from San Diego Mall or in front of Nutibara hotel, both within the city centre area. They will all say ‘Aeropuerto JMC’ on the front and the cost is 10,500 COP ($2.40), which is to be paid directly to the driver.
Step 2: Medellin to Santa Marta by Flight
There are 3 airlines that offer direct flights from Medellin to Santa Marta; Avianca, Latam and Viva Air. In total, there are five departures a day, from 07:15 to 20:30. Flight time is approximately 1 hour.
Prices start from around 100,000 COP ($23.00) with a cabin-luggage-only option. Note that prices may increase if you book on short notice as well.
In terms of service, Avianca is a bigger airline and their service is superior. They offer refreshments, plus most planes have an individual tv and charging port. Another good option is Latam, who also offers a fairly good service.
Viva air, on the other hand, is a low-cost airline that charge extra for everything, even checking in at the airport. Most of the time their service is poor, so, unless the price difference with the other airlines is significant (which is not often the case), we don’t really recommend it.
Step 3: Santa Marta airport to city centre
Simon Bolivar International Airport in Santa Marta (SMR) is located 17 km from the city centre.
To get to the city centre, you can take a taxi from right outside the airport for around 35,000 COP ($8.00). The ride is about 30 minutes.
A much more affordable option is to take the public bus for 1,500 COP ($0.30), but keep in mind it will take much longer, sometimes over 1 hour, and it may get crowded.
The bus stop is outside the airport, past the car park. The bus line going towards the city centre is the ‘03′. This line also passes through the Rodadero area, in case you are staying there.
Somewhat confusing to most travellers, there are actually no set stops for buses in Santa Marta, so you just have to rely on the driver and other people for knowing where to get off.
Another popular option is to pre-arrange an airport pick-up with your hostel, hotel or Airbnb. This usually costs about the same as a taxi.
Medellin to Santa Marta by Bus
Step 1: Medellin to Santa Marta
Buses operating from Medellin to Santa Marta depart from Terminal del Norte. The main bus companies covering this route are Expreso Brasilia and Rápido Ochoa.
The buses are comfortable and include reclining seats, AC, a toilet, individual tvs and charging ports.
You can book your tickets online (showing them on a mobile is not sufficient, so make sure to print your ticket in advance!). You can also buy your ticket directly at the bus terminal, but keep in mind that night buses tend to sell out quickly, especially on weekends, so it is better to book ahead.
Bus options from Medellin to Santa Marta
Step 2: Santa Marta Bus Terminal to the city centre
The best way to get to Santa Marta city centre is to take a taxi. The fare should be around 8,000 COP ($1.80). If you are staying in either of the El Rodadero or Taganga areas, that fare will increase to around COP 25,000 COP ($5.50).
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 Medellin to Santa Marta
What is the distance from Medellin to Santa Marta?
The distance from Medellin to Santa Marta is 825 km (513 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Medellin to Santa Marta?
The fastest way to get from Medellin to Santa Marta is by flight and takes 2 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Medellin to Santa Marta?
The cheapest way to get from Medellin to Santa Marta is by bus with ticket costs starting from 116,000 COP ($29.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Medellin 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
Was this post helpful?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
We are sorry that this post didn't meet your expectations.
Your feedback is very valueable to us
What was missing in this post? (TIP: If you want us to reply to your feedback, you can leave your email in this text box.)
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.
- Explore more
- Santa Marta travel guides
- Routes from Santa Marta
- Most popular routes in Colombia