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How to get from Santa Marta to Barranquilla
To continue your journey along the beautiful Colombian-Caribbean coast, you can head south towards Barranquilla, the fourth most populous city in Colombia and the home of many singers and artists. The most popular time to visit this port city is during the iconic Barranquilla Carnival (February – March), so any time outside of these months will be considerably less busy.
Santa Marta and Barranquilla are quite close for two major Colombian cities: about 104 km (64 miles). That’s about 2 hours on the road if you don’t account for traffic, roadworks and rest breaks.
3 ways to get from Santa Marta to Barranquilla
There is no direct flight between the 2 cities, so the most popular options to get from Santa Marta to Barranquilla are a 3.5 hours bus ride or 2.5 hours minivan ride. Fares range between 18,000 COP ($3.70) and 60,000 COP ($12.50).
Travelling by taxi, even though it’s comfortable, can be expensive. Expect to pay between 200,000 COP ($41.50) – 400,000 COP ($83) depending on whether it’s peak tourist season. There’s the option of booking a private car through BookAway, or most hotels can arrange it for you as well.
A minivan is another option, which acts as essentially a shared taxi. It’s a popular choice when travelling the routes Cartagena-Barranquilla-Santa Marta and vice versa. Their added value is their door to door service, meaning no extra cost or effort catching public transportation.
Buses are less frequent than minivans, and to catch them you first need to get to the bus terminal. They are a good option only if you need to travel after 18:00 (when the minivans stop running) or if you prefer the comfort and space of a bigger vehicle.
When choosing between the minivan and the bus, we definitely recommend taking the minivan from Santa Marta to Barranquilla. It’s faster, and in terms of costs, it is about the same as going by bus after you account for the cost of taxis to get to and from bus terminals.
PRO TIP: It can be cheaper to fly to/from Barranquilla when you are travelling to/from other coastal destinations like Cartagena or Santa Marta during Christmas season.
Itinerary from Santa Marta to Barranquilla
Santa Marta to Barranquilla by Minivan
There are a number of different companies offering the service from Santa Marta to Barranquilla, but the most popular ones are Marsol, Caribe Vans, Pro tours and Coche express. They all have set departures every 2 hours, from 06:00-18:00.
You can check the availability and book a minivan with Marsol through BookAway, providing pick-up and drop-off addresses. We recommend booking in advance, preferably the day before travelling and wait for their confirmation.
Expect to pay around 30,000 COP ($6) to 40,000 COP ($8) to Barranquilla. Prices can increase by around 25% during the carnival and holiday seasons.
You’ll be picked up at the address you provided, before beginning the 2.5-hour journey to your drop-off address. The time may vary slightly depending on traffic and rest breaks, but effectively all you have to do is sit back and relax the entire way.
Check Minivan Tickets with BookAway
Santa Marta to Barranquilla by Bus
Step 1: Santa Marta to Barranquilla
There are three major bus companies that will take you from Santa Marta to Barranquilla: Expreso Brasilia/Unitransco, Rapido Ochoa and Copetran. Every day there are buses leaving from Santa Marta Bus Terminal (Terminal de Buses) at various times.
The buses are quite comfortable, with reclining seats, AC, a toilet and the newer buses tend to have individual tvs and charging ports.
Expreso Brasilia is considered to be ahead in terms of services and amenities, but there’s only one bus covering this route a day.
Meanwhile, Rapido Ochoa and Copetran may be more convenient (and usually a bit cheaper) as they offer 5-6 departures a day, every 3-4 hours.
You can book your tickets online (make sure to print your ticket in advance though) or directly at the bus terminal. Day buses don’t tend to sell out as quickly as night ones, so it’s possible to get a ticket at the bus terminal.
To get to Santa Marta bus terminal take a yellow cab and indicate you are going to the “Terminal de buses”. The fare should be around 8,000 COP ($1.60) from Santa Marta city centre, where most hotels are. If you are staying in the El Rodadero area, that fare will significantly increase to around 25,000 COP ($5).
Bus schedule from Santa Marta to Barranquilla
Step 2: Barranquilla Bus Terminal to the city centre
Barranquilla bus terminal is located in the southern district of Soledad, pretty close to the airport. It is not the best or safest area, though.
Therefore, it is best to take a taxi that will typically cost between 20,000 COP ($4.10) to 26,000 COP ($5) to get to the city centre or 15,000 COP ($3.10) to the airport. The journey to the city centre and most tourist areas will take around 30 minutes.
It is possible to walk 15 minutes to the metrobus station “Pacho Galan” and take the line R1 towards the city. To access the system you need to buy a card for 5,000 COP ($1) and then a ticket for 2,400 COP ($0.50).
However, we don’t really recommend taking the metrobus, since the area is not the best for walking, plus the bus service is poor and tends to be crowded.
Our favourite places to stay in Barranquilla
Barranquilla is a bustling city with plenty of places to stay. You’ll be spoilt for choice here. This also means that you can find some cheaper accommodation options compared to the rest of Colombia and the Caribbean coast.
With that many accommodations to choose from, we’ve made it simple for you. Here are our favourite places to stay in Barranquilla:
Crowne Plaza Barranquilla — Treat yourself
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel with a pool, Crowne Plaze Barranquilla is the place to stay. This 5-star hotel has everything you need. Besides the gorgeous pool, the hotel has an onsite gym and offers spacious and clean rooms.
In the morning you will be treated to a delicious breakfast. Thanks to the staff you will feel like royalty during your stay in Barranquilla.
- Rooftop pool
- Onsite gym
- Clean and spacious rooms
- Delicious breakfast
Double rooms cost $80+ per night
Wyndham Garden Barranquilla — Mid Range
You can find Wyndham hotels all across the world. Staying at one of these gives you peace of mind that you’re going to have a comfortable stay and enjoy top-notch facilities.
This hotel in particular has a sauna and two rooftop hot tubs. The rooms are large and modern, offering everything you need. You’ll also be in a perfect location within Barranquilla.
- Two rooftop hot tubs and sauna
- Onsite bar
- Great location
- Delicious breakfast included
Double rooms cost between $40-$80 per night
Casa Caribe Colonial — Budget Friendly
Casa Caribe Colonial offers exceptional value for money, with rooms starting from $20 per night. As the name suggests, the hotel boasts a colonial-style design with vibrant splashes of blue throughout.
The rooms are clean and large, looking onto an open-air courtyard at the centre of the hotel. The perfect place to relax.
- Great value for money
- Large and clean rooms
- Amazing staff
- Perfect location
Double rooms cost between $20-$40 per night
Bh Barranquilla — Budget Friendly
Another great budget-friendly spot is Bh Barranquilla. They have some amazing facilities for the price you pay: a rooftop pool, gym, restaurant and chill-out areas.
The rooms are modern and clean, with huge beds that guarantee a good night’s sleep. The staff there will also do everything they can to make sure that you have an amazing stay.
- Rooftop pool
- Gym facilities
- Great location
- Amazing value for money
Double rooms cost between $20-$40 per night
More routes to Barranquilla
More routes from Santa Marta
Most popular routes in Colombia
About the author(s)
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.
