Exploring Santa Marta Where to stay Where to eat How to get around Things To Do How to get there Favourite stays
Santa Marta is a colourful colonial town and travel hub situated in the north of Colombia.
Santa Marta was actually the first Spanish settlement in the whole of Colombia. The Spanish influence is still clearly evident through its spectacular architecture and cobblestone streets. Just a little bit brighter now, and mixed up with both Caribbean and Colombian aesthetics.
Santa Marta is also a great combination of both city and beach. There’s also plenty of sunshine to make both more enjoyable!
You can base yourself in Santa Marta for a beach vacation or simply use it as a travel gateway to other places in the north — Tayrona National Park, Minca, Palomino and the Lost City Trek.
If you’re visiting Santa Marta soon, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for our best advice on safety in the city, where to stay, best things to do, and how to travel onward to other destinations.
Is Santa Marta worth visiting?
We’ll get straight to the point and say that there are much better places in Colombia to spend your time than Santa Marta.
If you’re looking for a colonial city that’s close to the beach, then visiting Cartagena is a better option.
Santa Marta can be nice to stay for one night if you’re using it as a jumping-off place for other spots on the north coast. This way you can still get a feel for the city, without spending too much time there.
Is Santa Marta safe?
Santa Marta isn’t the safest of cities. Some people don’t get the best of vibes walking around. It’s a bit rough around the edges, especially once you venture further from the main street in the city centre.
However, as long as you exercise common sense, and don’t walk around at night by yourself, you should be fine. This is the same for a lot of cities in Colombia.
Where to stay in Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a reasonably big city with a number of neighbourhoods.
Choosing the right place to stay in Santa Marta can be a pretty important decision, as it’s not the safest of cities.
Our recommended places to stay are amongst the nicest, safest and most popular for tourists.
Here are our top 3 recommendations of where to stay in Santa Marta:
Location #1: Old Town — the best place to stay
Best for: everything. Santa Marta’s Old Town, essentially the centre of the city, is the best place to stay. Here, you’ll be staying within the clean and colourful colonial streets full of life.
Who is it for: those looking for a safe area. The Old Town is one of the safer areas in Santa Marta as it’s often busy and it’s most tourists tend to stay.
Don’t miss: the best restaurants, cafes and bars. You won’t have to walk far to get home after a delicious and filling meal. And it’s still super close to the beach!
Accommodation in the Old Town
The Old Town is one of the most popular places in Santa Marta for tourists to stay. This means that there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from — hotels, Airbnbs, homestays and hostels.
Akuamarina Hotel is an amazing budget option in the centre of Santa Marta. If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, then head over to Casa de Leda.
Private rooms can start as low as $15 per night in the Old Town.
Location #2: El Rodadero — perfect for beach-goers
Best for: the beach with a splash of city life. With its taller buildings, El Rodadero definitely has a more urban and commercial feel than the Old Town. Plus, it’s a much more residential area.
Who is it for: if you want some time on the beach. El Rodadero has one of the best urban beaches in Santa Marta.
Don’t miss: El Rodadero has a lot to offer. It has plenty of restaurants — particularly seafood — cafes, shops, bars and a lively nightlife.
Biggest downside: you’re not in the centre of Santa Marta, but it’s only 10 minutes away, so you won’t be missing out.
Accommodation in El Rodadero
You’ll find slightly bigger hotels here in El Rodadero and some names that you’d recognise. There are definitely more resort vibes, due to the beach, compared to the boutique-style hotels in the Old Town.
Prices are slightly more expensive here, with private rooms starting at around $25 per night.
Location #3: Bello Horizonte — close to the airport and the beach
Best for: access to the airport — Bello Horizonte is only a 13-minute drive away.
Who is it for: those looking for some quiet. Bello Horizonte is more of a residential area. Home to upper middle class Colombians, it’s a lot quieter than the other two areas.
Don’t miss: the beach in Bello Horizonte. It’s ideal for a peaceful beach day.
Biggest downside: there isn’t a lot going on in this area.
Accommodation in Bello Horizonte
The places to stay in Bello Horizonte have a more upscale vibe about them. This is where you’ll find your luxury hotels and apartments for rent.
We can highly recommend Casa Verano, an adults-only hotel set right on the beach.
As it’s the most exclusive area of the three places to stay, the prices are also the highest. Private rooms start from around $30 per night.
Best restaurants in Santa Marta
Santa Marta has a lot of international tourists passing through, whose global tastes it tries to satisfy. For this reason, you can find dishes from all across the world.
Don’t worry, there are still plenty of Caribbean and Colombian-influenced places to eat too.
The standard of food in Santa Marta is also pretty high. You can find some really delicious dishes that will leave you wowed!
To help you get that wow moment, here are our 3 favourite places to eat in Santa Marta:
Via Roma — delicious pizza right on the seafront
Situated only metres from the seafront, Via Roma is a great location to sit back, people watch and enjoy the sunset over the beach. Couple this with delicious pizza, what more could you ask for?
With 29 pizza flavours on offer, including a nutella pizza, there is something for everyone. The staff are incredibly friendly and make the experience even better. An amazing spot in Santa Marta!
Agua de Rio Cafe Bistro — locally sourced, high-quality food
Just a quick glance at Agua de Rio’s menu, and you’ll want to eat there. They offer a wide range of tasty food from pancakes, ceviche, tostadas, sandwiches to pasta and fresh fish.
Their entire ethos is based around using local ingredients, showing what the area has to offer as well as showcasing the culture and traditions. Agua de Rio boasts a relaxing and beautifully decorated interior that can be a welcomed escape from Santa Marta’s scorching heat.
Ouzo — a popular and tasty Mediterranean restaurant
Ouzo is probably Santa Marta’s most popular restaurant, so we couldn’t leave it off this list. It’s famous for its delicious Mediterranean flavours despite being thousands of miles away from the destinations where its plates are from.
At Ouzo, you can get a taste of Greece, Spain, Italy and more. Every plate is beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. To guarantee a seat at this restaurant, we’d recommend making a reservation.
How to get around Santa Marta
Getting around Santa Marta is a pretty easy task. Your own two feet will get you pretty far. They also have a cheap, useful and pretty easy to navigate bus network.
Here’s how to get around Santa Marta:
By foot
Most of the places worth exploring in Santa Marta are situated near the city centre or the beach. All of this is within close walking distance to each other.
Therefore, one of your best forms of transport is your own two feet. Plus, some of the streets around the centre are pedestrianised, so walking is your only option.
By bus
The blue buses that run to and around Santa Marta can be a great way to get where you need to go.
There are 15 bus lines in Santa Marta, so at least one should cover where you want to go. The website Moovit has some information about the bus lines and can help you get to your destination.
The bus is also a super affordable way to get around.
The bus to and from Santa Marta Airport
Santa Marta Airport is situated 30 minutes outside of the city centre.
Whilst you can get a taxi for 30,000 COP ($7.50), the bus is a cheaper option, especially if you’re by yourself.
The blue bus picks you up from right outside the arrivals terminal and goes directly to the centre of Santa Marta. Tickets cost 2,000 COP ($0.50) each way.
It can get pretty busy, though.
Bus to your next destination
The buses/colectivos are ideal for getting to your next destination too. You can find more information on onward travel in our route guides: Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park, Santa Marta to Minca and Santa Marta to Cartagena.
By Taxi
There are plenty of yellow taxis roaming the street around Santa Marta.
You can easily flag them down from the street. Before you get in, we advise making sure that it’s a licensed taxi, agreeing on a price or making sure that they turn their metre on.
Unfortunately, Uber isn’t available in Santa Marta.
Best things to do around Santa Marta
There are a few places of interest in Santa Marta, but we think your time is best spent getting out of the city and exploring the amazing destinations nearby.
Here are some unmissable spots on the north coast of Colombia:
#1 Visit Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park offers some of the best beaches in Colombia. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular places to visit in the whole country.
The park is a stunning combination of beaches and jungle. Don’t be surprised to see monkeys casually hanging out as you’re hiking along.
Inside Tayrona National Park, there are a number of hiking trails that you can embark on. If just one day of beaches and hiking isn’t enough for you, you can even sleep inside the park.
A trip to Tayrona National Park often ends up being one of travellers’ favourite days in Colombia!
Ready to start planning? Read our best tips for visiting Tayrona National Park.
How to get from Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park
The journey from Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park takes a little over 30 minutes. This can be done by either bus or taxi.
To find out exactly how to make the journey, here is our Santa Marta to Tayrona route.
#2 Spend some days in Minca
Minca is a jungle paradise. You will literally feel the stress leave your body as soon as you enter it.
It’s hard to be stressed when you’re surrounded by nothing but dense, green jungle, cascading waterfalls, coffee plantations and wildlife.
Minca is an ideal place to stay for a few days, going on some hikes and absorbing nature.
Read about all the amazing activities in Minca.
How to get from Santa Marta to Minca
To get from the busy beach to the secluded jungle town of Minca, it only takes around 45 minutes.
Here’s how to get from Santa Marta to Minca.
#3 Relax on the beach in Palomino
Palomino is a small, laidback beach town also situated on Colombia’s north coast. It’s just under 2 hours from Santa Marta.
Palomino is a safe and ‘tranquillo’ place, where there’s nothing to worry about. A place where your days are spent eating delicious food and relaxing on the beach.
Top Tip: You can check out our favourite food recommendations in our guide to Palomino.
There aren’t a ton of things to do in Palomino besides soaking up the serene atmosphere. However, you can go river tubing, learn how to surf or play games on the beach.
How to get from Santa Marta to Palomino
The journey from Santa Marta to Palomino is an easy one. There’s a bus that can take you directly there. Taxis are also an option.
We tell you all the details in our Santa Marta to Palomino route.
#4 Step back in time on the Lost City Trek
Hidden amongst the jungle within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is the Lost City.
Built by the Tairona people more than 1,000 years ago, the site is one of the most popular in Colombia. However, the only way to get there is to walk!
This walk, covering 28 miles, is called the Lost City Trek. The trek can take 4, 5, or 6 days depending on what pace you’d like to take.
Whichever you choose, the journey takes you through a diversity of flora and fauna, where you get to see how the local Indigenous communities live.
The trek is guaranteed to be an experience that you’ll never forget!
#5 Learn to dive in Taganga
Only 15 minutes from Santa Marta, the change in vibe couldn’t be more noticeable.
Whilst Santa Marta is a busy and colourful city, Taganga is a fishing village/a rustic beach town. The streets and the locals exude relaxed and carefree energy.
Aside from being an ideal place to escape the busyness of the rest of Colombia, Taganga is also a popular spot for diving.
Diving in Taganga
Due to its close proximity to Tayrona National Park, Taganga is quickly becoming well-known in the diving community.
Tayrona offers a magical underwater world that’s just as amazing as its famous paradise beaches and hikes. You’ll be treated to large reefs, colourful corals, a hypnotising variety of marine life, shipwrecks and caves. All of this makes diving from Taganga very exciting.
How to go diving in Taganga
There are over 20 diving spots, so you won’t run out quickly! You also won’t struggle to find a dive shop as there are plenty in Taganga.
To give you an idea, fun dives start from around $30. You can complete a 3-day open water course to gain your PADI qualification for around $325. This is a very good price for this course compared to rates worldwide.
How to get to Santa Marta
In summary
Now that you’ve finished reading this guide, you should be ready for your adventure in Santa Marta. Create your personalised itinerary with our top picks of things to do in Santa Marta and you’re all set to make lasting memories. Want to continue your trip in Colombia? Tayrona National Park is a great place to check out next.
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
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
Aleksandra is a writer and editor who recently moved from Hong Kong to London. She’s worked and studied in four countries (and counting) and picked up a new hobby in each of them. She’s a big fan of long train journeys so you can count on her to take the scenic route, finding a few hidden gems along the way.
in Salento, Colombia
in San Gil, Colombia
Colombia’s adventure capital
in Palomino, Colombia
in Minca, Colombia