How to get from Minca 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 21 kilometers (13 miles) from Minca to Santa Marta. You can choose between the private transport and colectivo. The journey takes 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and the quickest way is by colectivo. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by colectivo with tickets starting at 9,000 COP (€2).

When travelling from Minca to Santa Marta, you’ll need to catch the colectivo from the bus stop in Minca on the town’s main street. Buses come frequently, so you can just go to the bus stop and wait for the next one available.

The bus journey to Santa Marta takes around 45 minutes. A seat costs 9,000 COP (€2).

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Minca to Santa Marta.

Rates start from for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about per person. Travel time is around 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.