Santa Marta, Colombia is known for its beautiful landscapes and beaches. It combines a jungle interior with a Caribbean coastline, making it particularly unique. Visiting this region can be an adventure in itself but, for the views, it’s definitely worth it. Here is everything you need to know to best visit the region, including the top things to do in Santa Marta.
The Best Places to Stay in Santa Marta
Staying in the town of Santa Marta, Colombia is not always the best idea. As a town, it is not the safest or quaintest within Colombia and there may be other places in the region that may be more suitable for you based on what you want to explore in the region.
if you want to explore multiple areas within the region...
The Historical Center of Santa Marta, Colombia
The historical center of Santa Marta, Colombia is the colonial neighborhood of the city that was founded in the 1500s. If you are interested in using Santa Marta, Colombia as a hub to explore other areas (Tayrona National Park and Minca), then this is the best area to stay because it is close to different forms of transportation and the starting location of tours. However, it is not the safest town in Colombia and it is important to stay vigilant, especially in the evenings. It is best to stay between Calle 15 and Calle 20, and Carrerra 5 and the ocean.
Looking for where to stay for in the historic center of Santa Marta? You can check out various hotels here.
Taganga
Taganga, a small fishing village just north of Santa Marta, is another central place to stay if you are looking to explore the region. There are buses that readily transport people between Taganga and Santa Marta, Colombia and there are boats that transport people to Tayrona National Park, making it easy to get around from this area. This area is known for its nightlife, especially on the weekends, and can be loud in the early morning. It is located on a small bay with an enjoyable beach, perfect to relax on the ocean. Similarly to the historical center of Santa Marta, it is best to be vigilant when walking around this town.
if you want a relaxing beach vacation...
Bello Horizonte
The neighborhood of Bello Horizonte is located near the airport of Santa Marta. It is where the nicer beach resorts are located and is conveniently close to the airport. It has a beautiful beach along which you can relax and take in the Caribbean sea. The water here is clean enough to swim in and we recommend reserving a resort to be able to take advantage of it.
if you only want to visit Tayrona National Park...
Tayrona
If your only reason for visiting the Santa Marta region is to visit Tayrona National Park, then you will want to stay right outside of the park prior to and after your exploration of the park. This will make it easy for you to enter the park early in the morning and take full advantage of this beautiful destination before larger crowds arrive.
if you want a relaxing jungle experience...
Minca
If you want a unique jungle experience away from the coast and crowds of people, then Minca could be the best place for you to stay in the area. It recently became more popular because of the creation of a highway that connects Santa Marta to this small town. That being said, the community appreciates and celebrates tourism in the region and has developed excellent hospitality standards for anyone who visits. There are a number of hostels and hotels in Minca, many of which are eco-accommodations and are great for those who want to hike through the rainforest, swim under waterfalls, and take in the humid and tropical environment.
Top Things to Do in Santa Marta and the Surrounding Area
Visit Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is the main attraction to the Santa Marta area because of its beautiful beaches and views into the Caribbean sea. While it can be visited in a day trip, the magic of the destination may be best appreciated with a hiking and camping experience within the park for at least one night.
Visit Minca
Minca is a small village located in the jungle mountains of northern Colombia. It is just an hour outside of Santa Marta, Colombia, making it easy to get to from the city. You can take a taxi to get to Minca and explore the town on your own or, you can reserve a day tour, which can take you from Santa Marta to Minca where you will get to hike to a waterfall, visit a coffee farm, learn about natural cacao production, and take in the nature of the Sierra Nevada jungles. This one day tour includes transportation to and from Santa Marta, making it an easy experience logistically. And make sure to bring hiking shoes because the walk to the waterfall is really a hike and you should be prepared for it.
The Blueprint Travelers Hiking Staples
You could also consider spending a night or two in the town of Minca so you can take in the beautiful jungle environment in this unique town. This will allow you to do more hikes and enjoy the local culture.
How to Get to Santa Marta, Colombia
By Bus from Cartagena
If you are visiting the Santa Marta region from Cartagena, you can reserve a bus service to take you from one destination to the next. There are a few different services that do this route but we recommend using MarSol and reserving your spot through the third party website, Juan Ballena, to make reserving your spot easy. This service is a large van that is filled with people going directly from Cartagena to Santa Marta (through Barranquilla) from their own terminals. You may need to take a taxi or walk from your accommodations to the bus terminal, depending on the distance and the weather. These buses are reliable forms of transportation that can take you between the two destinations.
By Plane
Santa Marta, Colombia also has an airport that can make it easy to get in and out of the area, especially if you are coming from/going to Bogota or Medellin within Colombia. You can coordinate a taxi for a flat rate from your accommodation to get to the airport.
How to Get Around the Santa Marta Area
The best ways to get around the region are with taxis and local buses. There is no Uber in this region but there are not many tourist destinations within Santa Marta, making it relatively easy to communicate and get around the area.
Taxis
You can have your accommodation help you order and reserve a taxi to get to any destination. You will negotiate a fare with the taxi driver prior to the trip, making it an easy flat fare to get around. If you do not pre-negotiate a fare, make sure the taxi driver has a meter started prior to heading to your destination to ensure a fair rate.
Buses
There are many public buses that can take you all around the area, especially between Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park. For this particular route, you will take the bus from Santa Marta’s Central Market at Calle 11 and Carrera 11 and get off at the entrance that you want to use in Tayrona National Park (El Zaino or Calabazo). To return to Santa Marta, you will stand at the park entrance and wave down the next bus that is going in the Santa Marta direction. These buses run regularly and are very used to picking up and dropping off tourists on this route. You will need cash for these rides.
By Boat
The second way to get to Tayrona National Park is by boat from Taganga. Here, fishing boats can take you to and from the park. This is best if you are considering doing a day trip to the national park and do not want to hike two hours in and out of the park. You can read more about visiting Tayrona National Park here.
A 4 Day Itinerary with the Things to do in Santa Marta and Around
This is the itinerary we recommend if you are looking to explore a little bit of everything that the Santa Marta region has to offer. With this itinerary, you will get to visit the jungle region of Minca, hike through the beautiful Tayrona National Park, and spend some time on one of the beautiful beaches of the area.
Day 0
Arrive in the Santa Marta area
Day 1
Visit Minca through a guided tour
Day 2-3
Camp in Tayrona National Park
Day 4
(optional, especially if you are already spending time in Cartagena): Relax on the beach of Taganga or Bello Horizonte
Day 5
Leave the Santa Marta area
