With an incredible variety of landscapes, Santa Marta perfectly combines cultural tradition and nature. Discover the most interesting things to do in Santa Marta as well as Colombia’s most stunning natural spaces. With dreamy beaches, perfectly preserved colonial architecture and amazing food, Santa Marta is a special city that demonstrates its friendliness in its people and in every cultural aspect that makes it up.
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Things to do in Santa Marta Colombia
1. Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta
Located in a square in the historic centre of the city, seeing the cathedral is one of the essential things to do in Santa Marta. It is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. Built in the Renaissance style in the 1760s, this church housed the body of Simón Bolívar for 12 years. Since 1953, the remains of Rodrigo de Bastidas have been kept here. In addition, the square in which it is located is usually very lively. In the area you can also find several restaurants and street stalls.
2. Los Novios Park
The Parque de los Novios is one of the most atmospheric places in the city. It is one of the gastronomic and tourist centres of Santa Marta. No matter the time, you will always find locals and tourists having a good time on one of the terraces. The park has the statue of Francisco de Paula Santander and the bust of the politician Manuel Murillo Toro, twice president of Colombia.
3. Carrera 3
This is a charming little pedestrian street in the heart of the city’s historic centre, full of cafés and restaurants. We recommend Lulo Cafe Bar for breakfast and brunch and then Lamart Santa Marta for lunch and dinner. During the day it is a very colourful place thanks to the painted facades and bunting. At night, there is a very pleasant atmosphere due to the fairy lights and street musicians.
4. Casa de la Aduana
This building is considered the first erected by the Spanish, not only in the city but in all of America. Located in the Historic Centre of Santa Marta, the Casa de la Aduana has also had multiple names and functions. The first was the House of Government, then the Customs Consulate, hence its name, which was a sort of Chamber of Commerce of the time.
Nowadays the Casa de la Aduana is the seat of the Museo del Oro Tayrona, a regional museum that is part of the Banco de la República. In this museum you can see a collection of gold and silver work made by the Tayrona Indians and everything related to the culture of the ancient inhabitants of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
5. Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Visitors to Santa Marta can take a look back at the history of the Americas by visiting the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the hacienda where the Liberator Simón Bolívar died on 17 December 1830. Surrounded by century-old trees, it preserves some of the furnishings of the time and is home to the Bolivarian Museum of Contemporary Art.
6. El Rodadero
It is a beach located in the bay of Gaira and is the most visited point of the city. Only 5km from the city centre, this beach is known nationally as a beach resort of excellent quality.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in and around Santa Marta?
1. Taganga
Taganga is a fishing village located fifteen minutes north of Santa Marta in a bay surrounded by mountains. Here travellers can learn to dive at several certified centres. Hotels and restaurants serving typical food are available here, and in the evenings you can watch breathtaking sunsets over the sea.
2. Tayrona Park
Considered one of the most beautiful in the world, Tayrona Park is approximately 5,650 metres above sea level and offers a unique experience for nature lovers. Located near the Sierra Nevada, in this park you can enjoy Playa Cristal, Playa Cañaveral, Playa Arenilla, Playa Arrecifes and Playa Cabo de San Juan, which are the park’s main beaches.
In addition, the Tayrona Park is part of the ancestral territory of the Kankuamo, Kogui, Wiwa and Arhuaco indigenous communities that inhabited the Sierra Nevada.
3. Lost City
Built around the year 700, this was the main urban centre of the ancient Tayrona civilisation. It is also one of the most important archaeological sites providing insight into this culture. Here there are circular squares, stairways, roads and canals built in stone that served as a base for dwellings made of thatch, wattle and daub.
The Ciudad Perdida or Teyuna Archaeological Park is in the midst of the dense flora of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and its Natural Park. It is around 13 hectares, with surprisingly complex architecture, such as the system of canals that transported rainwater through the population and terraces to preserve the soil’s fertility. You will also find cave paintings and petroglyphs (drawings engraved in stone).
- To get to the Lost City, you have to drive to Vereda el Mamey. Then, you take a guided walk along a 23.3 km trail to reach the indigenous reservation.
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What to do in Santa Marta in two days?
Day 1:
- Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta
- Los Novios Park
- Carrera 3
- Casa de la Aduana
Day 2:
- Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
- Village of Taganga
- El Rodadero
What to do in Santa Marta in three days?
If you have three days in the city of Santa Marta, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit some of its nearby natural spaces. On your third day we recommend visiting:
- Tayrona Park
- Lost City
Where to eat in Santa Marta Colombia?
Santa Marta is an ideal place to enjoy seafood dishes. Most of the restaurants are concentrated in the historic centre and in the neighbourhood of El Rodadero, but you will also find small taverns all over the city. Some of the typical dishes are the well-known rice with coconut, red snapper or a good plate of prawns.
Here is a list of some of the best restaurants in the city where you can try some of the most typical and traditional recipes.
- Lulo is a Caribbean, Latin and healthy food restaurant, which also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Located in the historic area of Santa Marta, this restaurant serves recipes using fresh and natural products, with unique flavours and at a very affordable price. the price range is from €4 – €13.
- Soul Food is a grill restaurant with traditional cuisine, offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. It has a price range of €5 – €14 and very good quality products.
- Restaurante Lamart is a seafood, Caribbean and Latin restaurant, offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. It has a price range of €4 – €17 and very good quality products.
- Eli’s Restaurant is a restaurant with Mediterranean and Colombian recipes from €7 – €16. This restaurant is best known for its delicious breakfasts and lunches.
Where to stay in Santa Marta Colombia?
The most popular neighbourhoods to stay in if you visit Santa Marta are the historic centre, El Rodadero or even Taganga, where many prefer to stay on the doorstep of the Tayrona Park. Here is a selection of some of the best hotels in Santa Marta Colombia, so you can make the most of your stay.
- Hotel Boutique Don Pepe is a beautiful five-star hotel located in Santa Marta, 200 metres from the shopping area and 150 metres from the beach. Don Pepe is a famous hotel in the city with a vintage style, a gourmet restaurant and a gallery with frequent art exhibitions. The price per night is around €170 for two people.
- Akuamarina Hotel is a beautiful and well-kept hotel located right in the centre of Santa Marta, very close to the main places of interest in the city. The price per night is very affordable, around €25-50 per night for two people.
- Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa, a beautiful five-star city centre hotel, is located in the Plaza Parque de Los Novios, next to the bars and restaurants of the historic centre of Santa Marta, 5 km from El Rodadero beach. Elegantly decorated and well equipped, the price per night is around €84 for two people.
- Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina is a four-star hotel located next to the San Francisco Monastery in the historic centre of Santa Marta, 200 metres from Santa Mar beach. The rooms are fully equipped and are priced at approximately €50 per night for two people.
Tips for your trip to Santa Marta Colombia
- Thanks to its diverse landscape, Santa Marta, Colombia enjoys a warm and dry climate, with an average temperature of 28°C.
- We advise you to get vaccinated against yellow fever 15 days in advance if you are going to visit natural areas. We also recommend taking medicines, painkillers, sunscreen and insect repellent.
- It is very important to drink bottled water.
- It is important to take out travel insurance when travelling to Santa Marta.
- Try to promote local products when buying food and handicrafts.
- Remember to exercise caution and keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times.
- If you take a taxi, it’s best to use the phone numbers and mobile apps of reputable companies such as Easy Taxi or Taxis Libres.
- Listen to the recommendations of tour guides and staff at your accommodation.
How to organise what to do in Santa Marta?
Sign up or download the App and discover all its useful features.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
Frequently asked questions about your trip to Santa Marta Colombia
The best way to get to Santa Marta, Colombia is flying to Simon Bolivar International Airport, located ten minutes from the El Rodadero area and fifteen minutes from the historic centre. At the airport you will find taxis and other transport services to take you to the city centre.
Santa Marta has a small city centre, so it is easy to get around on foot or by public bus. The public bus system is unregulated, as most routes are privately operated. Buses can be picked up at any point along the route.
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