29 Must-Do Things to do in Santa Marta: An Ultimate Guide
Welcome to the internet’s definitive guide on all the things to do in Santa Marta, Colombia!
Sara and I decided to make Santa Marta our base of operations for an entire month while we were exploring Colombia. Essentially, we knew we wanted to head to the Caribbean coast after Medellin, and the decision came down to Cartagena or Santa Marta?
Let us tell you, we do not regret choosing Santa Marta. From the nearby stunning Caribbean beaches, to the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and the beautiful nature in Tayrona National Park.
We were always busy during our time in this less-visited Colombian city!
So now it’s time for us to impart all of the knowledge on Santa Marta that we built up over the month.
We want to share with you everything there is to do in Santa Marta, as well as the nearby towns of Taganga, Rodadero and more. In addition, we’ll provide all the boring information you need to visit so you don’t have to do any of the research yourself.
So without further ado, here’s the best list of things to do in Santa Marta you’ll ever find!
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Things to do in Santa Marta
Unlike most other bloggers on the internet, we’re going to jump straight into the meat and potatoes of this guide: all the epic things to do!
If you want to know about where to stay in Santa Marta, how to get to Santa Marta and all that jazz, you can skip to the end.
Bask in the greatness of the Santa Marta Cathedral
The Catedral BasÃlica de Santa Marta is found in the historic center of the city, in the plaza of the same name.
Construction began on the cathedral in 1765 and since then it’s been a staple landmark in Santa Marta. Once home to the remains of Simón BolÃvar, this cathedral has survived flooding, fires and even pirate attacks!
The opening hours of Santa Marta Cathedral are kind of strange and it often shuts for long periods of time in the afternoon. So if you’re planning to take a look inside, then plan accordingly!
Let loose at Parque de los Novios
Parque de los Novios is one of the most popular plazas in Santa Marta and is a place you’ll commonly hear whispered from the lips of other backpackers.
The reason for this is that the square is surrounded by restaurants, bars and even a couple of clubs. In addition, there are also some stunning colonial buildings to admire as well as a statue of the political leader Francisco Santander.
Come to Parque de los Novios after sunset to bask in the atmosphere of Santa Marta’s energetic nightlife!
Grab a delicious meal along Carrera 3
Right next to Parque de los Novios is Carrera 3, a street full of even more restaurants, bars and other food establishments!
We stopped by El Mexican Santa Marta one evening and thoroughly enjoyed a giant burrito.
Enjoy a scoop of delicious gelato
Continuing the food trend, along Carrera 3 are two incredibly popular gelaterÃas. We decided to pop into Gnam GelaterÃa and do not regret our choices.
For only a few dollars we indulged in the creamiest, most mouthwatering gelato that we found in Colombia. We highly recommend you also take a visit and experience this too!
Stroll along Malecon de Bastidas
Although I can’t find any information on when it was built, Malecon de Bastidas along Santa Marta’s waterfront seemed to us like a new addition to the city.
This is where you’ll find the giant ‘Santa Marta’ sign that everyone wants to take the tourist photo with.
Besides the sign, you’ll also find multiple parks, playgrounds and outdoor gym areas along Malecon de Bastidas.
Definitely put aside a sunny afternoon to take a stroll here beside the ocean!
Admire Santa Marta Beach (sort of…)
Although we’re adding Santa Marta Beach into the guide as a thing to do in Santa Marta, we’d actually recommend not planning a day here. There are far better beaches in the area!
However, if you’re looking for a flying beach visit then BahÃa de Santa Marta is a great place to enjoy the sea breeze.
Found at the end of the Malecon, combine the two for a quaint morning or afternoon out exploring!
Wander along Playa los Cocos
Playa los Cocos is another beach in Santa Marta, only a couple of hundred meters further down the coast from the main beach.
Although in much better condition than Santa Marta Beach, again we wouldn’t recommend planning a full day out here. Instead, use Playa los Cocos as a place to take a beach walk to get some fresh air.
Generally, none of the beaches in Santa Marta old town are particularly good. But Playa los Cocos is the best of the bunch!
Step back in time at Tairona Gold Museum (a fun thing to do in Santa Marta!)
If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you’ll know that Sara and I are massive fans of visiting museums. We think they’re the best way to learn about the local culture and history of a place or country.
Museo del Oro, near Parque BolÃvar, isn’t any different!
Meander around the different rooms of the museum learning about the history of local artists from the nearby indigenous groups. Declared a National Monument, the Museo del Oro holds hundreds of priceless treasures and artifacts for you to gawp at.
Chill out at Parque BolÃvar
Bordering the seafront, Parque BolÃvar is a giant half-park half-plaza in Santa Marta’s historic center.
When we explored this area, there was also a local market set up at the east side of the park. It was a great place to buy local snacks, crafts and fresh juices.
We also noticed a lot of locals chilling on the benches under the trees, escaping the heat of the sun. So that’s what we decided to do too for a while. When in Santa Marta, am I right?
There’s also a giant statue of Mr. BolÃvar himself to admire. But we guarantee this isn’t the only statue of Simón BolÃvar you’ll come across while traveling South America!
One of Colombia’s oldest churches in Plaza San Francisco
One of the first places the Spanish landed in South America was in Santa Marta. This makes Santa Marta one of oldest settlements on the continent. Which makes Iglesia San Francisco in Plaza San Francisco one of the oldest churches on the continent.
Built in 1597, the church on the northside of Plaza San Francisco has stood the test of time. Right up until a fire almost took it out in 1962, after which the inside was reconstructed.
Other than the church, Plaza San Francisco is a simple plaza. There are locals with stalls set up to sell food and local goods, and there are a few restaurants. But don’t expect too much!
Don’t forget travel insurance!
Sara and I have been using Safety Wing for over two years now! They specialise in nomad travel insurance, so whether you’re travelling long-term or on a short trip, they got you covered!
Charter a boat for the day (a unique thing to do in Santa Marta!)
One of the benefits of being in Santa Marta, that you don’t get in cities like Medellin or Bogota, is that it’s on the ocean. And not only any ocean, but the Caribbean ocean!
So why not capitalize on that?
It’s time to splash some cash, get together with a few friends and charter a boat out into the ocean. You can drive the boat to nearby Rodadero, Taganga or even into Tayrona National Park!
Explore the Historic Center
Santa Marta is a big city and not all of it is of the savory type. However, the historic center is an amazing place to explore without having to worry about your safety!
From churches, to restaurants, to plazas and all the way to the ocean, the historic center has so much to offer. Actually, while in Santa Marta, we pretty much spent all our time within the historic center admiring the local and colonial architecture.
It’s also a great place to base. There are great hostels and hotels which we’ll cover later on. We booked an Airbnb just outside the historic center and it was the perfect choice!
Destroy a pizza at Ouzo (a must-do thing in Santa Marta)
Colombian cuisine is delicious, but in our opinion it can get quite repetitive after weeks of eating the same food. So if, like us, you get a hankering for pizza, don’t worry – we got you!
Ouzo is a great place to indulge in sweet, sweet Italian oven-fired pizza!
The main Ouzo is found by Parque de los Novios, but we actually visited Little Ouzo – a smaller version on the outskirts of town.
We generally found western food in Colombia to be below the sort of standards that we’re used to while traveling. But not at Ouzo, you can rest safe in the knowledge that you’re going to be satisfied and more after this pizza!
Pick up some souvenirs
There are a range of spots available for you to pick-up that last minute souvenir for your family or friends.
The first three that come to mind are Parque BolÃvar, a small market outside the Tairona Gold Museum and in Parque San Miguel.
It was easy enough for us to find unique presents in Santa Marta to take home with us. Whether that’s handcrafted goods, stereotypical souvenir trinkets or knitted clothing, you’ll be able to find anything you need!
Things to do in Rodadero
Only a 15-minute drive back towards the airport from Santa Marta, you’ll come across the tourist town of Rodadero.
We found Rodadero to be the spot in Santa Marta that attracts the most local tourism. There are high rise hotels and apartments everywhere, tons of food options and lots of gift shops.
We also noticed that Rodadero is a great spot for beaches, which make up the majority of the following list!
Sunbathe on Rodadero Beach
Playa El Rodadero is the main beach that spans a good 500m down the Caribbean coastline. Unlike the beaches in Santa Marta’s historic center, Playa El Rodadero is huge, tidy and offers clean ocean water to swim in.
Being such a tourist hotspot, Rodadero is also home to multitudes of restaurants, bars and clubs that may be to your liking. We never found ourselves lacking in options when in Rodadero.
The only downsides of Rodadero Beach we came across were the overbearing sellers trying to shift their food and drinks to you. However, generally speaking, they’re not so bad if you compare them to the peddlers in south-east Asia.
And the second thing was the rows of tents for rent along the beach. They’re a bit of an eyesore on an otherwise stunning Caribbean paradise.
Wander the promenade
Running parallel to the beach is Rodadero Promenade. This is a long stretch of pathway lined with palm trees that provides a great area for walking or running.
Along Rodadero promenade we managed to escape the sun and find somewhere to eat lunch. We were also surprised to see a bunch of cheerleading groups practicing around this area – apparently there was a tournament in town this particular weekend.
Cheerleaders or not, we know you’ll have a lovely mooch along the promenade!
Trek to Playa Calderon
Playa Calderon is probably the most unknown beach in all of Santa Marta. To get there requires a 40-minute hike through the mountains in the humidity of the Caribbean.
But just know, if you are to undertake this journey that the pay-off is more than worth it!
Stunning, uninterrupted Caribbean beach vibes running around 100m along the ocean. Clear, turquoise water ripe for the swimming, the perfect temperature, surrounded by the most beautiful marine wildlife.
And the best bit? We can guarantee you’ll get this beach all to yourself!
Embrace peace at Playa Inca Inca
Now for our favorite beach in Santa Marta outside of Tayrona National Park. Playa Inca Inca is right next to Playa Calderon, but where Playa Calderon is raw natural beach, Playa Inca Inca offers some cabanas to escape the sun and one singular restaurant.
To reach Playa Inca Inca you need to follow the mountain trail that leads out north of Rodadero. It’s a bit of a hike at 45-minutes and in Santa Marta’s heat can be a bit grueling, so wear sun cream and bring plenty of water.
But although you might not get Playa Inca Inca completely to yourself (maybe on a weekday you will though), it’s definitely a lot less busy than Playa El Rodadero or Playa Blanca.
Zip line over Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is the final beach in Rodadero that we’ll cover in this guide. But you should know, it’s only reachable via boat taxi! These boat taxis run regularly from for the north of Playa El Rodadero and cost around 10,000 COP, or about $1.50, each way.
Although difficult to reach, that doesn’t stop the local tourists from getting there. We visited Playa Blanca on a Saturday and it was RAMMED!
But for good reason, the sand is pristine, the water is clear and tepid and there are tons of restaurant and bar options.
On top of all that, there’s even a zip line that spans the entire length of the beach!
Things to do in Taganga
Taganga is a sleep fishing village around a 15-minute drive in the other direction of Rodadero and it can often be overlooked!
We want to make sure you know what you should expect from Taganga, where you should visit and how long you should plan for it. So here we go!
Probably avoid Taganga Beach…
Taganga does have a main beach, but do we think you should head there just to visit? No, we most certainly do not!
We published a full article on why you shouldn’t visit Taganga Beach, so we’re going to keep this pretty light.
But the cliff notes are; dirty and full of fishing boats, the water is polluted from the boat exhaust fumes and the town itself isn’t overly welcoming. If you’re looking for beach vibes in this area, Playa Grande is a much better option!
Indulge in the fresh fish
One thing a fishing village does do amazingly though is, well, fish!
If you’re a lover of fishy dishes then Taganga is the perfect place for you. From grilled fish, to fried fish, to boiled fish, to fish soup, restaurants in Taganga have got you covered.
On the other hand, if you’re more of a ‘cook my meals at home’ type of traveler, every morning local fishermen come to Taganga to sell the catches of that very same day. You won’t find fish as fresh as this in any other part of Santa Marta.
Head under the sea Scuba Diving
Unfortunately as of right now Sara and I are not certified divers. This is something that we plan on changing within the next year! But if you are a certified diver or are planning to take the course soon, Taganga is a great place to do so!
While mooching around the village, we noticed there were multiple dive shops and companies around. When we spoke to a tourist in Taganga, they let us know that the diving community in the village is tight-knit and a lot of people come here for an extended period of time to dive.
That person could be you, especially if you’re a keen diver and you’ve never heard about Taganga!
Plan a relaxing day at Playa Grande
The aforementioned Playa Grande is the beach that we recommend in Taganga over the main beach. To get there you need to head to the north end of Playa Taganga and hike the 20-minute trail along the edge of the shoreline. Or you could take a boat for around $1.50!
We decided to hike, and once we reached Playa Grande we were blown away! It’s smaller than the likes of Playa El Rodadero, Playa Blanca or Playa Taganga, but it makes up for it with views!
The beach has restaurant and food options, chairs to rent under the shade of the trees, water activities such as jet skiing and banana boats, and even snorkeling not too far offshore.
Playa Grande was probably our second favorite beach outside of Tayrona, second only to Playa Inca Inca.
Day trips from Santa Marta
The final section is going to cover all the best places to visit outside of Santa Marta. By outside, we mean an hour or more away.
But everywhere is stunning and they’re all places that offer super unique experiences!
Explore Guajira Desert, the only desert in Colombia
Unfortunately the Guajira Desert was one of the few places in this guide that we didn’t actually make it too. But it’s definitely something that we want to head back to the area for!
This desert sits on the most northern tip of the entire continent and is the only desert in the country.
The area of the La Guajira peninsula is home to the indigenous Wayuu people. Up here where it rarely rains, they’ve become master herders and are highly skilled in diving for pearls.
Inside the desert you’ll find the Parque Nacional Natural Macuira that was established in 1977. It seems like a great place to view the contrast between the sandy dunes and bright green forests. The Guajira Desert shouldn’t be missed… whoops!
Get close to nature in Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is a lot closer to Santa Marta, only requiring a mere 1-hour drive from the city to reach. Sara and I spent two days in Tayrona, booking a tent to stay in for the night at Cabo San Juan – one of the most popular beaches in Tayrona.
One the first day we hiked from the El Zaino entrance of the park (the main entrance) to Cabo, stopping at a range of beaches along the way. Tayrona is also home to Playa Nudista, Colombia’s only nudist beach!
Being a national park in the country with the highest biodiversity in the word, you can expect to encounter a lot of nature. We ran into capuchin monkeys, leaf-cutter ants, tarantulas, toucans and poison dart frogs.
We could hear howler monkeys in the distance and kept an eye out for jaguars or sloths but unfortunately didn’t get to see them!
Take a boat to Playa Cristal or BahÃa Concha
Playa Cristal and BahÃa Concha are also inside Tayrona National Park. However, we’ve given them their own section because they’re not actually accessible from the hike.
Instead, you’ll need to charter a boat from Santa Marta or Taganga that will whisk you around the coastline to these pristine Caribbean beaches. The boat journey takes around 45-minutes and a return will set you back about 100,000 COP (~$26).
Although the price is worth it for a day trip from Santa Marta! You can expect clear turquoise waters, silky white sand and some of the best snorkeling in the area.
You can also wild camp on BahÃa Concha for the night too!
Beach bum in Palomino
Palomino is a small town just around a 45-minute driver further down the coastline from Tayrona. It’s a super popular beach town that’s frequented by travelers and backpackers alike.
It offers more laid back Caribbean vibes. You can expect the most perfect sunsets and sunrises, chilling at the beach with fresh seafood and the infamous tubing down Palomino’s river.
Get adventurous in Minca
Minca was one of our favorite trips from Santa Marta and one for the books for any outdoor adventure lover!
It’s only a 45-minute drive south-east of Santa Marta but this drive takes you deeper into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – the tallest coastal mountain range in the world. Very quickly we went from tropical oceans to lush rainforest to hiking trails and waterfalls.
Some of our favorite spots in Minca were Marinka Waterfalls, Pozo Azul, Los Pinos and a coffee tour at Finca La Victoria coffee farm.
We’d recommend at least 5-days in Minca if you plan to do anything, but it’s also possible to visit on a day trip from Santa Marta!
Go and search for The Lost City
The Lost City, also known as Ciudad Perdida, offers a trekking adventure spanning 4 to 6 days, perfect for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.
Deep within the Sierra Nevada mountains, this region was once home to the Tayrona civilization for over 2000 years. However, about 400 years ago, Spanish influence compelled them to leave the area.
Today, joining a guided trekking expedition to The Lost City is readily accessible. Expect to pay around $600 for a four-day excursion, inclusive of transportation, lodging, and meals.
Throughout the journey, adventurers will cover approximately 44 kilometers and ascend an elevation of approximately 2700 meters. It was a shame but our client work meant we couldn’t take 5-days to head on this trek. But maybe next time!
How to get to Santa Marta
Getting to Santa Marta is fairly easy from most places in South America. If you’re traveling internationally, or even from Medellin or Bogota, the easiest route would be to fly. This is what we did and the flight from Medellin was only a couple of hours.
The airport you’re looking to fly to is Aeropuerto Simón BolÃvar Santa Marta. It’s around a 30-minute drive south of Santa Marta and it’s right on the ocean, so expect some stunning views!
Alternatively, you could catch a bus if you’re already in Colombia:
- Medellin to Santa Marta comes in at just under $50 for a 17-hour journey.
- Bogota to Santa Marta is around $45 for a 21-hour journey.
However, the chances are you’re already closer to Santa Marta than the two biggest cities in Colombia. In which case these are the buses you’ll need:
- Bucaramanga to Santa Marta costs $25 for a 10-hour journey.
- Cartagena to Santa Marta is $15 for a 5-hour journey.
- Barranquilla to Santa Marta is only $7 for a 2-hour bus journey.
Hopefully one of the above is useful for you. If not, then make sure to check busbud.com for the best prices from wherever you are. We’ve always used busbud.com while in South America and haven’t had any issues so far!
Getting around Santa Marta
Getting around Santa Marta is super simple. Actually, if you’re just planning on exploring the historic center, then Santa Marta is more than walkable on foot. We tended to walk everywhere!
If you plan to head to Taganga, Rodadero, Minca or Tayrona, there are a couple of ways you can do so.
By taxi
We often opted to take a taxi to most places. This is because the taxis in Santa Marta are actually super cheap!
From Santa Marta to Taganga or Rodadero, we only paid about $3 each way. To Minca we were charged $11 one-way and for Tayrona $23 because there’s a toll along the way the driver needs to pay twice.
There are two ways to hail taxis in Santa Marta. The first is the old-fashioned wave down. There are so many taxis just driving around Santa Marta looking for their next client that waving one down only takes a couple of minutes.
On the flip side, we chose to use an app called InDrive. It’s like Uber but you can negotiate the price. We preferred this as we liked to avoid the in person haggle for the price and the cab will pick us up right from our doorstep!
By bus
We actually didn’t use the bus system too often as we found taxis to be generally more convenient. But there is a public bus network that runs through and around Santa Marta.
If heading nearby to Taganga or Rodadero, the buses leave from the historic center regularly and only cost about $0.50 each way. The buses to and from Tayrona and Minca leave from the Mercado Publico de Santa Marta and cost $2.30 each way.
We took the public buses back to Santa Marta from Tayrona and Minca and found them easy to navigate!
Where to stay in Santa Marta
While in Santa Marta, because we stayed for an entire month, we opted to book an apartment on Airbnb so we had a kitchen and separate sleeping and living spaces. If you’re interested in that, you can find the Airbnb we booked here. In our opinion it’s a great apartment, in a great location with a great host!
Alternatively, there are tons of accommodation options in the middle of the historic center too. Here are a few other great options at different price points:
Hostel Dorms:
- Masaya Santa Marta ($12/night)
- Puerta Aqua ($6/night)
- Mr. Baboon Hostel ($9/night)
Budget Hotels:
- Comunidad Calle 13 Hotel Boutique ($27/night)
- Hotel Tayromar ($24/night)
- Hotel Kasaya Real ($20/night)
Mid-Range Hotels:
- Casa Charlotte – Alma Hotels ($45/night)
- Casa Verde Hotel ($59/night)
- JardÃn Del Duque Hotel Boutique ($45/night)
Luxury Hotels:
- Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina ($94/night)
- Hotel Boutique La Solera Del Pozo ($83/night)
- Akuamarina Hotel ($91/night)
Tips for visiting Santa Marta
After spending a whole month in and around Santa Marta, here are our expert insider tips for when you visit:
- Prepare for the heat – Santa Marta is at sea level along the Caribbean coast, and this sort of location comes with its 30°C+ daily weather.
- Prepare for flooding – we know it sounds a tad contradictory, but if you visit in the rainy season then the roads around Santa Marta flood extremely quickly. Have a pair of shoes ready so you don’t mind getting wet!
- Mosquito spray is your best friend – there’s not much more to say than there are a ton of mosquitos around this area.
- Yellow fever vaccine – yellow fever is rife in this area of Colombia and you don’t want to be bedridden for a week because you hadn’t taken the vaccine. Sara picked up yellow fever and felt like death for a week.
- Alcohol hours – we discovered that a lot of shops and restaurants in Santa Marta stop selling alcohol after 6pm, just something to be aware of.
- Heading to the gym? – we signed up at the SmartFit gym in the Ocean Mall which is a bit outside of the historic center. It was great and pretty cheap!
Is Santa Marta Safe?
Like most cities in South America, and honestly in most countries on the planet, Santa Marta does have its share of unsafe areas.
At the end of the day we just used our common sense. If we felt like we were wandering into a neighborhood we shouldn’t be in, we’d just turn around and walk back to the last area we felt safe.
But overall, in our honest opinion, Santa Marta is pretty safe. We were warned by a few different people before visiting to be careful because of petty crime but in our personal experience, we didn’t see it.
We’d often walk around the historic center and bordering suburbs of Santa Marta, both during the day and at night, without encountering any issues. Sara says that as a woman, she was happy to wander around during the day by herself.
I personally spent most of my time exploring Santa Marta with my camera hanging off my shoulder to capture these images. No one seemed to bat an eyelid at it, nobody tried to snatch it from me and overall I never thought it was an issue.
But once again, just because nothing happened to us doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. So always be cautious!
Best time to visit Santa Marta
We believe there’s no truly bad time to visit Santa Marta. So we wouldn’t necessarily recommend basing your travel itinerary around any particular time.
However, if you do have a very flexible schedule, the rainy season in Colombia’s Caribbean region is between May and mid-November. We were actually in Santa Marta from mid-October to mid-November and experienced our fair share of storms. But they rarely stopped us from executing our plans.
The best time to visit Santa Marta is right after the rainy season, so between December and March. This is when the area is dry, the humidity is low and the crowds haven’t quite descended on this area of Colombia for summer yet.
How long to spend in Santa Marta
This sort of question is very open ended, and we’d say that you should spend as much time in Santa Marta as you can afford.
On the other hand, if your itinerary is super flexible and you want to do all the activities in this guide, you’re going to need at least a few weeks. For example, just a trip to Tayrona, an adventure excursion to Minca and The Lost City trek would take a full week and a half of your time. And that’s without any rest days between the hiking!
We spent a month in Santa Marta and, although granted we work online so we’re not exploring full-time, we didn’t manage to do everything.
Final thoughts on Santa Marta
We truly believe that Santa Marta is an underrated gem along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Unfortunately, a lot of time it gets overlooked because of the nearby giants of Cartagena and Baranquillo. But we think that everyone should add Santa Marta to their itinerary.
There’s so much to do in this area and it’s the crème de la crème when it comes to adventure activities and outdoor things to do. If you haven’t added Santa Marta to your bucket list yet, what are you even doing?!
Check out our other Santa Marta guides:
- Is Playa Taganga Worth Visiting? – An Ultimate Guide!
- A Complete Guide to Visiting Playa Grande, Santa Marta
- 15+ Best Beaches in Santa Marta (and beaches to avoid!)
- Is Rodadero Beach A Beautiful Paradise Or Just Over-Crowded?
- Playa Inca Inca: The best beach in Santa Marta
- Playa Blanca: A guide to Santa Marta’s hidden beach
- An Ultimate Guide to Santa Marta Beach: Is it worth visiting?
- Everything to know about beaches in Taganga, Colombia
- Is Colombia safe to visit in 2024? Everything you need to know
We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about visiting Santa Marta. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!
