Santa Marta is my personal favorite destination for a week away at the beach. The city is nice and it is the perfect gateway to explore some of Colombia’s most amazing nature and beaches. It is less intense than Cartagena but has a similar culture and year-round sunshine.
There is a lot to love about Santa Marta but is it safe?
A report from Mexican tourism authorities named Santa Marta amongst the 50 most dangerous cities in the world alongside the likes of Cape Town, Kingston, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia. The numbers were strongly refuted by the local government but this was of course concerning.
I have lived in Medellin for almost 15 years and I have visited Santa Marta dozens of times. I love the place but it is of course important to be careful and take certain steps to avoid trouble. I will outline the current security situation, identify some places to avoid and give advice on ensuring you have a trouble-free trip to Santa Marta.
Is Santa Marta Safe To Visit? My Quick Answer
Santa Marta ranks among Colombia’s top 5 tourist destinations, reflecting its overall safety. The Colombian statistics authority DANE reports a low perception of crime here, with Santa Marta rated as the third safest city in national polls for solo street walking at day or night.
While Santa Marta is smaller and attracts many tourists, incidents like pickpocketing or phone theft can occur, especially if you’re not vigilant. However, tourists generally aren’t targeted for serious crimes, which are isolated to certain areas and situations.
By being cautious and aware, you can enjoy a safe and pleasant visit to Santa Marta.
Safe Areas in Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a very popular tourist destination. Many areas of the city are very safe and diligently patrolled by both police and private security.
The historic center is a great place to stay, grab a drink and there are some really nice restaurants. There are some quiet back streets where you need to take care and avoid walking alone at night but in general, it is very safe around the main plazas.
The areas close to El Rodadero and Pozos Colorados are safe and well-maintained. Taganga should pose no issues either, as long as you keep an eye on your things given it is popular with lots of backpackers.
Areas to Avoid in Santa Marta
As I mentioned previously, Santa Marta is hugely unequal and historically it has had an important position in terms of organized crime. Nobody involved in high-level crime has any interest in you so if you avoid them they will avoid you.
That said, if you wander through poorer parts of town carrying expensive possessions then you are opening yourself up to potential problems.
Maria Eugenia and Pastrana neighborhoods to the Southern edge of the city are to be avoided unless you have a very trusted guide who can vouch for you.
María Cecilia and Ciudad Equidad are two municipalities on the outskirts which have had security issues in recent years.
Los Fundadores, at the northeastern edge of the city, is a neighborhood that has its charms but with dirt roads and limited police presence, it is an area to avoid.
San Martín is a small section of houses close to the train line north of the historic center which can also be problematic.
There are certain neighborhoods at the fringes of the city and some small villages nearby which should be avoided but this really isn’t difficult to do. There is no reason for you to go to these areas and given the distance from El Rodadero, Taganga or the historic center, you won’t take a wrong turn and end up there by mistake.
If you find yourself heading into an area with dirt roads and single-story houses with corrugated roofs, then you probably should check a map as you are probably very lost.
Safety Tips
The vast majority of people who visit Santa Marta have no problems. While sometimes it is just bad luck, if you take care with the following precautions you are very likely to have a great time and the only risk will be wanting to stay.
✅ Do Research About Where You Are Going
Santa Marta is a fairly small town and I expect much of the time you spend there will be in the historic center, El Rodadero or the nearby Taganga or on adventures in the amazing surrounding nature and beaches.
This isn’t a city that really rewards unusual detours, so I would suggest sticking to the popular parts of the city. I would strongly recommend getting a SIM card early in your trip to Colombia so you can follow where you are by using maps. You can also do some research about where you are going and the safest, quickest, cheapest and most convenient way to get there.
✅ Try To Not To Go Out at Night Alone
The most dangerous situation in Santa Marta, or anywhere around the world, would be walking alone in unfamiliar small streets late at night. Work out where your hotel is, decide where you are going and then plan your trip home.
All of this is made much safer if you are in a group or with a friend. If you are crossing a busy square then that obviously becomes less necessary but if you are on your own then you should always take extra care.
✅ Watch Out for Pick-Pockets
As with almost every major city on the planet, pick-pockets are something you should be aware of. Santa Marta is a town popular with tourists who are carrying expensive phones and cash plus are likely to be distracted and slightly disoriented.
The potential is there but just be smart. Don’t leave your bag open with valuables on show, don’t leave your phone hanging out of your pocket, be careful about leaving expensive items on the table in a restaurant and be aware of your surroundings.
It is unlikely this will happen and if you take real care then you won’t leave the possibility open at all.
✅ Be Careful When Withdrawing Cash
Many ATMs in Colombia are on the street or within small air-conditioned rooms with a door. Either way, if you walk away from an ATM then this is a clear sign that you are now holding cash.
When you withdraw money ensure you have it securely put away before you walk away from the ATM. Don’t then walk down quiet back streets and be aware of who is around you. If you have large amounts then head straight to your hotel to store the money and just keep what you need.
In larger hotels, restaurants and bars in Santa Marta you can pay by card but the smaller stores as well as many of the surrounding beaches and villages will only accept cash. So you will need to make a withdrawal at some point, just avoid doing it late at night on a quiet street.
✅ Use Your Hotel Safe Box
Do I have reason to think your valuables would be stolen at a decent hotel? No. Do I think you should definitely always use a safe box for passports, cash and valuables? Absolutely yes.
It is a simple, sensible step you can take to avoid what could be an absolute disaster. I have stayed hundreds of nights in hotels in Medellin and never had issues but I would still recommend being careful to prevent the possibility of having something important taken.
✅ Don’t Get Wasted if You Are Alone
After a few drinks all of your sensible caution and careful planning often goes out of the window. This can potentially put you in uncomfortable or dangerous situations. If you go out for some drinks, do so with friends and have a good idea of where you are and how you are getting home.
Again, this isn’t Colombia-specific advice but it is a sensible way to avoid any problems.
✅ Don’t Give “papaya”
In Colombian when someone says you shouldn’t “dar papaya” it literally translates to “don’t give papaya” (as in the fruit). The phrase can be translated to something “don’t set yourself up to be taken advantage of”.
That is the advice Colombians will give you and will remind each other. Most problematic situations can be avoided if you consistently refuse to give papaya.
Santa Marta Safety FAQ
➡️ Is Santa Marta Colombia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Generally, my answer is yes but I would also suggest female travelers take a little extra care when it comes to going out alone and being aware of your surroundings.
You will find many solo female travelers in Santa Marta plus my mum went there alone and then traveled up to Minca for a few days. She doesn’t speak any Spanish and she felt comfortable.
➡️ Is It Safe to Take a Taxi in Santa Marta?
Generally yes the taxis are safe but you don’t have the security and peace of mind of being able to order online. In Medellin or Bogota, you can order Ubers, taxis or moto taxis on apps and have all of the driver details registered then you can track the route.
The local government in Santa Marta has introduced a new app called “Buen Taxi” (Apple Store / Google Play) where riders can rate, report and comment on drivers which can be useful for reference but it doesn’t offer the same levels of assurance.
➡️ Is Santa Marta Safe to Walk in at Night?
I would say it definitely can be as long as you stick to areas such as El Rodadero and the historic center, avoiding any small, deserted back alleys. If you are sensible, you put your phone away and stick to the most popular areas then you will almost certainly be completely fine.
When in doubt, travel in groups and you can always ask the bar or restaurant to call a taxi for you if needed.
➡️ Is Santa Marta Dangerous for Tourists?
Over 3 million tourists visit Santa Marta each year and very few have problems. The National Statistics Agency has shown that the perception people have is that it is one of the safest cities in Colombia. If you take sensible precautions and don’t “dar papaya” you should be fine and have an amazing time.
➡️ Is Santa Marta or Cartagena Safer?
This is a tricky one to assess. Cartagena is more polished, has more police and has experience accommodating many more tourists. Cartagena’s old town may leave the impression that it is safer but I always feel more comfortable mixing with the locals in Santa Marta.
In Cartagena there are many more scams, sellers are more intimidating and there is an industry established to extract money from tourists. In Santa Marta, while tourism is important, it feels you can do your own thing as people get on with their lives.
Cartagena is more intense and I personally feel more on edge whereas I can understand why Santa Marta could feel a little more chaotic and rough around the edges.