Santa Marta is now among the top 5 tourist destinations in Colombia and is a personal favorite holiday destination. The town is comfortable but still provides a more authentic experience than Cartagena while it is perfectly located to explore some of the most amazing parts of this incredible country.
You can trek to the ancient Lost City, jump from waterfalls in the mountain town of Minca, swim in the clear sea surrounded by fish and coral, then wander through the jungle with monkeys playing in the trees above.
I have lived in Colombia for almost 15 years and Santa Marta is my go-to destination for a beach break. I will explain why I keep going back and help you decide if you should go and visit too.
Is Santa Marta (Colombia) Worth Visiting?
Santa Marta is an important historic town in Colombia which has become increasingly popular with national and international visitors. It is charming and comfortable to visit for a few days but what makes it really special is all of the incredible nature in the surrounding mountains of the Sierra Nevada down to perfect beaches of Tayrona.
Cartagena is incredibly popular and has a lot to enjoy but for me Santa Marta is the far better option if you have a few weeks in Colombia and you want to head to the beach. The town has some really nice, affordable accommodation and a handful of high quality restaurants plus lots of history.
What sets Santa Marta apart is everything it has to offer beyond the old town. You can trek for days in search of one of the great ancient wonders of the world. You can jump from waterfalls and reach high into the jungle between snow capped mountains and tropical beaches. You can snorkel surrounded by coral and travel to deserted beaches.
Reasons Why Santa Marta is Worth Visiting
1) Stunning beaches
You can find many of the best beaches in Colombia around Santa Marta. If you head north or south from Santa Marta you will find amazing nature with plenty of spectacular beaches with clear water and soft white sands.
El Rodadero is easily accessible running alongside the city but it can get very busy. It is convenient and a nice place for a quick dip but I would strongly recommend exploring further a field for some amazing beaches.
2) Santa Marta is the gateway to Tayrona National Park
The entrance to the Tayrona National Park is just 34 km north of Santa Marta and is an amazing place to visit. The 225 km² park sits between the ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountain range with forests, lakes and amazing beaches.
You can travel to the entrance of the park by bus for just 8,000 COP (US$2) or take a boat which takes 40 minutes. No cars are allowed in the park and as you walk along the trails you will see and hear monkeys up in the trees. There are a number of amazing beaches with Playa Cristal named amongst the 25 best beaches in South America by TripAdvisor in 2019.
Visitor numbers are limited but it can get quite busy at the weekend. There are a limited number of options to stay overnight within the park and there are strict restrictions to ensure the incredible nature is preserved and cared for.
If you visit Santa Marta you simply must spend at least a day in Tayrona. There is just enough infrastructure in place to make it comfortable for visitors while still preserving the incredible chance to connect with nature as you walk through towards the stunning beaches.
3) Plenty of things to do nearby
Tayrona is a must for visitors but Santa Marta is also the gateway to many other amazing experiences.
Explore the charming mountain town of Minca
Perched high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is the small town of Minca. It takes around 45 minutes from Santa Marta with taxis, tours and a colectivo jeep service available for less than 10,000 COP (US$2.50).
Minca has an incredible view down over the forest towards the beach and offers an amazing experience. You can visit coffee farms, chocolate farms and there are many waterfalls. Pozo Azul is an area of the river where you can swim and slide or jump down the waterfalls.
You will find a good selection of hotels, cafes, small restaurants and Duni is a great artisanal bakery. Be aware that despite its proximity to Santa Marta, temperatures get much cooler at night and in the summer there is often a couple of hours of heavy rain in the afternoons.
Minca was my mum’s favorite place to visit on the Caribbean coast and she felt very safe walking around and exploring the town alone.
Trek high up in the Sierra Nevada
Minca is the starting point to head to the Lost City (more on that shortly) but it is also a great option for a range of treks up until the hills deep in the forest.
There are many hikes available from Minca with a range of difficulty levels. If you want to stretch your legs then 15 minutes from town you will find Las Piedras, which is a beautiful spot on the river.
An hour from the town you can get to Las Cascadas de Marinka (the waterfalls of Marinka) which is a great place to swim and take photos.
If you are feeling particularly fit and energetic then Los Pinos is a 5 to 7 hour trek past Pozo Azul and Las Cascadas on a longer loop. There are some prolonged slopes which can be a challenge but you may be rewarded with a view of the snowy mountains high in the distance.
Finally, if you are experienced and ready to push yourself then you could head to Cerro Kennedy. This would be a full 2-day trek and you will need a guide plus somewhere to stay overnight. Terrain can be challenging but the view at the top is really amazing.
Dive in the reefs close to Taganga village
Taganga is a fairly small village with a population of 3,000 that is just a 15-minute drive from Santa Marta. It is an area that is becoming very popular with backpackers and it is a good place to take boats to explore the surrounding area.
From Taganga you can take boat trips to over 20 excelling diving sites around Tayrona which have reefs, sunken ships, caves and an incredible variety of marine life. There are large areas of brightly colored coral in excellent condition. It is a great place to explore for beginners or experienced divers.
Fly high above Playa Blanca
Another really nice beach close to Santa Marta is Playa Blanca, “white beach” in English because of the soft, white sands. You can get to playa by water taxi for 25,000 COP return (US$6.20) or bus (US$0.50) from El Rodadero or by taxi from Santa Marta.
There is an aquarium with over 150 species of sea life including dolphins, octopuses and starfish close to the beach. You can also rent kayaks or snorkeling plus there is a zip line that runs from the top of the mountain overlooking the beach. There are restaurants on the beach with tasty fresh fish.
The beach is quite short and it can get busy but it is a slightly closer alternative to Tayrona with lots of fun activities to enjoy during your day at the beach.
Palomino
Down the coast 2 hours south of Santa Marta you will get to Palomino which is out of Magdalena and into the adjoining state of La Guajira, the home of Liverpool FC winger Luis Diaz.
Palomino sits between densely forested hills and the clear blue sea of the Atlantic, close to the San Salvador and Don Digo rivers. This makes it the perfect location for ecotourism and a relaxing break surrounded by nature.
You can enjoy tubing, slowly passing along the Palmonio River, paddle boarding and rappelling down the waterfalls. It is a great spot to spend a couple of days a long way from the more popular tourist spots of Santa Marta.
Lost city trek
The lost city (Ciudad Perdida in Spanish) which is a sacred ancient site built high up in the Sierra Nevada. The city is believed to have been founded about 800 CE, which is 650 years older than Peru’s Machu Picchu.
Ciudad Perdida features 169 flat terraces carved into the mountainside and can only be accessed by climbing 1,200 stone steps through dense jungle.
It is a truly stunning place and the journey to the wonder is equally special. You can reach the lost city by taking a guided trek with a group that can be booked in Santa Marta. The tours leave daily and there are 4, 5 or 6 day options. Food and accommodation in hammocks or bunk beds is included as well as insurance, a guide and water.
There are some steep climbs throughout the trek which can be made particularly challenging when heavy rains turn the train to slippy mud. The first day is a long steady climb uphill which isn’t particularly steep but can be tough with the sun. From then on there is usually tree coverage and the trek includes a mix of ascents and descents each day to and from the lost city.
It is a real challenge but it is an amazing experience. On the way you meet indigenous Kogi tribes, you can swim in the rivers and learn about the culture of the region. It is tough but my mum did it and loved it, so there is no reason you can’t make it there and back too.
4) Warm atmosphere and local vibe
Santa Marta isn’t as polished and pristine as the walled city of Cartagena and it isn’t as modern and comfortable as Bocagrande. In Cartagena at times as a foreigner, you feel as though everyone is reaching out to shake your hand in order to try to sell you something or make some money.
Of course, there are many other genuine, warm, friendly people in Cartagena but the experience tourists often have is with the very vocal, pushy sellers. It can be exhausting and mean you try to distance yourself from locals which isn’t the best way to enjoy travel.
Santa Marta is a growing tourist destination but it isn’t like that yet. There is still much more of a small-town feel to Santa Marta, the locals you meet will be getting on with their lives and it is easier to make friends.
Some will prefer the more tourist-focused Cartagena but personally, I much prefer the more authentic local experience of Santa Marta, even if it can be a little more rough around the edges.
5) Rich history and culture
Santa Marta was the first city founded by the Spanish in 1525 but its history stretches back far beyond that with the indigenous communities of Tayrona. It is a region of Colombia that retains the culture and lifestyles of some of the country’s earliest communities with indigenous Kogi, Arhuacos, Wiwa and Cancuamo communities still living in Magdalena.
As well as the continued presence and influence of indigenous cultures, Santa Marta has the art and architecture of the Spanish conquistadors. The Palace of Justice, the Basilica Cathedral and the Customs House all date back to colonial times with their combination of bright white stone and wood.
The old town in Santa Marta has many beautiful squares and important historic buildings. The city is definitely worth exploring before you venture out on adventures in the surrounding hills, forests, beaches and rivers.
Why You Should Not Visit Santa Marta?
Overwhelming Crowds
Santa Marta is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Colombia and while it isn’t as touristy as Cartagena, it definitely can feel busy. This is especially true during Colombian national holidays and mid-December to early January.
El Rodadero beach can be extremely busy at the weekend, Tayrona in the peak months (December to January and June to July) stops feeling like a secluded retreat, there can be a bit of a traffic jam on the trek to the Lost City and Playa Blanca may be so full of sunbathers you will struggle to find the white sands.
Santa Marta is far less saturated than Cartagena and there are many fantastic places around the city to find peace and tranquility but it is a popular tourist destination with everything that brings.
Beaches in San Andres are better
The beaches of Tayrona are amazing and very accessible from Santa Marta. That said if what you want is the clearest, bluest sea and huge pristine white sands then maybe San Andres is the better option.
If what you want is secluded beaches bordered by dense virgin forest then perhaps exploring the Pacific coast is the best choice for you.
For me Santa Marta combined convenience, variety and beauty to offer a great package but there are better beaches to be found around Colombia and up to San Andres.
Tayrona Park might be closed
An agreement with the indigenous peoples of Sierra Nevada means that Tayrona is closed for 3 periods each year. This allows for environmental conservation and the indigenous peoples to undertake cultural events and spiritual practices.
In 2023, for example, the park will be closed from 1 January to 16 January, 1 June to 15 June and 19 October to 2 November.
Conclusion: Is Santa Marta Worth Visiting?
I love Santa Marta and it would be my first choice if I want 3 or 4 days away at the beach. There are now direct flights from Bogota, Medellin, Cali and even Panama City, which makes it very convenient.
The beaches in Tayrona are incredible, Minca offers a refreshing break in the mountains, there are a handful of excellent restaurants, some nice affordable hotels, the people are friendly and genuine. Santa Marta is a nice, comfortable place to spend a few days and the perfect jumping off point for weeks of unforgetable adventures.