Santa Marta: Beaches, Tourism & Things to Do on Colombia's Caribbean
Santa Marta is one of Colombia's most important travel destinations. Every year, thousands of visitors choose its beaches for their holidays.
Santa Marta is the capital of the Magdalena department, on Colombia's Caribbean coast.
Many say Santa Marta has it all: a city with a rich historic past, seen in the architecture of its old town and the famous Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino; Caribbean beaches famous the world over, some of them paradises for divers; and the Sierra Nevada, with nature in full splendor, its archaeological sites and the culture of the Kogi, Arhuaco, Kankuamo and Wiwa peoples.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to get to Santa Marta
Santa Marta is very well connected to the rest of Colombia and abroad. Domestic and international airlines operate from Simón Bolívar International Airport.
By road, the distances from Santa Marta are: Bogotá 950 km, Cartagena 200 km, Medellín 790 km, Cali 1,215 km.
Several bus companies serve the city, arriving at the bus terminal from Colombia's main cities.
Bus companies to Santa Marta
Expreso Gaviota: expresogaviota.com.co
Rápido Ochoa: rapidoochoa.com
Copetran: copetran.com
Berlinas del Fonce: berlinasdelfonce.com
Tourism in Santa Marta
Santa Marta has a historic center with colonial and republican-era buildings, highlighted by the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta, which holds the remains of the city's founder, Rodrigo de Bastidas. Other landmarks include the Casa de la Aduana and the Claustro de San Juan.
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
The Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is one of the most visited sites in Santa Marta. The estate was founded in 1608 by Francisco de Godoy y Cortesia, and its importance lies in the fact that the Liberator Simón Bolívar spent his final days here, dying in one of its rooms on December 17, 1830. Beyond its historic value, the estate is a symbol of unity among the Bolivarian republics. It also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art and a botanical garden.
Hours of the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino: every day, 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Address: Av. del Libertador, Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, Santa Marta.
Phone: +57 301-241-5913
Website: museobolivariano.org.co
El Rodadero
El Rodadero is Santa Marta's most traditional tourist area. Rodadero beach is lined with the main hotels and apartment buildings for visitors. The tourist infrastructure is very complete, with notable restaurants and shops. On the beach you can try various water sports and rent sun umbrellas. The sand is fine and the water warm. Rodadero nightlife is lively, with people gathering in bars and clubs. El Rodadero is 5 km from Santa Marta.
Rodadero Aquarium and Sea Museum
Address: Cra 1 No. 7-69, Ed. Fuentemar, El Rodadero.
Phone: +57 (5) 4224905
Website: acuariosantamarta.com
Beaches in Santa Marta
Bello Horizonte
The Bello Horizonte beach area is near the airport. It is a good option for anyone looking for a quieter beach.
Pozos Colorados
This beach area lies between El Rodadero and Bello Horizonte. The beach is wide, with white sand and crystal-clear water, and is much quieter than Rodadero. Pozos Colorados has cabins and hotels.
Top sights around Santa Marta
Taganga
Taganga is a small fishing village a short distance from Santa Marta, with an attractive bay and a picturesque beach. From Taganga you can reach other beaches by boat, and the surrounding beaches are famous for their natural beauty, with great spots for diving and snorkeling. Tourism here is far more laid-back than in Rodadero. There are hostels and cabins for rent, and in recent years Taganga has drawn more visitors, especially young people and foreign backpackers.
Sierra Nevada and Tayrona National Park
Just outside Santa Marta rises the imposing Sierra Nevada. From the city you can take trips to the towns at the foot of the range, such as Bonda and Minca, known for their farms and ecotourism ventures. + See more about Tayrona
Neguanje
Tayrona National Park stretches east along the coast from Santa Marta. Neguanje is the Tayrona entrance closest to the city. From Neguanje you can reach several beaches, many of them remote and surrounded by jungle. For many people, some of these are the most beautiful beaches in Colombia, among them Cinto beach, which has visitor services and lodging. Some local travel agencies run daily excursions here.
Museums in Santa Marta
Tairona Gold Museum
Address: Carrera 2 with Calle 14, Parque Simón Bolívar.
Phone: +57 5 4210251
Website: museo-del-oro-tairona
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Sundays, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Gaira Ethnographic Museum
Address: Calle 13 #12A-46, Gaira.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Bolivarian Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.
Phone: (+57) 301 2415913
Art Museum of the University of Magdalena
Address: Cra. 2 #16-44, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
Phone: (+57 5) 4318536
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm; Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Ethnographic Museum of the University of Magdalena (MEUM)
Address: Calle 1 #22, 2nd floor.
Phone: 4317513
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Marta
Through Simón Bolívar International Airport, with domestic and international flights. By road it is 200 km from Cartagena, 790 km from Medellín and 950 km from Bogotá, and it has a bus terminal.
Explore the historic center and its Cathedral, visit the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, enjoy El Rodadero and Taganga, and take trips to Tayrona Park and the Sierra Nevada.
The best known are El Rodadero, Playa Blanca, Taganga and Bahía Concha, plus the beaches of neighboring Tayrona Park.
Yes, it is the gateway to Tayrona. Minibuses to the main entrance (El Zaino) leave from the market area, about 45 minutes from the city.
A historic estate founded in 1608, famous as the place where the Liberator Simón Bolívar died in 1830. Today it is one of the most visited sites in the city.
The weather is warm all year. The dry season (December to April) is the most pleasant; year-end, Holy Week and holidays are the busiest periods.