Between the sea and the mountains, there’s an enormous amount to do around Santa Marta.
Beaches just waiting for you, short hikes through magical mountain forests, incredible encounters with the true protectors of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the indigenous Kogis, Arhuacos, Wiwa and Kankuamo.
And, of course, the great classics: the Ciudad Perdida trek and the Tayrona National Park.
Visiting the city of Santa Marta itself is something few foreign travellers do, yet it too has its charms. That’s why we invite you to start here.
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Travel Poster “La Sierra”
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Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
Santa Marta
THE PEARL OF THE AMERICAS
Although few tourists take the time to stay and visit Santa Marta, the city has a lot to offer. With its 500.000 inhabitants, it is one of Colombia’s larger cities, but offers a pleasant living environment, definitely turned towards the sea.
Far from the splendor of Cartagena, Santa Marta is nonetheless worth a stroll. Its downtown area, currently undergoing renovation, retains a significant trace of Colombia’s colonial past. From its pretty, colorful houses to its magnificent white cathedral and central square, Santa Marta’s historic center definitely has something to offer.
The cerro Zirumala trail, which leads from the historic center to Rodadero beach, is a fun semi-urban stroll where you’ll come across many species of wildlife.
Where to stay in Santa Marta
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hotel
Casa Mia Hotels
Double room : $300.000 to $350.000 COP
This is the hotel where we stayed during our stay in Santa Marta. We recommend staying on the top floor, where the rooms are brighter. Nice decor, good service, and conveniently located right in the historic center.
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hotel
Hotel Cactus
Double room : $300.000 to $350.000 COP
A truly sublime hotel for those who want to enjoy one of the best hotels in Santa Marta, especially the loft room on the roof with direct access to the pool and views of the Sierra Nevada…
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hotel
Catedral Plaza Hotel
Double room : $250.000 to $300.000 COP
Just for the rooftop swimming pool with a view of the Cathedral… a top-of-the-range hotel with meticulous attention to detail, but with attractive rates depending on the time of year. Treat yourself and enjoy a sunset over the rooftops of Santa Marta.
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hotel
Casa de Isabella Hotel
Double room : $250.000 to $300.000 COP/Double room : $300.000 to $350.000 COP
A beautiful hotel in a superb colonial house, with huge rooms and a rooftop with a small pool and a view… all at a very affordable price! We understand why readers recommend it.
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hostal
La Guaca Hostel
Dormitory : $0 to $25.000/Double room : $0 to $100.000 COP
A hostal recommended by our readers, super welcoming, great atmosphere and with a lovely patio for cooling off. A little out of the way, it’s a 20-minute walk from the historic center and the Mercado Publico, but it’s not too bad and the price is right.
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hostal
Republica Hostel
Dormitory : $0 to $25.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
A new concept in the center of Santa Marta, all new and beautiful, with a particularly well-appointed decor and, of course, the swimming pool to match. Dormitories and double rooms.
Santa Marta, the best hotels
Hostal
Masaya Hostal
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
Opened in Bogotá by a group of French friends, Masaya’s success is such that they have opened the same concept in San Agustin and Santa Marta. The setting is ideal, a magnificent colonial house with swimming pool and rooftop.
Cultural immersion with an indigenous Kogui family
SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA
Did you know? Yes, if you watched “Rendez-vous en terre inconnue” devoted to the indigenous Koguis, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is sacred territory for the local indigenous communities. These magical mountains are the heart of the world for the four peoples who have inhabited them since the dawn of time: the Koguis, the Wiwas, the Kankuamos and the Arhuacos.
We were fortunate enough to enjoy a unique experience during a meeting with an Arhuaca community that is no longer possible today, as the community has decided to stop welcoming tourists.
However, a Kogui family, friends of our friends in Seydukwa, have decided to offer a similar experience.
So, if you want to know a little more about this ancestral culture of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this experience is a good alternative.
With a Kogui guide, you’ ll learn a little more about the traditions, ancestral knowledge and unique way of living in simplicity and deep communion with nature.
Contact Adrian to arrange a Kogui experience
Scuba diving in Santa Marta
BEst things to do around Santa Marta
While the Pacific coast of Choco is certainly the most fantastic place for scuba diving in Colombia, Santa Marta remains the best-known spot for foreign tourists. This is a lucrative area for local service providers, who wage a merciless battle to offer the most attractive prices on the market .
But watch out! We don’t advise you to give in to the siren song of the cheapest prices, because when it comes to diving, low prices often mean poor quality services , and God knows that in Santa Marta (and Taganga) there are plenty of bad dive centers!
In any case, if you choose to go diving in Santa Marta, you’ll discover the underwater world off the coast of Tayrona National Park. These waters are rich in marine flora and fauna, thanks in particular to the inflow of cold water from the Sierra Nevada mountains and the currents flowing down from the Guajira.
Diving in Santa Marta means enjoying the classic scenery of the Caribbean Sea, with coral and multicolored fish on the menu. More impressive encounters may occur, such as turtles, but you’ll need to be very lucky that day!
Cienaga
BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE VILLAGE
Cienaga is said to have inspired the famous Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his book One Hundred Years of Solitude. For those familiar with this literary masterpiece, the village of Macondo, one of the book’s central “characters”, is an imaginary mirror image of the village of Cienaga… so a visit to Cienaga is well worth the detour!
Today, Cienaga is part of Colombia’s network of heritage villages, and the legend linked to the book Cent ans de solitude has made it the capital of “magic realism”, the literary movement spearheaded by Gabo.
Cienaga is a beautiful colonial village, calm and tranquil, where it’s a pleasure to stroll and look for the beautiful houses that make up the village’s historical heritage. Cienaga is also the gateway to Cienaga Grande and Nueva Venecia : a small fishing village on stilts, a place to discover in the hope that the arrival of tourists will one day help improve their quality of life.
Cienaga is definitely an off-the-beaten-track plan to put on your travel itinerary!
Direct contacts to visit Cienaga
Where to stay in Cienaga
Cienaga, the best hotels
Hostal
El Habitante Casa Cultural Hostal
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
A lovely hostal in the historic center of Cienaga run by the Tiempo de Juego foundation, which works with local communities on social empowerment projects. Worth supporting!
Cienaga, the best hotels
Hotel
Casa de remedio Boutique Hotel
Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
To continue the dream of living like in a Garcia Marquez book, here’s accommodation in a superb colonial house straight out of another time!
How to get to Cienaga
By bus from Santa Marta
From the Santa Marta transport terminal, take a bus to Cienaga, which runs all day.
- Fare: around $5.000 COP
What to visit around Santa Marta
Nueva Venecia and Buenavista are two “palafittic” villages in Santa Marta’s Cienaga Grande. In other words, two villages built on stilts in the middle of the lagoon. The colorful houses and unique water and fishing culture of the people living in these two villages make them an unusual destination to discover with your eyes wide open!
A full-day guided tour will enable you to discover the unique ecosystem of the Cienaga Grande, directly linked to the Caribbean Sea and supplied with fresh water by the Rio Magdalena and the Sierra Nevada. This day will also be an opportunity to meet the local populations of the floating villages of Nueva Venecia and Buenavista and learn more about their way of life and culture, known here as “amphibious culture”.
To take this tour, we strongly advise you to contact our local partner below, a community tourism association that works hand-in-hand with the locals to develop an economic alternative and work to protect the Cienaga Grande.
Contact our local partner to visit Nueva Venecia
Tayrona National Park
BEst things to do around Santa Marta
Tayrona Park is probably Colombia’s best-known natural park and the main reason why travellers come to the Santa Marta region. When we talk about “things to do in Santa Marta”, for many it often boils down to spending two days inside Tayrona Park.
The beaches of Tayrona Park are sublime. Surely among the most beautiful beaches in Colombia. What you don’t necessarily know is that to get to these beaches, you’ll have to walk. And to get to Cabo San Juan, considered the most beautiful beach in Tayrona Park, you’ll have to walk for several hours.
That’s why we always recommend spending at least one night inside the park, or treating it as a jungle trek with swimming stops!
Day Trip to Tayrona NAtional Park with a guide
If you’d like to be accompanied by a local guide to discover Tayrona Park and learn more about its unique ecosystem, flora and fauna, please contact our local partner.
How to get to Tayrona Park
Bus from Santa Marta to Tayrona (Zaino entrance)
- Price: approx. $8.000 COP
- Duration: 1 hour
- Frequent departures all day from Mercado Publico (Carrera #11 and Calle #9)
Please note: there are certain times for entering the park, after which entry is no longer possible.
Cab from Santa Marta to Tayrona Park
- Price: $120.000 COP
- Duration: 1 hour
Where to stay inside Tayrona national Park
Inside, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Eco Lodge
Posada Yachay Tayrona
Double room : $200.000 to $250.000 COP
Luxury accommodation in the heart of Tayrona Park. Situated 1km from the El Zaino entrance but on a hill, it offers a sublime view of the surrounding mountains.
Inside, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Hostal
Hostal Wachakyta
Dormitory : $50.000 to $100.000/Double room : $250.000 to $300.000 COP
Please note that the hostel is only accessible by boat. Camping and dormitory-style services at rather high prices, due to the idyllic and isolated setting. You can eat on site, of course.
Inside, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Eco Lodge
Hostal Teyumakke
Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
Hostal Teyumakke is located inside the park, entering from Calabazo, after a fairly demanding 8km hike (it’s also possible to get there on horseback). Rudimentary wooden huts with palm-fringed roofs, right on the beach, but perfect for disconnecting from the world! (No wifi)
Inside, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Eco Lodge
Posada Jasayma
Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
One of the few “hard” accommodation options inside Tayrona Park, a 15-minute walk from the El Zaino entrance. The attentive staff provide a haven of peace in the middle of the jungle, including meals with veggie options.
Where to stay near the entrance of Tayrona National Park
Close to entrance, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Hostal
Yuluka Hostel
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
Located around 5 minutes by bus from the main “El Zaino” entrance to Tayrona Park (bus every 15 minutes), Eco hostal Yukula is a green setting with swimming pool, hammocks, dormitories or rooms in lodge-style cabins.
Close to entrance, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Hostal
Hostal Manigua
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
At the Calabazo entrance, a superb hostal, a little more expensive than the campsite but still relatively accessible. Accommodation ranges from dormitories to lovely double rooms, with a jungle atmosphere and swimming pool.
Close to entrance, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Camping, Eco Lodge
Playa Los Angeles
Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
A semi-private beach 5 minutes from the entrance to Tayrona Park, offering ecolodges and glamping tents on the beach… Recommended.
Taganga
THE BADLY LOVED
Taganga has two faces: that of a simple fishing village on a superb bay surrounded by lush vegetation, and that of a crazy party center where drugs and prostitution are the order of the day. In fact, we’ve devoted an post to these two facets of Taganga, complete with attractive photos.
Let’s face it, Taganga has a pretty bad reputation in Colombia. But here we’ll focus on the other side of Taganga, the one we’ve come to know and the one we hope will remain for years to come.
It’s entirely possible to stay in Taganga and spend some sweet, memorable moments completely away from this shoddy Taganga. My two stays there prove it: scuba diving, an excursion to Playa Cristal, a stormy evening on the terrace of Casa de Felipe, a match on the municipal field, a cold beer in one of the waterside bars, the exceptional colors of a sunset over the Caribbean Sea… this is the Taganga that really exists and that we’d prefer to remember!
How to get to Taganga
By bus from Santa Marta (15 min)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards Taganga, which runs all day long.
- Fare: approx. $1.800 COP
By cab from Santa Marta (15 min)
- Fare: $10.000 COP
Where to stay in Taganga
Taganga, the best hotels
Hostal
Casa de Felipe Hostal
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $0 to $100.000 COP
A great hostal in Taganga, really. The people at reception are super friendly and super helpful, the rooms are clean and pleasant, the atmosphere is cool, the terrace is great and there’s a “French” restaurant inside that’s really good.
Minca
BEst things to do around Santa Marta
Looking for something other than heavenly beaches, 30° turquoise water and sand in your shoes? If you’re looking for something a little cooler than Tayrona Park, head for Minca, high above Santa Marta: here, you’ll find a rendezvous with nature, welcome to the eco-capital of the Sierra Nevada!
Minca, at an altitude of 650 m, offers travellers a breath of fresh air and the opportunity to enjoy some beautiful walks in the surrounding area. Swimming in waterfalls, lush forest, animal and especially bird watching, the area is a great place for birdwatching in Colombia.
Minca is also home to a special atmosphere that has seen the development of many alternative and eco-responsible initiatives over the years. As a result, Minca is now one of the leading centres for “ecotourism” initiatives around the Tayrona Park, and has even proclaimed itself the “capital of ecotourism”! (Even if, in reality, it’s clear that there’s still a lot of work to be done to raise awareness of pollution, particularly plastic pollution, as is the case throughout Colombia).
A day Tour in Minca with a guide
If you’d like to spend the day discovering Minca with a guide, you can contact our local partner, who offers an attractive program:
- Discover the village
- Visit a coffee finca and learn about the production process
- Forest walk to a waterfall for a swim
- Meal
- Discover the use of bamboo and local know-how
- Tasting of local cocoa
How to get to Minca
By bus from Santa Marta (1h)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards Minca, which runs all day.
- Fare: $8.000 COP
By cab from Santa Marta (40 min)
- Fare: $60.000 COP
By bus from Palomino (3h)
Take a buseta from Palomino to Mercado publico de Santa Marta
- Fare: $10.000 COP
Then take a buseta from Mercado publico de Santa Marta to Minca
- Fare: approx. $8.000 COP
Where to stay in Minca
Minca, the best hotels
Hostal, Hotel
Casas Viejas Masaya
Double room : $300.000 to $350.000 COP
Like all Masaya hostels, it’s in a superb location for enjoying the beauty of the Sierra. A mix between hotel and hostal, with good service and every comfort.
Minca, the best hotels
Eco Lodge
Minca Glamping
Double room : $200.000 to $250.000 COP
Looking for a cosy nest for a romantic night? If so, this may be the place for you, with its charming decor and French-speaking welcome. Ecolodge-style rooms in a dream setting high above Minca!
Minca, the best hotels
Hostal
Mundo nuevo
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
You’ve certainly heard of this Belgian and his permaculture project in Minca, and here it is! Another of the trendiest accommodations in the heights of Minca. For the peace and quiet, the view of the Sierra, the discovery of an alternative project and the vegetarian food.
Minca, the best hotels
Finca
Finca San Rafael
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
Welcome to an organic cocoa and coffee finca. This is where we stayed during our visit to Minca. Ask for the room with a view of the Sierra Nevada, just sublime. The room rate includes the coffee/cocoa tour.
Minca, the best hotels
Hostal
Casa Blanca Hostal
Dormitory : $0 to $25.000/Double room : $0 to $100.000 COP
A small hostal recommended by our friend Sarah. Located just a few steps from the Minca church, you can stay in the heart of the village. You don’t have a view of the mountains, but you’re in a family atmosphere and the hostal is very inexpensive!
Playa Los Angeles
Best things to do around Santa Marta
When it comes to finding beaches around Parque Tayrona, Playa Los Angeles is certainly one of the most cited. Here’s another beach recommended by one of Angélica’s friends, and it’s on the main road to and from Parque Tayrona. You get into a buseta on this road and ask to stop at playa Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is a semi-private beach, in the sense that you have to pay an entrance fee to access it: $8.000 COP last time I checked.
Once dropped off at the side of the road, a superb path lush with flowers takes us down to the sea, and the walk is enchanting: coconut palms, palm trees, enormous red flowers, everything is bursting with beauty!
When we visited (at the beginning of November), we were unlucky in that the currents had washed up a lot of garbage on the beach following a storm… The janitor let us go and see for ourselves before deciding to pay the entrance fee. Quite honest! According to the janitor, it’s something that happens from time to time and goes away with the wind and currents – too bad for us!
That said, the place is clearly a paradise, with a lush grove of palm trees, a small range of accommodation (cabanas and tents), a small bar-restaurant and, a little further on, a beautiful white-sand beach.
How to get to Playa Los Angeles
By bus from Santa Marta (1h)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards “P. Tayrona, Guachaca, Buritaca, Palomino”, which runs all day until 5:30pm. Ask the driver to drop you off at “Los Angeles”.
- Fare: approx. $8.000 COP
By cab from Santa Marta (1h)
- Fare: approx. $100.000 COP
Where to stay in Playa Los Angeles
Close to entrance, Tayrona Park, the best hotels
Camping, Eco Lodge
Playa Los Angeles
Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
A semi-private beach 5 minutes from the entrance to Tayrona Park, offering ecolodges and glamping tents on the beach… Recommended.
The Lost City / Ciudad perdida
THE MYTHICAL TREK
This is one of the activities that many travelers mark with a white cross in their travel diaries. The trek to the Lost City is a trek apart, an unforgettable experience for most of those who have embarked on it. So if you’re looking for adventure around Tayrona Park, this is the place to be..
It’s a plunge into the heart of a natural curiosity, the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range on the edge of the Caribbean Sea culminating at an altitude of over 5700 m!
But the Ciudad Perdida trek is also a plunge into the sacred lands of the Tayrona people, to this ancient city built in 800 AD..
Last but not least, the Lost City Trek is a physical ordeal, requiring you to hike for 4 to 6 days in a torrid, hot and humid atmosphere, a true initiatory journey that makes the destination all the more exceptional. But going up to the Ciudad Perdida is also a human experience, as you’ll be in contact with the natives, the guardians of the land, our “Big Brothers” as they call themselves, to understand a little more about their way of seeing the world.
Contacts for trekking in Ciudad Perdida
Bunkuany
The alternative to the Lost City
If you’re looking for a less physical, more economical and less crowded alternative to the Ciudad Perdida trek, we suggest you contact Adrian to ask him about the 3-day Bunkuani Trek.
Program:
- 3-day trek in the Sierra Nevada near Calabazo
- Meeting with local farming communities
- Discover the archaeological remains of the Bunkuani terraces
- Observation of petroglyphs
- Swimming in the rivers
- Cultural exchange with an indigenous Kogui family
Contacts for trekking in Bunkuany
Buritaca
Best things to do around Santa Marta
Buritaca is located a few km from Taryona Park, and is easily reached by bus on the main road. Buritaca is a small village of little interest, but offers a beach somewhat similar to Palomino, in that it has a river that flows into the sea.
Far from the tourist fame of Palomino, this is a more popular spot which, although it was really quiet a few years ago, has developed (as everywhere else) over the years.
Once you’ve arrived at the river’s edge, you’ll see a few boats to cross the river and a few restaurants to satisfy your appetite. Fresh fish of the day is brought to you, so you can choose which one you’d like to end up on your plate.
Here, as in Palomino, the river meets the Caribbean Sea. Time for a dip! You’ll be amazed at the difference in temperature between the cool river and the warm Caribbean Sea!
How to get to Buritaca
By bus from Santa Marta (1h20)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards “P. Tayrona, Guachaca, Buritaca, Palomino”, which runs all day until 5:30pm. Ask the driver to drop you off in “Los Angeles”.
- Fare: approx. $10.000 COP
Once the bus drops you off at the roadside, the village of Buritaca is a 20-minute walk away. There are also mototaxis that can take you there for $3.000 COP
By cab from Santa Marta (1h10)
- Fare: approx. $120.000 COP
Where to stay in Buritaca
Buritaca, the best hotels
Eco Lodge, Hostal
Playa Bonita
Dormitory : $50.000 to $100.000/Double room : $200.000 to $250.000 COP
Still on the outskirts of Buritaca, still in the hostel / ecolodge concept with private beach, here’s another heavenly place offering double rooms, villas and a dormitory option, just a few meters from the beach..
Buritaca, the best hotels
Eco Lodge, Hostal
Viajero Hostel Tayrona
Dormitory : $50.000 to $100.000/Double room : $250.000 to $300.000 COP
A hostal on the outskirts of Buritaca that’s a little unusual in that it offers both dormitory beds and luxury ecolodges, all right on the beach… lots of activities on offer, and an atmosphere that’s both festive and relaxing, your choice!
Surfing around Santa Marta
Best things to do around Santa Marta
Colombia’s best surf spots are to be found on the Pacific coast, but the Caribbean coast is also a great place to indulge in the sport.
Waves here are not always very consistent and depend on incoming swells, but it’s still possible to have fun, and it’s an ideal place for beginners.
For the best surfing conditions on the Caribbean coast, you’ll have to try your luck during the months of November to March, when an easterly wind deepens the rollers.
There are several surf spots around Santa Marta between Los Naranjos and Riohacha, including Costeño beach and Palomino.
How to get to Costeño Beach
By bus from Santa Marta (1h20)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards “P. Tayrona, Guachaca, Buritaca, Palomino”, which runs all day until 5:30pm. Ask the driver to drop you off at “Costeño Beach”.
- Fare: approx. $10.000 COP
Once the bus drops you off at the roadside, Costeño Beach is about a 20-minute walk away. There are also mototaxis that can take you there for $3.000 COP
By cab from Santa Marta (1h10)
- Fare: approx. $120.000 COP
Where to stay in Costeño Beach
Costeño Beach, the best hotels
Hostal
Costeño Beach Hostal
Dormitory : $0 to $25.000/Double room : $0 to $100.000 COP
Costeño Beach is one of Colombia’s top surfing spots, and this hostal is totally dedicated to this activity in a heavenly setting… Please book for 2 nights minimum!
Palomino
Best to do around Santa Marta
Around Tayrona Park, Palomino is one of the Santa Marta region’s booming destinations. As the gateway to the Guajira desert, Palomino is currently experiencing somewhat anarchic development, which the authorities are trying to contain. For some time now, problems have also been reported in certain hostales, where theft from foreign tourists has been reported.
On our visit, there were no problems to report, but we weren’t convinced by the atmosphere and stayed just one night to be able to meet an indigenous Arhuaca family the next day.
The fact remains that Palomino is a beautiful beach on the coast, a little like Buritaca, between sea and river. In fact, the main activity is to float down the river to the sea. Nothing too adventurous, we assure you, it’s quiet and everyone will suggest this activity.
How to get to Palomino
By bus from Santa Marta (2h)
From the Mercado Publico in Santa Marta, take a buseta towards “P. Tayrona, Guachaca, Buritaca, Palomino”, which runs all day until 5:30pm.
- Fare: approx. $15.000 COP
By bus from Riohacha (1h)
From the Riohacha bus terminal, take the first bus towards Santa Marta, ask for the Palomino stop. There are buses all day until 6:30pm.
- Fare: approx. $15.000 COP
Where to stay in Palomino
Palomino, the best hotels
Eco Lodge
Coco Beach Palomino
Double room : $200.000 to $250.000 COP/Double room : $250.000 to $300.000 COP
We tried out this hotel, a little way from the village, which has its own beach. For those who want the peace and luxury of stepping out of their room to take a dip in the water or sip a cocktail in the shade of the coconut palms, it’s perfect.
Palomino, the best hotels
Hostal
Hostal Media Luna
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $0 to $100.000 COP
A hostal recommended by a reader located on the Sierra Nevada side, on the other side of the road so a little far from the beach, but nothing to worry about. The advantage of its location: peace and quiet! Enjoy the hummingbirds dancing in the garden 😉 By the way, it’s the ideal starting point for exploring Seydukwa.
Palomino, the best hotels
Hostal
Finca Escondida
Dormitory : $50.000 to $100.000/Double room : $200.000 to $250.000 COP
A well-known hotel for those who want to wake up with their feet in the sand and their eyes in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea… a relaxing, surfing atmosphere and a meeting place for a drink or a bite to eat!
Palomino, the best hotels
Hostal
Coco Sankala Hostel
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
A hostal in the heart of the village of Palomino, so not far from the beach either, in a bamboo and thatch-roofed atmosphere. Dormitories and double rooms.
Hello,
Merci pour ce site vraiment bien fait et riche d’une multitude d’informations..
2 comments about Tayrona Park and Buritaca
1) We didn’t enjoy our visit to Tayrona Park
Unless you like big crowds, you should absolutely avoid the high season… (visit on December 1, 2022)
We walked in single file… 30 people behind us, 30 people in front of us… when we got to the little Cabo San Juan beach, it was crazy! crowded restaurant and crowds in the water!
If you like peace and quiet, this is not the place to go… and with the noise generated, it’s hard to see animals… there are other places around the park that are just as pleasant… Los Angeles beach, for example…
2) Ditto for Buritaca: on arrival, you have to pay 10,000 pesos per person
Buses filled to the brim (more than 10 on our visit) pour out their tourists.
As soon as we arrived, the salesmen were begging us to come and go… a continuous coming and going towards the beach..
Where is the tranquility of yesteryear? This is not a quiet beach… It’s no longer a simple place !!!!
Too bad, mass tourism is destroying a lot of things…
Hello and thank you for your feedback! And yes, Tayrona is very touristy and we try to warn our readers as much as possible, while admitting that it’s a unique place. But yes, if you like peace and quiet, you’ve got to go in the off-season, or don’t go at all! In fact, Los Angeles beach is a (paying) option that we also recommend. Concerning Buritaca, we note your return, it’s true that we went there 10 years ago and we know that things have changed. But we don’t know how much. We’ll be going back to see for ourselves, and in the meantime we’ve taken your feedback into account. As for the vendors, that’s pretty much the norm in Colombia. Back then, it was mainly the restaurants that were fighting to attract tourists, but it was benevolent: they’d show you the fish of the day and you’d choose.
Hello,
What a magnificent site, a mine of information on the most diverse subjects!
We can spend hours reading you, it’s rich, very instructive and very well written. Hats off to you!
I’m planning a road trip around February and want to visit Tayrona Park. I’d like to set my dates according to when the park is open. Problem is, even on the park’s website, I can’t find the closing period for 2023: February 1 to 15, February 1 to 28 or …..? Do the dates change every year?
For Nueva Venecia, do I have to book from France or wait until I get there?
In Guadalupe, in February, are we sure to have water in the Jacuzzis at Las Gachas?
We had also planned to trek along the Rio Ancho to the Kogui village of Tungueka. Does your local agency organize this trek?
Thank you for any answers you can provide and many thanks for the information you share
Sincerely
Thank you Christine for your lovely message 🙂 To answer your questions, Tayrona Park closes on the same dates every year. For Nueva Venecia, it’s up to you, but be aware that if you’re on your own it can be quite expensive, if you can manage to join a group it will be more economical. As for the Tungueka village, no, our partner doesn’t offer it, and we’re not familiar with the tour. We recommend the Seydukwa tour with Adrian’s Arhuaca family, which we’ve already experienced, and his agency also offers a tour of a Kogui community.
Bonjour Guadalupe c’est fermé cause pas d’eau j’y passé et la police nous a dit de faire demie tour même pas de photos 😂 tout de même possibilité de passer par un propritaire privé
Hello,
I’m going to Colombia for 10 days in August
I’ve chosen to go to Santa Marta rather than Cartagena for financial reasons because apparently in Santa Marta it’s cheaper
I could use some help as I don’t know whether to book an Airbnb or a hotel room. And what’s the cheapest neighborhood, but not too far from the center and the beach!
Hi, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for nature and beaches (not necessarily the city), you might as well stay on the beaches after Parc Tayrona (Guachaca, Buritaca, Palomino).
If, on the other hand, you absolutely must stay in the historic center of Santa Marta, be aware that certain neighborhoods are clearly to be avoided (especially at night). We advise you to find accommodation between Calle 21 and Calle 13 (and between Carrera 1 and 5), but there are two things you should know about this area: it’s a party area, so it’s very noisy every night, and the beach in the historic center is not recommended for swimming (pollution).
If you want a beach where you can swim in the city, then the Rodedadero district is the place to look for accommodation.
In any case, take a bus or cab and you’ll be able to get around the city, as well as the surrounding area.
Bjr, merci pour ces beaux articles 🙂 est ce qu’il est possible de faire cienaga y la nueva venesia en un seul jour suivant l’horaire des bus et la distance?
Merci 🙂
Hi Charlotte, thanks for your message 🙂 We’re not sure we understand your message, but to visit Nueva Venecia, the ideal meeting point would be the village of Cienaga. For example, the village of Cienaga is the meeting point for tours to the stilt villages (Nueva Venecia) offered by our local partner. The thing is, these tours last all day, so it’s difficult to visit the village of Cienaga as well… I hope that’s clear? 😬
We’ve been dreaming about it for 20 years, and this year we’re finally going to make the trip to Colombia! With my two daughters, aged 24 and 23, and obligatory stopovers in Cali at my cousin’s and in the Medellin region at my brother’s, we have 1 month to discover this magnificent country. I had wiwa tour’s contact details for Ciudad Perdida and I was looking for a trek in Guajira, since then I’ve been glued to your site, which is very complete. I think I’ll find the answers to a lot of my questions, as well as invaluable practical information! I may contact you again, but thank you so much!
Thank you so much Sylvie for your message! 🙂 and we’re delighted to be able to help you prepare for this long-awaited trip 🙂
I visited Minka on February 10, 2020
and was very disappointed
To get to the river there’s an endless journey of motorcycles going back and forth carrying tourists leaving behind them a trail of dust on the leaves of the vegetation with the added bonus of the noise of the polluting motorcycles, you had to stand on the edge of the path every time
By the time we reached the river, there was an incredible crowd of tourists and local Colombians – there was hardly any room left for a swim, with noisy radios in every corner
It was like being at Cap d’Agde in the middle of summer on the beach
In short, for an ecological and calm spot, it’s a failure
For me, it’s false advertising
Ecotourism isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, it’s really just a sales pitch.
Hi François, thanks for your feedback, as we said in our article on Minca, the village has become much more touristy in recent years, we agree on that and it’s not our favorite village in the Sierra. Depending on the season, it can be very crowded, especially on the best-known spots (Marinka or Pozo azul). I also agree about the “ecological” promotion of Minca, where there’s still a lot of work to be done to make it a model in this respect.
That said, we need to put things into context. First of all, Minca is the most easily accessible village in the Sierra Nevada, which is why it’s the most visited. The fact remains that we’re in the mountains, in the middle of the forest, and it’s possible to find peace and connection with nature in Minca.
After that, a lot of people go swimming in Minca’s best-known spots, and everyone does the same as you, so it’s normal not to find yourself alone in a tourist spot. And, as you’ve seen, the spots are relatively small (compared to the beaches at Cap d’Agde, for example), which quickly makes them feel crowded. The thing is, if the crowds are a problem, you need to look for quieter spots – there are plenty of them in Minca, for example, where we went for a swim in a hidden waterfall where we were all alone.
Finally, music, noise and meals by the river are all part of Colombian customs, and you have to accept them and get away from them if you don’t like them. You’ll find peace and quiet in Minca if you avoid the high season and weekends, if you go hiking in the mountains, if you talk to the locals and look for lesser-known, less-frequented spots.
But yes, Minca is a tourist village, with all the advantages and disadvantages that brings 😉
Hello,
First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on your blog as a source of inspiration and help in preparing for your trip.
I’m off to Colombia in January and February. Surprised a few days ago (although I suspected it), with the announcement of the closure of the Tayrona in February, I have to change the end of our stay. We’ll only have a short week on the Caribbean coast, I’m planning a day in Cartagena and I’d like to spend the last two nights of our stay in Minca. I’m afraid that it would be “short” to go to Mucura or the San Bernardo archipelago. So I’m hesitating between Palomino and Barú (the tip of the peninsula). Knowing that one day will be dedicated to the transfer between Cartagena and Santa Marta. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
Hi Marjolaine, sorry for the late reply, your comment was left in the spam folder. To answer your question, you should be able to do Cartagena Mucura and Minca in a week without any problems. You can also make the Cartagena > Minca trip in a day without any problems.
Hola!
This vlog is great, thank you for this work and all the info provided, both on the quality of the info and the practicality of the site
Gracias y muchas suerte 🌟
Thank you so much Cécile! Your message makes us very happy 🙂
wow this place looks magical thank you for this information
mais pour mianca où est que je peux me renseigner pour aller a mianca et faire des choses sympa
merci encore
Hello Nadia,
Thanks for your message, for Minca we also have another article, you can get info there https://mytriptocolombia.com/visiter-minca-sierra-nevada/ 😉
Hello,
I’m preparing our one-month trip to Colombia for this summer from July 21 to August 16. We’re a family with a 15-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy and we’re arriving in Bogota where we’re staying with friends, then leaving for Palomino from the 24th to the 7th (hotel booked, I hope, as they still haven’t asked us for a deposit for the reservation). Then we want to spend a few days in Cartagena and maybe visit las islas del Rosario (Barù or Tolu). I’d like to know how we can get from Palomino to Cartagena (cab or bus?)? if you have any idea of the price? And then the cost of transfers from Cartagena to the islands. Do you have any recommendations on which islands to visit (I went to Baru about 15 years ago, but I imagine it’s changed a lot) and which to avoid?
Many thanks for your help and bravo for your site, it’s a must for any trip to Colombia.
Hello Fanny, and thank you for your message! 🙂 To get from Palomino to Cartagena you have plenty of options: take a bus to Santa Marta, then another to Cartagena, or take a cab to Santa Marta then a bus to Cartagena, or take a cab to Cartagena (but it will be expensive). For fares from Santa Marta to Cartagena, you’ll find some answers here: https://mytriptocolombia.com/cartagena-le-guide-pratique/#aller-cartagena. For the bus from Palomino to Santa Marta, allow 2 hours and around 10,000 pesos. We don’t have any recommendations for the islands off Cartagena: Baru, Playa Blanca etc. are indeed very touristy. Instead, we recommend going to the San Bernardo archipelago. You can read the article here: https://mytriptocolombia.com/isla-mucura-paradis-archipel-san-bernardo/
Hello,
Do you know of any reputable agencies responsible for the Lost City trek?
Thanks 🙂
Hello, there are only 4 agencies authorized to organize the Ciudad Perdida trek. All the others resell the tours of these 4 agencies. So it’s safe to assume that each of them offers pretty much the same thing. That said, Wiwa Tour has the strong point of being an indigenous-initiated agency, and the Sierra Nevada being their territory, one might think that their tour is therefore a little more oriented towards indigenous culture 😉
After a 5-month family trip across the Americas, we settled in Colombia for 1 month. After a few days in Bogota, we spent a week between Palomino and Santa Marta.
Your blog is a real treasure trove for us!
Thank you for your advice, which is always accurate and sincere.
AH merci Pierre, sincèrement ce genre message nous va droit au coeur! 😀 Enjoy!
Salut et merci pour ce super blog
Do you know if it is possible to go from santa marta to playa cristal en lancha? This arriving early in the morning by night bus from san gil?
Thanks
Hello, yes it is possible to go from Santa Marta to Playa Cristal by lancha, but we don’t know the departure times. From Taganga they leave quite early, around 8am from memory, so you’ll have to get to Santa Marta early to have time to put your stuff down and get to the muelle in time, maybe you can call the hotel where you’ll be staying to see if they have more info.
Your blog is great! Full of great finds and ideas for preparing and organizing your trip!
Thank you so much! It makes us happy and encourages us to continue sharing all this! 🙂
The city of Santa Marta is magnificent. I’m thinking of spending my next vacation there. Thank you for the list of hotels. I will find one that suits me. A
Thanks Léa, yes Santa Marta is a good place to stop before discovering the region and it’s perfect if you find what you’re looking for in our tips!
Super article; recently moved to Santa Marta thank you
Thank you very much Bruno, we really appreciate it! Beautiful region where you are settling 😉 Enjoy your stay!