Santa Marta, Colombia – a stunning destination to keep on your travel list for your next holiday, whenever that may be!
Even in these uncertain times, we can still travel—if not in person, then with our hearts and minds. We can explore the world’s most beautiful places in our imagination and dream of the brighter days ahead.
Today, let’s take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Santa Marta, Colombia, and picture the sun rising over its golden beaches.
Maybe we can even imagine sipping a refreshing margarita while planning our next summer adventure—because some day soon, those plans will become reality.
About Santa Marta, Colombia
History
Santa Marta is a city steeped in history. It holds the title of the oldest city in Colombia and the second oldest in South America—a true child of the Spanish conquistadors.
Founded in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas, Santa Marta has long served as a major trading port for Colombia. Beyond its commercial significance, the city is home to a dozen beautiful beaches, vibrant markets, rich traditions, and countless stories waiting to be discovered.
One of its most famous historical moments is tied to Simón Bolívar, who spent his final days here. Today, the La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino museum stands in his memory, offering visitors a glimpse into his life while sharing the serene beauty of its surroundings.
Geographical Position
Nestled on a small bay along the Caribbean Sea, Santa Marta is connected to the Magdalena River through a series of marshy channels and lakes. This river served as a vital commercial artery during the Spanish conquest and remained so well into the 20th century, before trade gradually shifted to air, road, and rail transport.
Thanks to its strategic location, Santa Marta became a key port for the colony of New Granada, maintaining its status as an important hub of commerce through the 19th century. Today, the city is easily accessible via railway, highway, or air, with regular connections to Bogotá and other major Colombian cities.
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Things to Do in Santa Marta, Colombia
1. Visit Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is one of Colombia’s most iconic destinations. Located roughly 34 kilometres from Santa Marta’s city center, the park spans approximately 150 square kilometres and is home to over 400 species of mammals and birds.
This remote paradise is the perfect escape from Colombia’s bustling city life. You can spend a single day relaxing on its stunning beaches or exploring the natural sights, or stay 2–3 nights to hike jungle trails, swim in crystal-clear waters, and fully immerse yourself in its serene environment.
You can travel around the park by shuttle bus, or you can walk or travel on horseback.
There are a couple of hotels and campgrounds for spending the night in the park. And in order to have a pleasant stay, you also need to know the park’s rules.
For example, you can’t swim after 6 pm or you can’t swim at all on some beaches. Also, you won’t be able to bring alcohol with you; the park guards are rather strict in this aspect.
Tayrona National Park is huge and you can get lost in it quite easily.
To make sure you get to see all the best places there, put these on your list:
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Walk along Playa Arrecifes and admire the small lagoon on the one side. You can’t swim here, but you’ll surely have a great time admiring the view
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Swim in the warm, calm and shallow waters of La Piscina
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Take an Instagram picture on the top of Cabo San Juan; make sure that is not the only thing you do on this tropical paradise beach, ok? Get some swimming and relaxing time between the palm trees leaning over the two beaches at Cabo San Juan.
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Take the about two-hour hike from El Cabo to El Pueblito, a pre-hispanic town where you can still get a sense of how the indigenous people once lived
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Take the Nine Stones hike all around the park; you’ll just have to follow the funny-looking egg-like stones around to get the view of a lifetime
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2. Go on an adventure on the Lost City Trek Colombia
The “Lost City” of Colombia or “Ciudad Perdida” in Spanish, is an ancient city deep in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
The city was discovered late in 1972 and it is made of 169 mountain terraces linked through a network of tiled paths and adorned with several circular plazas. To get into the city, you’ll have to climb up 1,200 stone steps through the jungle!
Not a simple walk in the park! You’ll need your most adventurous self on to really enjoy this experience.
It will be definitely worth it, because the city is believed to be 650 years older than Machu Picchu itself and the views, well, you judge for yourself…
3. Scuba diving in Taganga
Scuba diving in Taganga should be at the top of your list of things to do in Santa Marta Colombia.
Taganga is a little town near Santa Marta, in the Tayrona National Park, where a lot of divers like to hang out and a lot of dive shops await for your arrival.
If you decide to take the Ciudad Perdida trek, then you will most likely start the adventure in this town.
So, make sure you then come back for some diving. Some amazing coral reefs, sunken ships, caves and cute, colourful fish are waiting for you on the bottom of the ocean.
4. Visit Museo del Oro
Once a Customs House, the today Museo del Oro from Tairona is a journey through Colombia’s Caribbean history.
It contains four thematic chambers, which will take you from the pre-historic societies from Sierra Nevada and Tairon around 900 A.D respectively 1600 A**.**D, to present-day Magdalena province and its people.
You will learn a great deal about metalwork, pottery and how all these are intertwined with rituals and stories to remember for a lifetime. You might find a sense of poetry here…well, that’s enough with getting emotional. Let’s move on!
5. Visit Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
This could also be named the Simon Bolivar Museum. It is the place where the famous El Libertador died in 1830**.**
Simon Bolivar is a very important name for Colombia.
He led the liberating armies of Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia to independence from the Spanish Empire.
He was a military general, political leader and the father of the Nation of Colombia.
So, if you really want to get a sense of what a nation is all about, go to the very root of their identity and discover the person who inspired them for generations.
Now, to get back to the point, this “hacienda” was built in the 17th century and served as a rum, honey and panela production site.
Nowadays, it’s the place where people can come and honour Simon Bolivar.
6. Take a stroll down Parque de Los Novios
You only need to have watched one or two Spanish telenovelas to know that “Parque de Los Novios” should be a popular meeting point for lovers.
“The Park of Lovers” is a large plaza where you can enjoy a few drinks in the evening and maybe get a taste of the Santa Marta Colombia nightlife in a relaxed and secure manner.
You can take a leisure stroll down the red-brick pavement and let the kids play around the small fountains.
Taste the street food**,** listen to the local musicians and maybe buy souvenirs**.**
Parque de Los Novios in Santa Marta is a nice place to relax and enjoy some peaceful time after you’ve adventured to, say, the Lost City.
7. Visit the town of Minca
Minca is 45 minutes away from Santa Marta. It is a small town you will probably fall in love with.
The temperatures here are much cooler than in Santa Marta, so if you want to get away from the sweltering warmth there, you can always find refuge in Minca.
You will love the organic coffee it is so famous for and maybe even venture uphill to the La Victoria Coffee Plantation.
There are numerous possibilities in Minca, like going to see the Marinka waterfall, the Pozo Azul or even the Museo Minca.
Now, scroll a little to “visit” the Marinka waterfall!
8. Go shopping at Santa Marta Public Market
On your way back from Tayrona, after you get off the bus, you should visit the sprawling market that begins right near the bus stop.
If you’ve never been to a bona fide Colombian market, then you will be taken by surprise by the variety of colours, flavours, smells, spices, you name it.
You can even buy fresh fish and ask them to fry it for you right there on the spot.
The Santa Marta Market is surely one authentic way to get a taste of the real Colombian spirit.
9. Roam around the Historic City Center
The historic city centre of Santa Marta has been a national monument since the 1960s.
It has been renovated in the past years and it now asks to be explored. You should start with the Simon Bolivar Plaza and continue with the Tayrona Gold Museum.
Santa Marta Cathedral is another beautiful point of interest placed in the historic city centre.
Completed in the 18th century, the cathedral features a bell in the shape of a dome, marble ceilings and the statue of the Virgin.
The Santa Marta historic centre is the place where you can walk through the history of Colombia and Santa Marta.
You could also visit The Customs House or the Santo Domingo Covent and the Town Council; then you can spend some time at the restaurants or cafes from the Parque de Los Novios.
Do not be tempted to think it’s just a public square. It’s got its own kind of magic, the Colombian magic which is a mix of authenticity and stories, culture and respect for the national heroes.
10. Try the Street Food/Caribbean Food
Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia, is home to some amazing beaches, stories, history and a really authentic mix of Caribbean, Latin America and European food.
Although this might sound strange, you will see food every step of the way because there are countless vendors selling food on the streets, ad-hoc markets or beaches. And Santa Marta got plenty of all these.
Make sure you try new things and foods that you cannot really get at home. The Santa Marta street food merchants sell everything from fried fish to interesting mixes of fruits and juices. Put lulo and maracuja on your list!
If you’re a fan of seafood, then Santa Marta could be heaven for you; and even if you’re not a seafood fan, there are chances you will acquire a taste for pargos, warm water lobsters or a special and delicious seafood stew called cazuela de mariscos.
Now, you cannot say you’ve visited Colombia without trying a little grilled chorizo and some fried potatoes from the Exito supermarket in Santa Marta.
Also, do not forget about arepas! Made from ground maize dough, Arepas date back to pre-Columbian times and they are quite versatile and leave space for imagination. You can eat them with cheese, meat, avocado and so on. It’s best you try Arepas with eggs also.
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11. Paseo El Camellon
Also known as the Paseo de Bastidas, this waterfront promenade runs between Santa Marta’s old port and the new marina.
There are several plazas along the way and they are linked by palm trees. It is perfect for peaceful sunset walks where you can enjoy the stunning views.
Moreover, local vendors will always be there to sell their crafts and delicious sweets.
An interesting authentic touch to Paseo el Camellon is the story that the indigenous people sculptures tell along the way.
You’ll just have a serene stroll at sunset and follow the history of Santa Marta with your mind and eyes while taking in the view of the Caribbean.
What About The Santa Marta Colombia Beaches?
A lot of people say that the Santa Marta beaches are the best beaches in the whole of Colombia.
From swimming to bathing and admiring the breathtaking view, the Santa Marta beaches have it all…
These 3 Santa Marta Colombia beaches clearly deserve their fame:
is one of the most visited, mostly because it offers the possibilities to do some really fun activities during the day, like swimming, kayaking and even have raging parties in the bars and discos that are around the beach.
Offers serenity and calmness, a series of delicious dishes and…well, if you’re not the lazy kind of summer lover, you can also do some kayaking here
So, say you’ve got emerald water with some calm, lazy waves, some beautiful mountains guarding your back while you lay in the white sand savouring a delicious fresh seafood dish and enjoying the Caribbean weather.
Unfortunately, you’re dreaming and you’ll have to wait some time until you make it to Playa Blanca and live this experience.
Other notable Santa Marta beaches mentions:
The largest beach in the Tayrona National Park
A quiet getaway beach where you can just relax and maybe do a little bit of snorkelling
As the name might suggest, it boasts incredible clear waters.
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Santa Marta Colombia Nightlife
Well, one thing for sure, you can’t compare the Santa Marta nightlife to the one in Bogota.
If utter bacchanal is what you’re after, then the Santa Marta Colombia nightlife won’t satisfy you. If you’re a person mostly looking to relax and have some laid back fun on the side, at dusk, on the beach, with other tourists and locals, then Santa Marta nightlife is for you.
No fancy preliminary preparations are needed. It is all rather spontaneous and it gives you the feeling you’re really living in the moment.
What’s even better is that the prices in Santa Marta are incredibly relaxed. For the average, enthusiastic traveler, a night out here won’t break the bank.
For instance, a beer in a club will cost between $1 and $4, while a bottle of wine at a bar goes for around $20.
When it comes to nightlife hotspots, these names are worth remembering: El Centro, Taganga, and El Rodadero. The prime time to party is on weekends—head out on a Friday or Saturday night to mingle with both locals and fellow travelers.
People in Santa Marta are generally very laid-back. Nights out aren’t just about sticking to small friend groups; it’s easy to meet new people and make friends. If you had to sum up Santa Marta’s nightlife in one word, “relaxed” fits perfectly.
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Santa Marta Safety
Colombia’s past reputation for violence and drug-related crime can make it seem risky. But remember, the era of Pablo Escobar is long gone. Today, Colombia is an exotic, vibrant country—and a hidden gem for travelers.
Crime still exists, and there are occasional reports of theft, for example on Taganga Beach at night. However, it’s far from the Narcos-style chaos often imagined. With basic precautions, you can enjoy the city safely:
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Avoid wandering alone at night, especially on remote beaches.
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Be polite and respectful to locals.
Stay cautious, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying Santa Marta’s beauty, nightlife, and charm. Relax, soak it all in, and plan your visit once the world returns to normal—you won’t regret exploring this Colombian treasure.