THINGS TO DO IN SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA: CITY GUIDE
One of Colombia’s main city destinations to visit is in Colombia is Santa Marta. With historic buildings, beach spots, lovely mountains nearby, and great jungle getaways, it’s no wonder visitors head to this city.
Founded by the Spanish in 1525, Santa Marta remains as one of the oldest cities in the Americas that continues to have that colonial architecture. Walking around admiring the white-washed buildings, colonial architecture, and lively streets is interesting.
Although the city is excellent for exploring for a day or two, the best places to visit are near the city. This makes Santa Marta a gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the jungle, and some of the best beaches in the Magdalena department (state).
Not far away, you have Tayrona National Park, where you can find a large diversity of fauna, flora, and incredible beaches. In Minca, you can escape to relax in the mountains. You can get diving certified in Taganga or go tubing in Palomino.
Although personally, the city itself wasn’t one of my favorite spots in Colombia, I think everyone should give it at least a day to check it out. Chances are you might like it more than I did. You’ll most likely have to stop in the city anyway to get to the places nearby.
So, read on to find out what things to do in Santa Marta are.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Santa Marta Colombia: City Guide
Rodadero
The Rodadero neighborhood is where you’ll find all the modern resorts and hotels with beach views. It’s the nice part of the city. You can find souvenir shops, stroll the boardwalk, eat seafood, or walk the beach.
In Rodadero, you can also find decent nightlife, and staying in this area is a great option.
Wander the Historic Center
Santa Marta was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, making it an interesting historic center to explore. You can wander the colorful colonial architecture and check out the Catedral de Santa Marta. It supposedly is the oldest cathedral in South America.
Inside, you can see Simon Bolivar’s remains. Bolivar is important to Colombia’s history. Walking around, you can enjoy the lively streets and sit down at the plaza to people-watch or buy souvenirs. Then, walk yourself over to Parque de Los Novios.
Although the center is historic and colorful, it’s not as wide and beautiful as those in Cartagena, but it’s still nice to wander and see the buildings.
Parque de los Novios
Parque de los novios is in the historic center. During the day, you can find small stalls set up selling souvenirs, and at night and on weekends, it becomes a social area. Visitors and locals alike hang out to enjoy the evening and to have a drink.
Scuba Diving
If you like diving, the village of Taganga, just minutes from Santa Marta, is one of the cheapest places to get scuba diving certified. Plus, you can find many professional dive shops that take you out in the Caribbean sea.
You can see the coral reefs, many colorful fish, and possibly even dolphins. If diving is not on your plans, you can also go snorkeling.
Santa Marta Market
If you enjoy sensory overload, head over to the Central Market, where you can stroll through the streets filled with food, meat, clothes, fruits and vegetables, and more. There are hundreds of vendors.
This is the ideal place to see the culture and how locals work and live. I always enjoy places like these in the cities I visit for that reason. Plus, you can grab cheap food.
The market is also where you catch the bus to many places to visit near Santa Marta.
Playa Blanca
One great beach spot to check out in Santa Marta is Playa Blanca. Here, there are beach chairs and tents set up that you can use for a fee.
You can lay beachside, ride a banana boat, hike to the viewpoint, or snorkel nearby. It’s also a great place to grab lunch and a drink too. You can catch a taxi to get there or take a short boat ride via Playa El Rodadero.
Museo del Oro de Tairona
If you enjoy museums, Santa Marta has the Tayrona Gold Museum. It’s smaller than the Gold Museum you find in Bogota but contains great cultural history focused on the ancient indigenous civilizations of the Sierra Nevada.
You can find ceramic and gold artifacts, pottery, statues, and jewelry, as well as a lovely courtyard inside the lovely house the museum is in. It’s suggested to book online beforehand to ensure a spot.
Plus, the entrance is free and it has English displays.
Take a Day Trip or Getaway
The truth is, although Santa Marta was great, I think the best things to do are outside the city. Nature lovers will enjoy getting away from the city to hike mountains, search for waterfalls, walk in the jungle, and swim in lovely beaches and rivers.
I love this region of Colombia because it’s full of fun and adventure. Some things to do include:
- Sleeping in a hammock in Tayrona National Park
- Tubing in Palomino
- Relaxing in the mountains of Minca
- Diving in Taganga
- Booking a desert tour to La Guajira
- Sleeping in cool hostels in the jungle
How to Get There
The best way to get to Santa Marta is to fly into the city. Flights in Colombia are cheap, even when purchasing them last minute. However, if you book ahead, you can find some for less than $25. Most flights will only be an hour to an hour and a half long.
Upon arrival, the city center is about 20 minutes away by taxi and costs approximately 25,000-30,000 COP. However, taking the bus to the city center will take about 40 minutes for 2,000 COP.
If you are coming from Cartagena, you can fly or take a bus by heading to the bus terminal in Cartagena. The ride is about 5 hours long and costs around $10.
Santa Marta’s bus terminal is outside the historic center. A taxi ride will be about 7,000-8,000 COP for a 10-minute ride.
When to Visit
Colombia has two seasons, wet and dry. The most rain is seen from June to October and the least rainfall is from December to April.
However, don’t be discouraged from visiting during the wet months. When it rains in Colombia, it’s usually in the late afternoon and just a little bit of time.
The climate in Santa Marta is a tropical savanna climate with dry winters. The average temperature is 29°C (85°F) year-round.
The highest season is December and any Colombian holiday (quite a few). However, weekends tend to get busy, too, so plan accordingly.
Where to Stay
The hostel scene in Santa Marta is fantastic. Many of them have incredible pools and aren’t far from the nightlife. Some of my favorite ones are outside the city, but those are great if you plan to stay closer to Tayrona National Park.
If you prefer, there are also some great guesthouses and budget-friendly hotels to stay in. These are a great option if you’re only passing by for a night and need rest before moving on.
Here are some of the best places to stay in the city:
Hostels:
- El Viajero Hostel: It has a great rooftop pool. (Not to be confused with Viajero Tayrona)
- Masaya Hostel: In the historic center
- La Guaca Hostel: Super affordable!
- Republica Bahia: I’ve had great experiences with the Republica Chain Hostels.
- Dreamer Hostel: Great social vibe.
Budget-Friendly Hotels:
- Akuamarina Hotel: A great option near the center. Where I stayed one night.
- Hotel Tayromar: Great beach views.
Nicer Hotels:
Is it Safe?
Colombia, in general, feels safe, in my opinion. Of course, safety is subjective, but in my case, I didn’t have any issues in the country. However, it doesn’t mean there aren’t sketchy areas.
For example, I felt fine walking around in Santa Marta by myself, but there were a few spots I walked by that felt I needed to be a little more aware of my surroundings.
As I said, safety is subjective. However, Santa Marta has a vibrant and social nightlife. Try staying in a hostel near the city center or by Rodadero to make going out late easier and safer.
What to Pack For Santa Marta
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
Things to do in Santa Marta: City Guide
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