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JessieLang Says: The Tayrona National Park was established in 1964. It is a large tropical park with a number of species that are unique in this area. The western side of the park is dry, but the northeast part, where we went, gets much more rain.There are several hiking trails in the park....
JessieLang Says: The small fishing village of Tagana (population 4500.) is about 15 minutes from Santa Marta. The fishermen are out for 12 hours a day (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) They fish from crude homemade boats made from local trees. When they come in, people come to the beach with plastic bags...
JessieLang Says: The Cathedral in Santa Marta is the oldest one in South America. It was started in the mid-1600s and took 40 years to build. Simon Bolivar was buried at the side of the cathedral for 6 years and then moved to a site under the floor in front of the altar. Later, he was moved...
grandmaR Says: Originally the museum was housed in the customs house. But the customs house is under renovation, so the exhibits have been moved to a bank. We did not go to this museum, although their website says "This is the best museum of gold in the world. It went through some...
mtncorg Says: Several others on VT have noted that when they visited this area, they stayed in the nearby village of Taganga, a few miles north of Santa Marta. The town is a little more comfortable because it is a lot smaller. It is much closer to the most popular Colombian national park,...
richiecdisc Says: The Museo de Oro or Gold Museum is located just off the Plaza de Bolivar in a nicely renovated hacienda-type colonial mansion known as Casa de la Aduana. This former Customs House is reported to have a great collection of pottery and gold from the native Kogi people...
richiecdisc Says: Taganga is a picturesque fishing village with a perfect horseshoe shaped bay that makes for incredibly scenic sunsets. It was surely a paradise fifty years ago but since its “discovery” by gringos at large it has become shall we say a bit less authentic. It has also taken...
40 Opinions
Estelar Santamar Hotel & Convention Center
28 Opinions
Helados de la Casa/Helados Exóticos: Best ice cream in Santa Marta
wolfla Says: I've been here 6 months and just found this place. Here you will find homemade ice cream with the usual and unusual flavors – chocolate, strawberry, avacado, cañandonga (which is a costal fruit, Rocio can show you the large seed pod. It tastes faintly of chocolate and is...
Lulo: Lulo - when you are tired of local food
wolfla Says: This is a small place with good food. It is owned by a Colombian and a woman from the US, so both Spanish and English is spoken. They provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get coffee, smoothies, juices, coctels, beer, gourmet arepas, wraps and panini and pita...
sunset cafe: a stroll on the promenade is free
richiecdisc Says: Santa Marta has its share of pubs and I imagine a few clubs as well. This is after all a beach tourist town and people, especially Colombians love to party when they are on vacation. We saw quite a few people sitting out on the waterfront enjoying the ocean breeze and the...
wolfla Says: You can take a city to city bus from the bus terminal but there is another option to get between Cartegena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. A "Puerta a Puerta" or Door to Door is a van (sometimes a car) that will pick you up at your door and take you to your destination. It is...
wolfla Says: It's easy to get around Santa Marta. It feels like a big small town. You can easily walk around the historic district without needing transportation. Taxis within the city cost COP $4,000 (little over $2 USD) but if you don't have the correct change they may charge more...
JessieLang Says: Santa Marta, anong with other Colombian cities, celebrates Carnivale in February. One of the Carnival traditions involves young men who paint themselves all over with black grease and ask for coins. If you don’t give them anything, they will touch you and get you dirty.
wolfla Says: When I ask locals what people do for Carnival in Santa Marta, they say they go to Barranquilla. Barranquilla indeed has the largest carnival celebration in Colombia and supposedly is second only to Brazil. I nonetheless stayed in Santa Marta and learned why people say they...
wolfla Says: Santa Marta is a pretty safe town. I have lived here for the past 6 months and have noticed that there is more theft at the end of the year than other times of the year. People in general will have more money at the end of the year because they get what is called a "prima"...
Helpfulness
Luggage and bags: While a normal suitcase will get you by in Santa Marta proper and a day pack will suffice on your guided trek of La Ciudad Perdida, to really get a full dose of Tayrona National Park, you're best off having a backpack with you. The park features miles of trails that take in one of the most scenic chunks of the coast in any hemisphere. Sure, you can day trip here, but once you pay your $17 entrance fee, you are free to wander and camp along the coast so why not?
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Santa Marta will not necessitate any special clothes as you are looking at one lovey climate but trekking gear will come in handy if you are planning on seeing La Ciudad Perdida and Tayrona National Park.
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen, baby, sunscreen.
Photo Equipment: A wide angle is great for landscape photography and a zoom for wildlife, and in Santa Marta proper you can use both to get good shots of street vendors, foods, and colonial buildings.
Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: No need for your tent in Santa Marta but we were very glad to have ours for Tayrona National Park.
Miscellaneous: Thanks to D for making this part of the trip special, especially once she recovered from her bad tummy.
Updated Nov 13, 2010
Minca - day trip from Santa Marta or stay awhile
wolfla Says: I recommend staying a while but this can definitely be a day trip. It depends on what you are looking for. There isn't much to do in Minca but take long hikes, bathe in a river, watch birds and butterflies and enjoy new scenery, and peace and quiet (ok, like everywhere else...
grandmaR Says: Since I am interested in lighthouses, I always look for them. I took pictures of this one. When I looked at the photos there appeared to be a path to the top of the lighthouse, and the lighthouse looked like it had lights in it.Then I asked at the information desk what the...
richiecdisc Says: At any rate, I really was just looking for a room and soon figured out that the one I already had was a bargain compared to these, not to mention the dilapidated neighborhood factor. I did get to meet some of the backpacker hostel staff who seemed much more intent on...
it wasn't teeming with prostitutes
richiecdisc Says: Santa Marta is a real Colombian city despite its tourist demeanor and is perhaps more alluring in its half-baked state. Some of the town has been spiffed up but some of it remains in a delightfully dilapidated state. Enjoy both while you can, this is a town earmarked for...
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Santa Marta is a study in contrast. On one hand, it is very much a major tourist destination and even that is two-pronged. It is one of the most popular beach resorts for Colombians who flock to enjoy...
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Founded in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas - known as Spain’s ‘Noblest Conquistador’ for his refusal to maltreat native Americans even in his quest for gold - Santa Marta is the oldest surviving town...
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