Welcome to Santa Marta
Santa Marta is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Despite its long history and charming center, it gets a bad rap from many travelers, who cite its unlovely urban sprawl and terrible traffic as reasons not to hang about here. The secret to Santa Marta is to use it for what it does well: hotels, restaurants and bars, and then get out to the slew of superb nearby destinations during the daytime.
Top experiences in Santa Marta
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Recent articles
Travel guides
Starting at $35.09
Santa Marta activities
Shared Departure Transfer: Santa Marta Hotels to Simon Bolivar International Airport
Enjoy a hassle-free departure transfer from your Santa Marta hotel to Simon Bolivar International Airport (SMR). This one-way shared transportation service will take you by shuttle directly to the airport. When making a booking, you will need to advise your flight details and your Santa Marta accommodation details. Your transfer will be confirmed instantaneously, and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver, ensuring that you reach your destination on time.
Shared Arrival Transfer: Simon Bolivar International Airport to Santa Marta Hotels
Book a stress-free airport arrival transfer from Simon Bolivar International Airport (SMR) to your Santa Marta hotel. Meet your professional English-speaking driver curbside and avoid the hassle of long taxi lines. This convenient one-way shared transfer delivers you to your accommodation with ease. When making a booking, please advise your flight details and your accommodation details. Your transfer will be confirmed instantaneously, and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver. Be sure to book your airport departure transfer for your return trip!
Tayrona National Park and Beach Day Trip from Santa Marta
After hotel pickup, your day trip from Santa Marta starts with a 1-hour drive to Cañaveral, the main entrance to Tayrona National Natural Park. One of Colombia’s most-visited national parks, Tayrona encompasses 7,410 acres (3,000 hectares) of sea and 29,650 acres (12,000 hectares) of land in the rainforest-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the highest coastal mountain ranges in the world. With your guide, walk through the park toward the Caribbean coast for approximately 1 hour, keeping a lookout for native animals like howler monkeys (you’ll hear them before you see them!), deer, bats, condors and white eagles. Arriving at the beach, head down to the white sand, ready to enjoy the idyllic setting where the reef and sea form a natural pool that’s perfect for swimming. Have lunch here before being returned to Santa Marta in the afternoon.
One-Way Transfer to Cartagena from Santa Marta
Your one-way transfer to Cartagena begins with convenient pickup at your Santa Marta hotel. After settling into your comfortable coach, head south along Santa Marta Bay with your experienced driver.Your journey follows coastal route 90, which passes through Ciénaga and traverses an isthmus to take you past the small town of Pueblo Viejo, situated between the picturesque Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta marsh and the Caribbean Sea. As you cross narrow La Barra channel, admire the beautiful panoramic seascapes outside the coach’s large windows. Then travel through the town of Barranquilla and continue on route 90A along the coast until you reach Cartagena, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel. During the journey, your driver will stop occasionally at scenic spots so you can take photos and stretch your legs.
Full day - Tayrona National Park - Pueblito
One of our representatives will pick you up at the hotel to take you on a half an hour drive from Santa Marta to Calabozo, in the Natural National Park Tayrona, a reserve of 15,000 hectares. Here, you will be taken for a hike through the mountains and tropical forests to the area of Chairama, a wonderfull place where you can see the archaeological vestiges of Tayrona the indigenous culture and enjoy a magical place surrounded by nature and beauty species of birds and others animals Then, you will descend to Cañaveral, passing by Cabo San Juan de Guia, the natural pool and Arrecifes. In the afternoon we will return to the hotel.
Lost City Ciudad Perdida 4- or 5-Day Trek from Santa Marta
Each tour group is limited to 11 people, providing a small-group experience with your guide. The pace at which you trek and how much downtime you have depends on which option you book — the 4-day option is harder work, essentially, than the 5-day options. The total trekking distance is 29 miles (47 km) round-trip from El Mamey, a small town you’ll be driven to from Santa Marta. You'll spend each night at one of three camps, which have bathrooms and showers, and you will sleep in beds or in hammocks. Swimming is often possible in the river and natural pools during treks and at the camps.All meals are typical Colombian fare; expect meat, rice and either beans, potatoes or yuca (a potato-like root vegetable) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is recommended that you bring a book and a deck of cards to fill downtime you have at the camps. Make sure you bring good hiking shoes, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle. You may also want to pack a flashlight, a roll of toilet paper, small snacks and hand sanitizer. Please see the Itinerary section below for details on each day of the trek.