Santa Marta, a Colombian Coastal Town

Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is one of the most popular places to visit in Colombia, with a beautiful harbor and views of the coast.

While it may not be the most beautiful city in Colombia (Cartagena probably holds the crown), it is a great hub for traveling between other cities on the Colombian coast.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about Discover Santa Marta, Colombia

Source: COLOMBIAFRANK

Things to do in this seaside town

Taganga was once a fishing village on the outskirts of Santa Marta, but little by little it has been transformed into a coastal town with a majority of foreigners.

There are many opportunities to dive, make plans for Ciudad Perdida, or go to Playa Grande.

El Rodadero is one of the fanciest resorts in Colombia, and wealthy Colombians often head to this suburb of Santa Marta for a beach vacation.

Other unmissable natural landmarks are the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Tayrona Park, and Playas Cristal, Neguanje, and Arrecifes with their fantastic beaches.

The Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, a farm built in the 17th century, was the home of Simón Bolívar during the last years of his life.

An on-site museum houses artwork donated by many of the countries he helped liberate.

The construction of the Sé Cathedral began early in the history of Santa Marta but was not completed until the end of the 18th century.

Ciudad Perdida, the "Lost City", the home of the Tayrona Indians was built on the lush slopes of the Santa Marta mountains between the 11th and 14th centuries.

Considered larger than Machu Picchu, it was found and stolen in the 1970s by grave robbers.

A Golden Story

The Spanish chose Santa Marta for their first settlement because of the gold.

The local indigenous communities of Tairona were known for their goldsmith work, much of which is on display in Bogotá at the Museo del Oro.

Now, the Tairona Heritage Study Center is dedicated to the study of indigenous groups that inhabit the Sierra Santa Marta Nevada.

Founded in 1525 by Roger de Bastidas, Santa Marta is ideally located for visiting the Santa Marta mountain range, surpassed only by the height of the Andes that run through Colombia and two national parks.

While it lacks part of Cartagena's tourist infrastructure along the coast, it does have warm and clean beaches, many in Tayrona Park.

Arrive and stay there

Santa Marta has a tropical climate throughout the year.

It's hot during the day, but the sea breeze at night is cool and makes the sunset and nightlife particularly inviting.

• By Air: Daily flights to and from Bogotá and other Colombian cities use the El Rodadero airport outside of the city en route to Barranquilla.

If you've booked a resort in advance, it may be worth finding a pickup service if you're not comfortable negotiating a taxi when you arrive.

• Land route: Air-conditioned buses operate daily to Bogotá and other cities, as well as local trips to nearby communities and Tayrona Park.

Note that while cities don't seem too far apart, that doesn't mean travel time is quick. Santa Marta is 16 hours from Bogotá, 3.5 hours from Cartagena, and 2 hours from Barranquilla.

• By water: Cruises make this port a stopover and, in addition to the commercial port, there is also a marina and moorings at Irotama Resort Golf and Marina.

Note that Santa Marta has a long history of smuggling.

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