For my first trip to Colombia, I spent 3 days exploring Santa Marta, located on the northern Caribbean coast.
Since this was primarily a trip with my Colombian girlfriend and her parents, I experienced Santa Marta from a different perspective, while still hitting all the must-see tourist spots.
I’ve put together an itinerary that blends an immersive cultural experience with relaxation in a region I absolutely loved!
Why visit Santa Marta?
Santa Marta is a top destination for both international tourists and locals for several reasons:
- The region around Santa Marta is best known for its seaside resorts and the many hotels that sit right on the beach.
- Its historic center, though small, is a must-visit for its narrow streets lined with colorful houses and its vibrant nightlife.
- Not far from Santa Marta is the Tayrona National Park, a sacred site preserved by indigenous communities—it is THE hike you cannot miss!
- If you prefer mountains, tropical forests, and rivers, you can reach the heights of the Sierra Nevada massif in less than 40 minutes.
What awaits you in Santa Marta is much more than just a city. You will discover a wealth of culture, breathtaking biodiversity, and, above all, a culinary scene you simply have to try!
3-day Santa Marta itinerary: the essentials
I’m sharing my 3-day Santa Marta itinerary based on what I personally did and highly recommend:
- The town of Minca & Pozo Azul
- Santa Marta’s historic center
- Tayrona National Park
Note: Obviously, you could do more than these three things in 3 days. If you want to discover more things to do in and around Santa Marta, I highly recommend you read this comprehensive article from the travel blog Mon Voyage en Colombie !
Choosing a hotel:
- Hotel Irotama Lago: a resort where I personally stayed with my family for its comfort, tranquility, and excellent quality of service
Getting to Santa Marta:
- From Bogota → Flying is the fastest way to travel, even if it is a little more expensive than the bus.
- From Cartagena → The bus will get you there in about 3 hours.
Where to eat in Santa Marta:
- The Irotama Lago hotel where I stayed was my main place for dining. The food quality is excellent, with a very wide selection for discovering the cuisine of the Colombian coast.
- In Tayrona Park, I recommend eating at the restaurant El Rincón De Faby. This spot is located along the hiking trail. The grilled fish and their fish soup are a real delight!
3-day Santa Marta itinerary: step by step
Day 1: A relaxing day and a visit to Santa Marta's historic center
First of all, if you are arriving from Santa Marta airport, I suggest heading straight to your accommodation. This will allow you to drop off your suitcases or bags.
During the day 🌅
If you choose to stay at Irotama Lago, I suggest you spend a relaxing day at the beach, enjoying cocktails and dining at the hotel restaurant.
The beach is truly beautiful with water at the perfect temperature. The hotel setting is simply sublime, and the staff are very friendly.
It’s the perfect chance to rest and really take your time, because the next two days will be all about adventure!
Note: You should know that the hotel is a resort where the founder has successfully preserved the local biodiversity. You will be in a perfect spot to admire and listen to birdsong, surrounded by trees and a very clean white-sand beach!
At the end of the day 🌆
Around 5:00 PM, head toward the historic center of Santa Marta.
Lasting a total of 2 to 3 hours, here is the tour itinerary:
- Stroll through the beautiful, colorful narrow streets and soak up the neighborhood atmosphere
- Visit the Catedral Basílica de Santa Marta and its square
- The magnificent Parque de los Novios, with its many stalls selling souvenirs, textiles, and Colombian handicrafts
- Walk along the beautiful coast of Bahía de Santa Marta at night to enjoy the lively atmosphere and street markets
- Enjoy some delicious ice cream with exotic flavors at Gnam Gelato Italiano → I recommend the Corozo and Guanabana flavors, which I tested personally!
For dinner, you have two options:
- Return to the Irotama Lago hotel for some excellent dishes, or enjoy the buffet if you have a big appetite.
- Or, try a local restaurant in the historic center, such as Ouzo Santa Marta → I haven't tried this one personally, but it serves typical Colombian coastal cuisine and is highly rated.
Day 2: Explore the village of Minca and swim in the waters of Pozo Azul
While browsing Google Maps, I stumbled upon Minca, a small town located in the heights of the Sierra Nevada National Park.
As a nature lover, I really enjoyed this destination, especially since I was traveling with my family.
Today, the town has become much more touristy than it was a few years ago, for several reasons:
- More and more foreign investors are looking for affordable land to settle down and build eco-friendly accommodations for tourists.
- Some choose to carry out projects in collaboration with the local community, thereby fostering the development of the local economy.
- For others, it remains a wild place with opportunities to live and enjoy a wonderful environment.
How to get to Minca?
From Santa Marta:
- By bus → You can catch it from Mercado Público de Santa Marta. For $10,000 COP, you will reach your destination in 1 hour.
- By taxi (Uber) → This was my initial choice for leaving from my hotel. For a trip of about 1 hour, I spent a total of $240,000 COP (round trip) for 4 people.
All day long 🌅
Once you arrive in the town of Minca, I invite you to stroll through the village, where you will find several beautiful, colorful murals on many of the houses.
Why not stop by Duni Cafe or Lemuffinscs for a quick coffee break and a tasty treat!
Head toward the starting point of your hike to Pozo Azul, where you will find a waterfall at the end of the trail perfect for a swim.
How do you get to Pozo Azul?
From Minca to the start of the hike:
- On foot → This option is a bit more of a physical challenge. You will need to walk up the road for about 40 minutes.
- By taxi (Uber) → The easiest and quite affordable option. Expect to pay between 10,000 COP and 15,000 COP. Wait times are often shorter than you might think, as Minca is a fairly popular tourist area.
From there, you will need to walk for about 30 minutes to reach the waterfall.
What is there to do around Minca?
For those who want to explore even further around Minca, the following activities are recommended by the blog Mon Voyage en Colombie, which I consider a true benchmark for discovering the country in an eco-friendly way:
- Visit the coffee plantations at **Finca Victoria** or cocoa at the Finca La Candelaria
- Continue your adventure towards Cascada Marinka and/or Cascada Escondida for those who love swimming and exploring
Day 3: A day trip to Tayrona National Park
In my opinion, this is the most interesting and beautiful day trip you must take when visiting Santa Marta: Tayrona National Park.
This area was once home to an indigenous population, the "Tayrona," who disappeared after the Spanish invasion during the 16th century, largely due to the desire to seize their gold.
Even today, you can still find indigenous tribes, including the Kogis, Wiwas, and Arhuacos—descendants of the Tayrona—within the National Park, working to protect this sacred site.
What is there to do in Tayrona National Park?
It is important to know that the park is quite large. There are 3 main routes where you can begin your journey into the heart of Tayrona:
- The first red trail provides access to 3 beaches with different colored sands: Gayraca, Neguanje and Playa del Muerto
- The second red trail (from Calabazo) is more difficult, as it requires crossing the park's mountains, which adds 4 hours to the journey to reach the beach. However, the trail is worth it, as you will pass through an indigenous tribal village.
- The third red trail is more accessible, and it is the one we chose. The hike takes 3 hours (round trip), with the option to swim at Arrecifes beaches and Cabo San Juan.
How to get to Tayrona National Park?
Here are the available transport options:
- By bus - Price for a one-way ticket: $10,500 COP → From the Mercado Publico, take the bus towards Palomino/Riohacha and ask the driver for the Neguanje, Calabazo, or El Zaino stop (depending on where you want to start your hike).
- By taxi (Uber) - Price for a one-way trip: $200,000 COP → More expensive, but easier for getting around when traveling in a group. This is the option we chose for convenience since there were 4 of us.
How much time should you spend at Tayrona National Park?
Regardless of the trail you choose, I recommend staying for a full day to enjoy the hiking and swimming.
Where to stay in Santa Marta?
For a first visit to Santa Marta, the Historic Center is a great option to help you get around easily.
I particularly recommend looking for accommodation in this area to enjoy all the amenities while avoiding certain neighborhoods that are best avoided at night.
Here are some of my recommendations to help with your search:
- Irotama Lago Hotel: This is THE best resort I recommend if you are looking for peace and quiet, top-notch service, and very friendly and welcoming staff.
- Casa Imagine: Located almost right in the heart of Santa Marta's historic center, the price is very reasonable for any type of traveler.
- Masaya Santa Marta : A hostel for any type of traveler looking to enjoy a friendly atmosphere at a price that reflects the quality of service.
- La Brisa Loca Hostel: An affordable hostel with a more festive vibe, all while being in the heart of the historic center.
What is the budget for a 3-day trip to Santa Marta?
When I traveled to Santa Marta for 3 days, my only expenses were partly transport, activities, and restaurants, as part of the trip had been generously gifted to us by my girlfriend's father.
If I were to assume I was paying for everything (accommodation, transport, activities, and restaurants), here is what I would have spent:
- Accommodation : €20 → I would have chosen Masaya Santa Marta for a stay in a 6-bed dorm at a price of €10 per night. Breakfast is also included in the rate.
- Transport : €12 → €6 round trip to Minca by bus & €6 round trip to Tayrona Park
- Activities : €26 for the Tayrona National Park entrance fee for foreigners
- Restaurants : ~€60 → I could have chosen to eat lunch and dinner at a local restaurant for around €10 per meal
Which brings my total to a total of €118 for 3 days in Santa Marta.
You can easily get by for less than that by choosing to cook for yourself or by eating cheaper meals.
Where to go after Santa Marta?
Once I finished my adventure in Santa Marta, we headed straight to Cartagena for 3 days, a logical itinerary when you are on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
There are several cities I recommend once you have visited Santa Marta:
- Barranquilla : one of the most important port cities in Colombia. We stopped there very briefly to admire the famous Ventana al Mundo and for its restaurants that offer dishes made with seafood and fish freshly caught from the Magdalena River.
- Cartagena : You will discover another colonial city that has managed to preserve its cultural heritage very well over time. It is the most touristy place, but also the most interesting to visit!
But you can easily stay even longer in the Magdalena region to visit other less touristy places, or explore the heart of the Sierra Nevada by opting for a trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida).
FAQ: Santa Marta in 3 days
Is Santa Marta a safe city?
I walked around the Historic Center of Santa Marta at night myself. You might find a few people who seem a bit lost in the streets, but it is not dangerous. You just need to ignore them.
During the day, you have nothing to worry about.
Overall, this area is well-secured because there are many tourists and police officers patrolling to keep watch.
Can you visit everything in and around Santa Marta by bus?
Yes. At least for the places I recommend with all the information I shared with you above.
What is the best time to visit Santa Marta?
You can travel to Santa Marta whenever you like.My preference for those who want to avoid the crowds is to travel off-season.
It is worth noting that it is hot in Santa Marta all year round, regardless of the month.
Humidity is very common, so you will need to adapt to the climate.
For my part, I visited Santa Marta in July. And to say the least, it is touristy without being overly crowded.
Is it possible to swim in Santa Marta?
Yes. Provided you know where to go, as some beaches are very crowded and may not be very clean.
In my opinion, the best beaches remain inside Tayrona National Park and the entire area around **Playa Bello Horizonte** (located north of Simon Bolivar International Airport).
What are the must-do activities in Santa Marta?
Tayrona National Park, the Historic Center, and Minca are must-do activities that are easy to reach by bus and suitable for all types of travelers (solo, couples, families).
If you are staying in Santa Marta for longer (at least 7 days), I also recommend going on a trek to discover the famous Ciudad Perdida, a site sacred to indigenous communities.
