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Experience the best of Santa Marta

Santa Marta is Colombia's oldest surviving colonial city, a Caribbean port below the Sierra Nevada and close to Tayrona Park and the Lost City trail.

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Founded by the Spaniards in 1525, Santa Marta is the oldest surviving colonial city in Colombia, set on a bay where the Sierra Nevada, the highest coastal mountain range on earth, drops almost to the sea. Simón Bolívar died in 1830 at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, a hacienda just outside the centre, now a museum with botanical gardens. The old town has a cathedral, a seafront promenade and a gold museum in a colonial house.

Tayrona National Natural Park, a coast of forest, boulder beaches and bays about 35 kilometres east, is reached by road and a walk through the trees. The Sierra Nevada holds the Lost City, or Ciudad Perdida, a Tairona terraced settlement reached by a trek of several days, and the hill village of Minca grows coffee above the town. Taganga, a fishing cove, is a short ride away, and El Rodadero is the nearest resort beach.

Fish with coconut rice and fried plantain, cayeye, mashed green banana with cheese, and arepas de huevo, fried corn cakes filled with egg, are everyday Caribbean fare, washed down with fresh fruit juice. It is hot all year, with a drier season from December to April.

  • Free cancellation on 88% of experiences
  • Day trips to Duwanaby

Top 10 attractions in Santa Marta

See all 12 attractions
  1. Number 1

    Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)

    5.04k reviewsfrom $180
  2. Number 2

    Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park

    5.04k reviewsfrom $35
  3. Number 3

    Tayrona National Park (Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona)

    4.6817 reviewsfrom $34
  4. Number 4

    Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Tairona)

    4.6298 reviewsfrom $25
  5. Number 5

    Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal)

    4.4230 reviewsfrom $65
  6. Number 6

    Carlos El Pibe Valderrama Statue

    4.3153 reviewsfrom $15
  7. Number 7

    Santa Marta Historic Center (Centro Historico de Santa Marta)

    4.7144 reviewsfrom $25
  8. Number 8

    Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino

    4.661 reviewsfrom $18
  9. Number 9

    El Rodadero

    4.233 reviewsfrom $100
  10. Number 10

    Taganga

    4.727 reviewsfrom $55

Day trips from Santa Marta

73

Landmarks and attractions in Santa Marta

7

Cruises and boat trips in Santa Marta

12

Guided tours in Santa Marta

113

Walking and bike tours in Santa Marta

10

Food and drink experiences in Santa Marta

22

Outdoor and adventure activities in Santa Marta

46

Nature and wildlife tours in Santa Marta

16

Shore excursions from Santa Marta

12

Signature experiences in Santa Marta

Go beyond Santa Marta

  1. Barranquilla · 71 km

    Monumento Ventana al Mundo

    10 hr4.4318 reviewsfrom $60
  2. Barranquilla · 71 km

    Gran Malecón

    4–5 hr4.5158 reviewsfrom $65
  3. Cartagena · 172 km

    Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario)

    7–8 hr4.714k reviewsfrom $43
  4. Cartagena · 172 km

    Old Town Cartagena

    3 hr4.88k reviewsfrom $7
  5. Oranjestad · 478 km

    Alto Vista Chapel

    4 hr4.939k reviewsfrom $40
  6. San Gil · 534 km

    Juan Curi Waterfall (Cascada de Juan Curi)

    7–8 hr4.65 reviewsfrom $121
  7. San Blas Islands · 538 km

    Isla Pelicano

    2 days4.6302 reviewsfrom $76
  8. Medellín · 577 km

    Guatapé (Pueblo de Zócalos)

    9 hr4.918k reviewsfrom $27
  9. Medellín · 577 km

    Plaza Botero

    4–6 hr4.913k reviewsfrom $13
  10. Willemstad · 588 km

    Kokomo Beach

    4 hr, 15 min4.52k reviewsfrom $52
  11. Willemstad · 588 km

    Blue Bay Beach

    2 hr4.8619 reviewsfrom $40
  12. Villa de Leyva · 628 km

    Villa de Leyva Plaza Mayor

    10–14 hr4.650 reviewsfrom $63

Questions about Santa Marta

What is there to do in Santa Marta?
We list 300 experiences in Santa Marta. The largest groups are day trips (73), city tours (19).
What are the top attractions in Santa Marta?
Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Santa Marta are Lost City (Ciudad Perdida), Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, Tayrona National Park (Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona), Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Tairona).
What is the most popular experience in Santa Marta?
By number of traveller reviews it is "Hike for 4 days to the Lost City, Santa Marta", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 3,601 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Santa Marta take?
The typical experience in Santa Marta lasts about 7 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 10 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Santa Marta?
The operator lists free cancellation on 89% of the 300 experiences we hold for Santa Marta. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

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