There aren’t many things to do in Palomino, but that’s what gives it such a laid-back vibe; people come here to relax, watch wildlife, and enjoy the long, sunny days.
This blog shows how we navigated ourselves around Palomino. As two chaps who find it hard to sit still we managed to find Palomino extremely enjoyable.
Side note: As you can see from the image above we always come prepared with our smaller backpacks. Check out our Best Travel Backpacks where we have some great smaller backpack options.
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contents
- How to get to Palomino?
- Where to stay?
- Palomino Tubing
- Palomino Beach
- Partying?
- Best Cafés and Restaurants
- Tayrona Park
- Best time to visit Palomino?
- How long should you stay for?
How to get to Palomino?
The simplest and cheapest way to go to Palomino is via Santa Marta. If you are in the city, simply go to the local marketplace and board one of the large green buses. Because Palomino is located between Santa Marta and Riohacha, you will pass Tayrona Park on your journey. The same firm runs these buses, which can also be utilised to get to the park. The bus trip to Palomino costs roughly 9.000 COP.
If you want to learn more about Santa Marta and Tayrona park check out our Why visit Santa Marta, Colombia post.
If you are in another city on the north coast, you can reach to Palomino by taking the bus from Barranquilla to La Guajira, or the same bus from Cartagena. The prices vary depending on the season and operator, but a bus ticket from Barranquilla to La Guajira costs around 35.000 COP.
Don’t forget to check out our Best Travel Accessories to aid your mental well being on long bus days.
Where to Stay?
We have to recommend Dreamer Palomino as that is where we spent our time in Palomino and we loved it. Dreamer Palomino provides a relaxing ambiance in a lovely setting with unique natural characteristics. The hostel is located on one of the coast’s most beautiful beaches, which also features two swimmable rivers that come from the Sierra Nevada.
The hostel is busy full of backpackers that are looking for a good time. The food is also great there if you fancy just chilling at the hostel and it’s definitely a fair price. Book your stay here.
There are lots of great hostels in Palomino now and we visited lots of them during out stay. Some other great recommendations are:
Bella Flor Hostel – The ideal location for digital nomads, globe travellers, and families looking for relaxed Colombian vibes, just a 10-minute stroll from the beach.
Tiki Hut Hostel – Offers a collection of cabins built with natural materials such as boba cane and guadua produced in the area to conserve the environment, while also having all the comforts of home, welcomed by locals.
palomino Tubing
Tubing, which involves sitting in an inflated tube and floating down a river, is one of the most enjoyable activities in Palomino. It’s the ideal way to unwind with friends while slowly flowing down the river till it joins with the sea. Because the current on this stretch of the coast is strong, tubing on the River Palomino is an excellent option.
How to do it?
Book a tube tour in town or even in your hostel, and they will pick you up from your hostel and leave you out along the river. The climb to the water takes around 30 minutes from here. Oh you will have to carry your own tube which wasn’t clear to us during the booking part but it’s not too heavy we promise. Once inside the tube, you’ll float around for 2.5 hours until you reach the finish. When you’re done, you can walk or take a motorbike taxi back to the village.
Side note: Inquire with the staff at your accommodations about the current water level; if it is shallow, tubing will be impossible or exceedingly slow.
What to bring?
All you’ll need is sunscreen and a waterproof bag to keep your valuables safe (or leave them in your accommodation). A waterproof bag is perfect for a speaker mind. If you can be a hero and you can carry them, take a pack of beers with you to enjoy on the way. Why not.
palomino Beach
One of the most popular things to do in Palomino is to relax on the several beaches. Playa Palomino (Palomino Beach) is the most popular. On a palm-fringed beach, you’ll discover little beach shacks serving freshly squeezed fruit juice.
Is it safe to swim?
So the Palomino coastline can be pretty unpredictable and it is relatively unsafe. There are coast guards on site (usually) for emergencies so we advise swimming with plenty of people around and double check with locals if it is safe. Definitely not a place to go skinny dipping after a few Club Colombias.
Surfing
Palomino Beach is located between two rivers: Rio Palomino and Rio San Salvador. Yet, if you cross the river, you’ll come to a gorgeous beach with palm trees that is less affected by the ocean. Surfing lessons are also promoted around the beaches, which can be a fun activity when the tide is appropriate!
Partying?
So partying in Palomino is very peculiar. Hostels offer cheap beer and the occasional boogie until about midnight. During that stage the word gets around about which venue will be hosting an ‘after party’. Where the group at your hostel or wherever you are will then go to. This all seems a little strange but it’s a lot simpler than you think.
While we were there a venue or even great big houses would offer and host a big party for everyone with paid entry and pay at the bar. These parties are awesome and full of travellers, made even better if you like techno.
Best CAFÉS AND restaurants
Palomino has many excellent dining options; it’s a foodie’s dream! Calle 6 is particularly rich in magnificent eateries with sophisticated décor. They’re all great spots to get a drink, eat some cuisine, and listen to live music. If you’re a leaf lover, Palomino also offers many vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
A few of our favourites were:
Tayrona National Park
If have not done already and you find yourself staying in Palomino then visiting Tayrona National Park is a must do.
How to get there from Palomino?
Visit on a day excursion by catching the bus from Palomino (to Santa Marta) via Carrera 6a/7a. Tickets will cost approximately $2 per ticket (ask the bus driver to stop at Tayrona).
For more information about Tayrona, check out our Why Visit Santa Marta, Colombia post. Where we take you through the details of the park and what you can get up to.
Best time to visit Palomino?
Palomino’s best weather occurs between December and March. This is the dry season, so expect very little rain. However, the dry season brings low water levels, preventing you from doing some of the best activities to do in Palomino, such as tubing. It’s also peak season, which means more expensive accommodations and crowded beaches.
Instead, we recommend visiting during April/May or October/November. There is a higher risk of rain, but there will be less people and more reasonably priced accommodations. During these times, you may also notice that Tayrona National Park is less busy.
With the risk of rain make sure you pack for every weather condition. Take a look at our Best Travel Clothing for some cracking recommendations!
How long should you stay for?
So we would say a solid 3/4 days in Palomino should suffice and you will be well and truly relaxed, ready for the next part of your trip. This can change however based upon your trip and how much time you have. Everything can be done in 2 days but it’s nice to get that relaxing part in!
As a party place it is nice to be there on the weekend for example but as with hostels all over, there is something going on most nights here.
If planning to travel Colombia for a decent amount of time, take a peak at Our Colombia 6 Week Itinerary.
Also make sure to keep up to date with all our Colombia blog posts here.
Hope you found this helpful and don’t be afraid to leave a comment or email us with any questions!