Santa Marta is a hub on Colombias Caribbean coastline and is the perfect place to stay to make essential day trips far easier. Tayrona National Park, Minca and Tanganga Beach can all be accessed from here.
This blog takes you through the city of Santa Marta itself and the day trips we took from it. Explaining where we stayed to how to get there and if it is worth doing or not. The day trips include:
- Playa Blanca
- Taganga Beach
- Minca
- Tayrona National Park
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Santa Marta
Santa Marta is Colombia’s oldest surviving city, boasting colonial architecture, colourful streets, and a lively atmosphere.
Its streets are full of colour and is not short of cafes and restaurants of top quality.
What to do?
The city itself hasn’t got much to it like, a Medellin for example, so a day to wander around is plenty. There is a church to take a look at and a strip to walk on the coast but the attractions lay outside the city.
How did we get there from Bogota?
So we took a one way flight to Barranquilla, where there is a bus service from the airport to take us all the way to Santa Marta. it took a full day of travel so we were thankful for all our travel accessories. The JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds and our Flowzoom neck pillows were life savers.
Take a look at our Best Travel Accessories so you can equip yourself correctly and avoid you’re travel days turning into absolute hell.
Where did we stay?
As we arrived in Santa Marta it was late and we booked La Brisa Loca Hostel on a whim, as we entered it seemed quiet so we got ready for bed until we heard the base coming from the ceilings into the dorm. We stuck on a clean shirt and went up to check it out and it was a massive rooftop party, which was obviously where everyone was hiding. A great bar and club setting, and the hostel has a great mix of locals and travellers. Also staying there means you don’t have to venture far after last calls at the bar
Best Cafés?
We spent a lot of time in Ikaro Café drinking great coffee and planning our trips. Munchies is also a nice cafe and a popular breakfast spot.
Best Restaurants?
So we found the best restaurants aren’t necessarily on the coastal strip but along the perimeter of the Monumento Manuel Murillo Toro square. This area provides lots of different types of restaurants and serves high quality food for a decent price.
Is Santa Marta safe?
Santa Marta overall is very safe with it being a holiday hotspot for Colombian families. However it can be a little dangerous at times with drug dealers approaching you quite often so be wary not to walk around by yourself at night.
Playa blanca
Playa Blanca is not the most magnificent beach you will ever go to. Its pretty packed with the holiday goers but it does offer some fun activities like the banana boat and paragliding on the cheap.
How to get there?
To get to Playa Blanca, take a bus or taxi from Santa Marta’s Historic Centre. Once you’ve arrived at ‘El Rodadero’, stroll west to the beach, which should take no more than 10 minutes. El Rodadero is also accessible by cab (20 minutes from downtown).
Once you arrive in El Rodadero, the next step is to secure transportation to Playa Blanca. You have two options: Taxi Marino and local motor boat owners. Just be wary as a gringo you will be charged more, our general rule is whatever price the locals give you first, divide it by 3 and that would be the fair price.
Another thing to be wary of is on the way back, the local motor boat owners will leave you there stranded if you do not find them. (yes it did happen to us) So make sure to concentrate when it comes to the evening carnage of leaving the beach.
Is it worth going?
If you have a few days free in Santa Marta like we did, then it is definitely worth a visit. But our honest opinion is to not make room in your itinerary for it. It is possible we caught it on a bad day with how busy it was. If you go on a quiet day with great weather it has potential to be a very nice outing and the surrounding landscapes are far from ugly.
Taganga Beach
This was one of our favourite beaches in Colombia. It is hidden away in a little cove with breathtaking views. The restaurants and bars right on the beach are an added benefit. They make the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a Club Colombia while watching the sunset.
Moving out of Santa Marta centre
So after a while we were ready to move out of the centre of Santa Marta to a more chilled out hostel that was also better located for the day trips we had planned. We moved to Dreamer Santa Marta. Great staff and cheap dorm rooms with the pool to top it off, it was the perfect base for us to come back to after a long day out.
How to get to Taganga Beach?
The easiest way to get here is just by taxi. Pick one up on the main road or get your hostel to call one for you. There are plenty and super cheap.
What is the Scuba Diving like there?
So along with a stunning beach, Taganga also offers scuba diving! We personally did not do it here ourselves but we have a close friend who had done it and the consensus was not the best diving spot in the world but so cheap to complete your open water course its worth doing it here. Hope this helps!
Minca
Minca is a tranquil mountain village nestled in the lush Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, offering breathtaking views, cool mountain breezes, and a serene escape from the coastal heat. Known for its waterfalls, and hiking trails through dense tropical forests, Minca is heaven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
Quite a few people stay in Minca for a night but we found it easier to just head there early for a full day there. If you do stay, there is a hostel we only heard great things about; Finca Carpe Diem Ecolodge.
How to get to Minca?
The quickest method to get from Santa Marta to Minca (Station) is via taxi, which takes 22 minutes and costs $6 to $8. There is a direct bus from Santa Marta to Minca (Station). Services depart hourly and run every day and is approximately $3.
How many hikes are there to do?
So as we were only there for a day trip we only did the Marinka Waterfalls trek. Took us about 2/3 hours to complete. There are 3 more waterfall treks if you’re staying for longer:
- Pozo Azul,
- Cascada Escondida (The Hidden Waterfall In Minca)
Oído Del Mundo (Ear Of The World)
All of the treks are easily accessible by foot, if you are fed up walking in the rain then you can always take bike taxis or even jeep taxis that patrol most of the trek routes.
What is the weather like?
No matter the season, the weather in Minca is as unpredictable as any other rainforest. It rained a handful of times just in our short hike. So be sure to pack your waterproofs. Take a look at our favourite, North Face Coats to help you be prepared for days like that.
Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park, located along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is a stunning natural reserve renowned for its pristine beaches, dense jungles, and rich biodiversity. You can explore ancient archaeological sites, hike scenic trails through lush forests, and relax on secluded beaches surrounded by breathtaking coastal landscapes. This is one of our favourite National Parks due to its great 3 hour trek that was so different at every turn.
As you can see from the image above we always come prepared with our smaller backpacks for the days out. Check out our Best Travel Backpacks where we have some great smaller backpack options.
How to get to Tayrona National Park?
The cheapest and easiest way is to pick up a public bus along the main coastal road from Santa Marta or just outside of Dreamer Santa Marta if staying there. The bus is super cheap and takes you right outside the front entrance of the park.
Best way to buy tickets?
There is always the option to buy tickets online but we can’t stress enough to stay away from the tours for this National Park. The area is so rich in animals and the pathway is clear enough so you can make the adventure on your own and not miss the monkeys overhead. It is possible to buy the tickets at the door and the queues were not too bad.
How difficult is the trek?
We would class it as relatively challenging but a very rewarding hike. There are parts that are not laid out pathways or decking which is to consider. But the upside to this is that you’re wading through wild jungle, rivers, boulders and beaches.
If the walking isn’t for you, especially in a humid climate, then there are horses on offer for you to take. They didn’t look the most comfortable but they made sure they got you to the paradise setting at the end of the park.
How long to spend in the Santa Marta area?
So we spent a full 5 days in the area, 2 in the city centre and going to Playa Blanca and 3 for our day trips outside of Santa Marta. We think this is a perfect amount of time to spend here. However if you do scuba diving you will stay longer for instance.
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!