Our most recommended things to do in Santa Marta

Santa Marta: Tayrona Park Private Hike to Cabo San Juan

1. Santa Marta: Tayrona Park Private Hike to Cabo San Juan

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tayrona National Natural Park during this full-day walking trip. Discover lush forests, stroll along pristine beaches, admire Playa Cabo de San Juan, and savor a traditional Caribbean meal (not included). Explore Tayrona National Natural Park during this private full-day hiking tour. Inhale the fragrance of sun-drenched nature as you observe fauna which have made this paradise their home. Experience one of the world's most beautiful beaches and enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine. Wander about this natural haven on the Caribbean coast, northeast of Santa Marta, one of South America’s oldest cities. Luxuriate in the golden sunshine as you take in lush flora set against the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Hike along the coast from Cañaveral, pause at the boulder-strewn Playa Arrecife known for its powerful currents, and continue on to La Piscina. Enclosed with rocks, and mild and shallow, this pool is ideal for swimmers of varying skill levels. Playa Brava sits off the beaten path, a secluded beach nestled amid lush vegetation. Tranquil and serene, it is quieter compared to the highly popular Cabo de San Juan beach. To sunbathe on white sands and snorkel in clear water, walk to Playa Cristal and nibble on grilled seafood as well. Playa Cabo de San Juan, a verdant paradise, is the park’s main attraction. Giant palms wave along the shore and massive boulders rise out of the water. Swim and settle down to a traditional Caribbean lunch afterwards. Sunbathe in the golden sunshine and end your day on a glittering high.

Santa Marta: Multi-Day Trek to The Lost City

2. Santa Marta: Multi-Day Trek to The Lost City

Embrace your inner explorer with a multi-day trek through the jungle from Santa Marta to the Lost City. Follow an experienced professional guide through the Colombian jungle, learning about the flora and fauna as you go. Encounter the archaeological site of an ancient city in Santa Marta's Sierra Nevada, believed to have been founded around 800 CE, some 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu. Choose between a 4,5 or 6-day trek. See a series of 169 terraces carved into the mountainside, a network of tiled roads, and several small circular plazas. Access the entrance by climbing up 1,200 stone steps through dense jungle. 4 or 5-Day Trek Day 1 - The adventure to the Lost City starts around 9:30 AM with a 3-hour drive by 4WD to El Mamey, a place where you will have lunch and begin the trek in search for the sacred place of the Tayronas. The first day will consist of a smooth walk of about 4 hours (approximately 7.6 km). Stop at the Lookout Las Tres Cruces for a snack and taste delicious fruits. Relax at some natural pools and waterfalls to refresh before arriving at the first camp in the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay. Day 2 - The day begins with a nice breakfast early in the morning, before you start to walk towards the Wiwa camp. This is located by the riverside of Buritaca River, where you can enjoy a refreshing bath, rest and have lunch. From there, follow the adventure into the jungle where you will find plenty of houses that form part of a Kogui indigenous village called Mutanyi. Continue the trek until reaching the camp where you will rest for the second day. The whole trek consists of about 7 hours or 14.7 KM, mostly uphill with some downhill while enjoying the rich biodiversity of the place. Dinner and overnight. Day 3 - Very early in the day you will be served breakfast before starting the trek towards the highlight of the trip. Climb up 1,200 steps in a trail constructed by Tayrona people to reach the stunning Lost City, surrounded by a deep, vast and mythical jungle. Your guide will show you everything related to this magical place full of relics and ancestral stories and you can spend the morning enjoying the landscapes & taking pictures. Finally, you will start trekking back to the same camp that you left in the morning. Have lunch before continuing towards the Wiwa camp where you will spend the night. Again, this will be around a 7 hours day trek but only with 6 KM of uphill and downhill tracks. Dinner and overnight. Day 4 - You will have an early breakfast before beginning the 2-hour walk towards the camp where you spent the first night. When arriving, the group will be divided between the people who are doing the 4 or 5-day tour. For the people who are on the last day, you will have a short rest accompanied by fruit and water before continuing the trekking for another 4-hours until reaching El Mamey where you will have lunch and hop in a 4 WD jeep that will take you back to Santa Marta. For the people who decided on the 5-day tour, you will be served lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the camp where you can observe the views, relax and interact with others before spending the night. Dinner and overnight. Day 5 - The last day begins with the breakfast before walking to El Mamey, place where you will have lunch and the 4 WD jeep will take you back to Santa Marta. 6-Day Trek Day 1 - The adventure to the Lost City starts around 9:30 where a 4 WD jeep will take you on a 3-hour drive to El Mamey, a place where you will have lunch and begin the trek in search for the sacred place of the Tayronas. The first day will consist of a smooth walk of about 4 hours walking for 7.6 KM where we will stop at the Lookout Las Tres Cruces to have a snack and taste delicious fruits and at some natural pools & waterfalls to relax and refresh before arriving at the first camp in the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight. Day 2 - The day begins with a nice breakfast early in the morning, before you start to walk towards a indigenous reserve where you will have the opportunity to learn about the Wiwas & Koguis cultures. You will spend the day in the second camp enjoying the river and the cultural exchange. The whole trek consists of only 3 hours in relatively smooth terrain. Dinner and overnight. Day 3 - You will begin the descent towards the Buritaca river valley after breakfast, where during the tour, you will find some indigenous housing that forms a small community known as the Mutanyi. From there, you will continue on the path to the next camp. In that journey, enjoy a bath in one of the rivers, learn about the flora and fauna and have some breaks to rest up. The whole trek consists of 5 hours, with some ups and downs. At night enjoy stories and adventures narrated by the guides in the camp. Dinner and overnight. Day 4 - Very early in the day, you will be served breakfast before starting the trek towards the highlight of the trip. You will climb up 1,200 steps in a trail constructed by Tayrona people to reach the stunning Lost City, surrounded by a deep, vast and mythical jungle. Your guide will show you everything related to this magical place full of relics and ancestral stories and you can spend the morning enjoying the landscapes & taking pictures. Finally, you will start trekking back to the same camp left in the morning to have lunch to continue towards the camp where you will spend the night. This will be around a 7 hours day trek but only with 6 KM of uphill and downhill tracks. Dinner and overnight.  Day 5 - After breakfast, begin the journey towards Santa Marta. This will be a 2-hour trek to the camp where you will be served lunch and spend the rest of the day chilling at the as you observe the views, relax and interact with others before spending the night. Dinner and overnight.  Day 6 - The last day begins with the breakfast before walking to El Mamey, place where we will have lunch and the 4 WD jeep will take you back to Santa Marta.

Santa Marta: Sunset Sailing in the bay

3. Santa Marta: Sunset Sailing in the bay

We will meet you at 4:50pm at our meeting point and escort you into the marina. Once we situate you on the boat and give the safety instructions we will depart at 5:00pm. For 1 hour we will sail around the bay of Santa Marta, depending on weather conditions we may hopefully be able to open sails, otherwise will use the motor. Then, we will anchor in the bay for another hour to enjoy the beautiful sunset from the water. You will also get to experience the gorgeous night time view of Santa Marta. We will return to the marina by approximately 7:30pm, where the tour ends. On board we supply water, soda & ice, and we have cups and a cooler if you would like to bring aboard your own drinks. We also provide a speaker with bluetooth connection and can offer recommendations of surrounding restuarants for your evening. If you are unable to meet at the meeting point & require a pick up from your hotel, you can get in contact with us. This will come at an additional cost, which is variable depending on distance.

Palomino: Palomino River Tubing and Hiking Tour

4. Palomino: Palomino River Tubing and Hiking Tour

Part of the joyful energy you easily find in Palomino is due to the great amount of adventure and nature-ish activities and plans that you can do there. By being near the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and with the Caribbean Sea just in front, most of the must-do things here will include adrenaline and contact with nature. If you enjoy living the best out of every place, trust us: this tour is perfect for you. In this tour a guide will pick you up in a motorbike, which will be your transport for a part of the tour. Then, you will do a hike of 40 minutes across the surrounding forest of Palomino. There, the guide will give you a short lesson of flora and fauna of the area. And if you are lucky, and the sky is clear enough you’ll be able to see the two most important peaks of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: Simon Bolivar and Colon peaks. Once ready you will take your floating tires and life jackets downstream the Palomino River. There will be a part of rapids in this route, but you will also enjoy going down the river among nature. Finally, you will get to the Palomino River mouth, the exact place where it meets the Caribbean Sea. Give yourself the chance of doing something new and try this.

Minca: Full-Day Coffee and Cocoa Tour from Santa Marta

5. Minca: Full-Day Coffee and Cocoa Tour from Santa Marta

From Santa Marta, embark on a 45-minute drive through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to find the small town of Minca. In the company of a local guide, take a 2.5-hour nature walk passing waterfalls, natural swimming pools, and scenic views of the surrounding mountains.  The walk ends at a coffee farm, where you will learn about the coffee production process and it’s importance to Colombia’s culture. Enter a bamboo house where you will enjoy a gourmet lunch before learning about cocoa, its production, and derivatives.   At the end of the tour, return transfers will be provided to your hotel in Santa Marta.

From Santa Marta: 4-Day Lost City Discovery Tour

6. From Santa Marta: 4-Day Lost City Discovery Tour

Day 1: After being picked up from your Santa Marta hotel at 9:30AM, you will travel by car for approximately 2.5 hours to the region of Mamey, where lunch will take place. After lunch, you will begin walking at approximately 3:00PM until you reach the first station, known in the region with the names of "Cabañas de Adam". Here you can enjoy the Honduras Creek, which is a beautiful natural pool. Dinner will be served later on at 6:30PM, and your bedrooms for the first day will consist of hammocks with mosquito nets. Day 2: After breakfast at 7:00AM, you will depart at 8:00AM and begin a hike which will last for approximately 14.7 kilometers before you arrive at the second station: "Cabaña de Romualdo", home of the respected Mamo Indígina. In this same place you can enjoy the fabulous waters of the Buritaca River, with dinner being served at 6:00PM. Whilst here your guide will provide information regarding the indigenous culture, and your bedrooms for this day will be in beds or hammocks with mosquito nets. Day 3: This morning, you will leave from the "Cabaña de Rumualdo" and depart to the lost city, where an explanation tour and photographs will made over a period of 3 hours. From the lost city you will return to the "Cabaña de Gabriel" over a 7.6-kilometer journey. Once having arrived, you will partake in recreational activities, before dinner will be served before spending the night. Day 4: You will leave from the "Cabaña de Gabriel" to the town of Mamey over a route of 15.6 kilometers, which will take approximately 6 hours. Once having arrived at the town of Mamey, you will return to Santa Marta with an arrival time of around 5:00PM.

Santa Marta: Cristal Beach Day-Trip

7. Santa Marta: Cristal Beach Day-Trip

After being collected from your Santa Marta accommodation, you will travel for 15 minutes by vehicle to the Neguanje sector and enter an area of the Tayrona park (nature reserve). Once here you will be able to enjoy a spectacular sun day, before you board a boat for an 8-minute journey by the beautiful beaches of the Colombian Caribbean. You can then walk while enjoying an excellent view of the 7-wave viewpoint. Cristal Beach, also called Calm Beach, is the perfect setting for snorkeling and diving. Thanks to its beautiful clear, calm waters and white sands that allow it visitors to snorkel easily. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful and paradisaical beaches in Colombia, and is not to be missed when traveling through this area. Cristal Beach is located in a bay alongside many other small beaches. The water in these beaches, unlike the rest of the park, is very calm, and you will also find plains of unexploited, natural salt. There is also a small camping area, which is a spectacular alternative for accommodation and very different from the other sites that are close by.

Diving Santa Marta & Tayrona for Certified Divers (2 tanks)

8. Diving Santa Marta & Tayrona for Certified Divers (2 tanks)

Experience the best Diving in Santa Marta with the #1 P.A.D.I. Dive Center Scuba Carolina. For certified divers, Scuba Carolina offers 2 tank dives in Tayrona Park and the local area. Our equipment is all new and maintained in pristine condition. Packages are available on request for regular divers. Take a look at the many dive sites in and around Parque Tayrona. For large groups of mu certified divers special sites are also available. 

Santa Marta and Tayrona Park Day Trip

9. Santa Marta and Tayrona Park Day Trip

Our tour begins picking you up at your hotels to start our wonderful trip to the city of Santa Marta, where we will offer you a light breakfast to start our tour to the Tayrona Park we will receive a talk about the conservation of the environment; You will also have the visit to the viewpoint Playa Siete Olas, the entrance to Playa Neguanje and transportation by boat to Playa Cristal. Lunch will be typical with fish, patacón, rice with coconut and salad, with a choice of grilled chicken or beef. You will always have the guide accompanying you throughout the activity. We will return to Cartagena at approximately 4:00 pm to arrive at the hotels at 9:00 pm. Departures are on Tuesdays and Fridays

From Santa Marta: Ciudad Perdida 4-day Trek

10. From Santa Marta: Ciudad Perdida 4-day Trek

Explore the scenic backcountry of Colombia on this 4-day trek to the legendary Ciudad Perdida hidden deep in the jungle. On this adventure hike, you'll pass through the beautiful hinterlands, unspoiled waterfalls, and majestic rivers, eventually reaching this amazing archaeological site. Depending on the length of the trek you choose, you’ll have time to visit some local indigenous villages along the way, swim in natural pools. You'll be camping each night in the lush wilderness of the Colombian Jungle.  Itinerary Day 1: Santa Marta – Mamey – 1st Camp (Lunch, Dinner) Your first day begins meeting between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM to start a 3-hour road trip to a small town called El Mamey. There, you’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant serving typical Colombian food. After lunch, the first trek begins. You'll have a 4-hour hike to the first campsite. When you reach the camp, you will have dinner and then the whole night to rest from your long day of trekking. Day 2: 1st Camp – Mutanzi – 3rd Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Wake up early and eat a quick breakfast before departing around 6 AM for a 2-hour trek to an indigenous village called Mutanzi. You will then walk for about 40 minutes from Mutanzi to the 2nd campsite where a delicious lunch will be served. Finally, rest for a while and get ready for one last 4-hour trek to the 3rd camp where you will dine and rest for the night. Day 3: 3rd Camp – Ciudad Perdida – 2nd Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) After breakfast, leave camp around 6AM and hike to Ciudad Perdida, which you’ll reach around 7 AM. You'll enter by climbing 1200 stone stairs, and will have two hours to explore the ancient city set in the dense jungle. Your guide will give you a quick tour and be present to answer all of your questions. Afterwards, return to the 3rd campsite where you’ll have lunch and will be able to rest for a while. In the afternoon, get ready for a 4-hour trek back to the 2nd camp, where you’ll have dinner and stay for the night. Day 4: 2nd Camp – Mamey – Santa Marta (Breakfast, Lunch) After breakfast, the longest hike will take place. You will trek for 7-hours (mostly downhill) to El Mamey, where you’ll have lunch, as on Day 1. Your guide will then take you back to your hotel in Santa Marta where you'll arrive mid-afternoon.

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What people are saying about Santa Marta

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 42 reviews

Outstanding experience! Great experience! Definitely recommended! Nevertheless, you have to note 1-2 things that are not necessarily clear! You have to be in good physical condition, it's more exhausting than it may seem at first. In addition, in the rainy season, the paths are very bad, you actually need rubber boots with a lot of profile, a lot and deep mud, it is very slippery, trekking poles are also recommended. Still a great tour!

Unforgettable experience! Difficult but what a joy when you're done!! To do at least once in your life! A friendly team, the guide Carlos who knows his region well, a translator (Julio César), the only one who speaks English/French who helps you get through difficult places, a cook who follows you and prepares the meals. And participants who get to know each other throughout these 4 days! I recommend!

Really well organised and coordinated, excellent and experienced guides, great food and a heap of fun. The hike is harder than I thought & I suffered with some heat exhaustion slowing me down a bit. With no judgement and a whole lot of care, we all got there. So well worth it!

Cesar was very knowledgeable about everything..the indigenous population, the plants, and the animals. We learned a lot on the trip, got a good hike in, and got to enjoy the beach and ate lunch on the beach

Fantastic experience! Breathtaking beauty. Our guide was super.