Discover Santa Marta 2026

The national park combines dense jungle directly with palm-lined dream beaches and turquoise Caribbean water, framed by the peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the background, and can be explored on foot via hiking trails or by boat from Taganga.

As the oldest still-existing Spanish city in South America, Santa Marta captivates with colorful colonial buildings, the cathedral where Simón Bolívar was originally buried, and a lively beachfront promenade right on the bay.

The Lost City of the Tayrona culture lies deep hidden in the jungle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and is reachable only via a multi-day, demanding hike through rainforest and river crossings, with impressive stone terraces as a reward.

Santa Marta's most popular city beach offers calm water, numerous restaurants right on the sand and good tourist infrastructure, and serves many travelers as a comfortable base for excursions into the nearby Tayrona park.

Simón Bolívar Airport is located about 16 kilometers south of the city and is served by several Colombian cities as well as seasonal direct international flights. From Cartagena, Santa Marta is also reachable in about four hours by car along the Caribbean coast.

The national park combines dense jungle directly with palm-lined dream beaches and turquoise Caribbean water, framed by the peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the background, and can be explored on foot via hiking trails or by boat from Taganga.

As the oldest still-existing Spanish city in South America, Santa Marta captivates with colorful colonial buildings, the cathedral where Simón Bolívar was originally buried, and a lively beachfront promenade right on the bay.

The Lost City of the Tayrona culture lies deep hidden in the jungle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and is reachable only via a multi-day, demanding hike through rainforest and river crossings, with impressive stone terraces as a reward.