20 Fun Things to Do In Santa Marta, Colombia
Snorkeling, hiking, surfing, zip-lining, and more! There are so many fun things to do on Colombia’s beautiful Caribbean Coast.
The city of Santa Marta is one of Colombia’s most stunning coastal cities. With mountains, beaches, rivers, and waterfalls, this unique region has something for everyone.
In fact, Santa Marta is known as “la perla de América” (the pearl of America) for its stunning white-sand beaches and the beautiful pearls the Spanish conquerors found inside oysters on the ocean floor.
If you’re planning a trip to Colombia, Santa Marta is one of the must-see destinations that will take your trip from great to absolutely unforgettable.
What to Do and See In Santa Marta, Colombia
After living in Santa Marta for a little over two years, I recommend staying in this beautiful city for at least 4 days. Here are a few of my favorite things to do and see in Santa Marta:
#1 Go to the Beach!
Take your pick of Santa Marta’s incredibly beautiful beaches. For calm, warm waters and a skyscraper backdrop, try Rodadero Beach. For a more spacious beach with fewer people (and the same calm bay experience), try Bello Horizonte or Pozos Colorados. If you want to spot dolphins in the morning, hike to Inca Inca Beach. If you prefer to be completely surrounded by lush, green mountains for a nature-centric experience, you’ll love Bahia Concha.
#2 Zip Line over Playa Blanca
This is a must-do for adventurers and adrenaline junkies. Start at Rodadero Beach and take a boat ride to the aquarium. From there, you’ll hike up to your zip line starting point. At the top of the tower, you’ll get an incredible view of beautiful Playa Blanca. Then, you’ll harness in and take that daring jump off the platform—and fly through the sky across the turquoise Caribbean sea.
Hang out for a bit at beautiful Playa Blanca afterwards and have lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach! We booked with Canopy Playa Blanca via WhatsApp for just 50,000 COP ($13.60 USD).
#3 Visit the Rodadero Aquarium
With an impressive dolphin show, an underwater tunnel, and a wide variety of marine species to observe, the Rodadero Aquarium has it all. Visiting this marine life center is a fun activity the whole family will love.
You can visit the Rodadero Aquarium and zip line over Playa Blanca on the same day—in fact, I recommend going to the aquarium early in the morning, zip-lining afterward, and then spending the afternoon at the beach.
For an even more exciting adventure, you can swim with the dolphins at the aquarium!
#4 See the Waterfalls in Minca
Minca is a cute little town situated in the heart of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada mountains, about 40 minutes from the center of the city by car or bus. Minca is known for its cute ecolodges, coffee plantations, and hidden waterfalls. Visiting this laid-back town is a fun escape from the hot weather (and chaos) of Santa Marta.
The most popular waterfall in Minca is Pozo Azul, which is free to visit and just a 20-minute walk from the trailhead. The Marinka Waterfall is taller and more hidden, and it’s a longer hike to get there. Oído del Mundo is another beautiful waterfall you can hike to. (This tour takes you to both the Marinka and Oído del Mundo waterfalls.)
Pro tip! When you visit Minca, make sure to stop at this roadside bakery to try their chocolate-filled bread rolls. They’re incredible.
#5 Snorkel in Bahia Concha
Santa Marta’s warm Caribbean water is perfect for swimming, jet skiing, and snorkeling! Since Bahia Concha is a cleaner, secluded beach without buildings or neighborhoods nearby, it’s a great place to see corals, sea urchins, and colorful fish. You can find cheap day trips to Bahia Concha that include snorkeling from the beach vendors at Rodadero Beach, or try a tour like this one.
Want to scuba dive? There’s also a ton of amazing places to scuba dive in Santa Marta!
#6 Bike Along La Bahia
If you’re really adventurous, you can rent bikes and ride through the historic city center. But let me warn you, this is not a relaxing beach cruiser experience. You’ll have to share the street with cars and motorcycles while swerving around pedestrians, potholes, and puddles.
For a safer, calmer route, ride along La Bahia, where there’s a wider (though typically very crowded) sidewalk. It will definitely be a memorable experience.
#7 Walk Around the Historic City Center
You can also explore Santa Marta’s historic city center on foot. Santa Marta is the second-oldest city in all of South America—and the oldest in Colombia. Historians say it was founded in 1525 by a Spanish conquistador named Rodrigo de Bastidas.
In the city center, you’ll find colonial architecture and colorful antique buildings. Make sure you:
Stop by Parque de Novios: a very popular square that’s brimming with people, music, and events.
Get a limonada de coco (coconut limeade) at La Cocoteria.
Visit La Bahia to take your picture next to the colorful “Santa Marta” letters with the ocean as your backdrop.
If you’re looking for nightlife, the center is where it’s at. Dance the night away to the rhythms of champeta, salsa, African music, and reggaeton. La Brisa Loca, La Puerta, and almost anywhere near Parque de Novios after 9pm are popular spots.
#8 Party on a Chiva Rumbera
For a true Colombian fiesta experience, hop on a chiva rumbera: Santa Marta’s wild party buses. These doorless, colorful buses blast music all night long as they tour you around the city. They’re packed with people dancing and partying; they’re a very popular tourist attraction. You can book a chiva rumbera here or on the beach at Rodadero. Dance the night away, but please don’t fall off the bus.
#9 Hike in Taganga
One of Santa Marta’s most beautiful areas (in my humble opinion) is Taganga, a neighboring fisherman’s town with a beautiful bay surrounded by lush, green mountains. While this beach isn’t great for sunbathing (it’s filled with fishing boats, ropes, and rough sand), it has great beachside restaurants with amazing views.
And, it’s a fantastic place to hike. Just start here next to Hotel Bahia Taganga—you’ll find an unmarked trail (one that begins with a few large steps made out of cement-filled old tires). The trail will take you up a dusty path on the mountainside along the bay and through several other smaller beaches.
This is one of my favorite hikes in all of Santa Marta—Taganga is absolutely stunning. You can stop and swim at the beaches along the way (Playa Grande is a popular one), or keep hiking until you reach Playa Sisiguaca. This little beach is my favorite place to snorkel. It’s got an incredible backdrop, and cute little black-and-yellow striped fish that come right up to you.
#10 Hike to Inca Inca Beach
Another fun hike (yet more challenging) is Inca Inca. Starting here in Rodadero, you’ll hike mostly uphill until you reach the top of a small coastal mountain. From the top, you get an amazing view of the ocean and Rodadero’s Pelican Island.
From there, you’ll descend to Inca Inca beach, a secluded little beach that’s close to the aquarium. In fact, it’s here that the dolphin marine caretakers release the dolphins to play in the open ocean. If you come in the morning, you might see them jumping out of the water and showing off their tricks, not too far from the shore.
Things to Do NEAR Santa Marta, Colombia
#1 Visit Parque Taryona
This is a must-do when you travel to Santa Marta. Parque Tayrona is home to Santa Marta’s most beautiful and impressive beaches. To get to the most famous beach, Cabo San Juan, you’ll hike two hours through the jungle (keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, and toucans).
You’ll pass a few other beautiful beaches along the way, but Cabo San Juan is the real prize: two beautiful, sandy bays with turquoise water surrounded by smooth rocks and palm trees.
Enjoy some time at the beach, have a snack, and prepare yourself for the 2-hour hike back. If you don’t like hiking, you can also ride a horse to the famous Cabo San Juan beach. To visit Parque Tayrona from Santa Marta, you can book a day tour like this one, or take an Uber or taxi to the park entrance (about 45-60 minutes from the city).
You can also adventure on your own and take the green-and-white bus from the Mercado Central in the city center (about $3 each way), then hop off near the entrance, and buy your ticket at the gate for around 25$.
#2 Visit the Shakira Statue in Barranquilla
Barranquilla, the city where the famous singer Shakira is from, is just 2 hours (by car) from Santa Marta. Here, you can take your picture next to the Shakira statue, walk along the famous Malecón along the Magdalena River, take a ride on the Ferris wheel, and shop at the ginormous Buenavista shopping center.
#3 Celebrate Carnival in Barranquilla (February Only)
If you’re in Colombia in early February and want to experience a truly wild cultural event, Barranquilla’s Carnival celebration will blow your mind. This event is the 2nd largest carnival in the world, and it was even declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Thousands of people come to watch a huge parade with dancers in colorful and unique costumes, huge floats with music and singers, and a lot of chaos. Parade-watchers come dressed up and bring cornstarch and foam shooters to throw on friends and bystanders alike. For four days, the streets of Barranquilla are filled with street parties, music, and fun.
The saying you’ll hear again and again during Barranquilla’s Carnival is “quien lo vive es quien lo goza,” which means, the one who lives it, enjoys it. It’s the carpe diem of Colombia. Come prepared to go with the flow and party like a true currambero.
#4 Take a Day Trip to Cartagena
If you have time, you’ll definitely want to visit Cartagena. It’s about a four-hour drive from Santa Marta (2 hours from Barranquilla).
This beautiful colonial city has a walled city center that’s one of the most well-preserved fortifications in all of South America. In colonial times, it defended the city from pirate attacks; today, it adds an absolutely enchanting historic touch to beautiful Cartagena.
Cartagena’s colorful streets are bursting with life. Walk around, visit a bull ring that was converted into a shopping mall, and tour a 17th-century castle. If you stay for a few days, visit the beautiful Rosario Islands and swim in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters.
#5 Surf in Palomino
Now, the truth is, the surf in Palomino is not great. This is no Bali or North Shore. But, it’s the best the Colombian Carribean coast has got. And, it’s always fun to catch a few waves in the warm waters. You can rent a board from the surf shacks right on the beach.
Palomino is a little town that’s very popular among backpackers and tourists. It has a very rustic, hippy vibe. If you like that, you’ll love Palomino.
#6 Tube Down the Palomino River
Another popular activity to do in Palomino is tubing down the Palomino River. You can book a tubing excursion from any of the little shacks along the main street to the beach in Palomino (or, book a tour like this one if you’re starting directly from Santa Marta).
Your “tour guide” will hand you a big, black, inflatable tube and take you on the back of their motorcycle up a bumpy, uphill, dirt road to the starting point (yes, you’ll be carrying your tube in one arm and holding on for dear life with the other).
But don’t worry, after that adrenaline rush, you’ll hop into your tube and float down a relaxing, lazy river until you reach the ocean. It’s memorable, fun, and relaxing (well, at least the second half of the experience).
#7 See the Flamingos in Camarones
North of Palomino, you’ll find a small little town called Camarones. Here, there’s a protected flamingo sanctuary where you can see these beautiful birds in their natural habitat.
You’ll take an artesanal boat through the shallow lagoon to find dozens of bright pink flamingos. While you won’t be able to see them super up-close (since this is a protected nature reserve), you will be able to observe and learn about their natural habitat.
Since this little town is out of the way, I highly recommend booking a tour for this experience or renting a car to get here. (I went on my own and ended up hitchhiking back to Palomino, which I do NOT recommend.)
#8 Visit Rio Piedras
Santa Marta has beautiful rivers that snake through the green jungle. Locals love swimming and hanging out at the river, especially on holidays and weekends. We would spend Saturdays at the river with our friends, enjoying the cool water and of course, sancocho—a traditional Colombian soup. Rio Piedras is our favorite; there are multiple river banks where you can picnic and relax, and there’s even a hidden swing somewhere along the river.
#9 Hike to Pozo Encantado
Another fun hike near Santa Marta is Pozo Encantado. This short hike has a very welcoming and mostly-flat trail that’s easy to follow and leads to a beautiful little lake. From this starting point on the side of the highway, it took us about an hour to make it to the lake, where we swam, jumped off some rocks into the lake, and hung out for a bit.
#10 Trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
If you like backpacking, you’ll definitely want to do the trek to Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City. This is a 3-4 day hiking tour through indigenous land to an ancient city hidden in the Colombian jungle. Some have even called it the Machu Picchu of Colombia!
This trek is about a 30 to 40-mile round-trip hike with a few significant uphill stretches through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Come prepared for an adventure; this is no easy experience, especially since the climate in this region is almost always hot and humid.
You can book through different tour providers in the center of Santa Marta, or try this popular tour on GetYourGuide.com.
Santa Marta Is Waiting.
Santa Marta is an incredible Colombian destination with so many fun things to do. You’ll have an unforgettable trip to this unique coastal city; just make sure you follow my tips for staying safe in Colombia!
For my complete guide of foods you must try on the Colombian Caribbean coast, check out this post here.