Santa Marta & Tayrona
★★ Santa Marta
Santa Marta, founded in 1525, is the oldest city in Colombia and the gateway to Tayrona National Park and Ciudad Perdida. The city itself is not as photogenic as Cartagena, but it has its own charm: a compact old town, the lively Paseo del Malecón by the sea, and the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino — the estate where Simón Bolívar died in 1830.
Most travelers use Santa Marta as a base for excursions. The trendy neighborhood El Rodadero has the best city beach, and the nearby Taganga (10 Min.) is a relaxed fishing village with affordable diving schools.
★★★ Parque Nacional Tayrona
Tayrona National Park is Colombia's most famous national park and one of the country's most magical landscapes: Tropical rainforest meets Caribbean beach, with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (5,775 m) towering in the background — the highest coastal mountain range in the world.
The hike to the most famous beaches — Arrecifes, La Piscina, and Cabo San Juan — takes 2–3 hours through the jungle. In Cabo San Juan, you can sleep in a hammock under palm trees right on the beach — one of the most iconic sleeping spots in South America (35,000 COP / 8€ per night).
Important: The park is closed for about 3 weeks each year (usually February) to regenerate. Swimming at some beaches (Arrecifes) is prohibited due to strong currents! It is safe at La Piscina and Cabo San Juan.
Entrance: 62,000 COP (15€, foreigners), 23,000 COP (Colombians). Camping in Cabo San Juan: 35,000 COP (hammock) or 70,000 COP (tent). From Santa Marta: Bus to El Zaino (45 Min., 5,000 COP), then shuttle or 45 Min. walk to the park entrance.
★★ Palomino
The former fishing village 2 hours east of Santa Marta has become a favorite destination for young travelers. The attraction: Tubing on the Río Palomino — floating down the river from the Sierra Nevada to the Caribbean beach on an inner tube (3–4 hours, 30,000 COP / 7€). Plus: Surfing on the expansive beach, yoga retreats, hippie vibes, and the most relaxed atmosphere on the Caribbean coast.
Achtung
Do NOT swim at beaches with red flags in Tayrona National Park! The currents at Arrecifes Bay are life-threatening — there are fatalities every year. Swimming is only safe at La Piscina and Cabo San Juan.
