Santa Marta Municipality

City · Magdalena Department, 🇨🇴 Colombia

Area 2,358 km²

Time zone America/Bogota

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Featured Lists

Juan Pablo / CC BY-SA 3.0

Santa Marta Essentials

Santa Marta combines the oldest colonial architecture in South America with the biodiversity of the Sierra Nevada mountains and Tayrona National Natural Park. This selection features the 18th-century cathedral and the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the estate where Simón Bolívar died in 1830. It includes the archaeological ruins of Ciudad Perdida and El Pueblito, alongside Caribbean beaches like Cabo San Juan and La Piscina, known for their natural rock barriers and clear waters.

12 places

Ben Bowes / CC BY 2.0

Best Beaches

Santa Marta’s coastline spans from the high-rise resorts of El Rodadero to the protected ecosystems of Tayrona National Natural Park. This selection includes calm swimming spots sheltered by natural coral reefs, such as La Piscina and Bahia Concha, alongside wilder stretches like Playa Brava. Visitors can access these locations via hiking trails through tropical dry forests, boat shuttles from Taganga, or direct road access to the southern hotel districts of Bello Horizonte.

12 places

Gunjarinmaku / CC BY-SA 4.0

Mountain Views & Peaks

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the world's highest coastal mountain range, rising from the Caribbean Sea to glacial summits exceeding 5,700 meters. This selection includes the twin peaks of Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar, alongside accessible high-altitude viewpoints like Cerro Kennedy. These locations offer a unique geographical transition, providing vistas that span from tropical jungle and the Tayrona coastline to the permanent snowfields of Colombia's interior.

11 places

Natural Wonders

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta contains a unique range of ecosystems, transitioning from the coral reefs of the Caribbean coast to the glaciers of Colombia's highest peaks. This collection highlights the region's hydrological diversity, featuring the multi-tiered waterfalls of Minca, high-altitude alpine lakes like Laguna Río Frio, and the receding glaciers of Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar. These sites showcase the specialized flora of the paramo and the tropical biodiversity of the Magdalena department.

14 places