Santa Marta Municipality Travel Guide

Featured Lists

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

Santa Marta Municipality — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: January, February

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Great

29° · extremes 24°–30°
25° at night
5 rainy days
28 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
25°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in February

Great

29° · extremes 24°–30°
25° at night
5 rainy days
25 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
25°C · warm for swimming
UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in March

Good

29° (feels like 30°) · extremes 24°–31°
26° at night
9 rainy days
23 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
25°C · warm for swimming
UV index 12 · extreme

Typical weather in April

Fair

29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 25°–31°
26° at night
15 rainy days
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
26°C · warm for swimming
UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in May

Poor

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 25°–31°
26° at night
24 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
27°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in June

Poor

30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 25°–31°
26° at night
27 rainy days
11 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in July

Poor

29° (feels like 33°) · extremes 25°–31°
27° at night
26 rainy days
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
27°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in August

Poor

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 25°–31°
27° at night
28 rainy days
14 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in September

Poor

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–31°
26° at night
27 rainy days
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
29°C · warm for swimming
UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in October

Poor

29° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–30°
26° at night
29 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
29°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in November

Poor

29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 24°–30°
26° at night
23 rainy days
13 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in December

Good

29° (feels like 31°) · extremes 24°–30°
26° at night
12 rainy days
23 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
27°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: Colombian Peso COP $ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers: 123
Electricity: Type A / Type B
110 V · 60 Hz

Languages: Spanish
Tap water: Drink with caution
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +57

Learn more

Tours & Activities

Related destinations

Magdalena Department

Other Destinations

Ciénaga

Santa Marta Municipality

Featured Lists

Santa Marta Essentials

Best Beaches

Mountain Views & Peaks

Natural Wonders

Santa Marta Municipality — Map

Climate & when to visit

Typical weather in January

Typical weather in February

Typical weather in March

Typical weather in April

Typical weather in May

Typical weather in June

Typical weather in July

Typical weather in August

Typical weather in September

Typical weather in October

Typical weather in November

Typical weather in December

Practical information

Tours & Activities

Santa Marta Municipality – Plan Your Days

Related destinations

Other Destinations