Santa Marta Travel Guide 2026: Tayrona, Minca & Prices

Jungle meets the sea: golden beaches between giant boulders, monkeys in the trees and hikes to Cabo San Juan and Pueblito (an old Tayrona village). Many beaches are not safe for swimming because of strong currents; Cabo San Juan and La Piscina are the safest.

Price: about COP 65,000 (low season) to COP 73,500 (high season) for foreigners, including insurance · Closures: the park closes three times a year (usually 1–15 February, 1–15 June and late October to early November) for environmental and spiritual rest; check before you go · Tip: arrive at the El Zaino entrance at opening (8:00).

A small village in the mountains, 45 minutes from Santa Marta, with coffee farms, waterfalls (Pozo Azul, Marinka), birdwatching and hammocks with views of the sea.

Price: coffee farm tours about COP 30,000–60,000 · Getting there: colectivo from the Mercado area, about COP 10,000–15,000.

A 4 to 5 day jungle trek (about 47 km) to the ancient Tayrona city, built around 800 AD and rediscovered in the 1970s. You climb about 1,200 stone steps to reach its terraces in the forest. Only licensed operators can take you.

Price: about COP 2,000,000–2,800,000 all-inclusive · Tip: go in the dry season and bring quick-dry clothes.

The hacienda where Simón Bolívar spent his last days and died in 1830, with a museum, the Altar de la Patria monument and gardens.

Price: about COP 30,000–40,000 · Time needed: 1.5 hours.

The white Cathedral of Santa Marta, one of the oldest in Colombia, and the seafront Malecón (Bahía de Santa Marta) for the sunset.

Price: free.

A former fishing village 15 minutes away, a popular base for diving. From there, boats go to Playa Grande.

Price: dive trips about COP 250,000–350,000.

A laid-back beach town 1.5 hours east, where you can float down the river on an inner tube to the sea.

Price: tubing about COP 20,000–40,000.