Colombia

Classic Colombia / Land of Coffee & Tayrona / Archeology & History / By the Sea / Nature Tour
Bogota / Cartagena / Amazon / Coffee Region / Pacific Region / Guajira / Rosario Islands
Tayrona Park / San Agustin / Ciudad Perdida Trek / Los Nevados Trek / Guajira Adventure

Santa Marta

Founded on July 29 1525 by the Spanish Conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, Santa Marta was the first city in Colombia and therefore is the oldest in South America. It was the port of entry for those looking to conquer the New World. Its privileged location was chosen for its security and for its beauty, between the Caribbean Sea and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where the twin peaks of the highest coastal mountains in the world, Simón Bolívar and the Cristóbal Colón, at 5770m above sea level tower over proceedings. There is a vast array of flora and fauna as well as the proximity to the Tayrona National Park, all which make this not only culturally rich but a supremely attractive and desirable place to visit. The Tayrona indigenous people strongly resisted the conquistadores but by the end of the VXII Century most of their treasures had been moved to Spanish chests.

Santa Marta boasts a great wealth of history as is here that the first President of Gran Colombia and hero of the independence movement Simón Bolívar passed away on the 17th of December 1830. It happened in a hacienda that still exists called Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. Nowadays, this hacienda acts as a museum exhibiting the history of the great Liberator and is surrounded by beautiful and lush gardens with monuments and many trees.

Approximately fifteen minutes northeast from Santa Marta, a zigzag route brings you to a characteristic fishing village of Taganga. Nestled deep in a bay and surrounded by green mountainous vegetation, the landscape here is one of contrasting colours, the blues of the sea washing onto the beach, making this a magical and unforgettable destination. Observe the traditional fishing practices of the locals, view their canoes and see that all knowledge here has been passed down from generation to generation. This is a particularly good location for watersports such as snorkeling and diving and is the departure point for boat trips to Playa Blanca, so named for the colour of the sand here.
It is easy to reach different beaches of Tayrona National Park as well as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, from Santa Marta or Taganga, by travelling just 45 minutes.

Half Day Santa Marta
Half day visit of the colonial area and the oldest city in Colombia. Starting in the Bay of Santa Marta; continue to the Monument to the Tayrona gods and learn more about this culture that existed in that region long before the arrival of the Spanish; the Casa de la Aduana Museum, which makes up part of the Antropológico and Etnográfico Museum where is a fine collection of Tayrona artifacts and the Cathedral. Then, travel out to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino with its beautiful gardens and where the great liberator Simón Bolívar passed away in 1830. Finally we will make a scenic tour of the bays of Rodadero and the fishing village of Taganga.
Duration: Approximately three hours.
Guide: Private bilingual guide.

All day in Tayrona National Park - Arrecife Beach
Leaving in the morning from Santa Marta or Taganga to the northeast on the way to Riohacha, to Tayrona National Park. The National Park is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and covers an area 17,000 km2 including dreamlike white sandy beaches lapped by turquoise blue waters, coral reefs, huge ocean boulders, densely rich jungle vegetation, mangroves and of course the famous Ciudad Perdida or Lost City.
From here enjoy a light hike through the forest and its different micro climates. Birds are in abundance and on some occasions might be possible to see squirrels and monkeys playing in the trees. After roughly a 45 minute walk arrive at Arrecifes, one of the park’s most scenic and beautiful areas, which will astound you with its beauty and drama with restless seas crashing on huge boulders. Continue by walking along the coast to La Piscina, a naturally calm stretch of beach ideal for bathing. It is a wondrous place where man’s place amongst this nature. Enjoy a free time in the beach to rest or take a bath. Return to Santa Marta or Taganga the same way.
Duration: Approximately six to seven hours.
Guide: Private bilingual guide.

All day Tayrona National Park - Playa Neguanje
Leaving in the morning from Santa Marta or Taganga to the northeast on the way to Riohacha, to Tayrona National Park. The National Park is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and covers an area 17,000 km2 including dreamlike white sandy beaches lapped by turquoise blue waters, coral reefs, huge ocean boulders, densely rich jungle vegetation, mangroves and of course the famous Ciudad Perdida or Lost City.
After 40 minutes drive, get to the first entry point of the Tayrona National Park called Palangana. Continue along a winding road through the scenic tropical forest before opening out onto what is known as the Sea of the Seven Waves, a natural viewpoint from which one can enjoy the beautiful scenery Descent down to the Playa de Neguanje into the Bay of Gayraca and hop onto a local boat where the fishermen will then sail around the cove to Playa Cristal. This beach stands out for its extraordinary beauty and is the ideal place to enjoy the water, the sun and the opportunity to paddle between the coral reefs here. Return by boat to Gayraca Bay and back to Santa Marta or Taganga the same way.
Duration: Approximately six to seven hours.
Guide: Private bilingual guide.

All day mini trek to Pueblito
In the morning by car from Santa Marta or Taganga to the northeast on the way to Riohacha, to Tayrona National Park until a little town called Calabazo. Upon arrival begin the hike along a pathway that leads to Pueblito. This snaking pathway leads through the foothills here offering up spectacular views on its climbs broken only by the chatter of birdsong and bring one to areas with immense rocks, exuberant vegetation until reaching an approximate altitude of 200masl. Upon arrival at Pueblito, which is of incredible cultural importance, there is the feeling of being at the heart of the Tayrona civilization. The tropical flora and eerie silence seem appropriate to the setting here amongst the ruins of terraces, homes, bridges, stairways and architectural achievements all of which are silent witnessed to the Tayrona civilization. Speak with some local indigenous people and learn more about their culture. Currently only one Tayrona family lives here but the complex architecture is evident due to the canal system, the aqueduct, stone bridges and stairways which lead to the beach. Further 2 hour walks continues to the Playa Cabo San Juan de Guía and have some time to relax or swim in the waters off this protected beach. After lunch, the walk continues for a further 45 minutes to Cañaveral and return by car to Santa Marta o Taganga.
Guide: Private bilingual guide.
Note: In order to go on this excursion you need to have a good of fitness as the climbs and descents are physically demanding

Accommodations in Santa Marta

Santorini Hotel Boutique ****
Address: Carrera 2, No. 3-93, Santa Marta, Colombia

Built in 2007, this small boutique hotel has the charm typical of the coast mixed with a personalized and high standard service
Location: Located in Santa Marta, five minutes from Airport in the Bello Horizonte area.
Facilities: The Hotel has 13 bedrooms (7 standards, 4 junior suite, and 2 suites) with private bathroom, mini bar, cable T.V., wireless internet, and safety deposit box, air conditioning, hair dryer and telephone.
Services: The Santorini Hotel Boutique has swimming pool, spa with steam bath, sauna and beauty treatments, a bar, a restaurant in Art Deco style
with traditional and international cuisine, as well a sushi bar.

Hotel & Resort Santorini ****
Address: Carrera 2 No. 4 - 94, Santa Marta, Colombia

This beautiful and modern Hotel Resort was built in 2008. The building has been constructed and decorated to meet leisure and business visitors needs.
Location: Located in the heart of Bello Horizonte area, Santa Marta; five minutes from the Santa Marta Airport.
Facilities: 79 bedrooms (43 standards, 29 junior suite, and 1 suite) with private bathroom, mini bar, cable T.V., wireless internet, and safety deposit
box, air conditioning, hair dryer and telephone.
Services: Gourmet restaurant, Spa, Sky Bar, Sushi Bar, meeting room.

Hotel Tamacá Beach Resort ***
Address: Carrera 2A No. 11A-98, El Rodadero, Santa Marta, Colombia

Hotel Tamaca encloses two buildings, Torre Norte or North Tower and Torre Beach or Beach Tower, located a block away from each other in El Rodadero area. The hotel Tamaca was named after the ravine that snakes from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta through the village of Gaira and flows into the Bay of Rodadero just a few feet south from the hotel facilities and means “big beach house” in native language.
Location: The Tamacá Hotel is situated in front of El Rodadero bay
Facilities: The hotel has a total of 141 rooms, divided in 2 towers: Beach Tower with 81 rooms (29 Standard, 50 Superior and 2 Suites) and North
Tower with 60 rooms (58 Superior and 2 Junior Suites), all with air conditioning, Satellite T.V., National and International phone service, Security box,
Mini bar, Internet, Wi-Fi, room service.
Services: Ma Anasú Restaurant, Cocos bar, Arrecifes Restaurant & bar, Swimming pool for adults and children, playground, beauty parlour, conference rooms for up to 250 people.

Hotel Irotama R esort ****
Address: Address: VÍa Cienaga Km 14, Santa Marta, Colombia

The Irotama Resort is a five stars Resort which encloses a hotel complex of 23 hectares with gardens, lagoons, exuberant and tropical vegetation and more than a half mile long beach along the Caribbean Sea.
Location: Located two kilometres away from Santa Marta airport, and five minutes from Santa Marta City and El Rodadero area.
Facilities: 420 rooms, in four basic types: Villas, Bungalows, Bohíos and Apartasuites, located very close to the sea. Also Presidential Suites and
spectacular Penthouses with private jacuzzi and swimming pool. All rooms equipped with private bathroom with hot water, air conditioning, fan, Minibar, electronic safety deposit box, t.v., telephone with national and international direct dialling.
Services: Recreation, 10 restaurants, bars and snack bars, sports, Convention Center and Travel Agency.

Hotel La Casa
Address: Calle 18 No. 3 – 52, Historic Center, Santa Marta, Colombia

La Casa is a guest house restored in 2008. The original colonial walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, were carefully preserved and at the same time we introduced bathrooms and a kitchen where guests can cook their own meals day and night, and learn from the host traditional Caribbean recipes, made with organic fair trade products from La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The hotel walls serve as a gallery where local artists exhibit their work, and handicrafts made by local and indigenous communities can be purchased.
Location: La Casa is located down town in the historical center of Santa Marta, Just 2 blocks from the beach.
Facilities: The hotel offers 3 luxury rooms with air conditioning, fan, hot water, T.V. and minibar. Each room is decorated with a reference to particular
regions of the country’s natural and cultural wealth, and the whole house pays tribute to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, from the snowy peaks to
the shores of Tayrona.
Services: Wi-Fi internet, hammocks, swimming pool and living room.

There are also a number of Posadas Turisticas in the area that we can book. These are very basic Tourist inns built to match the local architecture and operated by locals. In the most beautiful corners of Colombia (many far from the urban centers), nothing is better than to lodge in an inn to live like the local people, to learn their customs and to delight with the cooking pleasures, that have been perfected generation after generation. In them, the comfort of a five star hotel is exchanged for a life experience. Natural, cultural, gastronomical and human experiences, rather than luxury, are offered to guests who prefer to know first hand a region, its people and her customs, in an adventure that feeds each and every one of the senses. Some have water and electricity, while some do not have electricity, so the amenities here are very basic. Probably best for Spanish-speakers.