Loading...
Loading...
Santa Marta, Colombia
Santa Marta is the oldest surviving Spanish-founded city in Colombia, and its compact historic center has undergone a significant revival in recent years. The Parque de los Novios (Lovers' Park) is the hub of the old town, surrounded by restaurants and bars in colorful colonial buildings that come alive at night. The waterfront Malecon provides a pleasant promenade along the bay, and the Cathedral of Santa Marta — one of the oldest in South America — sits near the site where Simon Bolivar died. The Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino preserves the hacienda and gardens where the Liberator spent his final days. Beyond the city, Tayrona National Park's Caribbean beaches backed by tropical forest are a short drive away, and the multi-day Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) trek through the Sierra Nevada is one of the great adventure walks in South America.
explore by interest
Santa Marta's historic center is compact and flat, perfect for walking. The heat and humidity are constant — start walks early, carry water, and use the shaded Parque de los Novios for rest breaks.
December through March offers the driest weather and best beach conditions, though Santa Marta's Caribbean climate keeps temperatures warm year-round.