There are a lot of gold museums across Colombia but the Santa Marta Gold Museum holds items found only in the local area, including ceramics and elaborate jewelry dating to the pre-Columbian age (many of these items were uncovered in the Lost City). There are several plazas where you can stop to enjoy the view (including the Plaza Parque Simón Bolívar), as well as some sculptures of indigenous people from the region to admire. There isn’t much of a beach to enjoy, but it’s the perfect setting to watch the sunset. Paseo El Camellón is the main promenade (malecón) in downtown Santa Marta. It’s worth arriving early to buy some of the weird and wonderful tropical fruits you won’t find anywhere else in the world (like borojó, Colombia’s natural “Viagra”). The Santa Marta Public Market has more than 500 different vendors selling everything from meat to fruit to handmade gifts, making up one vibrant, raucous market experience. A visit costs 23,000 COP and includes a guide. It’s well preserved and there are 54 acres of botanical gardens (which are full of iguanas). It was owned by a supporter of Colombia’s independence who invited Bolívar to stay with him before his exile in Europe, but Bolívar died before he could make it. It’s the most important building in Santa Marta. Wander around Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrinoīuilt in the 1700s, this is the hacienda in which Simón Bolívar spent his final days (he was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led much of South America to independence from the Spanish). Take a stroll along the boardwalk, eat some fresh fish, and soak in the bustling atmosphere. It’s where most vacationing Colombians choose to stay. Like any beachfront area, here you can find a lot of restaurants, bars, resorts, and hotels. The Rodadero area is outside of the main town. Playa Blanca and Taganga are also super busy and full of hawkers so you’ll likely want to skip the beaches here unless you’re desperate for a quick dip. Rodadero is the most popular beach in Santa Marta and it gets unbelievably busy. It gets busy on weekends and public holidays. Just listen for a guy shouting “Minca!” close to where you take the bus to Tayrona. The cost of a shared jeep to Minca is around 8,000 COP, and the jeep leaves from the main market when it’s full. It’s a trendy spot with backpackers thanks to its cheap accommodation, coffee and cacao farms, scenic hiking trails, and several tall waterfalls. Minca is a small village in the Sierra Nevada located about 45 minutes outside Santa Marta. Other Things to See and Do in Santa Marta 1. It should take you around 30-40 minutes to see it all. Turn in toward the city passing through Parque de Los Novios and finish at the Cathedral. Start at Parque Bolivia then walk along the malecón. Santa Marta’s old city is pretty small so it won’t take you very long. (It’s cheaper if you depart from Riohacha.) 5.

This is where the desert meets the sea and is a beautiful multi-day drive tour through tiny villages and empty wasteland. If you don’t want to stay the night, it still has a lot of good day trails. Here you can snorkel around coral reefs and camp out in the jungle. Parque Tayrona is a sprawling national park crisscrossed with plenty of hiking trails. People usually hang out here on their way to other parts of Colombia, but there are a few great highlights here, including the beach, the historic pier, and the Catedral Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Cathedral of Our Lady of Remains). This bustling little city is the gateway to the desert area of La Guajira. Older than Machu Picchu and located high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this rugged trek involves at least four days of hiking through the jungle before arriving at the ancient Inca ruins. Most people visit Santa Marta to trek Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City). Top 5 Things to See and Do in Santa Marta

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