Updated: · by Frank Spitzer
Santa Marta Colombia Travel Itinerary 1 Day
This 1-day Santa Marta itinerary covers the main attractions and experiences of the destination. Below: full day-by-day plan, route map, and practical notes. We build longer or custom-length trips on request.
Good for: travelers who want a focused Santa Marta stay with hand-picked hotels and a private guide.
Santa Marta Colombia Trip Summary
Day 1 – Santa Marta
Planned Places
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the capital of the department of Magdalena and is located on the Caribbean coast at just 5 meters (16 feet) above sea level. Therefore, temperatures here range between 21°C and 33 °C (70 – 91°F). The city spreads over a large area and is flanked by mountains from different sides. The immediate Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is mostly inhabited by indigenous communities and not only reaches the highest point in Colombia with the Pico Cristóbal Colón – at a height of 5,700 meters (18,700 feet)- but is also the highest coastal mountain in the world. Santa Marta is the perfect starting point for many leisure and holiday activities. Along the coast to the east, you will find Tayrona National Park, the most famous national park in Colombia. There are also wonderful beaches. Another highlight is the Lost City hidden in the Sierra, which can be visited in a 4-day trek.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Santa Marta
Arrival to Santa Marta
You will be picked up at the airport in Santa Marta and driven to your hotel.
The bilingual guide will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport.
Accommodation
Here you will find the best hotel recommendations in Colombia.
Half Day Santa Marta City tour
In the Santa Marta City Tour you will enjoy an exciting tour of approximately 3 hours through the most beautiful bay of America, in which you will visit the following places: La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the Historic Center of Santa Marta, declared a National Monument in 1963; the Monument that honors the native soccer star of the Pearl of America, Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, and Taganga, a typical fishing village. In the Gold Museum you can appreciate the exhibition of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum of the Tayrona Culture, their beliefs, mythologies, crafts and goldsmith pieces are exposed in this place, to know and explore the legacy of the milenary culture of the Tayrona.
After the tour you will drive to the airport of Santa Marta.
References
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Plan Your Santa Marta Itinerary with Pelecanus
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Start planning your trip →Spotlight on Santa Marta
Colombia's oldest city (1525) at the base of the Sierra Nevada. Sea level, 28°C. Fly into SMR. Signature experiences: Tayrona National Park beaches, 4-day Lost City trek to indigenous Tayrona ruins, Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, Minca coffee farms, El Dorado Reserve birding.
Plan Your Colombia Trip with Pelecanus
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- Colombia Destinations Guide — Cities, climates, signature experiences
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