Places of interest
SANTA MARTA
Santa Marta, founded in July 29, 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas, is one of the oldest settlements on the South American continent. Tourist attractions of the town of Santa Marta are the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino where Simón Bolivar spent the last days of his life before he died there December 17, 1830, the Cathedral, a national monument built in 1766, the Tayrona Museum inside the Casa de la Aduana which is the oldest house in America, built in 1530, and the San Fernando Fort.
EL RODADERO
Ten minutes by bus to the west of Santa Marta is El Rodadero, Colombia´s most popular resort town located at a beautiful bay with many hotels and a pulsating night life. The beach and the water offer a great variety of activities for every taste and wallet.
TAGANGA
To the east lies Taganga, a fishing village which has kept its originality and charm and offers an interesting contrast to El Rodadero. Here, the visitor can do scuba diving courses, enjoy the typical sea food caught by the local fishermen or just spend some time at the beach soaking in the relaxed atmosphere of the place. There are tours offered from Taganga to Playa Grande by boat.
MINCA
Fourteen kilometers from Santa Marta to the southwest lies Minca, a village situated on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada in a coffee producing region at a height of approximately 630 meters above sea level. Minca can be reached from Santa Marta by car in approx. 30 minutes and by bus in one hour. The exuberant vegetation, the possibility to observe the many bird species of the region, to take a bath in one of the many waterfalls, or to simply escape from the heat of the coast make Minca an attractive destination.
THE PARKS
Santa Marta is the ideal starting point for exploring several of Colombia's beautiful protected areas: the Tayrona National Park, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park with Colombia's highest peaks at 5775 m, the Pico Simón Bolívar and the Pico Cristobal Colón. Therefore, the Sierra Nevada is the world's highest coastal range. Other parks worth visiting in the area are the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta sanctuary, and the Flamencos sanctuary.
Tayrona National Park
The Tayrona National Park for most visitors is the main attraction of a stay in Santa Marta. The local tour operators offer trips to Playa Cristal (also known as Playa de los Muertos) and Playa Neguanje, as well as to Arrecifes. The first trip usually consists of the ride to Playa Neguanje by bus (with a short stop at a lookout point), and from there one continues by boat to Playa Cristal. The second trip contains the bus ride to Cañaveral; from there it is a walk of about 45 minutes through tropical forest to Arrecifes. Because of the strong sea currents it is not recommendable to swim there, but there are good swimming conditions at "La Piscina" (20 minutes walking distance from Arrecifes) and "Cabo San Juan" (40 minutes walking distance from Arrecifes).
THE LOST CITY
For the adventurous traveler, one of South America's most important and enigmatic archeological sites, La Ciudad Perdida -The Lost City- waits to be explored in the dense jungle on the mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Constructed by the Tayrona people many centuries ago on more than 250 artificial terraces, this city was never found by the Spanish conquistadores and had been forgotten for many years until it was rediscovered in 1976. Even today, the site can only be reached by hiking for 3 days through exuberant vegetation.
PENINSULA DE LA GUAJIRA
To the east on the way to the Venezuelan border lies the Península de Guajira, home of the Wayú Indians where desert and the Caribbean meet and where sand, sea and sky form a striking contrast and offer the visitor an almost surreal impression. Do not expect luxury but be prepared for an exotic and beautiful destination.
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