Santa Marta · Colombia
Santa Marta Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Santa Marta tours, Colombia’s oldest city and gateway to the Caribbean coast’s wild beauty: the jungle-fringed beaches of Tayrona National Park, the legendary multi-day trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida), the misty coffee village of Minca with its waterfalls, sailing trips and snorkelling in turquoise bays, and the historic centre by the sea. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Colombia trip.
298 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Santa Marta
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Santa Marta
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Santa Marta by interest
Whatever brings you to Santa Marta — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Tayrona Park
Jungle Caribbean beaches.
ExploreLost City trek
Ancient jungle ruins.
ExploreMinca
Waterfalls & coffee.
ExploreSailing & beaches
Caribbean boat trips.
ExploreDiving & snorkel
Taganga reefs.
ExploreCity & food
Colombia’s oldest city.
ExploreCabo San Juan
Iconic Tayrona beach.
ExplorePalomino & Guajira
Coast & desert.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Santa Marta
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Tayrona Park
Jungle Caribbean beaches.
100+ toursView tours
Cabo San Juan
Iconic Tayrona beach.
80 toursView tours
Lost City
Ancient jungle ruins.
40 toursView tours
Minca
Waterfalls & coffee.
60 toursView tours
Caribbean Sailing
Coves & sunsets.
70 toursView tours
Taganga Reefs
Diving & snorkel.
40 toursView tours
La Guajira
Caribbean desert.
40 toursView tours
Historic Centre
Colombia’s oldest city.
40 toursView tours
2 days
Santa Marta in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Tayrona
- 2Day 2: Minca
- 3Waterfalls & coffee
- 4Sierra Nevada views
3 days
Santa Marta in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Tayrona
- 2Day 2: Minca
- 3Day 3: sailing & diving
- 4Coast, hills & sea
Adventure
Santa Marta adventure
- 1Lost City trek
- 2Jungle camps
- 3Tayrona beaches
- 4Minca waterfalls
1 hr awayTayrona Park
Jungle beaches.
from €30View trips
45 min awayMinca
Waterfalls & coffee.
from €25View trips
4-day trek awayLost City
Ancient jungle ruins.
from €350View trips
From bay awayCaribbean Sailing
Coves & sunsets.
from €40View trips
Multi-day awayLa Guajira
Caribbean desert.
from €120View trips
1.5 hrs awayPalomino
River & beach village.
from €35View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Santa Marta visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
December to April is the drier season — sunny days ideal for Tayrona, the Lost City trek and the beaches.
Dry season (Dec–Apr)
Warm, mostly dry weather makes this the peak time for the coast and trekking; book popular tours ahead.
Wet season (May–Nov)
Hotter and more humid with showers, especially September–November; the jungle is lush and the Lost City trek can be muddy.
Tayrona closures
Tayrona Park closes for a few weeks each year (often in parts of February, June and October/November) for ecological rest — check before you go.
Warm all year
Santa Marta is hot year-round, so light clothing, sun protection and water are always essential.
Festive peaks
Christmas, New Year and Easter are very busy with Colombian holidaymakers — book early and expect crowds.
One day
A Tayrona Park day tour.
Two days
Add Minca’s waterfalls and coffee.
Three days
The sweet spot: Tayrona, Minca and sailing.
Lost City trek
Add 4–5 days for the Ciudad Perdida adventure.
Beach base
Relax at El Rodadero or Tayrona beaches.
Caribbean loop
Santa Marta pairs with Cartagena and Palomino.
On foot
The historic centre and seafront malecón are walkable and pleasant to explore on foot.
Taxis & apps
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are cheap for getting around the city, El Rodadero and Taganga; agree the fare or use the app.
Tours & transport
Tayrona, Minca and the Lost City are best reached on guided tours or arranged transport given the distances and trailheads.
Getting there
Santa Marta has an airport (about 20 minutes from the centre) with flights from Bogotá and other cities, plus road links to Cartagena.
For Tayrona
The park entrance is about an hour from the city, then a 1–2 hour hike to the main beaches — start early.
For Minca
Shared jeeps, mototaxis or tours climb the winding road up to Minca in under an hour.
Colombian peso
Colombia uses the peso; carry cash for park fees, transport and small vendors, though cards work in hotels and larger places.
Check Tayrona dates
Tayrona Park closes for a few weeks each year for ecological rest — confirm it is open before planning your visit.
Start Tayrona early
Begin Tayrona hikes early to beat the heat and crowds, and bring water, sun protection and swimwear.
Trek with good operators
For the Lost City, book with reputable licensed operators who support the local and indigenous communities.
Pack for the jungle
For trekking, bring quick-dry clothes, insect repellent, good footwear and a dry bag for the humidity and rivers.
Pre-book key tours
Tayrona, Lost City and sailing trips fill up in peak season — book ahead.
Tayrona tours
Park day tours are popular — book ahead.
Lost City trek
Multi-day treks have limited spots — reserve early.
Minca trips
Waterfall and coffee tours fill up — pre-book.
Sailing trips
Caribbean sailing tours are in demand — book ahead.
Diving courses
Taganga dive trips and courses are limited — reserve early.
Holiday peaks
Christmas, New Year and Easter are very busy — plan ahead.
Tayrona day tour
Around €25–55 for a Tayrona Park day tour with transport.
Lost City trek
About €330–420 for the 4-day Lost City trek, all-inclusive.
Minca tour
Roughly €25–50 for a Minca waterfalls and coffee day tour.
Sailing trip
About €40–80 for a Caribbean sailing or boat trip.
Diving
Around €40–90 for a dive trip or try-dive in Taganga.
How to save
Join group tours and travel outside the holiday peaks.
When to visit
Santa Marta through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Dry (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Beaches, trekking.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best; busy holidays.
Dry (Mar–Apr)
Mar–Apr
- Best for
- Warm, drier.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great; Easter peak.
Wet (May–Aug)
May–Aug
- Best for
- Lush, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some showers.
Wet (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Green, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest; check closures.
People also ask
Santa Marta travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Santa Marta?
The highest-rated Santa Marta experiences are a Tayrona National Park tour, the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) trek, a Minca waterfalls and coffee trip, a Caribbean sailing tour, diving in Taganga, and the historic city.
What should I book in advance in Santa Marta?
Book Tayrona, Lost City and sailing tours ahead, as they sell out, especially in the December–April and Easter high seasons.
How many days do I need in Santa Marta?
One day covers Tayrona, two add Minca, and three include sailing and diving; add 4–5 days for the Lost City trek.
Is Santa Marta worth visiting?
Yes — Santa Marta rewards with the jungle-backed Caribbean beaches of Tayrona National Park, the epic Lost City trek, the cool waterfalls and coffee farms of Minca, sailing and diving in turquoise bays, and Colombia’s oldest historic centre.
What are the best day trips from Santa Marta?
Top trips are Tayrona Park, Minca, the beach village of Palomino, and the desert landscapes of La Guajira, with onward travel to Cartagena.
When is the best time to visit Santa Marta?
December to April is the drier, sunnier peak season, ideal for the beaches and trekking; May to November is hotter and wetter, with the lush jungle and occasional Tayrona Park closures to check.
How do you get around Santa Marta?
The historic centre and seafront are walkable, with cheap taxis and apps for the city, El Rodadero and Taganga, and guided tours or arranged transport for Tayrona, Minca and the Lost City; the airport is about 20 minutes out.
298 Santa Marta experiencesfrom €15 · free cancellation
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