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Colombia · Magdalena · Caribbean

What to see and do in Santa Marta and Tayrona

Caribbean heritage where the forest meets the sea.

Santa Marta combines history and coast; nearby Tayrona adds trails and natural landscapes. It allows you to alternate culture and nature without concentrating everything in a single day.

3 days suggestedModerate budgetBeach and sea · Nature · Adventure · Culture and towns

Duration, budget and itinerary: editorial suggestions adjustable to your trip. No prices or availability in real time.

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Santa Marta and Tayrona, Colombia
Thomas Fuhrmann Original photography · CC BY-SA 4.0

What to visit in Santa Marta and Tayrona

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PLACES AND EXPERIENCES

What to do in Santa Marta and Tayrona

museum

Tairona Gold Museum · Customs House

The Customs House brings together stories about pre-Hispanic societies and the history of Santa Marta.

Activities for your visit

  • Explore the archaeological collections of the region.
  • Know the history of the building and its relationship with the city.

Tips for this place

  • Review the museum's programming and possible closures.
  • Ask the staff for directions for photos and tours.
Check free museum admission ↗

Admission to Museo del Oro Tairona is free. Check the Cultural Network for closures and visitor information; activities and group visits may need to be arranged with the museum.

Reference sources and location

Reference of the Customs House building, in the historic center.

Reference coordinates: 11.2453132, -74.2130623.

OpenStreetMap · Gold Museum · © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

heritage

Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino

A historical complex linked to the last days of Simón Bolívar in Santa Marta.

Activities for your visit

  • Know the memory of Bolívar and the historical complex.
  • Tour the spaces enabled for visitors.

Tips for this place

  • Check with the museum the entry conditions.
  • If you want a guide, check their availability when organizing the visit.
Check tickets and box office ↗

Individual tickets are sold at the museum ticket office. Check admission fees, opening hours and documents required for concessions. Group and travel agency reservations are arranged through the Foundation.

Reference sources and location

Reference of the historical complex; Follow local signage to enter.

Reference coordinates: 11.2281007, -74.1776799.

OpenStreetMap · Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino · © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

nature

Cabo San Juan del Guía Sector · Tayrona

A coastal sector of Tayrona connected by trails between forest and coastline.

Activities for your visit

  • Walk along the enabled trails towards the sector.
  • Observe the coastal landscape and its fauna from a distance.

Tips for this place

  • Check park closures, access and conditions before traveling.
  • Stay on the trails and respect sacred sites.
  • Bathing only proceeds in authorized areas and following the park's instructions.
Check Tayrona admission ↗

Before paying, confirm open access points, closures, capacity and entry requirements with Parques Nacionales. Tayrona admission, insurance and accommodation at Cabo San Juan are separate services; paying the entrance fee does not secure a reservation.

Reference sources and location

Reference for the Cabo San Juan camping sector; It is not the land entrance to the park.

Reference coordinates: 11.3279926, -73.9642162.

OpenStreetMap · Cabo San Juan Sector · © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

A PROPOSAL TO ORGANIZE YOURSELF

3-day itinerary in Santa Marta and Tayrona

  1. Day 1

    History against the Caribbean

    Explore the center and the Tairona Gold Museum, checking out their programming.

  2. Day 2

    Samarium heritage

    Visit the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino and reserve time to get to know the city.

  3. Day 3

    Nature, if enabled

    Plan Tayrona only after confirming access; As an alternative, it expands cultural visits in Santa Marta.

Tips for visiting Santa Marta and Tayrona

  • Before going to Tayrona, check with National Parks about their closures, authorized sectors and entry conditions.
  • Inside the park, stay on marked trails and respect the signs about beaches and sacred sites.

LOCAL FLAVORS

What to eat in Santa Marta and Tayrona

The cuisine also tells the landscape: a tray paisa in Antioquia, a high altitude soup or the flavors of the Caribbean.

Sources to prepare your visit

Editorial content by SoyTurista PR, based on the linked sources. Confirm details with each provider before traveling.

Report a change to this guide. Include its URL and an official source if available.

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