Things to do in

Santa Marta

Explore the scenic backcountry of Colombia on this 4-day trek to the legendary Ciudad Perdida hidden deep in the jungle. On this adventure hike, you'll pass through the beautiful hinterlands, unspoiled waterfalls, and majestic rivers, eventually reaching this amazing archaeological site. Depending on the length of the trek you choose, you’ll have time to visit some local indigenous villages along the way, swim in natural pools. You'll be camping each night in the lush wilderness of the Colombian Jungle.  Itinerary Day 1: Santa Marta – Mamey – 1st Camp (Lunch, Dinner) Your first day begins meeting between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM to start a 3-hour road trip to a small town called El Mamey. There, you’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant serving typical Colombian food. After lunch, the first trek begins. You'll have a 4-hour hike to the first campsite. When you reach the camp, you will have dinner and then the whole night to rest from your long day of trekking. Day 2: 1st Camp – Mutanzi – 3rd Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Wake up early and eat a quick breakfast before departing around 6 AM for a 2-hour trek to an indigenous village called Mutanzi. You will then walk for about 40 minutes from Mutanzi to the 2nd campsite where a delicious lunch will be served. Finally, rest for a while and get ready for one last 4-hour trek to the 3rd camp where you will dine and rest for the night. Day 3: 3rd Camp – Ciudad Perdida – 2nd Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) After breakfast, leave camp around 6AM and hike to Ciudad Perdida, which you’ll reach around 7 AM. You'll enter by climbing 1200 stone stairs, and will have two hours to explore the ancient city set in the dense jungle. Your guide will give you a quick tour and be present to answer all of your questions. Afterwards, return to the 3rd campsite where you’ll have lunch and will be able to rest for a while. In the afternoon, get ready for a 4-hour trek back to the 2nd camp, where you’ll have dinner and stay for the night. Day 4: 2nd Camp – Mamey – Santa Marta (Breakfast, Lunch) After breakfast, the longest hike will take place. You will trek for 7-hours (mostly downhill) to El Mamey, where you’ll have lunch, as on Day 1. Your guide will then take you back to your hotel in Santa Marta where you'll arrive mid-afternoon.

From Santa Marta, embark on a 45-minute drive through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to find the small town of Minca. In the company of a local guide, take a 2.5-hour nature walk passing waterfalls, natural swimming pools, and scenic views of the surrounding mountains.  The walk ends at a coffee farm, where you will learn about the coffee production process and it’s importance to Colombia’s culture. Enter a bamboo house where you will enjoy a gourmet lunch before learning about cocoa, its production, and derivatives.   At the end of the tour, return transfers will be provided to your hotel in Santa Marta.

You will be picked up from your accommodation a little before 9:00AM, from where you will go to the Rodadero sector. Once there you will board a boat to travel to the aquarium and Museum of the Sea. Once at the aquarium you will enjoy a live dolphin show throughout touring the museum for approximately 1.5-2 hours. Following your visit of the aquarium, you will return to the boat to make your way to Playa Blanca. In Playa Blanca you will spend between 3-4 hours throughout which you can enjoy the beach, sit in the sun, and have lunch. At 3:30PM you will board the boat to begin your return journey to the dock of the taxiway, and your tour will later conclude as you return to your accommodation at approximately 5:00PM.

After being collected from your Santa Marta accommodation, you will travel for 15 minutes by vehicle to the Neguanje sector and enter an area of ​​the Tayrona park (nature reserve). Once here you will be able to enjoy a spectacular sun day, before you board a boat for an 8-minute journey by the beautiful beaches of the Colombian Caribbean. You can then walk while enjoying an excellent view of the 7-wave viewpoint. Cristal Beach, also called Calm Beach, is the perfect setting for snorkeling and diving. Thanks to its beautiful clear, calm waters and white sands that allow it visitors to snorkel easily. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful and paradisaical beaches in Colombia, and is not to be missed when traveling through this area. Cristal Beach is located in a bay alongside many other small beaches. The water in these beaches, unlike the rest of the park, is very calm, and you will also find plains of unexploited, natural salt. There is also a small camping area, which is a spectacular alternative for accommodation and very different from the other sites that are close by.

In this experience, discover the unique flavors of the Caribbean region of Colombia with a local guide. Visit 7 places in the historical center of Santa Marta and sample a variety of traditional food and drinks. Next, visit multiple family-owned businesses and try arepas de huevo, cayeye, and other special dishes. Meet some of the most professional baristas in the region. In a single afternoon, learn about Caribbean Colombian culture through its food and history.

Close to Santa Marta, in Sierra Nevada's foothill lies the town of Minca. Famous for its dense forests, waterfalls, fresh climate and coffee farms, this place will amaze you with all richness and tranquility. After being picked up from your hotel in Santa Marta you will embark on a short uphill trip to Minca. Your first stop will be at La Victoria for a coffee tour that will make you understand the special traits of Sierra Nevada's coffee and the differences between coffee from other regions of Colombia. Here you will be able to taste the flavor and get to know the process it takes to produce a cup of coffee. Enjoying the mountainous scenery of Minca, and the faraway view of Santa Marta, you will make a stop for a delicious lunch. Afterward, you will go through the town of Minca to arrive at Marinka, a relaxing place surrounded by a dense forest and marvelous waterfalls. With just a short walk, you will be able to get as close as you like to the waterfalls and even bathe under their refreshing waters. If you like you may also rest at the large hammock beds while you enjoy the serenity of your surroundings. Finally, you will return to Santa Marta to return to your hotel.

Day 1: After being picked up from your Santa Marta hotel at 9:30AM, you will travel by car for approximately 2.5 hours to the region of Mamey, where lunch will take place. After lunch, you will begin walking at approximately 3:00PM until you reach the first station, known in the region with the names of "Cabañas de Adam". Here you can enjoy the Honduras Creek, which is a beautiful natural pool. Dinner will be served later on at 6:30PM, and your bedrooms for the first day will consist of hammocks with mosquito nets. Day 2: After breakfast at 7:00AM, you will depart at 8:00AM and begin a hike which will last for approximately 14.7 kilometers before you arrive at the second station: "Cabaña de Romualdo", home of the respected Mamo Indígina. In this same place you can enjoy the fabulous waters of the Buritaca River, with dinner being served at 6:00PM. Whilst here your guide will provide information regarding the indigenous culture, and your bedrooms for this day will be in beds or hammocks with mosquito nets. Day 3: This morning, you will leave from the "Cabaña de Rumualdo" and depart to the lost city, where an explanation tour and photographs will made over a period of 3 hours. From the lost city you will return to the "Cabaña de Gabriel" over a 7.6-kilometer journey. Once having arrived, you will partake in recreational activities, before dinner will be served before spending the night. Day 4: You will leave from the "Cabaña de Gabriel" to the town of Mamey over a route of 15.6 kilometers, which will take approximately 6 hours. Once having arrived at the town of Mamey, you will return to Santa Marta with an arrival time of around 5:00PM.

Get acquainted with Santa Marta and Taganga on two-wheels. Whether you just want to go for a relaxing ride and cruise around as you watch the sunset, or embark on a full-day adventure, you will be covered with this rental service. Rent a bike and explore Santa Marta at your own pace, enjoying all the freedom as you ride through the city’s picturesque streets. The bikes will make it easier for you to ride up the stiff hills of Minca and get to the highest viewpoints. The team members will also be pleased to recommend specific routes, must-see attractions and great restaurant options should you require them. The bikes will be available for rental from 9:00AM, with the rented bikes being required to be returned before the shop's closing time at 9:00PM. At the time of the pick-up, a valid I.D must be provided in order to fill in a rental contract, and you can choose between a 2-hour, 3-hour, 5-hour or all-day package.

Be picked up at 10:00 AM to head to Santa Marta's historical center and ride in the car to the most delicious places to taste local gastronomy. You will start with a stop to taste envueltos and the exquisite sauces that always join these recipes. There you will taste the typical Costeño cheese the best complement for yucca. You will continue to a hot spot of street food next to Santa Marta’s Cathedral. There you will be able to taste many foods offered and combine them with a delicious tropical fruit beverage. You will be surprised by the fruit offered at this place because for sure you’ll get to know some that you didn’t even know existed. Finally, you will end with one of the most iconic recipes of the Caribbean Coast, the Shrimp Ceviche. You will go to the best place in Santa Marta to eat this dish, where you can even upgrade it with delicious suggestions like avocado, octopus, or stingray. After this tasty experience, go back to your hotel.

Day one:  Depart Santa Marta at 9:30 AM and drive approximately 2.5 hours to the region of Mamey. Have lunch here. Walk approximately for 3 hours until the first station, known in the region as Cabañas de Adam. See the Honduras creek, which is a beautiful natural pool. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. Sleep in hammocks with mosquito nets.  Day Two:  Breakfast will be at 7:00 AM. Depart 8:00 AM to Cabañas de Adam or Cabaña Alfredo and walk for approximately 4 hours until you reach the second station Cabaña de Turcol or Sierra Tour. Here, be treated to a typical lunch of the region. Visit the Mutanyi indigenous village, a wonderful place to take photos with the indigenous people and interact with their culture. See the fabulous waters of the Buritaca River. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and sleep tonight in beds or hammocks with mosquito nets.  Day Three:  Breakfast will be at 7:00 AM and depart at 8:00 AM. Walk for approximately 4.5 hours. Cross by the calm waters of the Buritaca River for lunch. The third station, known as Cabaña de Romualdo, is home of the respected Mamo Indígina. Learn from your guide about the indigenous culture. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and sleep tonight in beds or hammocks with mosquito nets.  Day Four:  Breakfast will be at 6:00 AM and depart at 7:00 AM. Trek to the Lost City. Hike for 1 hour to the archaeological site. Your guide will provide information about the site during a 3-hour tour. Be sure to take photographs here. Return to the Cabaña de Romualdo from the Lost City trek and arrive around 12:00 PM for lunch. Begin the descent to station number two, Cabaña de Adam or Cabaña de Alfredo and arrive around 4:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and sleep tonight in beds or hammocks with mosquito nets.  Day Five:  Breakfast will be at 5:30 AM and depart at 6:30 AM. Hike from the second station Cabaña de Adam or Cabaña de Alfredo to the Mamey region, which is approximately 6 hours. Arrive around 1:00 PM and enjoy lunch in the Mamey region. Return to Santa Marta by car for5:00 PM.