Disclaimer: This guide is for chilled-out travelers. Yes, there are some hikes and or activities for those who need it (myself included), but if you go to the following places on the Colombian Caribbean coast, you’re gonna feel refreshed and re-energized. They’re like a shot of peace and love direct to the soul.
Here’s my 10 Day Colombian Caribbean Coast Itinerary:
Day 1 – Santa Marta
Most people, including Colombians, will tell you Santa Marta city isn’t the nicest (not nowadays anyway). And, personally, if you’re a tourist, I don’t think you need more than a day there. Perhaps it’s different if you’re a “digital nomad” it’s a different story because we saw a lot of them in the gringo area of the city.
This is a proper gringo street but there’s a great breakfast spot there on the left.
But anyway, I enjoy the coastal vibe and it’s a necessary stop for the rest of the adventure.
Where to stay:
If you’re like me and not too bothered about where you stay for 1 night, then a quick search in Hostel World/ Booking is your best option. A few years ago (when I stayed in Santa Marta for longer), I enjoyed República Bahía Santa Marta Hostel, a mid-priced hostel. It was in a good location, spotlessly clean, had comfy beds, aircon, and a pool.
What to do:
If you have time in the afternoon, visit the place where Simon Bolivar died (that sounds morbid but he was kind of a big deal in Latin American history).
I’m a big fan of Latin American history and El Libertador is a huge part of it. It turns out he passed away in Santa Marta. In fact, you can visit the exact bed he died in!
A bit creepy seeing the bed he died in tbh.
It’s best to ask a taxi driver to take you to Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. When you arrive, you’ll have the option of a guided tour. And if you want to learn more about Latin American history, I recommend the book Las Venas Abiertas de Latin America.
Take a trip to el Rodadero for the sunset
After you’ve learned about ol’ Bovs, jump in a cab to el Rodadero, a small town just outside Santa Marta. I really enjoyed the vibe here. It’s got a tourist strip you might find in a European holiday destination, but it’s packed with locals.
The coast is very different from the rest of Colombia. I don’t know why but I get a party vibe there. At el Rodadero you can walk along the strip, grab some drinks and sit on Playa Blanca to watch the famous coastal sunset.
The sunset from el Rodadero, Santa Marta
Day 2 – 4 – Minca
Buenoo, Minca is my favorite place in Colombia. It’s a magical pueblo about 1hr from Santa Marta (busses leave from the mercado). If you visit anywhere on the Colombian Caribbean coast, it has to be Minca.
How come? It’s hard to put into words. It has this encanto. This charm. In fact, it’s remarkable the number of foreigners who feel the same. I mean, what’s not to love about beautiful sunsets, hidden waterfalls, and an incredible eco, healthy food, super hostel. In my opinion, Mundo Nuevo is the only place to stay in Minca.
What’s so special about it? Well, I’d say the following 3 things:
The sunset – the view of the sunset behind the Sierra Nevada mountains is spectacular. It’s like the main event at the hostel. Everyone makes their way down to the viewpoint around 5.30 pm to watch her spill her orange and red hues into the twilight sky.
The sunsets don’t disappoint.
The food – the meals are riquísimas. It’s all veggie and super healthy. You’ll be asked if you want breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then it’ll be freshly prepped for you throughout the day.
Probably the least healthiest meal (and only I took a photo of)
The atmosphere – when I’m there, I always feel like I’m detoxing. It’s so peaceful to chill all day on a hammock or head off on a hike. Even lounging around in the social areas with a cup of coffee, reading a book while the rain comes down is bliss. Plus, the staff are amazing. En fin, It’s a good vibe hostel.
You can see the indigenous community at the bottom left. Defo worth a visit!
TIP: If you’ve got the budget, go for a private room. I stayed in a double room nearer the viewpoint.
We stayed for 2 nights, but you could easily stay longer. The day we arrived we mainly chilled and visited the neighboring indigenous community. On the 2nd day, we hiked to Pozo Azul. And on the way, we inadvertently visited 2 amazing waterfalls. They are right next to a newer hostel called Valhalla. It’s signposted and well worth the short detour.
1/2 waterfalls we found accidentally.
On our last day, we chilled. However, if you want the classic Instagram shot, head to Casa Elemento (probably best by moto). That’s where the Insta famous hammock shot is.
Day 5 – Taganga
Taganga is about 20 mins from Santa Marta, so you’ll need to get a bus back to the city and then grab a taxi to the small town. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t Tagangas’s biggest fan. It gave me Zante 2011 vibes (a bit club 18-30 or whatever it is), so if you fancy a fiesta it’ll be a bit of you.
We decided to stay there because the boat for our trip to Parque Tayrona left from there at 10:30 am.
The lancha that takes you to Wachakyta Ecolodge.
Where to stay?
Most places have a party atmosphere, so I chose a more chill place I found on Hostel World called Divanga. It was the food reviews that sold me. The super friendly owner is an amazing chef. She prepares healthy delicious food. As we were leaving, she told us she wants to sell the place. So, if you’re in the market for a hostel, let her know I sent you – or better still let me connect you both (so I get a juicy commission).
TIP: There is a great Pizza joint not far from the beachfront called Fatto en casa.
Day 6 – 10 Parque Tayrona
Now for the main event; Tayrona National Park. I hadn’t visited before and where we were going was an actual paradise. I know that term gets thrown around A LOT but this place is different. We would be staying at the Wachakyta Eco Lodge on a secluded beach. There aren’t too many places you can stay in the park. They have to meet strict social and environmental guidelines and the majority aren’t that nice. Wachakyta has more of a luxury vibe.
Everything about our stay was magical. If you’re going to stay in Parque Tayrona, I can’t recommend Wachakyta enough. It’s more of a relaxing place for couples, but I went with a mate and still had a great time. You can spend your days chilling in hammocks. Or, if you fancy exploring, there are 3 nearby hikes that take around 3 hours in total.
The place is amazing, the food is amazing, and the staff is amazing. Read my full write-up here to find out more.
Other Colombian Caribbean Coast Options:
We were meant to leave Wachakyta on day 8, but Keke, the hotel manager kindly offered us a few extra days. We couldn’t refuse!
Our itinerary for days 8-10 actually looked like this:
Cabo de San Juan
We had booked the lancha (speed boat thingy) to take us there from Wachakyta. Cabo de San Juan is like THE tourist beach in Tayrona. A quick google search and you’ll probably recognise it. The famous rocks and turquoise waters. I’m sure I’ll visit at some point.
Costeño Beach
“A beach without a village, Costeño is a resort-type experience for the sort of backpacker that would normally avoid staying at, well, resorts.” says Along Dusty Roads write up. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to see for myself!
Costeño beach isn’t far Cabo de San Juan Costeno. In fact, you can hike there with or without the help of mulas (donkeys)… we were going to hike to Costeno beach and spend the night there before heading back to Santa Marta.
En fin.
This 10 day trip to the Colombian Caribbean coast was perfect. The perfect amount of time to chill and explore. And the perfect way to connect with Colombia, nature, and myself. I actually promised myself I’d go back to Minca and Wachakyta every year. It’s a guaranteed full reset. I hope you feel the same way.
As always, hit me up in the comments or by email if you have any questions!
Nick
