"The privilege of having it all"!!
Santa Marta, officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city in Colombia. It is the capital of the department of Magdalena and the fourth largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and is the oldest surviving city in that country, and second oldest in South America. This city is situated on a bay of the same name and as such, is a prime tourist destination.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Marta
Santa Marta & Rodadero
Santa Marta is one of Colombia's premier beach resorts. As international tourists haven't fully discovered quite what a fantastic country Colombia is, this means that Santa Marta is mainly full of Colombian tourists. There's numerous high rise beach front hotels both in, and in the beaches surrounding, Santa Marta. The nearby suburb of Rodadero is similar in fashion and full of various hotels, lilo shops and restaurants.
The beaches are ok, though rather crowded. Nightlife is fun and rowdy, and the city is far busier during the peak domestic tourism season. If you're a man, looking for a Colombian woman, here along with Cali is where you'll probably have most luck. Think "Cancun", but on a smaller, less in-your-face package holiday style, but with far more beautiful Colombian people.
Those who stay in Santa Marta or Taganga usually do so as a launching pad for tours to two of Colombia's real travel highlights - Park Tayrona, and Ciudad Perdida.
Santa Marta HotelsThere's dozens of hotels in Santa Marta, and many are pretty non-descript. I'll only list a few of the better, more interesting ones.
Irotama - a "five star golf resort" that's in an "ecological complex", this option is very good value, and one of Santa Marta's best resorts.
Hotel Mar Azul - a 55 room hotel in the centre of Rodadero.
Mendihuaca Resort - a great option, this isn't actually in Santa Marta, in fact it's just outside of the stunningly beautiful Park Tayrona.
Also consider the chain hotels of Decameron Galeon, the Estellar Santamar and the Sol Arhuaco (a Solar owned hotel).
Santa Marta is a Caribbean resort, while neighbouring Taganga is where backpackers invariably opt to stay. Details on each follow, along with advice and information on the better hotels.
Taganga
Those seeking something a little more laid back should consider the nearby fishing village of Taganga. Taganga is a more laid back village, and just outside of Santa Marta itself. The village is in a pretty bay, and there is a pleasant beach on which to relax. There's a few pretty small beaches nearby, and some beautiful coastal walks. Taganga is also an excellent place to organise a scuba diving course in Colombia.
Taganga is one of Colombia's top backpacker hangouts. It's Santa Marta's "alternative" little brother as such. Reading other guidebooks you might be lead to believe that this is a peaceful idyllic fishing village - maybe it was like this 10 years ago, but it's not now. Vendors will hassle you on the beach, and music blares out of beachside restaurants until late at night. "Laid back" it may be, but peaceful it's not. One final bit of advice - don't drink the water in Taganga as many, many tourists get seriously ill from it (likewise what out for salads and juices).
Santa Marta, officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city in Colombia. It is the capital of the department of Magdalena and the fourth largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and is the oldest surviving city in that country, and second oldest in South America. This city is situated on a bay of the same name and as such, is a prime tourist destination.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Marta
Santa Marta & Rodadero
The beaches are ok, though rather crowded. Nightlife is fun and rowdy, and the city is far busier during the peak domestic tourism season. If you're a man, looking for a Colombian woman, here along with Cali is where you'll probably have most luck. Think "Cancun", but on a smaller, less in-your-face package holiday style, but with far more beautiful Colombian people.
Those who stay in Santa Marta or Taganga usually do so as a launching pad for tours to two of Colombia's real travel highlights - Park Tayrona, and Ciudad Perdida.
Santa Marta HotelsThere's dozens of hotels in Santa Marta, and many are pretty non-descript. I'll only list a few of the better, more interesting ones.
Irotama - a "five star golf resort" that's in an "ecological complex", this option is very good value, and one of Santa Marta's best resorts.
Hotel Mar Azul - a 55 room hotel in the centre of Rodadero.
Mendihuaca Resort - a great option, this isn't actually in Santa Marta, in fact it's just outside of the stunningly beautiful Park Tayrona.
Also consider the chain hotels of Decameron Galeon, the Estellar Santamar and the Sol Arhuaco (a Solar owned hotel).
Santa Marta is a Caribbean resort, while neighbouring Taganga is where backpackers invariably opt to stay. Details on each follow, along with advice and information on the better hotels.
Taganga
Those seeking something a little more laid back should consider the nearby fishing village of Taganga. Taganga is a more laid back village, and just outside of Santa Marta itself. The village is in a pretty bay, and there is a pleasant beach on which to relax. There's a few pretty small beaches nearby, and some beautiful coastal walks. Taganga is also an excellent place to organise a scuba diving course in Colombia.
Taganga is one of Colombia's top backpacker hangouts. It's Santa Marta's "alternative" little brother as such. Reading other guidebooks you might be lead to believe that this is a peaceful idyllic fishing village - maybe it was like this 10 years ago, but it's not now. Vendors will hassle you on the beach, and music blares out of beachside restaurants until late at night. "Laid back" it may be, but peaceful it's not. One final bit of advice - don't drink the water in Taganga as many, many tourists get seriously ill from it (likewise what out for salads and juices).
If you want peace and beautiful beaches head to nearby Tayrona Park.
Taganga Hotels & Hostels
Techos Azules is a great little hostel with fantastic views over the bay of Taganga - the only drawback is that it's a 5 minute walk from the town itself. It's great value though.
Casa Felipe is one of Taganga's most well established hostels, and is very popular with backpackers.
Ballena Azul is supposedly one of best hotels in Taganga, with a fine beachfront location.
Taganga Hotels & Hostels
Techos Azules is a great little hostel with fantastic views over the bay of Taganga - the only drawback is that it's a 5 minute walk from the town itself. It's great value though.
Casa Felipe is one of Taganga's most well established hostels, and is very popular with backpackers.
Ballena Azul is supposedly one of best hotels in Taganga, with a fine beachfront location.
There's dozens of other accommodation options, most of which are basic but clean, throughout Taganga. Just turn up and pick one that takes your fancy.
*Este texto fue tomado de la pagina Paisatours.com. Note: Paisatours.com does not offer any travel related services - they are not a tour operator, nor a travel agency. Simply put, this is Colombia's only dedicated online travel guide.
Santa Marta is South America's
oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city
on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Despite its long history and charming
center, it gets a bad rap from many travelers, who rightly cite its
unsightly urban sprawl and terrible traffic as reasons not to hang about
here. The secret to Santa Marta is to use it for what it does well:
hotels, restaurants and bars, and then get out to the slew of superb
destinations nearby during the daytime.
http://www.santamartaincaribe.inmo.co/
come and Buy real estate in Santa Marta Colombia!
http://colombia-caribe-travel.blogspot.com/
Colombia Trip Advisors.
