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Top Things to Do in Santa Marta
We compared all 13 experiences in Santa Marta so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.
4.8 13 experiences
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4-Day Lost City Trek Santa Marta: 1,200 Steps to RuinsYou hike four days through jungle and cloud forest to reach Ciudad Perdida, sleeping in camps and walking past indigenous villages. SENA-trained guides handle the history and anthropology. Pickup from Santa Marta, meals and snacks included, and your luggage can stay behind or be sent ahead — so you only carry what you need for the trail.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to hike to the Lost City with guides who know the region and communities firsthand. Plan for four full days of hiking and jungle living — that's what makes reaching Ciudad Perdida and visiting Kogui villages possible without rushing.
Lost City Trek Santa Marta: 4-Day Sierra Nevada HikeYou hike four days through the Sierra Nevada with a local guide and translator, sleeping in hammocks and tents at three mountain camps. The trek includes all meals, entry to the archaeological zone, and payments to the indigenous Kogi community and local farmers. Expect six to seven hours of walking daily on steep terrain—it's a high-difficulty trek, and that's what makes reaching the ruins feel earned rather than rushed.Is it for me?Right for adventurers with moderate-to-high fitness who want to trek to an actual archaeological site and meet indigenous communities—not a guided walk through a museum. Plan for four full days of hiking on steep mountain terrain in heat and humidity, sleeping in basic camps; that's what makes reaching the Lost City feel like an achievement rather than a tour.
Sailing Tayrona from Santa Marta: Small-Group Cruise & Onboard LunchYou’ll board a sailboat in Santa Marta for a day trip along Tayrona’s coast, passing Isla Aguja before anchoring at Bahía Concha. Swim or snorkel with provided gear, share fresh-grilled fish for lunch onboard, and swap stories with your bilingual guide. The quiet moments drifting near shore stay with you long after you return.
Minca: Waterfalls, Coffee & Cocoa Day Trip from Santa MartaYou’ll hike forest trails near Minca with a local guide, cool off at mountain waterfalls, taste fresh coffee and cocoa right where they’re made, and share lunch in a bamboo house before heading back to Santa Marta—expect muddy shoes and maybe even new friends along the way.
4-Day Lost City Trek Colombia: Climb 1,200 Stone StepsYou hike four days from Santa Marta through the Sierra Nevada jungle, sleeping in camps and passing through Kogui settlements, to reach Ciudad Perdida, an 800-year-old Tayrona city hidden in the mountains. The climb to the ruins involves 1,200 stone steps, and you spend a full morning exploring the terraced platforms before descending and returning to Santa Marta by evening on day four.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to reach an ancient city on foot and have the logistics handled — the camps, meals, and transport are all arranged. Plan for four full days of walking and climbing; the physical demand is what makes reaching a place this remote and preserved actually possible.
Santa Marta: Historic Center Bike Tour & Gold MuseumYou pedal through Santa Marta's oldest neighborhoods, stopping at Bolívar Square, the Tayrona Gold Museum, the 1766 cathedral, and the waterfront promenade—all without arranging your own transport or navigation. The bike and water are provided, and a local guide handles the route and the history, leaving you to focus on the ride and the city itself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Santa Marta's colonial architecture, indigenous heritage, and Caribbean waterfront without renting a bike yourself or figuring out which streets are safe to ride—the guide handles navigation and the history, so you just pedal and look around.
Tayrona: Guided Hike to Cabo San Juan & Kogui CommunityYou’ll hike through Tayrona’s lush forest with a local guide, spot monkeys overhead, meet members of the Kogui community along the trail, and swim at Cabo San Juan’s warm beaches before enjoying lunch by the sea. Expect sweat, laughter, and moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Tayrona by Sea: Cinto, Playa Cristal & Concha Day TourYou’ll drift along Tayrona’s coast by boat with stops at Cinto’s wild beach and Playa Cristal for lunch right on the sand (fish is included). Snorkel in warm bays or just float awhile before finishing up at Bahía Concha for a swim as sunset creeps in. It’s easygoing but full of those moments you’ll want to replay later.
Santa Marta to Cartagena Transfer: Private door-to-door, no busesYou’ll get picked up straight from your Santa Marta hotel by a local driver who knows every turn of the road to Cartagena. There’s space for your luggage, AC in the car (trust me—it matters), and an included stop at Caimán del Río for a real taste of local life. You’ll arrive right at your door in Cartagena feeling oddly refreshed—and maybe craving another arepa.
Bunkuany: 2-Day Sierra Nevada Trek, Beekeeping & WaterfallsYou’ll taste wild honey straight from Sierra Nevada hives, swim beneath Arcoiris waterfall after hiking through dense forest, and walk ancient Tayrona terraces at Bunkuany with a local guide who knows every story behind those mossy stones. This two-day trek includes pickup from Santa Marta, meals featuring regional flavors, and a night sleeping close to nature—hammock or tent under starry skies.
Santa Marta to Barranquilla: Private Transfer & Coastal ViewsYou get picked up from your hotel or airport, driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your next destination, and dropped at your hotel with water provided. The route passes the Ciénaga Grande's fishing villages and takes 5–5.5 hours; lunch stops are available if you need them. Book with both hotel names and any special requests upfront.Is it for me?Book this if you're moving between Santa Marta and Barranquilla and want a fixed price, a private vehicle, and no negotiation at the curb — the driver meets you on arrival and the route is yours alone, which is what makes a long transfer feel less like a transaction.
Minca: Private ATV Tour with Waterfalls & Sierra ViewsYou’ll ride ATVs through lush Sierra Nevada trails from Minca with a local guide, splash under Marinka Waterfalls, relax at Sierra Minca hostel for lunch and mountain views, and return with memories of Colombia’s wild side still fresh in your mind.
Palomino: Paddle Board Tour on River with Pickup & GuideYou’ll feel Palomino’s wild side as you paddle board down its cool river with a local guide leading the way. Expect shaky starts, laughter, and quiet moments surrounded by Colombian nature. With hotel pickup by motorbike and all gear sorted for you, it’s easy to just show up and enjoy something different — even if you’ve never tried paddle boarding before.
