Santa Marta

Where to stay

Most budget hostels cluster in the historic center, within a few blocks of Parque de los Novios, where you can walk to the beach and catch onward transport without a taxi. Taganga, a small fishing bay about 15 minutes north by bus, tends to run cheaper and suits travelers who want direct beach access and a slower pace.

Getting around

• Collectivo buses to Taganga leave from the northern edge of the historic center for a few pesos. A taxi covers the same route for roughly ten times that price.
• Tayrona National Park caps daily visitors and weekends between December and January sell out well in advance. Book your entry online before you leave Santa Marta, not at the gate.
• Shared jeeps up to Minca depart in the morning from the market area in the centro for a cheap fare. The town sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills and runs noticeably cooler than the coast, which matters if you arrive in the middle of a heat stretch.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest during the rainy months of May and October. Beds fill fast from late December through January and again in July, when Colombian families on school break and international backpackers arrive at the same time.