Get to know the centre of Santa Marta and visit its surroundings with this private tour. Discover the rich heritage of this Colombian city!
Tour Options
When booking, you'll be able to choose one of the following options. Each option includes a private and exclusive English-speaking guide, no one else will be in your group:
3-Hour Tour
We'll pick you up from your hotel and head to Parque de los Novios, a haven of tranquillity at the heart of the city. This urban area is the best spot to get to know Santa Marta's history as we walk amongst its statues and colourful gardens.
We'll then arrive at the Santa Marta Cathedral to admire its late 18th-century neogothic facade. After this, we'll head over to the Tairona Gold Museum. Ready to travel back to the peak of pre-Columbian splendour?
The museum is located on the site of the first Spanish settlement in Santa Marta. As we walk through its different rooms, we'll learn about the cultural heritage of the indigenous tribes that populated this area of Colombia. We'll review their legacy through metallurgical objects, gold jewellery and articles of daily life.
After this, we'll stroll along the boardwalk and Santa Marta Bay, enjoying views of the Caribbean Sea and bustling port. If we're lucky, we'll be able to spot some playful dolphins who like to stay close to the coastline. The perfect way to end this tour!
5-Hour Tour
If you would like to spend more time enjoying this coastal city, you'll be able to choose the 5-hour tour option. If this is the case, we'll folow the same route as in the 3-hour tour, but after visiting the boardwalk and Santa Marta Bay, we'll then make our way to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. Ready to discover what it's all about?
Upon arriving, we'll visit one of Santa Marta's oldest haciendas (estates). Dating back to the 17th century, it's also home to a colonial mansion, the Museum of Contemporary Art, a botanical garden, and the iconic Altar de la Patria. Explore its colonial architecture and dense vegetation!
After this, we'll head to the vibrant public market where we'll discover the true essence of Santa Marta. Here, you'll have the chance to buy some food and sample local ingredients. Finally, we'll go to El Rodadero Beach, north of the Garia district. Time to relax with some gorgeous views of the Caribbean and Pelican Island!
8-Hour Tour
Looking for more? Totally understandable! To get to know this fascinating region of Columbia even further, you have the choice of an 8-hour tour. With this option, we'll follow the routes previously outlined before taking it one step further and also visiting either Taganga or Minca. We'll let you decide!
If you fancy exploring Taganga, we'll take a quick 20-minute drive. Once we arrive, you'll have some free time on the beach where you can grab yourself some lunch and enjoy the sea breeze with views of Taganga Bay in the background.
If, on the other hand, you'd prefer to visit the village of Minca, we'll take a 45-minute drive away from the coast. Once we arrive, you'll get to enjoy the fresh air of Santa Marta's Sierra Nevada mountain range. Here, we can either go to the Marinka Waterfalls and swim in the natural pools in the middle of the jungle, or visit a coffee farm to learn about Columbian coffee—your pick once again!
Additional Info
If you prefer, you can book a private tour without transport. In this case, we'll meet you at the starting point in front of the Tairona Gold Museum.
Advantages of Booking a Private Tour
By booking a private tour, a personal guide will accompany you, and you'll be able to customize your itinerary, travel at your own pace, and even save money if you're traveling in a larger group!
View complete description
