Santa Marta and Tayrona National Natural Park, Bahia Concha, Colombia.

Santa Marta colombiaExplore colombiaTayrona National natural parkBahia concha

Jul 14

Written By Leelush

Walking the boardwalk of Santa Marta, Colombia.

Santa Marta is the gateway city to the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Santa Marta is located in the Magdalena Department. It is the 4th largest urban city of the Caribbean region of Colombia.

Enjoying the sunset in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The beautiful beach of Santa Marta, Colombia.

Exploring Santa Marta is a must for tourism and for researchers who are interested in the indigenous tribes of this region. Santa Marta is a port city on the coast of the Caribbean. While staying there you can enjoy the Caribbean Sea as well as visiting special beaches such as Bahia Concha in Tayrona Natural Park.

Lively markets in the city center of Santa Marta, Colombia.

Street vendors in the boardwalk of Santa Marta, Colombia. — Fresh fruit juices in the boardwalk of Santa Marta, Colombia.

Typical Colombian arepa prepared fresh in the city center of Santa Marta, Colombia.

We have visited Santa Marta a few times. I love this city for its colourful colonial houses in the historical center and the livelihood of the markets. Waking up in the morning and swimming in the sea, which is 5 minutes walking from the historic city, you can witness the city alive early in the morning. At 5 am many habitants and tourists are already running on the boardwalk or swimming in the sea. The area of Santa Marta itself also offers the nightlife which is full of restaurants, bars and clubs. Very famous club that the locals enjoy as well as tourists in the historic center is the rooftop of La Brisa Loca. This club is located in the historical center area of many bars and restaurants.

Strolling the historical center of Santa Marta, Colombia.

Enjoying an evening night out in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Santa Marta is a hub for tourism as well as business. Many events are taking place in Santa Marta to promote the eco-economic of the region. The economy consists of primary agriculture, cultivating corn, bananas, coffee, coca leaves, cassava, yucca and other local vegetables. In Santa Marta, you can find many coffee products and enjoy arepa and cassava drink, which is typical drink of Colombians. The locals in Santa Marta are busy with fishing and you can enjoy a variety of seafood offered in the local restaurants for a $5 meal.

Agriculture product of Santa Marta region, coffee beans.

Good times playing pool in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Additionally, you can interact with the indigenous from the Kogi tribe, who are offering their authentic artisanal as well as pottery, clothing and mochillas made of natural materials. The famous center square has the statue of Simon Bolivar, who was the liberator of much of South America. He spent his last week of life in Santa Marta and died in that region. Simon Bolivar was buried in the Cathedral of Santa Marta but his remains were later on moved to Caracas, Venezuela.

The Kogi Indigenous tribe in Santa Marta and their unique hand-made mochillas.

While in Santa Marta, we took day trips to Tayrona National Natural Park, located nearby. Tayrona National Natural Park is very famous for tourism, as well as for the local Colombians. There are different entrances located in various parts of the park. We visited the Bahia Concha entrance, which is one of the closest entrances to Tayrona Park from Santa Marta. This entrance is not recommended to tourists to get there as it is complicated and you have to go through specific neighbourhoods and only with a moto-taxi. We were lucky as we spent the day with a group of local Colombians from Barranquilla.

Welcome to Bahia Concha, Tayrona National Natural Park in Colombia.

The gorgeous Bahia Concha in Tayrona National Natural Park, Colombia.

I enjoyed Santa Marta very much. Highly recommended to visit. I felt safe and I had a chance to meet many tourists as well as locals and indigenous from the Kogi tribe and Monteria.