Beaches Around Santa Marta,
Colombia
Warm and Welcoming.

The beaches of Santa Marta are exceptional around the many coves and inlets along the Caribbean coast. The scenery is also very impressive and you should get a lot of good photos and bring back many happy memories at this exceptional location.

I have a few of my favorites that I believe gives them the nod for different reasons, these are the best beaches for what I like, and that is have a little bit of variety.

When you are at the more popular and populated areas you won't have to pack a lunch due to the many vendors walking up and down the shoreline, the food and drinks will find you, you won't have to look.Santa Marta doesn't have to be expensive though, you can find many economical ways to enjoy your stay here without paying the big bucks for hotels, food and things to do.

With heat and sunshine most days of the year swimming and sunbathing are always in season. The city is a popular spot mostly due to it's location.

You can still find many old buildings, places that have earned their place in the sun and gives the city a certain charm, it's natural historical beauty would be hard to replace.

The Colombian Constitution declared Santa Marta a tourism, cultural, and historical district in 1991

The water is warm all year along the coast, it's a great place for swimming, canoeing, scuba diving, snorkeling, eco-tourism is thriving as it's a great natural setting. A good number of the seaside locations are in Tayrona Park, a national park, so it will not be developed in the future. Some locations were used by pirates in the olden days coming in on warm Tradewinds. John Hawkins and Francis Drake were through this area, Christopher Columbus stopped at Arricifes which he called "Heaven on Earth". This coastal area has historically been referred to as the Spanish Main stretching from Panama to the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

Coastal Areas Around Santa Marta

• Are world class, in Tayrona Park they are protected from development.
• Newly installed free WiFi along the downtown El Rodadero shoreline.
• Good and inexpensive scuba diving, snorkeling, also boating, sports fishing.
• The waters are warm, the air is hot, every day.
• You can enjoy isolation or be in the center of the action.
• Swim, enjoy restaurants, have a drink or go for a jog, lots of choices
• Always festivities happening along the sea, along with music and dance.
• Santa Marta and El Rodadero have dog friendly beaches.

Tayrona Park

Tayrona Park you will definately put on your return to list and should not be missed as the locations are very beautiful and secluded.

Discriptions and Locations

Bello Horizonte, is between El Rodadero and the airport, located to the west of Santa Marta. This area has many of the larger resorts.

Playa Irotama del Sol

• Beautiful secluded location
• Close to very nice resorts
• Quiet

Playa Salguero

• Just down from Playa Rodadero
• More secluded
• Very nice sand
• Great views

Playa Rodadero

Playa Rodadero, lots of activity, music, moms and dads chasing their kids, this is truly great fun. In this photo, there is a water slide for the kids where the small hill is located on the shoreline. You can buy real and healthy food and juices, along the coast, the vendors all come to you, your money goes to the local economy.

• The small city of El Rodadero is built along the coastline.
• Lifeguards
• Newly installed free WiFi so you can surf after your swim
• Nice sand
• Carpa Rentals (Open Tent) About $10.00 a day, Umbrella $2.50 a day, Chair Rentals $1.50 a day
• See Location

Playa Blanca

Boats are coming and going to this location all day from El Rodadero as there are no roads to the sea, it takes about 15 minutes to get there. This is a nice beach to spend some time, there are some vendors if you want a drink or something to eat, the only restrooms that I found are at the restaurant though so if you are drinking lots of liquids plan on spending some money on a table.

Playa Grande

We did this excursion from Hotel Sansirika located in El Rodadero. It got off to a rocky start as the excursion started about an hour and a half late, we finally did get going though, better late than never.We loaded up with beer for the trip and had a great time getting there in our open air Chiva. The trip brought us through El Rodadero, then Santa Marta, finally arriving in Taganga, it took about 3 beer to get there or about an hour.

Caution, do not undertake a trip like this in Canada, first of all you will freeze any month you choose, secondly, the only people that will have fun are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who would have a delightful time pouring all of your beer out onto the ground. You might even do jail time for such an onerous infraction of Canadian Law, if you stay with Colombia you will be safe from arrest.

Once at Taganga we were directed to a boat that brought us to Playa Grande, about a 10 minute ride. We were there for the rest of the day and had a truly wonderful day with great food, warm water and warm air temperatures.

Playa Bahia Concha
Closest to Santa Marta after Taganga

• Calm waters
• Access Roads
• Water, Electricity
• Camp

• Beautiful crystal clear waters
• White sand
• Coral reefs
• Great place to snorkel
• Tropical forests down to the sea

Playa Gairaca

Playa Siete Olas

We viewed Siete Olas or Seven Waves from a hill on a bus tour, so we did not spend anytime on the beach. People do not swim here as there are some very strong undertows that have apparently caused a number of people to drown. Safe beaches for swimming are not very far away though.

• Very pretty
• Heavy undercurrents
• Avoid swimming here

Playa Neguange

• Lovely Area
• Access by road from Palangana
• Peaceful Waters

Playa del Muerto, also called Playa Cristal.

Playa Cinto

Guachaquita

Palmarito

Aguahonda Deep Water

Playa Brava

Cabo San Juan De Guia

• This is an unforgettable location.
• Camp
• Restaurant
• Beer and Drinks available at local prices, Viva Colombia!

La Piscina

The Piscina is one of the best all around beaches, as it is protected by a reef there are no undercurrents or rip tides, everything is calm which makes it an excellent beach for swimming and sunbathing. You won't get a chill when you come out of the water as the temperature is always consistent, 82˚- 86˚F or 28˚- 30˚C.

Arricifes

Here's what one visitor had to say about Arricifes when he stopped there.

"Heaven On Earth" Christopher Columbus.

• Swimming not recommended
• Bathroom facilities

"For More Beautiful Caribbean Shorelines"

Whether protected by reefs or lashed by surf, enclosed by lagoons, secluded or trendy magnificent stretches on the edge of posh ocean-side resorts Caribbean-beaches are among the most renowned beaches in the world. The many secluded and remote beaches provide a perfect setting for a romantic getaway or honeymoon.

Travel to the beaches of San Juan Island, Washington, for another look at the variety and beauty of the Washington State coastline. Come visit!

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