5 Destinations for Family Travel in Santa Marta Colombia

Santa Marta is the second oldest city in South America and due to its proximity to the sea. It is also an important focus of tourism in the country.

Its proximity to the Tayrona National Natural Park is internationally recognized for the beauty of its paradisiacal beaches and for being the snow-capped mountain with the closest proximity to the sea. The city is mainly driven by tourism and has a wide range of hotels and entertainment for travelers who visit the bay. It can also be a city of passage for tourists who want to visit other areas of the country such as the department of La Guajira.

Average temperature

The average temperature in Santa Marta is 27 ° C (80.6 ° F)

Vaccines and recommendations

To travel to Santa Marta you have to be vaccinated against Yellow fever and present your card that certifies it. In addition, it is important that to take care of your health. And that of your family you protect yourself from the sun to avoid burns and dehydration. It is also important that you use insect repellent to avoid bites, especially if you are going to be in jungle or humid areas.

How to get it?

You can travel to Santa Marta by air or by land. There are several international flights that arrive directly to the city or specialized ground transportation services that can take you to the city comfortably and safely from other parts of the country.

It is best to check with several transport companies and airlines. And make a reservation in advance to avoid setbacks when traveling as a family.

To do?

Santa Marta offers its visitors plans in which nature and the beach are the protagonists to enjoy a unique stay in the Colombian Caribbean.

Within the list of activities, the following stand out:

• Visit the Tayrona National Natural Park, which has different beaches with crystal clear water where. In addition to tanning and enjoying the landscape, you can practice diving and snorkeling.
• Take a walk to Ciudad Perdida , an ancient indigenous town of the Tayrona culture with great archaeological value located on top of a mountain in the jungle and discovered in 1976.
• Spend the afternoon in Taganga, a fishermen’s bay where. In addition to enjoying the sun and the beach. You can enjoy lunch or dinner with the catch of the day.
• Get to know Buritaca beach, a natural spectacle since it is the exact point where you can see how the river’s waters flow into the sea.
• Enjoy a tour of emblematic places of the culture of Santa Marta such as the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. The Parque de los Novios, the Cathedral of Santa Marta and the El Camellon promenade

What to eat

• The cuisine of the Colombian Caribbean coast is characterized by always serving fresh fish and other seafood. And the gastronomic offer of Santa Marta is no exception. Fried, stewed, cooked, and roasted fish are part of the menu of most restaurants. As well as other typical dishes such as those that we will mention below.
• Arroz con chipi chipi: A rice similar to the Spanish paella prepared with different seafood. And a special ingredient: the Chipi chipi, a mollusk with a high percentage of protein.
• Tamarind sweets: Traditional sweets that are prepared with tamarind. An exotic fruit typical of the region and very common in cocktails and natural juices.
• Seafood grill: A dish with all the variety of seafood that is extracted in the vicinity of Santa Marta and that is accompanied by tropical fruit juices.

To enjoy with children

Children love to learn new things so visiting the Aquarium and Museum of the Sea is a perfect plan for them. This experience will allow them to learn more about the aquatic fauna that they will probably observe if they decide to do activities such as diving or snorkeling on one of the beaches of Santa Marta.

To enjoy with older adults

You can visit one of the Spas or relaxation centers of the hotel complexes in the area to have a day of rest or receive treatments to relieve ailments and stress.

If you dare to travel with your family to Colombia and you are thinking of starting to plan your trip and organize your budget, our currency converter can be very useful.