Guidebook for Santa Marta
Food Scene
Tips and reviews on a few of our fave spots to eat
Iconic spot for seafood and typical Colombian Caribbean cuisine. A personal favorite is the Ceviche de Aji Amarillo. Cayeye, a very distinct part of the local diet, is served there with a fish fillet, also highly recommended. Only opens for lunch, not at night.
Owner, the place’s namesake, is usually in attendance, and is a legend on its own besides being first cousin to the M-19 first commander, Jaime Bateman Cayón.
26 locals recommend
Restaurante Mañe Cayon
26-37 Cra. 1aIconic spot for seafood and typical Colombian Caribbean cuisine. A personal favorite is the Ceviche de Aji Amarillo. Cayeye, a very distinct part of the local diet, is served there with a fish fillet, also highly recommended. Only opens for lunch, not at night.
Owner, the place’s namesake, is usually in attendance, and is a legend on its own besides being first cousin to the M-19 first commander, Jaime Bateman Cayón.
Josefina La Comida de siempre
Calle 22A celebration of local food.
Best spot in town, overall. A bit pricey, but service is excepcional, and the food always good. They have a brick oven and are great at deliveries.
116 locals recommend
Ouzo
19-29 Cra. 3Best spot in town, overall. A bit pricey, but service is excepcional, and the food always good. They have a brick oven and are great at deliveries.
Pain au chocolat, eclair, croissants, napoleon… Mica was the french cook behind this lovely restaurant/coffee. Late breakfast, lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays.
52 locals recommend
La Azotea
4 - 80 Cl. 14Pain au chocolat, eclair, croissants, napoleon… Mica was the french cook behind this lovely restaurant/coffee. Late breakfast, lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays.
Best breakfasts in town. Opens daily (at 8 Mond to Fri, at 9 Sat and Sund. Closed on Wednesdays) Good coffee, great juices.
72 locals recommend
Lulo Cafe Bar
16-34 Cra. 3Best breakfasts in town. Opens daily (at 8 Mond to Fri, at 9 Sat and Sund. Closed on Wednesdays) Good coffee, great juices.
Great piscos and amazing cayeye con gallina de aji amarillo. Enyucao and ice cream for dessert. Nevermind the decor or the music, this is supposed to be on of the top places in town.
25 locals recommend
Rocoto
#19-15 Cra. 2Great piscos and amazing cayeye con gallina de aji amarillo. Enyucao and ice cream for dessert. Nevermind the decor or the music, this is supposed to be on of the top places in town.
Healthy meals in this newish brunch themes restaurant. Many delicious things on the menu, trust!
Munchies Brunch
Healthy meals in this newish brunch themes restaurant. Many delicious things on the menu, trust!
Charlie might be the most unforgettable host in town. An outright character. Usually wearing a Madrid jersey. Cazuela de mariscos and sea food is the specialty. Not many tourists in this downtown classic. Only opens for lunch.
Restaurante Welcome
2 - 11 Cl. 10cCharlie might be the most unforgettable host in town. An outright character. Usually wearing a Madrid jersey. Cazuela de mariscos and sea food is the specialty. Not many tourists in this downtown classic. Only opens for lunch.
Drinks & Nightlife
Big Nayo is the resident DJ. Used to be at La Puertas. If he’s on deck, dance floor will be lit. Can’t beat an open skies setup.
52 locals recommend
La Azotea
4 - 80 Cl. 14Big Nayo is the resident DJ. Used to be at La Puertas. If he’s on deck, dance floor will be lit. Can’t beat an open skies setup.
Parks & Nature
This place is probably why you heard of Santa Marta in the first place. One of Colombia's most popular natural parks, it is composed by a handful of bays and caps, and a variety of beaches that is unparalleled in the country. It was a sacred place for the indigenous inhabitants of the land.
522 locals recommend
Tayrona National Natural Park
This place is probably why you heard of Santa Marta in the first place. One of Colombia's most popular natural parks, it is composed by a handful of bays and caps, and a variety of beaches that is unparalleled in the country. It was a sacred place for the indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Bahía Concha is the closest beach of Tayrona Park to the city of Santa Marta. Its 12 km away from the city center, and you can bike there, its a very cool trek, doesn't take too long neither is it too difficult. Since it's so close to the city, tends to be very crowded on weekends, specially during the high season.
113 locals recommend
Bahia Concha
Bahía Concha is the closest beach of Tayrona Park to the city of Santa Marta. Its 12 km away from the city center, and you can bike there, its a very cool trek, doesn't take too long neither is it too difficult. Since it's so close to the city, tends to be very crowded on weekends, specially during the high season.
The river is gorgeous, and the beach around its river mouth is very touristy. Lots of beach hostels and eco lodges in the area. You can go tubbing in the river, highly recommended.
89 locals recommend
Palomino
The river is gorgeous, and the beach around its river mouth is very touristy. Lots of beach hostels and eco lodges in the area. You can go tubbing in the river, highly recommended.
Minca
Great for birdwatching.
This is a Museum and a Botanical Garden. The place where Simón Bolívar died, but also where some of the original nature of the place has been preserved. Santa Marta's most beautiful trees are there.
353 locals recommend
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Avenida El LibertadorThis is a Museum and a Botanical Garden. The place where Simón Bolívar died, but also where some of the original nature of the place has been preserved. Santa Marta's most beautiful trees are there.
Shopping
Buenavista Shopping Center
Food court, supermarket, movie theaters.
Getting Around
Mamatoco Round Point – Buses and cars to Minca, Tayrona, Palomino and other beaches and rivers around Santa Marta.
8 locals recommend
Mamatoco
Mamatoco Round Point – Buses and cars to Minca, Tayrona, Palomino and other beaches and rivers around Santa Marta.
The buses to Tayrona Park, Palomino and other beaches north of Santa Marta leave from a station close to the city market. Every 15-20 minutes. Bus fare varies from 2 to 5 USD. Last bus leaves around 5.30 pm. First bus departs before 6.00.
22 locals recommend
Public Market Santa Marta
Carrera 9The buses to Tayrona Park, Palomino and other beaches north of Santa Marta leave from a station close to the city market. Every 15-20 minutes. Bus fare varies from 2 to 5 USD. Last bus leaves around 5.30 pm. First bus departs before 6.00.
Terminal de Transportes de Santa Marta station
31-17 Cl. 41Sightseeing
La estatua del Pibe Valderrama, al lado del estadio del Unión Magdalena, que lleva ya varios años sin conocer un partido de su equipo pues no cumple con los requisitos mínimos. El Ciclón Banaero juega de local en Ciénaga, y lo ha hecho también en Riohacha.
7 locals recommend
Estadio Eduardo Santos
16-54 Cra. 18La estatua del Pibe Valderrama, al lado del estadio del Unión Magdalena, que lleva ya varios años sin conocer un partido de su equipo pues no cumple con los requisitos mínimos. El Ciclón Banaero juega de local en Ciénaga, y lo ha hecho también en Riohacha.
If you know football, you know who El Pibe Valderrama is. The most iconic Colombian player of all times was born in Santa Marta and played for its team, el Unión Magdalena.
22 locals recommend
Monument to El Pibe
16-54 Cra. 18If you know football, you know who El Pibe Valderrama is. The most iconic Colombian player of all times was born in Santa Marta and played for its team, el Unión Magdalena.