GENERAL INFORMATION

Capital: Santa Marta
Altitude: 6 meters ( Santa Marta )
Temperature: 28 degrees C
Population: 320.000
Economy: Tourism, fishing, commerce
Telephone prefix: 5
Getting there: Air, land or sea
Distance and time to Bogotá:
Land: 965 km
Air: 1 hour 25 minutes

Santa Marta was founded in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas. It's a beautiful and safe bay on the Atlantic Coast. The capital of the department of Magdalena, Santa Marta is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the country -- because of its colonial buildings, its hotel infrastructure, picturesque landscape, white-sand beaches, and nearby national parks like the Tayrona Park and the majestic Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta.

ATTRACTIONS

HISTORICAL - CULTURAL

QUINTA DE SAN PEDRO ALEJANDRINO: Constructed in 1608, 5 km from Santa Marta, is a home with historical precedence and great importance. In one of its bedrooms, Simon Bolivar died on December 17, 1830. Declared Patriotic Sanctuary, the Bolivariano Museum has been set up as well.

PUEBLITO CHAIRAMA: Foundation of a pre Colombian city made up of a complex of terraces communicated by mud streets and an exemplar aqueduct system. Here you can appreciate the creativity and intellectual development of the Tayrona Culture. Cultural Patrimony of Colombia and is part of Tayrona National Natural Park.

CIUDAD PERDIDA: Located in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, the Lost City is one of the most interesting archeological places in Latin America. A result of the vast engineering and agricultural knowledge of the Tayrona Indians known as "Buritica 200" or "The Lost City." It's a complex of terraces and mud streets that communicated it between other villages -- retention walls, water deposits, a complex sewer system and aqueduct and more.

In this pre-hispanic culture, traces of over 200 urban settlements were discovered in the jungle. The Lost City is located in the middle of a region filled with brooks and creeks. Getting here takes several days on a guided trip. The trip to the city, done on food, will take approximately 1 week to get there and back. To go to the "Lost City", you need to get special permits from the Environmental Ministry and the Institute of Anthropological Investigations. Excursions can be planed from Santa Marta. You MUST go with guides and we recommend that you ask about the political situation in the area before heading out for "The Lost City" as it is a "high risk" zone in Colombia.

ARQUITECTURE

CASTILLO DE SAN FERNANDO: Military architecture, the castle belongs to the Córdoba Battalion. Constructed in 1725 by Spaniards it was a fortress to protect against pirates and buccaneers that constantly tried to sack the city. To visit this spectacular site, you'll need permission from the Battalion Commander.

SANTO DOMINGO CONVENT: Now-restored, it's in great shape. Constructed in the XVIII century, it's now where the Historical Academy of Santa Marta works.

RELIGIOUS

MAMATOCO CHURCH : On the face of the church, the bell tower looks like it has two independent horns because of the molding.

CATHEDRAL. Known as the Minor Basilica, it's construction took 30 years. In the great mausoleum the ashes of Don Rodrigo de Bastidas are kept -- the city founder.

LOOKOUTS

TAGANGA: On the road that goes to Taganga, you can stop and look out at the splendor of the Bay.

 

NATURE

EL RODADERO BEACH: Dry woods, marine fauna, beautiful seascapes, the city, the ocean, mountains and islands -- a perfect place to visit. Urban transportation every 15 minutes between Rodadero and Santa Marta. Interdepartmental between Rodadero, Ciénaga and Barranquilla. Turquoise, crystal cold waters and white-sand beaches.

TAGANGA BAY: Fisherman's village with seascapes, beaches, mountains, desserts, marine fauna, diversity, good fishing, deep blue, quiet waters and more. Its known for its gastronomy and different restaurants where you can enjoy the most exquisite marine foods. Taganga is one of the most important scuba diving centers of the Colombian Caribbean.

CONCHA BAY: Landscapes, seascapes, beaches and mountains, wild flowers, fish, diversity of birds, blue, cold waters. It has water and electricity, and the access roads are open to transportation.

SALAMANCA ISLAND : Located in the old estuary of Magdalena, today Salamanca Island is a Natural National Park with 21,000 hectares of great natural richness.

TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK: The foothills of the Sierra Nevada extend their arms to the sea, forming a complex system of rocky cliffs, coves, inlets that create a landscape that's paradisiacal of white-sand beaches.

SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA: This mountainous landmass is the highest in the world on the shores of the sea, independent of the Andes Mountain Range. It's a natural park of great importance for humanity and ancestral territory of the Tayrona Culture, inhabited by the Koguis and Azarios.

MUSEUMS

BOLIVARIANO SAN PEDRO ALEJANDRINO MUSEUM: The contemporary museum of Bolivariano art is a non-profit organization whose goal is to exhibit, preserve, and protect works of art as well as the promotion and realization of seminaries and other complementary events.

MODERN-DAY ARCHITECTURE AND EVENTS

THE AQUARIUM: Located on the outside of the city, it has a great variety of marine fauna, especially known for its dolphins and sharks.

ACTIVITIES

CONGRESS AND CONVENTIONS

For its ample hotel infrastructure, Santa Marta is an excellent destination for congresses and conventions.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

FESTIVAL OF CAIMÁN: In February, the Ciénaga population celebrates this popular festival. It's an interesting folkloric meeting.

FESTIVAL OF THE CUMBIA: This festival is celebrated in July in El Banco. Dances, music, and unedited songs create part of this contest and celebration honoring the music of the coast and this special rhythm.

FIESTAS DEL MAR: In August, Santa Marta holds the popular sea festivals with parades, aquatic exhibitions, music of the region, and the Queen of the Sea beauty pageant.

SUN AND BEACH

The privileged location of one of the most beautiful bays in America has made Santa Marta one of the principal sun and Caribbean beach destinations. The bay, the Rodadero, and Tayrona Park offer the tourist white sandy beaches and green-blue crystal waters.

ECO TOURISM

34 km from Santa Marta on the Caribbean Road that goes to Rioacha, you will find the Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona that has an excellent hotel infrastructure where the visitor can comfortably enjoy options of staying in the cabins (called eco-habs), camping, and spend an unforgettable vacation in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

GASTRONOMY

The food from the Caribbean coast is based on fruits of the sea -- though excellent meats are also available that come from the Savannas of Bogota. The most popular foods here, among others, are coconut rice, egg arepas, fried plantain, casaba, and stuffed potato.

TRANSPORTATION

Air:
Airport
Airport Simón Bolívar : tel. 422-4604, 422-4490

Commercial Airlines:
Avianca
Satena
Aerorepublica

Land
Bus Station : ( Buses, taxis ):
Bus Station: Variante Gaira-Matamoco. Tl. : 430-2040 - 208297

 

COMMUNICATION