The Caribbean side of Colombia is easy to plan once you accept that it has three natural bases: Cartagena in the west, Santa Marta in the middle and the Guajira desert in the far northeast. Most trips of a week or ten days stick to the first two. Here’s how to divide your time and what to add if you have extra days.
Choosing your bases
Cartagena (3 nights). The city has the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife on the coast. The walled Old Town is atmospheric but pricey, while Getsemaní next door is livelier and cheaper. Do the fortress and walls in the cool early morning. The city is also the easiest place to arrange boat trips to the Rosario Islands.
Santa Marta (2 nights). The city itself is functional, but it’s the gateway to everything else. Choose a hotel near the Rodadero or the historic center, and use it as a base for day trips.
Minca (1–2 nights). If you prefer cooler air and birdsong to beaches, a night or two in the hills above Santa Marta makes a good break. Walk to the waterfalls at Marinka and Pozo Azul, and look for toucans at dawn.
Tayrona National Park (1 night). Sleeping inside the park, whether in a hammock at Cabo San Juan or in a lodge near the entrances, means you can reach the beaches early, before the day crowds arrive. Book ahead in high season.
Palomino (1–2 nights). Quieter than Santa Marta, with a long beach and the option to float down the river on an inner tube.
A ten-day outline
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Cartagena: walls, Getsemaní, fortress |
| 4 | Boat to the Rosario Islands, overnight |
| 5 | Return to Cartagena, bus or flight to Santa Marta |
| 6–7 | Minca or Santa Marta |
| 8 | Tayrona, overnight |
| 9–10 | Palomino, then onward from Santa Marta or Riohacha |
If you only have a week, cut the islands overnight and drop Palomino.
Add-ons if you have more time
Mompox. A sleepy river town on the Magdalena, inland from Cartagena. The colonial streets are well preserved and almost empty of tourists. Plan at least two nights, and note the journey takes most of a day by road and boat.
San Andrés. This island sits much closer to Nicaragua than Colombia, about 1h45 by plane from Cartagena. The sea is famous for its “seven shades of blue.” It suits beach time and diving more than sightseeing.
La Guajira and Cabo de la Vela. Desert meets sea in Colombia’s northeastern tip. The area is home to the Wayuu people, and the landscape is stark and beautiful. Travel here is slow and rough, and trips are best booked with a local operator.
Barranquilla Carnival. One of Latin America’s biggest festivals, held in February or March in the four days before Ash Wednesday. If you plan to go, book months ahead.
Moving around
- Cartagena to Santa Marta: Bus, about four to five hours. Shared shuttles are available but not necessarily faster.
- Santa Marta to Tayrona: Local buses leave regularly, about 45 minutes to an hour to the main entrance.
- Internal flights connect Cartagena and Santa Marta with Bogotá, Medellín and other cities. Santa Marta’s airport is small and close to the center.
Budget and timing
The coast is cheaper than Bogotá or Medellín for lodging if you stay outside the Old Town, but beaches and island trips add up fast. Expect hostels and simple guesthouses at modest prices, boutique hotels in Cartagena at several times that.
The dry season (December to March) is best for beaches and hiking. September to November brings the heaviest rain, although mornings are often clear. Humidity is constant, so pack light clothes, a rain jacket and reef-safe sunscreen.
If you want to learn more about the coast’s highlights, see our must-see list, the best time to visit, and the broader South America travel guide.