national park
Tayrona National Park
A stunning Caribbean coastal park where dense jungle meets golden beaches backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
29 km · about 35 min drive
South AmericaColombiaMagdalena Department
Santa Marta
Magdalena Department, Colombia · South America
About Santa Marta
Santa Marta is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Ciénaga, 29km from Tayrona National Park.
Santa Marta is in Magdalena Department, Colombia, with about 500,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Ciénaga, about 26 km away.
Santa Marta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsanta ˈmaɾta]), officially the Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta (English: Historic, Cultural & Tourist District of Santa Marta), is a port city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is renowned in Latin American as the place of death ofRead more
Simón Bolívar.
Santa Marta is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fourth-largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was one of the first Spanish settlements in Colombia, its oldest surviving city, and second-oldest in South America. This city is situated on a bay by the same name and as such, it is a prime tourist destination in the Caribbean region.
The Universidad del Magdalena is located in Santa Marta. Santa Marta's flag consists of two colors: white and blue. White symbolises peace, in that all are united without restriction. Blue symbolises the sky, the sea, the magic found in the horizon, and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. The Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta is one of the oldest structures in the city. Built in the eighteenth century, it held the remains of Bastidas and Bolívar after their deaths.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Santa Marta?
Within an hour or so of Santa Marta: Tayrona National Park (29 km), Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) (37 km).
Where is Santa Marta?
Santa Marta is in Magdalena Department, Colombia, about 26 km from Ciénaga.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 499,192
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Colombia
- Region
- Magdalena Department
- Timezone
- America/Bogota
- Coordinates
- 11.2386, -74.1943
Tags
Worth the detour from Santa Marta
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Ciudad Perdida (Lost City)
An ancient city built around 800 AD in the Sierra Nevada, older than Machu Picchu and reached only by a multi-day jungle trek.
37 km · about 40 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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