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Home / Travel Tips

Cartagena to Santa Marta

Travel Tips Last Updated · Dec 9th, 2022 · Daniel James

cartagena to santa marta

Do you need some help getting from Cartagena to Santa Marta?

Keep reading as I’m going to show you the best way to Santa Marta so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Cartagena is a great landing point for your entry to Colombia and is a strategic point to get to the other parts of Colombia that lie on the Caribbean coast.

Santa Marta is a gorgeous city that you’ll find less touristic than Cartagena and is a great base to travel to other tourist spots in Colombia, such as Tayrona National Park and Minca.

Table of Contents

  • Cartagena to Santa Marta
    • Cartagena to Santa Marta Map
    • From Cartagena to Santa Marta Ticket Advice
  • Where to Stay in Santa Marta
    • Drop Bear Hostel
  • Best Things to do in Santa Marta
    • Head over to Crystal Beach
    • Cultural Activities
      • 🔗 Wanna stay Connected in Colombia!?
    • Visit the Museo del Oro
    • Parque de los Novios
    • Take a stroll Along Paseo El Camellon
    • Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?
  • Get from Cartagena to Santa Marta

Cartagena to Santa Marta

So, with that said, let’s look at the information you’ll need to know to be able to get to Santa Marta from Cartagena.

If you prefer to take public transport in Colombia and don’t mind traveling by land, you’ll be glad to know this is an easy ride.

Firstly, you’ll need to get over to the main bus station in Cartagena. Before we get into the details of the trip, let’s look at the journey on the map below.

Cartagena to Santa Marta Map

If you’re traveling from within the walled city, the best and more effective way to get the bus station is by taxi.

Expect the taxi to cost between $15,000-20,000. Also, be sure to leave for the bus station early in the morning to avoid any disappointment.

You’ll find that the traffic can be quite bad in Cartagena, especially during peak hours, so it’s worth avoiding the rush hour.

You can get the public bus, but I do not recommend this if you have more than a regular backpack. See my Colombia packing list for ideas!

Also, avoid buying tickets to Santa Marta from the touts you’ll encounter using this method. It’s not worth the hassle!

cartagena to santa marta
You can get the bus to the bus station

The main reason is that your fare, not to mention your safety, will not be guaranteed. Always travel on a certified bus company in Colombia.

From Cartagena to Santa Marta Ticket Advice

I highly using RedBus to reserve your tickets online, which will help you plan your journey from Cartagena to Santa Marta much better.

Here are some crucial things you’ll need to know:

  • Berlinas and MarSol are the well-known companies
  • Most bus companies do not accept debit or credit cards
  • The journey should take between 4-5 hours
  • Expect the ride to get cold due to the air conditioning
  • There’s not heaps of space on the bus/shuttle

Not so important but useful things to know:

  • Some of the buses will stop in Barranquilla for around 15 minutes
  • Some buses stop frequently to let more people get on
  • Always try to pick a seat at the front of the bus

If you are staying in one of the more well-known hostels in Cartagena, you can ask the reception about shuttle transfers to Santa Marta.

cartagena to santa marta by bus
What shuttles look like in Colombia

Expect to pay a premium price as they’ll arrange the collection for you.

The good news is that you can also book through your hostel. Hostels are usually the official sellers of these type of excursions.

Where to Stay in Santa Marta

Have you sorted your accommodation? Here are some of the best places to stay in Santa Marta if you’re staying overnight.

Drop Bear Hostel

best hostels in Santa Marta Colombia

3 reasons to stay here

  • Great party atmosphere
  • Across a bike shop
  • Quiet and clean

Check Latest Price

If you’re looking for a centrally located hostel with party vibes but can provide you with a good and clean room Drop Bear Hostel is perfect!


Here’s a suggestion for Santa Marta if you’re looking for a more luxury style hotel, or you feel like a change from staying in hostels.

Best Things to do in Santa Marta

Whether you’re here to stay or just passing through for the day, here are some of the best things to do in Santa Marta.

Head over to Crystal Beach

Santa Marta is home to some of Colombia’s best beaches.

cartagena to santa marta malecon
Street Vendor in Santa Marta

Depending on how long you have to spend in Santa Marta, there’s a host of other amazing places to feel the sand on your feet in Santa Marta.

Here are a few beaches in Santa Marta I can recommend:

  1. Playa Cristal
  2. Playa del Amor and Playa Gairaca
  3. Playas Chengue y Wachakyta
  4. Playa Neguanje
  5. Bahia Concha

To access some of the beaches, you may need to go through Tayrona Park or at least go past it. Try Costeno beach if you want a more rustic beach experience.

Bear in mind, it takes a fair bit of time to get to Tayrona Park if you’re leaving from the historic center of Santa Marta. Note that the park closes at around 5 PM.

Cultural Activities

Here are some of the cultural things to do in and around Santa Marta that could really enhance your experience.

  • Crystal Beach and Tayrona National Park: Here is a tour you can do if short on time or need some help arranging activities once you arrive.
  • Santa Marta Sightseeing Tour: Another amazing tour you can do set in the heart of Santa Marta. A walk through Tayrona Gold Museum is also included.

Are you undecided whether to do a tour or not?

See my thoughts on taking tours in South America and why they are a good way to connect with people, especially when traveling solo.


🔗 Wanna stay Connected in Colombia!?

Many remote areas in the Colombia have unreliable internet.
central america packing list

Why use a WiFi Hotspot?

  • Super fast global 4G hotspot
  • Instant internet coverage
  • Secure & Shareable

In Colombia the internet can be unreliable. I try to maintain contact with loved ones at all times during travel click here to learn more.


Visit the Museo del Oro

No trip to Santa Marta would be complete without a trip to the gold museum. You can find amazing jewels and crafts from the Tayrona civilization.

cartagena to santa marta
Getting to know Santa Marta in the Morning

You’ll see how beautifully displayed the artifacts are. There are descriptive plaques in both Spanish and English. Plus, it’s free entry.

Parque de los Novios

This is one of the cutest little spots in Santa Marta. In the evening, things really start to liven up.

Expect everything from live music, upmarket restaurants, street food, and shopping. You can also make your way over to Palomino beach from nearby.

This is a central spot and most of the best hostels are located close by. If you like a lively atmosphere, the closer you can stay to the Parque de los Novios the better.

Take a stroll Along Paseo El Camellon

This was one of my favorite places to walk during the evenings. The place is heaving with locals, and you really catch the buzzing vibe of Santa Marta.

cartagena to santa marta
Sip fresh juice on the beach

Situated beside the beach, throughout the day and night, you can find many varieties of street food.

There’s a good selection of meats and mainly seafood restaurants. If you fancy Pizza, you’ll find a decent Italian restaurant.

See More on What to do in Santa Marta

Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?

travel insurance
🔒 World Nomads provides Travel Insurance

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Get from Cartagena to Santa Marta

No matter how you decide to travel to Santa Marta, this guide should have given you the low-down on what to expect.

No need to plan too far ahead to make this trip but sorting your accommodation in Santa Marta before you arrive is recommended.

My advice is not to overthink this one and just enjoy the ride. Be sure to get check out some of the things to do in Minca once you arrive.

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cartagena to santa-marta
cartagena to santa-marta by bus
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Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Colombia, South America

Daniel James

Helping thousands of people worldwide with independent travel in Latin America. Layer Culture means to dig deeper into the ideas, customs, and behavior of a group of people.

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