Santa Marta and Tayrona guidebook
Santa Marta City food scene
Santa Marta city center food suggestions.
Donde Chucho
2 - 17 Cl. 19Best seafood in town!
Great seafood, mostly locals visit this place, I especially love the shrimp and coconut rice.
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Restaurante Mañe Cayon
26-37 Cra. 1aGreat seafood, mostly locals visit this place, I especially love the shrimp and coconut rice.
Great place located on the city center has seafood, meats and veggie options. A bit pricey!
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Ouzo
19-29 Cra. 3Great place located on the city center has seafood, meats and veggie options. A bit pricey!
Street food favorite. Arepa is a corn and cheese patty like dish which is usually cooked on a banana leaf in a coal grill. Yiya’s is the most famous place in town located near the city center. You can have a plain arepa which will only have cheese ones or you can also pay extra for a chicken or meat filling. They also sell chorizos. It’s a cheap and quick bite. My favorite arepa is made in Rodadero, a street food corner spot called “Donde Millo” it has no sign, it’s just a large coal grill set in the corner of carrera 2 and calle 7, you’ll know you’re there because you’ll se lots of people surrounding the spot. Also very cheap! A delicious option if you’re vegetarian.
Arepas de yiya
23-20 Cra. 3Street food favorite. Arepa is a corn and cheese patty like dish which is usually cooked on a banana leaf in a coal grill. Yiya’s is the most famous place in town located near the city center. You can have a plain arepa which will only have cheese ones or you can also pay extra for a chicken or meat filling. They also sell chorizos. It’s a cheap and quick bite. My favorite arepa is made in Rodadero, a street food corner spot called “Donde Millo” it has no sign, it’s just a large coal grill set in the corner of carrera 2 and calle 7, you’ll know you’re there because you’ll se lots of people surrounding the spot. Also very cheap! A delicious option if you’re vegetarian.
Great option for a quick bite in the city center, their speciality: the arepas, which they serve with all kinds of toppings. Great price - quality.
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Lulo Cafe Bar
16-34 Cra. 3Great option for a quick bite in the city center, their speciality: the arepas, which they serve with all kinds of toppings. Great price - quality.
Located in Rodadero, it’s my favorite pizza place in town! They have an italian wood oven and make napolitano style pizza. Veggie friendly.
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Pizza & Pasta
4-28 Cl. 19aLocated in Rodadero, it’s my favorite pizza place in town! They have an italian wood oven and make napolitano style pizza. Veggie friendly.
If you’re a foodie and like street food I recommend you go to the new fish market located next to the city center. The have vendors who sell local dishes for very little, but you must be used to eating seafood, spiced foods and street food.
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Mercato pubblico di Santa Marta
Carrera 9If you’re a foodie and like street food I recommend you go to the new fish market located next to the city center. The have vendors who sell local dishes for very little, but you must be used to eating seafood, spiced foods and street food.
Best shrimp cocktail in town. They also have ceviches, be sure to try the smoked manta ray, it’s my favorite. You can have a meal there for under for under 10 usd. It’s near the city center in the marina pier.
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Cocteles y Ceviches Emanuel 2
Best shrimp cocktail in town. They also have ceviches, be sure to try the smoked manta ray, it’s my favorite. You can have a meal there for under for under 10 usd. It’s near the city center in the marina pier.
Near the airport! They have a great salad bar, lots of vegetarian options on their menu and also some vegan options. It’s located in an mall called Zazue, that’s what you need to tell the taxi driver.
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Crepes & Waffles
Near the airport! They have a great salad bar, lots of vegetarian options on their menu and also some vegan options. It’s located in an mall called Zazue, that’s what you need to tell the taxi driver.
Beaches
Gairaca and Neguanje are great beaches inside Tayrona Park. There a not so popular destination for foreigners because there located in one of the less visited areas of the park (Neguanje Park entrance) and because it’s a bit difficult to get there. You can drive there or hire a private taxi (I have a contact you can ask me) and/or a day tour. It’s a super friendly beach for bathing. They have a few spots that sell fried fish.
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Neguanje
Gairaca and Neguanje are great beaches inside Tayrona Park. There a not so popular destination for foreigners because there located in one of the less visited areas of the park (Neguanje Park entrance) and because it’s a bit difficult to get there. You can drive there or hire a private taxi (I have a contact you can ask me) and/or a day tour. It’s a super friendly beach for bathing. They have a few spots that sell fried fish.
Great beach inside Tayrona Park. It’s mostly visited by locals anfd nationals and can get a bit crowded in high season and weekends. You can drive there or hire a private taxi (I have a contact you can ask me) and/or a day tour. It’s a super friendly beach for bathing.
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Bahia Concha
Great beach inside Tayrona Park. It’s mostly visited by locals anfd nationals and can get a bit crowded in high season and weekends. You can drive there or hire a private taxi (I have a contact you can ask me) and/or a day tour. It’s a super friendly beach for bathing.
Parque Tayrona has many beaches to visit. The main entrance is just 5 minutes by car from our finca. The most popular areas are Playa San Juan del Cabo, Arrecifes and La Piscina. You can visit the park during the day, trek for about 4 hours to get to the best beaches, Playa San Juan del Cabo and the famous nudist beach (it’s not nudist but people call it that way), you may also go by horse paying an extra fee upon your arrival to the park. Park opens at 8 am and closes at 6 pm.
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Parco Nazionale Naturale Tayrona
Parque Tayrona has many beaches to visit. The main entrance is just 5 minutes by car from our finca. The most popular areas are Playa San Juan del Cabo, Arrecifes and La Piscina. You can visit the park during the day, trek for about 4 hours to get to the best beaches, Playa San Juan del Cabo and the famous nudist beach (it’s not nudist but people call it that way), you may also go by horse paying an extra fee upon your arrival to the park. Park opens at 8 am and closes at 6 pm.
Rivers
Great place if you want to get away form the heat. Has a lot of spots for hiking and bathing in the river. Many restaurants, lots of veggie places. If you can visit pozo azul on a weekday, cascada marinka and finca la Victoria which has a coffee plantation tour.
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Minca
Great place if you want to get away form the heat. Has a lot of spots for hiking and bathing in the river. Many restaurants, lots of veggie places. If you can visit pozo azul on a weekday, cascada marinka and finca la Victoria which has a coffee plantation tour.
20 minutes away by car form our finca, you can drive there or grab the local bus. Great river spot for tubing and bathing, perfect for a day trip. You'll find local guides that will offer tubing and other activities once you get there.
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Río Don Diego
20 minutes away by car form our finca, you can drive there or grab the local bus. Great river spot for tubing and bathing, perfect for a day trip. You'll find local guides that will offer tubing and other activities once you get there.
Palomino is located 30 minutes away by car from our finca. You can also take the local bus to get there. Palomino is a hippie beach town with lots of restaurants, hostels and bars. I mostly recommended it because of the variety fo spots to eat and the river tubing experience, which consists of going down the Palomino river for around two hours until you make your way to the ocean. For veggie food visit Hols, for seafood visit Paluna.
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Río Palomino
Palomino is located 30 minutes away by car from our finca. You can also take the local bus to get there. Palomino is a hippie beach town with lots of restaurants, hostels and bars. I mostly recommended it because of the variety fo spots to eat and the river tubing experience, which consists of going down the Palomino river for around two hours until you make your way to the ocean. For veggie food visit Hols, for seafood visit Paluna.
Good beach spot at the river mouth area. Check out the full description in out neighborhood section.
Río Mendiguaca, Magdalena, Colombia
Good beach spot at the river mouth area. Check out the full description in out neighborhood section.
The river mouth area is a great surf spot known as Los Naranjos, check out our surf spots section for more info. Located just 5 minutes away from our finca.
Río Piedras, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
The river mouth area is a great surf spot known as Los Naranjos, check out our surf spots section for more info. Located just 5 minutes away from our finca.
Quebrada Valencia
Waterfalls, trekking site.
Coffee
Best bakery in our area. Located 15 minutes by car from our finca, near the Buritaca river bridge. Don't miss the pan con chocolate (chocolate bread) and pan de bocadillo (guava and cheese bread). Great to have breakfast or pick up some pastires for your day trip.
Río Buritaca, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
Best bakery in our area. Located 15 minutes by car from our finca, near the Buritaca river bridge. Don't miss the pan con chocolate (chocolate bread) and pan de bocadillo (guava and cheese bread). Great to have breakfast or pick up some pastires for your day trip.
Supermarkets
Autoservicio Los Mora is the most complete mini market in our area. Located in Puerto Nuevo just 10 minutes by car from our finca.
Autoservicio Los Mora
Autoservicio Los Mora is the most complete mini market in our area. Located in Puerto Nuevo just 10 minutes by car from our finca.
ARA supermarket chain is the cheapest in town. This location is the most convinient when driving to our area, it's besides the main road. They sell everything you need to cook meals and breakfast, from fruits and veggies to personal items such as toothpaste and sunscreens.
Tienda Ara 11 de Noviembre
ARA supermarket chain is the cheapest in town. This location is the most convinient when driving to our area, it's besides the main road. They sell everything you need to cook meals and breakfast, from fruits and veggies to personal items such as toothpaste and sunscreens.
Big supermarket chain located in Buenavista mall. You can find imported beer, wines, they have a delicatessen section with imported cheeses, meats etc.
Éxito Buenavista Santa Marta
Big supermarket chain located in Buenavista mall. You can find imported beer, wines, they have a delicatessen section with imported cheeses, meats etc.
Santa Marta biggest mall, has plenty of storesm cinema and a foud court.
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Centro commerciale Buenavista
Santa Marta biggest mall, has plenty of storesm cinema and a foud court.
Neighborhoods
Small village area along the Guachaca river, one of the most important rivers of our area. 10 minutes away by car form our finca. You'll find mini markets, local food restaurants and small local stores.
Guachaca magdalena
Small village area along the Guachaca river, one of the most important rivers of our area. 10 minutes away by car form our finca. You'll find mini markets, local food restaurants and small local stores.
It’s a mostly touristic neighborhood and has the best urban beaches in Santa Marta. It’s located just 10 minutes away from the city center and 15 from the airport.
Rodadero santamarta
It’s a mostly touristic neighborhood and has the best urban beaches in Santa Marta. It’s located just 10 minutes away from the city center and 15 from the airport.
Santa Marta is the oldest city in the whole South American continent. It’s city center has losts of restaurants and a the Museo del Oro museum to get to know more about local traditions.
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Centro histórico santa marta
3-58 Calle 14Santa Marta is the oldest city in the whole South American continent. It’s city center has losts of restaurants and a the Museo del Oro museum to get to know more about local traditions.
Mendihuaca river mouth area is one of the most popular sites around, it has a lot of beach restaurants and surf schools. It can get busy and touristy during weekends and high season. Just 10 minutes away by car from our finca.
Río Mendiguaca, Magdalena, Colombia
Mendihuaca river mouth area is one of the most popular sites around, it has a lot of beach restaurants and surf schools. It can get busy and touristy during weekends and high season. Just 10 minutes away by car from our finca.
Surf spots
Los Naranjos is located on the Rio Piedras river mouth it's the best known surf spot in our area, 5 minutes away form our finca. Only for experienced surfers, ask us how you can get there or rent a board.
Senda Casa Tayrona los Naranjos
Los Naranjos is located on the Rio Piedras river mouth it's the best known surf spot in our area, 5 minutes away form our finca. Only for experienced surfers, ask us how you can get there or rent a board.
Mendiguaca surf spot is located in the mendiguaca river mouth, and is a good spot for beginners, there are a couple of surf schools on this beach for lessons or for renting boards. Also restaurants and bars. Ask us for more info on how to get there and surf school suggestions!
Río Mendiguaca, Magdalena, Colombia
Mendiguaca surf spot is located in the mendiguaca river mouth, and is a good spot for beginners, there are a couple of surf schools on this beach for lessons or for renting boards. Also restaurants and bars. Ask us for more info on how to get there and surf school suggestions!
They charge a day pass to access this beach, but they have a restraunt on site. They also rent boards.
CasaGrande Surf
They charge a day pass to access this beach, but they have a restraunt on site. They also rent boards.