Historic centre & waterfront

Don’t miss

1. 1The Camellón Rodrigo de Bastidas, with sunset over the bay and El Morro in view
2. 2The Catedral Basílica, whose first stone was laid in 1766; Bolívar’s remains lay here from 1830 to 1842
3. 3The Museo del Oro Tairona, with some 565 archaeological and ethnographic pieces in an 18th-century building
4. 4Parque de los Novios (Parque Santander), right in the historic centre
5. 5The juice plazoleta on the Camellón, for cooling down

What to expect

A morning or afternoon of slow walking. Start at the Cathedral, where Rodrigo de Bastidas’ remains have rested since 1953, and carry on to Parque de Bolívar: that’s where you’ll find the Customs House, home since 2014 to the Banco de la República’s Museo del Oro Tairona, with pieces from the Sierra Nevada. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

From there it’s a short stroll to Parque de los Novios and the sea. The Camellón is made for sitting with a juice in your hand, and if you keep going towards the Marina you reach Playa Los Cocos, where the sun sets behind the sailing boats.

Getting there from the house

1. City bus

   Take a city bus towards “la carrera primera”, the seafront. Tell the driver where you’re going.

   Official source · santamarta.gov.co

2. Taxi

   It’s a short ride. Book the taxi by phone or app and check the price table before getting in.

   Official source · santamarta.gov.co · gov.uk

3. On foot

   Plaza de la Catedral is 1.65 km in a straight line and Parque de los Novios 1.93 km; by road it’s further, and you’ll feel it in the heat.

   Secondary source · nominatim.openstreetmap.org