Right at the house

The neighbourhood by bike

El Pibe, the Mercado and the corner shop: the neighbourhood makes more sense by pedal.

City
At the house
A short while
Easy
Family-friendly
At the house

From the house: Starts at the front door; the landmarks are 1–1.2 km away as the crow flies

The house sits in the residential Calle 7 area, near Los Almendros: a traditional, quiet part of town with pharmacies, supermarkets and ATMs close by, according to the house. Just over a kilometre away as the crow flies are the Mercado, the Pibe Valderrama monument and the old Estadio Eduardo Santos. It’s the ideal first-day plan, before you head for the Sierra or the sea.

Don’t miss

1The public Mercado, 1.04 km in a straight line — buses to Tayrona, Minca and Palomino leave from there
2The monument to Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, 1.05 km away
3Estadio Eduardo Santos, 1.07 km away, opened in 1951
4Parque Sesquicentenario, 1.19 km away
5Supermarkets, pharmacies and ATMs a few blocks off, for stocking up before a trip

What to expect

No big sights here: this is about getting your bearings. You leave the house, loop round the neighbourhood streets and build a mental map of what you’ll need these days: the supermarket, the pharmacy, the ATM and, above all, the way to the Mercado, where nearly every trip begins.

The distances we give are straight-line; by road it’s always a bit further. There are no cycle lanes we can promise you — you ride on ordinary city streets, with their traffic and their heat. Ask at the house about the bicycles before you set off.

Getting there from the house

House bicycles

The house has bicycles for exploring the neighbourhood. Ask about availability and terms before heading out.

Confirmed · Hostelworld · Instagram · @hostaltiachela · Booking.com
On foot to the Mercado

According to the house, the Mercado is about 20 minutes on foot or 5 by bus.

Confirmed · Hostelworld

Reference costs

Bicycles: in January 2026 the house chalkboard said “free of charge”, while the booking listings mention hire. Ask about the current terms.

Historical checked 28 Jan 2026 Instagram · @hostaltiachela Hostelworld Booking.com
Streets, parks and monuments: free, they’re public space.

Secondary source nominatim.openstreetmap.org

Closures, hours and weather

Estadio Eduardo Santos has been closed to football since 2013, so it’s one to see from outside.

Historical checked 28 Oct 2026 en.wikipedia.org
It’s hot all year: mean highs run from 31.5 to 33.7 °C according to IDEAM, and the UV index reaches 9–11+.

Official source bart.ideam.gov.co weather2travel.com

Safety

Normal urban precautions: keep expensive electronics out of sight and avoid walking alone at night.

Secondary source en.wikivoyage.org
Drinking alcohol in public spaces is illegal in Colombia.

Official source gov.uk

The Tía says

Go by day, dear, and be back before dark. And if you spot a free bike in the patio, ask me first — I won’t have you riding off on a flat tyre.

What to bring

Your list: tick what you’ve packed.

Water
Sunscreen and a hat or cap
Light clothing
A little cash in small notes
Your phone tucked away, with the map already loaded

Who it suits

For your first afternoon, for getting oriented before the big trips, and for football fans after a photo with El Pibe. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun eases off.

With children: It’s a short, urban outing. With children, go on foot or bike in short stretches, always by day and taking care with the traffic.

Official sources

Santa Marta city hall — the Los Almendros neighbourhood (Spanish)

Tía Chela doesn’t run tours: the house recommends, advises and helps arrange transport. Third-party services are contracted by you directly.

All sources for this page

Reviewed on 28 October 2026. Prices, hours and closures change — confirm before you go.