Explore on your own
El Rodadero & Playa Blanca
The liveliest beach in town and, a quick boat hop away, Playa Blanca.
- Beach
- Half day
- Easy
- Family-friendly
- On your own
From the house: 6.2 km in a straight line; city bus or taxi, plus 12–20 min by boat to Playa Blanca
El Rodadero & Playa Blanca
El Rodadero is Santa Marta’s main resort district, about 10 minutes south of the centre, with the most hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Boats leave its beach for Playa Blanca, 12–20 minutes away, with water sports, food and places to stay.
Don’t miss
- 1A city beach with everything: restaurants, hotels and nightlife
- 2The 12–20 minute boat ride to Playa Blanca
- 3Water sports and food at Playa Blanca
- 4Easy to combine with Inca Inca and the Centro de Vida Marina
What to expect
El Rodadero is a city beach: crowds, music, vendors and plenty of buzz, especially in high season. For something calmer, take a boat to Playa Blanca and spend the day there.
The city classes Playa Blanca as a “hard-to-reach” beach, so it closes earlier: 8:00 to 16:00. El Rodadero keeps urban beach hours, 8:00 to 18:30.
Getting there from the house
-
City bus
In January 2024, buses heading for the airport passed through El Rodadero. Ask at the house which one to take today.
Historical · en.wikivoyage.org
-
Taxi
Book the taxi by phone or app and check the price table before getting in.
Official source · travel.gc.ca
-
Boat to Playa Blanca
From El Rodadero, 12–20 minutes. Only Dimar-authorised boats, never overloaded, with life jackets on.
Official source · colombia.travel · fluver.co · dimar.mil.co
Reference costs
-
The beaches are free. The boat and food are extra — agree prices first.
-
City bus COP 2,950 (3,050 with air conditioning); minimum taxi fare COP 8,600.
Closures, hours and weather
-
El Rodadero: 8:00–18:30; rest day on the first Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October and December. Playa Blanca: 8:00–16:00, evacuation from 15:00; rest day on the first Tuesday of the same months.
Safety
-
Beach vendors can be pushy — agree the price before accepting anything.
-
Don’t walk the Ziruma–Rodadero footpath alone: armed muggings have been reported in broad daylight.
-
In September 2026 a tourist boat capsized between Playa Blanca and El Rodadero; everyone was rescued wearing life jackets. Make sure the boat isn’t overloaded.
Goes well with
-
Beach
Inca Inca beach & marine life centre
A boat from El Rodadero, a cove for swimming and the old aquarium, now the Centro de Vida Marina.
- Explore on your own
Beach · City
Beach volleyball at Los Cocos
In the afternoon, Los Cocos fills up with volleyball, football and people up for a game. Bring your own ball.
- Explore on your own
Beach
Playa Grande (Taganga)
Taganga’s neighbouring bay: a short boat hop, seafood kiosks and a no-fuss beach day.
All sources for this page
- www.santamarta.gov.co/para-visitar
- colombia.travel/es/santa-marta/playas-de-el-rodadero
- colombia.travel/es/santa-marta/playa-blanca
- www.fluver.co/blog/playa-blanca-santa-marta-guia-experiencias
- en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Santa_Marta
- nominatim.openstreetmap.org/reverse?format=jsonv2&lat=11.2493196&lon=-74.1971529&zoom=18
- www.santamarta.gov.co/sala-prensa/noticias/distrito-anuncia-nuevo-horario-para-zona-de-banistas-en-playas
- www.dimar.mil.co/por-la-temporada-de-vacaciones-en-fin-de-ano-en-santa-marta-dimar-activa-dispositivo-de-seguridad
- ground.news/article/dimar-confirmed-new-boat-dump-with-tourists-in-santa-marta-all-were-rescued-and-wore-life-jackets
- www.elespectador.com/colombia/mas-regiones/alcaldia-de-santa-marta-anuncio-aumento-en-pasaje-de-buses-y-minima-de-taxis-de-2026
- travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia
Reviewed on 28 October 2026. Prices, hours and closures change — confirm before you go.