Recommended by the Tía

Taganga fishing village

A fishing village, a diving base and a bay that hands you the sunset.

Beach
Half day
Easy
Families: it depends
On your own

From the house: 10–15 min by bus from the centre; about 10 min from here, according to the house

Photo: Wmart07 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · licence

Taganga is a fishing village and corregimiento of Santa Marta, in a bay ringed by dry hills about 5 km from the centre. It’s the city’s diving base, the departure point for boats to Playa Grande and one of the best places to watch the sun drop into the sea.

Don’t miss

1Sunset over the bay
2Diving with certified centres; most sites are near the La Aguja islet, inside Tayrona
3Boats to Playa Grande and the western beaches of Tayrona
4The viewpoint on the road in — best by bus or taxi, as there’s no pavement

What to expect

You arrive on a road that drops between hills until the bay suddenly opens up, with the fishermen’s boats pulled up on the shore. The usual plan is to walk the beach, have fish for lunch, take a boat to Playa Grande and come back for sunset, which is the real reason to go. The house recommends it on its Instagram precisely for the sunset.

If you’re here to dive, Taganga has several certified centres. Take your time choosing an established one: it’s your safety underwater.

Getting there from the house

City bus

Buses to Taganga leave from Carrera 5 in the centre; OpenStreetMap also marks a stop near the Mercado. The ride takes 10–15 minutes.

Official source · santamarta.gov.co · colombia.travel · openstreetmap.org
Taxi

Agree the fare before getting in or ask to see the price table. If you’re coming back at night, book the taxi by phone or app.

Secondary source · en.wikivoyage.org · elespectador.com

Reference costs

There’s no charge to enter the village. City bus COP 2,950 (3,050 with air conditioning); minimum taxi fare COP 8,600.

Secondary source checked 28 Oct 2026 elespectador.com
Diving and boats: prices change — check current rates directly with the dive centre or boatman.

Secondary source en.wikivoyage.org

Closures, hours and weather

Urban beach: open for use 8:00–18:30. October is the wettest month; January to March are the driest.

Official source santamarta.gov.co bart.ideam.gov.co

Safety

Taganga is named in the Defensoría del Pueblo’s Early Warning AT 020-25 (December 2025), and Wikivoyage describes the village as slowly recovering from a period of drug dealing and robberies. After dark, stay in busy areas.

Secondary source cielo.travel alertastempranas.defensoria.gov.co en.wikivoyage.org
In October 2026 Taganga was included in the city’s security operations.

Secondary source checked 11 Oct 2026 caracol.com.co
For diving, choose an established PADI or NAUI centre: there are reports of certificates that never arrived and of old equipment.

Secondary source en.wikivoyage.org
Only board Dimar-authorised boats showing a registration number and name on the hull, never overloaded, with life jackets on. Coast Guard: 146.

Official source dimar.mil.co

The Tía says

Get your cash in Santa Marta — Taganga’s ATM has its moods. And if you’re coming back at night, message me and I’ll tell you how to book a taxi.

What to bring

Your list: tick what you’ve packed.

Cash — the village’s one ATM is often empty
Biodegradable sunscreen
Swimwear and a towel
Water
Sandals
A light layer for the evening

Who it suits

For sunset chasers, divers, and as the jumping-off point for Playa Grande. At night, head home early or stay where there are people.

With children: By day it’s fine for families, although the main beach is shared with moored boats and gets crowded at weekends. If you want more room to swim, the boat to Playa Grande is a good option.

Official sources

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.