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Santa Marta tours
4.00
6 Tours
When do you want to go?
2026
I'm flexible
Passengers
Adults (18+)
Children (0 - 17)
Discover tours visiting Santa Marta
From city streets to jungle trails, Santa Marta opens up northern Colombia’s highlights
Santa Marta is an appealing place to begin a trip in Colombia, combining a strong historical backdrop with Caribbean sea air and easy access to wilder, greener landscapes. Tours that visit Santa Marta can balance guided highlights with unhurried time to wander and explore, before heading out to places where nature quickly takes over, from jungle trails to quiet, palm-lined beaches. A major draw is the route to Ciudad Perdida, a multi-day trek that moves through local villages and dense forest before finishing at the stone steps and terraces of the Lost City. If you prefer a slower rhythm, Tayrona National Park delivers coastal walks, warm water and a welcome change of pace after time inland.
Colombia trips starting from Santa marta
Active
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip. On this Active tour, you will undertake strenuous physical activity such as hiking on uneven terrain on a daily basis - you may need to train to be ready for this tour. Please contact us if you have any questions about undertaking this tour before you book!
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Price per day
$535From
pp
New
Private Tours
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Price per day
$477From
pp
Travel with confidence
Real reviews from our travellers
Highlights of Colombia - 11 daysPARTIALLY GUIDED TOUR: Begin this 11-day tour of Colombia with a private bike tour of Bogota's highlights, and visit the Gold Museum. Play Colombia's national sport of Tejo and travel to Villa de Leyva via the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. Discover Villa de Leyva's historic charm and its paleontological museum before flying to the Coffee Region to visit the Cocora Valley, Salento, and Finca El Ocaso. Journey to Medellin for a city tour highlighting its transformation, including Comuna 13. Continue to Tayrona National Park and conclude in Cartagena with visits to La Popa Monastery, San Felipe Fortress, and the historic centre. See the Inclusions for more information regarding the guiding style of this tour.Worldwide Touring11The guided walk to Cocora with a nature-focused guide. Shorter than we'd like but the guide Gustavo, packed in a lot of interesting information and sightings. The hotel choices, local tour guides and free time were perfect for our budget and we could amend and add our own experiences as we wished. Bogota and Medellin on Tuesdays meant we couldn't visit any museums in our spare time, when it was raining. Villa de Leyva was a long trip and not that interesting for a self-guided tour, maybe drop that in favour of more time for a longer walk in Cocora Valley.
Santa Marta trips at a glance
Trip and guiding style
Tours visiting Santa Marta can be fully guided or partly guided, with day-by-day plans set out in clear itineraries so you know what is organised and where you have free time. Many operate with trusted local partners on the ground, and some include airport transfers, which can make arrival and departure simpler and more predictable.
Accommodation
Where you stay depends on the trip, and can range from 3 star hotels to 4 star hotels, as well as basic camps on treks where comfort is practical rather than polished. On trekking tours, nights are often spent in simple camps with hammocks or beds and mosquito nets, and similar accommodation may be used when required, particularly in remote areas or during busier travel periods.
Trip pacing
The pace is often medium, which works well for travellers who want full days without feeling scheduled to the minute. Expect a blend of active days, early starts for travel or trekking, and time to slow down in Tayrona National Park, where the coastal setting naturally encourages a more relaxed afternoon.
Popular tours visiting Santa Marta
Why start in Santa Marta
A coastal gateway to jungle treks, beaches and standout history
Santa Marta suits travellers who want city time and real nature in the same itinerary, without long gaps between the two. It has a warm, coastal feel and a clear sense of history, while also acting as a practical gateway to Colombia’s northern highlights. From here, the landscape shifts quickly, and trails, tropical viewpoints and jungle edges start to shape the experience. Many tours use Santa Marta as the starting point for the trek to Ciudad Perdida, one of the region’s most distinctive adventures. Over several days you walk through thick jungle, pass small villages, and build towards the powerful moment of arriving at the Lost City itself. After those busier, more demanding days, Tayrona National Park brings a calmer contrast, with beaches and forest paths that lend themselves to a slower pace. Tours can run in a group or privately, and guiding styles differ across itineraries, so you can choose the level of support that suits you. With key travel plans organised in advance, it is easier to focus on the experience, from early trail starts to relaxed evenings back in Santa Marta.
Frequently asked questions
Do tours visiting Santa Marta include Ciudad Perdida?
Some tours visiting Santa Marta include a multi-day trek to Ciudad Perdida (Lost City), which typically involves several days on jungle trails, stops in local villages and a final climb to the main archaeological terraces. Other itineraries focus on broader Colombia highlights and include Santa Marta as one stop, without the full trek.
Is Tayrona National Park included on Santa Marta trips?
Some tours that visit Santa Marta also include Tayrona National Park, which is well known for tropical trails, sheltered bays and beaches. It often works particularly well as a change of pace after inland travel or long trekking days.
Are there both group and private tours in Colombia that visit Santa Marta?
Yes, there are both group and private tours in Colombia that include Santa Marta. Group tours are shared with other travellers, while private tours run just for your party, which can suit couples, friends or families who prefer a more flexible day-to-day experience.
What guiding styles are used on trips visiting Santa Marta?
Guiding styles vary on Colombia tours that include Santa Marta, depending on the itinerary and the regions covered. Some trips are fully guided with one guide for most of the journey, while others are partly guided, using expert guides at key points and leaving more free time in between.
What is the fitness level like for the Lost City trek?
The Lost City trek is rated serious, so it suits travellers who are prepared for long days on uneven paths, humid conditions and steep steps, including the final climb to the site. Arriving with a good base level of fitness helps, as does a steady, positive mindset for multi-day walking.
What is the minimum age for tours that visit Santa Marta?
Minimum age rules depend on the tour and the activities included, particularly when trekking is involved. Some Colombia tours that visit Santa Marta allow travellers from age 12, while the Lost City trek commonly has a minimum age of 15, so it is worth checking the specific requirement for the trip you choose.
What meals are included on Santa Marta itineraries?
Meals vary by tour and are confirmed in the itinerary details. Some tours include breakfast each day, while the Lost City trek often includes all meals, snacks and purified water during the walk, which can be important given the remote setting and the physical effort involved.
What sort of accommodation is used on trips visiting Santa Marta?
Accommodation varies by tour, with some itineraries using hotels and others combining hotels with basic camps on trekking routes. Alternatives of a similar standard may be used when required, especially in remote areas or during busy travel periods when availability is tighter.
Do Colombia trips that include Santa Marta include transfers or flights?
It depends on the tour and how the overall route is designed. Some include airport transfers at the start or end, and some include internal flights within Colombia, for example flights that connect into Santa Marta as part of a longer journey.
Can a Santa Marta tour be both cultural and outdoorsy?
Yes, many tours that visit Santa Marta combine cultural time with outdoor experiences, making it straightforward to mix city exploring with nature. You can pair Santa Marta with Tayrona National Park for coastal walking, and some itineraries add a bigger adventure with the trek to Ciudad Perdida.
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