Colombia: Best Beaches near Santa Marta
Six Months in South America, Part 19
After a week in Medellín, I headed to Colombian’s Caribbean coast to reconnect with my former coworker, Juan. I had interviewed Juan about Colombia for my blog, but we had never met up in real life. With Juan’s expert help, we planned a trip to Santa Marta where I met some of his friends, and we went on day hikes when we weren’t working remotely.
Here are the two best beaches we visited near Santa Marta: Playa Inca Inca and Bahía Concha.
Playa Inca Inca
My favorite part of Playa Inca Inca was how secluded it felt. Unlike more touristic beaches in the area, you have to hike to get there, which means there are far fewer people around.
We also arrived early, before any tour boats arrived, and had the place to ourselves besides a few families and local fisherfolk.
To get there, you can take a bus or a taxi to Rodadero from Santa Marta. The bus leaves from Carrera 5 in central Santa Marta. It costs less than a dollar and takes about 20 minutes to arrive.
Next, you’ll find the start of the trail around here. The distance is just under 3 km (less than 2 miles) and takes about 45 minutes. You’ll walk up the small mountain and see views of the water and beach below.
At one point, you’ll come to a fork in the road. The left side is the fastest way to the beach but also much steeper. (Juan made fun of me multiple times for nearly sliding down it). The right side is longer but steadier and has a wider trail.
No matter which side you choose, you’ll eventually get to the pristine beach where you can relax by the water, stay shaded under a grass-roofed cabana, or take a swim in its crystal waters.
Bahía Concha
Bahía Concha is part of the gorgeous Tayrona National Park, a protected natural area with some of the most unspoiled beaches in Colombia. Juan and I did a day trip from our rented apartment, taking a bus and taxi to get there.
The beach is about 30-45 minutes from Santa Marta, and we took a local bus from the city center going toward BASTIDAS. At Bastidas, you can take a shared car or taxi to get the rest of the way. When you arrive, you’ll pay about 4,000 COP (~$1) for insurance which allows you to enter the beach.
Bahía Concha is a great option if you want to visit the national park but don’t have the time or money to go to its less accessible beaches that you have to hike or take a boat to get to.
It’s also less crowded than other beaches in the area, but you should still go early or on a weekday if you want to beat most of the crowds. Juan and I went on a Friday in June, and there weren’t too many people, although we did have some difficulty finding a taxi to return back to Santa Marta. It helps if you set up a time with a driver before you arrive, as you won’t have great cell service near the beach.
Santa Marta has some stunning and accessible beaches that you can reach just by public transport. Next week, I’ll share how Juan and I took two buses, went on a two-hour hike, and rode horses through the jungle, to arrive at Cabo San Juan in Tayrona National Park.
These beaches are so beautiful. Great discoveries here Ashleigh!
Nice trip with Ash. Santa Marta is amazing :)