the large cities of Colombia are well recognized, but the country also possesses beaches that are on par with those in paradise. no matter where in Colombia you are, whether on the Caribbean sea or the pacific ocean, there are countless things to do and beautiful sights to see.
a trip to the paradisiacal beaches of Colombia will reward visitors with breathtaking coral reefs, sunrises, and sunsets in the middle of the ocean, a world record, and beauty that cannot be matched anywhere else in the world.
1. A beach with a historic past in santa marta
It is generally agreed that santa marta is the oldest city in all of colombia . it was established in the early sixteenth century, giving it a history that spans approximately five hundred years.
Even after many years of plundering by pirates, the streets still represent the city’s rich history. it is the gateway to several huge parks, including the tayrona national natural park and the sierra nevada de santa marta national park, therefore it is completely encircled by natural ecosystems.
Santa marta, colombia is home to a large number of hotels, each of which is designed to cater to the specific requirements of a different kind of guest. the downtown area and el rodadero, which is a coastal location located five kilometers south of downtown, are the ones that come most highly recommended.
The latter is a hilly region that is separated from the city by ziruma and is a popular destination for tourists. this is one of the nicest neighborhoods to stay in if you want to be close to the water or the beach.
There are a number of museums in santa marta that can be visited because of the city’s rich history. some of these museums include the quinta san pedro alejandrino, which was where simon bolivar spent his final days; the tairona gold museum, which is perfect for those who are interested in learning more about the cultural history of the area; and the gabriel garcia marquez house museum.
if, on the other hand, you are interested in seeing the house where author gabriel garca márquez was born, you will need to travel outside of santa marta and spend about two hours getting there. however, the trip will be well worth it.
2. tayrona is a place where everyone can enjoy nature
the tayrona national natural park is located a little ways up the coast from santa marta. this park encompasses a total area of 15,000 hectares, 3,000 of which are designated as marine habitats.
it is one of the most significant natural parks in colombia and all of south america, and it is situated just 34 kilometers (21 miles) away from santa marta. there are a variety of lodging options available within the park, including the chance to pitch a tent, in addition to the alternative of staying in a hotel.
Due to its location on the coast, it boasts more than fifteen different beaches that tourists can explore. you have the option of camping at castillete beach or staying in one of the magnificent tayrona ecohabs at caaveral beach, depending on the kind of trip you have planned.
Due to the treacherous conditions of the sea, swimming is not allowed at canaveral. only a small section of the beach known as la piscinita has been designated as a safe swimming area.
The beach known as “la piscina” is the one to go to if you want to go scuba diving or snorkeling. it has water that is less turbulent and a greater number of coral reefs. cabo san juan del gua is the beach in tayrona that receives the most photographic attention. it is regarded as the most beautiful, but because of this, you should also anticipate there to be a greater number of people there.
if you are searching for the exact opposite, it is best to go to nudist beach, where there are typically very few people, or take a walk at playa brava. both of these beaches are located in playa del brava.
3. Cartagena, the city within its walls
since the time it was founded, this city has been recognized as having one of the most significant ports in all of colombia . its official name is cartagena de indias. it has a long history of battle with pirates, similar to that of many other ports in the caribbean.
The numerous colonial walls that are still standing today are all that are left of the defenses that were put up against these plunders. castillo san felipe de barajas is one of the structures that survived from this period. it is the largest structure that the spaniards built throughout the years that they occupied the colonies, and it is situated on a hill on the edges of the walled city. its name comes from the fact that it is the largest construction that they built.
You shouldn’t leave cartagena without first seeing the city, but if you’re more interested in the beaches, bocagrande is the most well-known and touristy of the area’s beaches because this is where the majority of the city’s nicest hotels are located.
on the other hand, you should also consider going to the beaches that are close to cartagena because they are likely to be less busy and you won’t feel the rush and bustle of the city there. playa blanca, located on the island of baru, is considered to be the best. the setting is unlike any other, with beautiful white sand and clear turquoise water dominating the scene.
4. The san andres and san bernardo archipelagos, also known as the paradise islands of colombia
On colombia ‘s several islands may be found some of the country’s most beautiful stretches of sand. the archipelago that consists of the islands of san andres, providencia, and santa catalina includes the island of san andres, which may be found in the caribbean to the east of nicaragua. one of the most popular types of ecotourism is aquatic, and one of the most popular types of aquatic ecotourism is snorkeling. scuba diving is particularly popular in areas with underwater statues.
On the other side, the san bernardo archipelago is comprised of 10 islands, each of which is home to a unique set of attractions and experiences for visitors to take pleasure in.
There are around 1,500 people living on just one hectare of land on the man-made island of santa cruz del islote, which gives it the distinction of being the island with the highest population density in the world. in addition, you have the opportunity to snorkel in the open ocean and stay in a house that is situated in the center of the ocean.