Colombia’s Caribbean coast has some gorgeous beaches, stunning mountain landscapes, and even a wild desert on the remote northern tip. Colombia’s most popular region for tourism with good reason, a warm sunny climate, laid-back vibes, top historic sites and bountiful nature reserves, makes this the perfect holiday destination. With 1,000 miles of shoreline and several tropical islands to discover, you might need some guidance. Here’s our choice, 14 of the best places to visit on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
To put it on the map, the Republic of Colombia is a South American country, located just under Panama, in an enviable position bordered by the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. However, the best beaches in Colombia are right here on the Caribbean coast, from the pretty golden bays strung along the shoreline of Tayrona National Park to the sun-drenched white sands of the Rosario Islands.
Visiting the world heritage sites of the colonial cities of Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta, trekking the jungle to the ancient ‘lost city’ or through the Sierra Nevada mountains, are some of the best things do in the Caribbean region of Colombia, apart from the beach and water-sport activities.
14 Best Places to Visit on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast
Authored by Adam McConnaughhay
1. Cartagena
Every list of the best places in Colombia’s Caribbean has to start with Cartagena de Indias! This former colonial port city is Colombia’s best known destination for good reason. It has gorgeous beaches, charming historic architecture, and a vibrant culture.
Be sure to not only explore the historic Walled City but also the neighboring district of Getsemaní, also historic and with a cool blend of old and new. You’ll also want to take a stroll along the defensive walls and have a drink at the famous Café del Mar atop the wall itself. Go and see the Castillo San Felipe, the largest colonial era fort on mainland South America, to take in the views of the Walled City from its top and explore the tunnels of its interior. Finally, be sure to enjoy the great seafood and have a fun night out on the town!
2. The Rosario Islands
Perhaps some of the best beaches near Cartagena are in the Rosario Islands. This small chain of islands is located about an hour off the coast. It was once a favorite hiding spot for pirates, and now it is a great place for a beach escape in the sun and sand, and undoubtedly one of the top destinations on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
There are a variety of ways to enjoy the Rosario Islands. There are a number of nice resorts and ecolodges in the islands such as Gente del Mar and Islabela as well as fun beach clubs like Bora Bora and Luxury Beach Club. A great way to see the islands is by renting a private boat from Cartagena to take you around to different spots, like the party beach of Cholón.
3. The San Bernardo Islands
The Rosario Islands are actually part of a large coastal national park that includes their sister chain of islands further south, the San Bernardo Islands. They are a bit further away, but are even prettier. These isles are not quite as well known, especially to travelers from abroad.
The two main islands here are Mucura and Tintipan. Both have gorgeous beaches with crystal clear waters and some nice lodges and hotels. In fact, this is a lovely destination for Caribbean solo travel.
You can also visit the Santa Cruz del Islote, the most densely populated island in the world nearby, where what was once a small camp of fishermen has grown into a small urban area on a tiny isle. These islands can be reached via boat from Cartagena, the town of Tolú, or Rincón del Mar.
4. Rincón del Mar
Rincón del Mar is the next place on this list of the best places to see on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. This is a small beach town several hours south of Cartagena. The town is a bit remote, and like the San Bernardo Islands is more well known to Colombians than foreign travelers.
That makes it a more off the beaten path destination in Colombia’s Caribbean. You’ll find a pretty beach front here as well as a handful of hotels, hostels, and lodges. It’s a lovely place to get away from it all for a bit and just enjoy some relaxing days on the beach.
5. Barranquilla
North of Cartagena you’ll find the city of Barranquilla. A modern port town, Barranquilla is much less touristic. That means it can be a nice spot to get a more local feel of what it’s like to live in Colombia. However, if your time is short to see all the fabulous places on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, you might want to skip it.
That’s with the exception of a few times of year. The first is Carnival, in mid to late February. Barranquilla has one of the most famous Carnivals in the world, perhaps second only to Rio in Brazil. There are big parades, colorful costumes, and lots of dancing and partying in the streets. If you happen to be traveling on Colombia’s Caribbean coast around this time, it’s well worth stopping in Barranquilla to experience Carnival.
The other neat event you can see in Barranquilla is a Colombian national team soccer game. Like the rest of Latin America, Colombians love their football team. The Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla is where Colombia plays its home games. Especially fun are World Cup Qualifiers, so if you happen to be passing through when there is a game, consider stopping to enjoy it.
6. Santa Marta
Further north, you’ll find the seaside resort of Santa Marta. Santa Marta was actually founded shortly before Cartagena, and it has a pretty historic colonial center along the waterfront. The lighthouse on the little island just offshore is really pretty. Another place of interest in Santa Marta is the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simón Bolívar died. You can find nice restaurants and bars around the Parque de los Novios downtown.
However, perhaps the best thing about Santa Marta is it is a great jumping off point to some more of the best places to go on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. It serves as a great starting point to explore the rest of the places on this list.
7. Taganga
Over the hills from Santa Marta, you’ll find a picturesque bay nestled between the roots of the Sierra Nevada mountains. There, what used to be a small fishing village is now a popular destination on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Taganga has a small beach front area with several seafood restaurants. There are also a number of hotels and hostels in town. While there are some nicer beaches a bit further north of Santa Marta coming up on this list, the view of the bay below when coming down into Taganga is one of the most beautiful in all of Colombia. Even just coming into town for a fresh fish lunch on the waterfront one day is worth it for that view.
8. Minca
In the mountains above Santa Marta, Minca is a quaint little town that is mostly inhabited by the descendants of indigenous peoples. Surrounded by lush jungle, there are some beautiful waterfalls nearby. These include the Pozo Azul and the Marinka Falls, both easy to reach hiking out of town.
The La Victoria coffee farm, which is just outside town, still uses machinery from the early 1900s and offers a very informative tour of the harvest process. You can also visit cacao farms near Minca. If you’re willing to go for a bit of a hike or take motorcycle taxis, you can visit the look out point of Los Pinos, where you can see Santa Marta and the Caribbean in the distance. For those looking for a longer hike, consider the overnight trek to Cerro Kennedy, where you can get even more spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea as well as the rest of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
9. Lost City
For really avid hikers, the trek to the Lost City is one of the more remarkable experiences you can have in Colombia. Ciudad Perdida or the Lost City was once a settlement of the indigenous peoples hundreds of years ago. Archaeologists believe it was settled around 800 CE, 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu.
Today it can be visited by a 4 day round trip hike led by guides that are the descendants of those same indigenous peoples who settled it all those years ago. This hike is a fairly difficult one and includes several river crossings, some taxing climbs, and camping. If you do complete it, you are rewarded with the view of the ancient city nestled amongst the jungle covered hills, a truly beautiful site that makes this one the best things to see on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
10. Tayrona
For those that love both hiking and the beach, Tayrona National Park is another one of the best destinations on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Located north of Santa Marta, this is perhaps Colombia’s most famous natural area. It can be reached by private transportation or bus from Santa Marta. It’s also possible to take speed boats from Taganga, although the seas can be quite rough, so expect a bumpy ride.
Set between the Caribbean Sea and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this area is sacred to the indigenous peoples and they consider it the cradle of life. The scenery of the mountains running into the sea and giant boulders on the beaches is absolutely stunning.
The park itself is enormous, and much of it can only be reached by boat. However, there is a popular trek from the entrance of the park to some of the best beaches at Cabo San Juan del Guía. This takes about two hours to hike in, so it’s best to plan to spend the night so you can have plenty of time to enjoy the beaches. At Cabo San Juan you’ll find hammocks, a campground, and some small cabins. There are a handful of other campsites and ecolodges inside or just outside the park.
It’s also possible to do day trips to some beaches on the southern end of Tayrona Park such as Bahía Concha or Playa Cristal from Santa Marta, but the best beaches are located farther north after the hike into the park from the main entrance.
11. Costeño Beach
A bit north of Tayrona Park, you’ll find a stretch of beach known as Playa Costeño or Costeño Beach. One of the lesser known places to visit in Colombia’s Caribbean, it is a large piece of private property that was developed with a handful of hostels and ecolodges.
The beach here is nice and wide, although the currents can be dangerous to swim. Surfers do like to come here for those currents. For those that want to enjoy some peaceful beach time without all the hiking of Tayrona, it is a good option, and you can stay at one of the fun beach hostels in a cheap dorm bed or at one of the nicer hotels along the beach, making it good for visitors of all budgets.
12. Palomino
Further north, you’ll find the small beach town of Palomino. Much like Taganga, this was a small fishing village that has recently become one of the most popular places to see on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
You’ll find a cool, sort of hippy backpacker vibe here, and Palomino is popular with both Colombian and foreign tourists for its laid back atmosphere. In town, there are a handful of great restaurants and bars, all that have reasonable prices, and many that have live music in the evening.
In addition to the nearby beaches, you can also go tubing down the Palomino River. The river is mostly calm and shallow, and guides accompany you the entire way. It’s a great way to spend a few hours and take in the scenery along the river as you float down towards the beach. You can also visit the Quebrada Valencia waterfall nearby. Or, you could just opt to hang out on the beach with a cold beer or piña colada.
You’ll find a variety of hostels as well as more upscale hotels both in town and on the beach in Palomino, making it another one of the top towns to visit in Colombia’s Caribbean.
13. Cabo de la Vela
Palomino is also considered the start of the La Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia. This peninsula remains largely inhabited by indigenous peoples today. A couple hours north of Palomino, you’ll find the city of Riohacha, the last major city. Farther north, you enter the desert of the La Guajira peninsula, home to the Wayuu people, who were actually never formally conquered by the Spanish.
If you head across the desert north of Riohacha, you will come to Cabo de la Vela, a small town on the coast. Surrounded by sand dunes, the beach here is pretty. However, if you venture a bit out of town, you’ll find some gorgeous landscapes including one of the prettiest beaches in Colombia at the Pilón de Azucar. A hill just out of town where a small lighthouse, known as El Faro, is located is one of the most stunning sunsets in Colombia.
Cabo de la Vela remains largely undeveloped, although there are are handful of hostels and a couple of nicer hotels. It is a bit of adventure to get here. However, it’s possible to arrive by collective taxi from Riohacha to the town of Uribia, and then get 4×4 transportation across the desert or arrange private transportation.
14. Punta Gallinas
For those looking for even more adventure and stunning landscapes, include a visit to Punta Gallinas on your list of places to visit on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Punta Gallinas is the most northern point of the South American continent, sitting at the end of the La Guajira Peninsula.
You can arrange transportation to Punta Gallinas from Cabo de la Vela. It is not recommended to go on your own as there is no clear road through the desert. Most tours include transportation there, a tour of the nearby sites, overnight accommodations in a hammock or basic room, and breakfast the next day before heading back to Cabo de la Vela.
The landscape here is extraordinary. As part of the tour, you’ll visit the actual point that is farthest north and the Taroa sand dunes, which slope down to a marvelous beach where you can cool off with a dip in the sea. It’s a fascinating spot and one of the best places to see on Colombia’s Caribbean coast for those with a more adventurous spirit.
Best Places to See on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast Conclusion
These are 14 of the best places to visit on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Whether you prefer a city like Cartagena, mountains, gorgeous beaches, adventure, or some combination thereof, you can find it all in Colombia’s Caribbean.
About the Author
Adam McConnaughhay lived in Cartagena from 2011 to mid 2021. He writes about Cartagena and other destinations in Colombia at Cartagena Explorer.
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