Santa Marta's Caribbean Coast: Beaches of the Magdalena
The Santa Marta coastline — with Tayrona to the north and El Rodadero to the south — has the Caribbean coast's most dramatic setting; the Sierra Nevada rising behind the beaches creates an unmatched combination of mountain and sea
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El Rodadero Beach Resort
El Rodadero — the seaside resort area south of Santa Marta's historic center — is the most developed of the city's beaches; the calm waters, resort hotels and water sports make it the family beach destination on the Colombian Caribbean coast
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Playa Blanca (Barú Approach)
The day trip boats from the Santa Marta marina reach the shores of the sheltered coves of the Sierra Nevada - small private beaches accessible only by water offer extraordinary swimming and the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada
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Caribbean sunsets from the Malecon
The north-west facing orientation of Santa Marta Bay makes it exceptional for sunsets - the Sierra Nevada peaks silhouetted against the orange sky over the Caribbean, visible from the boardwalk, is one of Colombia's great daily spectacles
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El Aquario Marine Park
El Aquario snorkeling site - in the sheltered waters near Tayrona - has healthy coral reefs accessible by boat from Santa Marta Marina; the site is less crowded than Tayrona and the reef quality is comparable
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Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
Ciénaga Grande – the largest coastal lagoon in Colombia, south of Santa Marta – is an extraordinary wetlands ecosystem with the palafito villages of the Nueva Venecia fishermen built on stilts above the water; the birdlife and fishing culture are remarkable
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Dolphins in the bay
The Gulf of Santa Marta is home to common and bottlenose dolphins - boat tours from the marina often encounter groups of dolphins in the bay; the performance of the dolphins against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada is a particularly dramatic wildlife encounter