Boasting big hitters such as Tayrona National Park and the port city of Cartagena, Colombia’s Caribbean Coast offers a wealth of things to do. Though most famous for its tropical beaches lapped by the warm and welcoming waters of the Caribbean Sea—particularly those of the Rosario and San Bernardo Islands—the coastal area will also surprise you with its mud volcanoes and delectable cuisine that showcases the best of Latin American and Caribbean flavors. Whether you’re looking to post up in a tranquil mountain town like Minca or party it up in Barranquilla, culture and nature are in no short supply.
Rio de Janeiro isn’t the only place in South America famous for its Carnival—Barranquilla hosts one of the world’s largest Carnival celebrations every year around mid-February. Expect kaleidoscopic parades that showcase the best of the country’s costumes, dances, and folklore. For the best weather, North Colombia’s spring and summer months coincide with the Caribbean Coast’s dry season, which runs from December through February.
Cartagena and Barranquilla both have international airports, making reaching the Caribbean Coast by domestic or international airline a breeze. Coaches and minibuses are a great way to travel between cities. For travel to Tayrona National Park, you can either take a bus from Santa Marta or ride a boat from Taganga. The Rosario Islands are only accessible by ferry or speedboat.
Just a couple of hours south of Cartagena, you’ll find the hidden gem of Santiago de Tolú, a small and charming pueblo surrounded by the mangroves of the Ciénaga la Caimanera nature reserve and white-sand beaches characteristic of the Caribbean Coast. Though a favorite among Colombian locals during the peak summer season, this town is quiet throughout the year and draws far fewer foreign tourists than other parts of the coast, so you’re guaranteed a more authentic Colombian experience.
Local Currency Colombian Peso (COP) | Time Zone COT (UTC -5) | Country Code +57 | Language(s) Spanish | Attractions 35 | Tours 1,236 | Reviews 28,263 |
You could spend weeks exploring Colombia's Caribbean Coast. You can wander around the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Cartagena, hike and swim in Tayrona National Park, go scuba diving in Santa Marta and Taganga, explore the paradise archipelago of the Rosario Islands, or fly out to remote San Andrés, famous for its coral reefs and reggae.
...MoreYou should spend at least a week on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. That’ll give you enough time to explore Tayrona National Park, go scuba diving in Taganga, experience the rich history and food of Cartagena, sample world-famous coffee in the mountain town of Minca, and relax on the white-sand beaches of the Rosario Islands.
...MoreThe three most important cities on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast are Cartagena, famous for its colorful 16th-century architecture and UNESCO-listed Old Town; Barranquilla, which hosts one of the world’s biggest Carnivals each year in February; and Santa Marta, the gateway to Tayrona National Park and a world-class scuba diving destination.
...MoreAs you’d expect, there’s a lot of freshly caught fish on offer on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. The cuisine celebrates the fusion of Colombia and Caribbean culture, and signature dishes include seafood stew (cazuela de mariscos), fried fish and coconut rice, arepas with spicy sauce, and a rich variety of sweets.
...MoreOften topping the lists of Colombia’s best beaches is Playas de Palomino. East of Santa Marta, it’s a white-sand stretch backed by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. A close second is Playa Blanca on Baru Island (Isla Baru), part of the Rosario archipelago, where palm trees sway in the breeze and the water is a vibrant turquoise.
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