The 10 Hiking Tours in Santa Marta to Clear a Day For

1.Tayrona Park Hike And Beach Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $211Our pick

Hike Tayrona National Park with a private English-speaking guide such as Hugo, David, César, or Andres. From Santa Marta, you’ll walk through jungle, palms, mangroves, and beach forest to La Piscina and Cabo San Juan, with time to swim and eat by the sea. Transport, bottled water, and selected park fees are included.

“It was a private tour for my family. Andres was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. The scenery was excellent. We really enjoyed this tour and highly recommend it.”

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2.Guided Hiking through Tayrona National Park and Cabo San Juan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 73 reviews · from $45

Leave Santa Marta before sunrise for a guided hike through Tayrona’s El Zaino sector. Walk past mangroves, dry forest, beaches, and viewpoints before reaching Cabo San Juan for swimming and lunch. The tour uses a mixed Spanish and English guide, includes park entry for Colombian nationals, and requires an extra foreigner tax.

“Had a great experience! The hike was not easy but definitely worth it. The crew was nice and professional!”

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3.Trekking History and Indigenous Heritage in Minca + Cacao & Coffee + Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 63 reviews · from $41Best value

Meet your bilingual guide in Minca’s Central Park for a medium-level trek through Tayrona heritage trails. Visit Cabanas Bosque Cacao, an Arhuaco family farm, to learn about coffee, cacao, and Indigenous traditions, then relax at a natural waterfall if conditions allow. Guides may include Jorge, Andres, or Santiago.

“Jorge was a great guide! Really enjoyed this informative tour and would recommend!”

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4.Trekking Cerro Kennedy 2 days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · from $298

Leave Santa Marta by 4x4 for Minca, a Sierra Nevada coffee tour, and a night at Finca Santa Elena. With guides such as Carlos, Tatjana, or Leonardo, you hike 13 kilometers to Cerro Kennedy at about 3,000 meters, starting before sunrise for wide views toward the snowy peaks. Pickup, meals, water, coffee, and lodging are included.

“We have enjoyed our 3 days trekking so so much! Landscape , beautiful sunrises and sunsets, delicious homemade food and most importantly such a lovely and welcoming hosts😍highly recommended and we will be happy to be back one day”

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5.Tayrona Park Hike Tour to Cabo San Juan: Private or Shared

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 44 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $126

Walk four hours through Tayrona National Park from Arrecifes to Cabo San Juan, passing jungle trails and several beaches. Private departures include hotel pickup and drop-off. Shared departures begin at Hotel Playa Blanca in El Rodadero at 7:15 a.m. Guides such as Saul, Andrea, Guillermo, and Ronaldo have helped visitors spot monkeys and other wildlife.

“Excellent experience. Saul was a very good guide. Friendly and competent. We could swim in Cabo San Juan, we saw micos, an alligator, the combination of paradise beaches and jungle were extraordinary. The walk is relatively easy, there are only a few difficult passages if one suffers from the knees.Auto-translated”

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6.Multi-Day Trek to The Lost City

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 40 reviews · 4 days · from $713

Follow an English or Spanish-speaking guide from Santa Marta into the Sierra Nevada on a demanding 4, 5, or 6-day trek. Climb 1,200 Tayrona stone steps to the Lost City, swim in rivers and natural pools, visit Wiwa and Kogui communities, and sleep in jungle camps with mosquito nets. Guides such as Arghenith, Francisco, and Victor have earned special praise for their care and storytelling.

“This Lost City your is a must if you’re in Colombia! Our translator Emilie was fantastic! She was very encouraging and supportive, guiding us through the jungle and helping to motivate us when we were tired.. she was an excellent guide and very caring and knowledgeable - would have not been the same without her! The Lost City is very rewarding after 2 days of walking to reach it! Meals were all delicious and very filling - overall 5 stars, would definitely recommend”

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7.Palomino River Tubing and Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 40 reviews · 210 minutes - 7 hours · from $52

This private Palomino outing combines a 40-minute forest hike, a flora and fauna lesson, motorbike rides, and river tubing through gentle water and rapids. Guides such as David and Sneider lead the active portion, ending where the Palomino River meets the Caribbean Sea. From Santa Marta, shared transport is included after you reach the Rodadero meeting point.

“We enjoyed our tour overall, with the best part being the incredible nature we got to see. We felt as if we were a little unprepared for the tour as a whole. The tour guide on the 2hr bus ride only spoke Spanish which was unclear to us when booking, and it was a little nerve wracking as non-native speakers not understanding the exact plans. Once we arrived to Palomino after two brief stops on the bus we were greeted by an English speaking coordinator who helped direct us to the hike. The hike is relatively short but is steep and through some rocky terrain, so make sure you wear…”

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8.Trekking in Minca Complete Waterfall Circuit

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 28 reviews · 5 - 7 hours · from $49

Meet your English or Spanish-speaking guide in Minca Park for an 8-kilometer trek through forest trails, local farms, viewpoints, and waterfalls. You’ll visit Oído del Mundo and Marinka, hear about Indigenous plants and coffee and cacao, and cool off at a secluded pool. Guides may include Laura, Dan, Mario, or John.

“The Trip is Nice. Laura was a very friendly guide who explained us everything. But 40€ is way to much for the Tour.”

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9.Coffee, Cocoa and Trekking Tour in Minca: Nature, Crops and Production

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 21 reviews · from $41

Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking guide in Minca’s central park for a half-day walk through forest trails, coffee and cocoa farms, and mountain viewpoints. You’ll learn how crops are grown and processed, taste organic coffee and handmade cocoa, and may have time to cool off at a natural waterfall pool. Guides may include Albert, John, or Jorge.

“Jorge was an excellent guide, very informative and the family that ran the plantation also very nice and informative”

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10.Sisiguaca Beach Hike with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 4 hours - 270 minutes · from $70

Meet your bilingual guide, including guides such as Humberto, at Santa Marta’s Parque de los Novios. Ride to Taganga, walk coastal trails to Sisiguaca Beach, snorkel with supplied gear, enjoy a light snack, and return to Taganga. The four-hour outing suits active visitors who can swim and manage a 30 to 40-minute hike.

“La ville n’est pas très propre. La plage est sympa, mais ça ne vaut pas de payer ce montant alors que nous pouvons le faire seul. Je déconseille de le faire ou alors allez-y par vos propres moyens. Il n’y a qu’un sentier à suivre, vous ne pouvez pas vous perdre.”

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