How to get to Palomino from Santa Marta. Things to do in Palomino, Complete With Guide and Budget

Not too long ago, Palomino was almost unknown to the tourist community, and nearly no one knew how to get there. In recent years, Palomino has experienced an unexpected tourism boom. After seeing it for the first time, the reasons for this boom become obvious: the incredible landscapes, location and atmosphere of this little town have made Palomino become one of the most favorable destinations in the Caribbean, and is now known as the best backpacker destination in Latin America.

If you want to know how to get to Palomino, what to do, where to stay and the required budget, this guide is the perfect place to clear up any questions you may have before your arrival.

From Santa Marta to Palomino

Lets start our adventure. The easiest and cheapest way to get to Palomino is from Santa Marta. If you are in the city, all you have to do is make your way to the local marketplace and take one of the big green buses. Because Palomino is between Santa Marta and Riohacha, you will pass Tayrona Park on your way. These buses are run by the same company, and can be used to access the park as well.  The bus ticket to get to Palomino is about 9.000 COP.

Palomino is the last stop on you busses? route, so you don?t have to worry about where to get off. The last stop will leave you in a gas station. If you cross the street and begin walking in the direction of the ocean, you will reach Palomino, indicated by many signs indicating the way to beach. If you would prefer not to walk, you may choose to pay for a bike (mototaxi) to the town for 3.000 COP.

If you are in another city along the north coast, you can get to Palomino taking the bus from Barranquilla to La Guajira, or the same bus if you are in Cartagena.  The prices vary depending on the season and company, but a bus ticket from Barranquilla to La Guajira is about 35.000 COP.

Where to Sleep and Eat?

We mentioned before that Palomino has had an incredible growth in the last years. As a result of this, there has been a surge in hostels and restaurants, as well as the development of the town itself. This development leaves you with no reason to worry about the availability of food and accommodation, both of which you can find at affordable prices.

Spending the night in a hostel in Palomino is the most economical option, where prices start around 20.000 COP per night in shared bedrooms. Remember to take into account that the closer your accommodation is to the beach is more expensive it will get, but it is possible find good deals (for example, a night in accommodation closer to the beach for 50.000 COP, breakfast included)

When it comes to gastronomy, there are excellent restaurants to eat at in Palomino, where you can find a wide variety of different types of foods, with options for people at all different budget levels. Vegetarian, fusion, artisanal, Italian, seafood are just some of the options you can find in Palomino. In general, all restaurants are good, but speaking from personal experience, I ate one of the best pizzas in a restaurant there.

We arrived, Now? What is There to Do in Palomino?

Palomino is the perfect place to go to rest, relax, enjoy the beautiful landscapes and to get away from the rest of the world. However, Palomino is also perfect for a few more things as well.

First of all, Palomino is an amazing place to go for a swim off the beach? That?s why you came here in the first place, right? 

Secondly, Palomino is an excellent to practice your surfing, due to both the height and strength of the waves, giving you the perfect opportunity to get back in the water.

Another thing very famous thing to do in Palomino is to take an inflatable tire to go floating down the Palomino River, in an activity called tubing. Tubing is one of the must-do activities during your time here. Basically,, if you go to Palomino and you leave without going Tubing, it is like you never went there at all!

The wonderful thing about it is that you will have a complete and unique view of the flora and fauna of the town while floating down the river. You will have the opportunity to see stunning views of the landscape, as well as sightings of region-specific birds and animals. The prices of tubing in Palomino normally start around 20.000 COP, but can sometimes be found for a bit less.

Another enjoyable activity in Palomino is to walk northward until the Salvador River. This walk lasts about one hour, but all your effort will be rewarded with the beautiful landscapes that you can find along the way. On a clear day, you may get to witness a stunning view of Pico Colon, the highest mountain in  The Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and in Colombia.

It is here where the river meets the sea, making it another must-see viewpoint during your time Palomino. It also happens to be a nice spot to swim thanks to the tranquility and meeting point between these two

So... How much will I spend in Palomino?

Getting back to what we said in the beginning, Palomino is one of the best backpacker destination, implying that life and activities here are not very expensive.  In COP, you can spend around 200.000 COP, departing from Santa Marta to Palomino, including accommodation, food and things to do. Keep in mind that this budget is estimate of the cheapest possible budget.

Still traveling throughout the coast?

If you are still on the Caribbean and you want to learn it like the back of your hand, we recommend for you to take a look at this guide for Tayrona Park , as well as some Tips for the Lost City. You can also continue with your trip up north to Punta Gallinas on your own, or making your way to Mompox.

If you are traveling around Colombia, you can find a list of things to do and places to visit here. You can also check the must-have apps for every traveler, or our list of reccommended books to travel with. Traveling alone? No problem, we have a blog you can read for that as well.