Madelyn & Daniel
Things To Do
Guasimo Restaurant
We went to this restaurant twice last time we were in Santa Marta and it was absolutory phenomenal! If it was up to my dad we would have eaten there for every meal! They do not have anything vegetarian specifically on the menu but they just made me my own customized dish of pasta with pesto and flavorful veggies. Everyone else at the table got the ceviche and loved it that are their meals! They also offer a private 6 course tasting menu which we did the second night. The chef and owner does a fantastic job of blending flavors and textures to make fabulous dishes all from local ingredients!
Lulo Café Bar
This a nice restaurant for lunch or a smaller meal with a wide range of options. They have really good choices for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Ouzo Restaurant
Really nice atmosphere for dinner with good food and seating both downstairs and upstairs. We got the pizzas which we really enjoyed and the pina coladas were great :)
Casa Magdalena
Our driver recommended this place and he is a former chef so I have faith in him!
Baguettina Restaurante y La mesa de don Alfonso
Also a recommendation from our driver!
Minca
The town of Minca is up in the mountains about 45 minutes to an 1 hour drive from Santa Marta. There are a bunch of hikes in the area to get to different waterfalls. The hikes can be pretty long from Minca itself, so we would recommend taking a motor taxi (this involves being on the back of a motorcycle with a very skilled man driving) or four wheel drive up to the trial heads of the waterfalls. Some of the waterfalls are Polo Azul and Marinka Waterfalls. There are also coffee tours, tubing, bird watching and much more. The above website is a blog with lots of activities and links but you can also google tours or go through airbnb experiences. If you get a chance to stay up there, there are some really cool hotels that have amazing views of the surround mountains.
Historic Downtown Santa Marta
The historical district of Santa Marta is a great place to explore with a bunch of shops and restaurants. All the restaurants on this page are in this district. It is also right next to one of the beaches and the marina where you can walk around and watch the sunset and the see the boats coming in and out.
Cartagena
If you have a couple extra days, we recommend traveling and exploring Cartagena. It is about 3.5-4.5 hours from Santa Marta depending on traffic. This is where Daniel and I will be traveling after the wedding but we can arrange transport for either before or after the wedding if this an option you would like. The walled city is a magical place filled of color, music, and food. There is a lot to explore within the city and you can also do a day trip by boat to Islas de Rosario.
Parque Nacional Tayrona
We will be going to the coastal parts of Parque Tayrona on the boat day (2/23/23) which will cover a lot of the beauty of the park. However, if you want to hike and explore the inner parts of the park you can only do this on foot from the park entrance. It is a pretty extensive hike so please research ahead of time and bring lots of water and bug spray. If hiking within the park they recommend the yellow fever vaccine. Additionally, the park closes during parts of February to allow for the foliage to restore its after tourist season, so please verify the park will be open.