Want to work remotely from Santa Marta? I spent the winter in Santa Marta, working during the week and exploring the surroundings on the weekend.  

This Guide has got you covered on: 

⛲ Intro to Santa Marta and areas to stay in
🏠 Hotels & Hostels in the historic center
☕ Cozy Cafés to work from
😋 Restaurants and Bars
🌴 Weekend activities in nature and away from the screen

Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia

Colombia

🇨🇴 Santa Marta: The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide 

Ikaro Cafe is the go-to place for everyone who loves coffee, healthy and delicious food as well as good internet. The place does get very busy during the day, so try to go there early or in-between meal times (eg. in-between breakfast and lunch, or in the afternoon before dinner). 

Lulo is a lovely restaurant and café on one of the main restaurant streets in Santa Marta. The place has it all: If you want to people watch and enjoy the buzz of the city, you can grab one of the seats on the main strip; if you want to work or have a quiet environment, check out the courtyard. Do try the arepas, wraps & smoothies.

Whenever you crave something sweet - go to Alegria! The artisanal bakery offers an amazing variety of bakery goods and coffee. They do not serve full meals, but it's the perfect place for an iced coffee and a treat in the afternoon.  

La Muzzeria is a restaurant at the end of the restaurant street. I loved the unique and colourful interior with grand chandelier & retro furniture. The place is known for its Kokilla and the wifi works great. 

Serena is a new bistro that overlooks the marina. It comes with a price tag, but the view of the water and the boats is super relaxing. 

Taganga is a relaxed old fisher village with a lovely main beach and a few restaurants. The remoteness makes it (at the time of writing) not very suitable for remote working, but ideal for a weekend or daytrip to relax. You can walk to Playa Grande for clear waters and restaurants at the beach, or if you prefer a more remote setting, you can continue along the path to Playa Escondida or any small beach along the way. Taganga is also a great starting point for any trip to Tayrona national park. You can take a boat (or the bus) to go there. 

Probably one of the most common activities in Santa Marta is going to Tayrona. You have several options to go there by boat or by bus & walk, and you can even bring a tent and stay a night in the national park. Once you have arrived, you three different beaches await you - one of which is a nudist (and therefore the least busy) beach

Cabo San Juan - The journey is the destination

I hiked there and then took the boat back to Taganga, and I equally enjoyed both ways. The hike starts at the main entrance which is reachable by bus approx 30-60 min from Santa Marta. From there it's a roughly 3 hours walk (depending on your walking speed) and you walk through dense forests, pass stunning beaches and numerous palm trees.

Minka is a truly special place! Up in the mountains, you enjoy a stunning view over Santa Marta, hikes and waterfalls. I'd recommend staying the weekend (or even longer) and enjoy the nature and quiet! 

To go back to Santa Marta, you can either hike back the same way, or take a boat (which is what I'd suggest). Make sure you get your ticket once you arrive as boats leave rather early in the afternoon. If you miss it, you will have to walk back on foot. Note: The boat ride does get a little bumpy, but the views are worth it!

Palomino is a relaxed hippy town, which attracts a mix of surfer & party people as well as spiritual folks and yogis. The town centers around one main road filled with bars & restaurants leading up to a long stretch of beach. For relaxed beach vibes, try to visit during the weekdays or choose a hotel further away from the main road. Note: the waves & currents are quite strong and make it more of a beach suitable for surfing, rather than swimming

🏠 Hostels & Hotels in the historic center

Los Naranjos has been one of the highlights of my stay in Santa Marta! Come here to enjoy empty white-sand beaches and the tropical forest.

One of my highlights has been my stay at the Journey Hostel, which offers an infinity pool overlooking the river and the beach. If you don't stay here, do go for the sunset drinks - it's a magical place.

Minka is known for its waterfalls and nature. There are several places to go to, but my favourite were the hike and day at Marinka waterfalls as well as Pozo Azul. Both waterfalls are accessible on foot or by hiring a local on a motorbike. The walk to Marinka is stunning and takes about 1.5 hours, to Pozo Azul I took a motorbike as the path leads along the main road. 

Below is the (vetted) list of places where I stayed in, and had a good set-up for working including a work desk as well as high-speed internet. 

Last but not least, if you seek an awe-inspiring jungle adventure that presents a bit of a challenge, you can embark on this multi-day trek that unveils a sacred site older than Machu Picchu. This trek takes several days (so not feasible to do during one weekend) and can only be done with an approved tour company.

I hope you will enjoy Santa Marta as much as I did ❤️

Santa Marta is a coastal town in Colombia,  and dispite its historic city center, beaches and national parks, often overlooked in favour of other cities such as Cartagena. 

Santa Marta, therefore, is a bit more relaxed (or sleepy) than its bigger sister, which makes it a great place for remote working if you want to get away from the crowds. 

🇨🇴 Santa Marta: The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide

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