Santa Marta: Old Town, Squares and Culture

When looking for a hotel in Santa Marta, it’s worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your stay. The streets and squares of the historic center provide a good starting point, along with theater history, monuments, and an exhibition venue. The center is near the Puerto de Santa Marta and the Marina Internacional de Santa Marta. These different points of interest can help you plan your time in the city around a particular theme.

Practical Information and Dining

There is a tourist information office at the Santa Marta bus station. If you’re relying on this resource for your plans, check its availability in advance.

A post dated December 20, 2021, mentioned areas in the historic center such as Callejón del Correo and Parque de los Novios, with numerous restaurants and bars serving local and international cuisine. Individual businesses and their offerings may change.

Explore the Historic Center on Foot

The streets and lanes of the historic center invite you to explore on foot. They also include the colorful facades of houses more than 100 years old. For visitors interested in architecture, exploring the lanes is part of the experience itself.

Squares, Buildings, and Remembrance

Parque de los Novios, also known as Parque Santander, was laid out in the early 20th century. At its center are a statue of General Francisco de Paula Santander and a bust of former president Manuel Murillo Toro. Murillo Toro was president of Colombia from 1864 to 1866 and again from 1872 to 1874. Both park names refer to the same place; the monuments connect it with two of the country’s political figures.

The Teatro Santa Marta opened in 1949 and was designed by Cuban architect Manuel Carrerá. A bronze sculpture of Don Rodrigo de Bastidas, installed in 1928, stands on the Camellón de la Bahía. Here you’ll encounter different forms of civic remembrance: a theater building and a monument to a named figure.

Art Venues and the Camellón de la Bahía

Another cultural focal point is the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, which serves as an exhibition venue for the Museo Bolivariano de Arte Contemporáneo. The Quinta is also home to the Altar a la Patria, built to commemorate the centenary of Bolívar’s death. The Quinta thus combines the museum’s exhibition function with a place of remembrance.

When it opened in January 2022, the Camellón de la Bahía was described as a green corridor with a large event space. It opened to the public that same year and was presented as a place where visitors could enjoy the views and get to know Santa Marta. If you plan to visit the Camellón, check current access arrangements beforehand.

Discover more destinations: San Fernando, Santa Marta, Playa Blanca, La Ceiba, Carretal, Calabazo, Minca, Fundacion.

For the broader travel overview: Magdalena.