Santa Marta - General Info
Where is Santa Marta?
Founded in 1525, the historic city of Santa Marta is South America’s oldest surviving city and as a result has a cultural and historical importance worth exploring being the second most important city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
The beautiful white sand beaches overlooked by snow-capped mountains are now accompanied by an expansion of facilities to accommodate yachtsmen. Knowingly so, Santa Marta is becoming increasingly popular with yachtsmen cruising to and from Panama, Venezuela, Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago.
Located on the north coast of Colombia, Santa Marta was one of the first cities to be discovered in the country and is also known as “Ciudad Mágica” (the Magic City). Santa Marta is located to the north of Cartagena (100 NM or 150 kms – 3 hours and 30 minutes by car) and Barranquilla (90 kms- 1 hour and 30 minutes by car) – two of the best known and most beautiful cities on the Colombian coast.
Entrance Notes or Cautions for Santa Marta:
Head to the east side of the bay but be aware that your approach will take you across the main shipping channel into Santa Marta commercial port. The Marina entrance is about 0.3 nm south of the container cranes. You will see some masts over the wall but not many as this is mostly a motor boat marina. The entrance runs north to south and is marked with a yellow (yes, yellow) and green buoy. The entrance is unlit but can be negotiated at night with care once the breakwater has been identified. Alternatively, yachts may choose to anchor to the northeast of the Marina entrance to enter in daylight.
During dry weather, black dust on the decks can be a problem in this port, probably from the dark sandy beaches nearby or the coal transfer at the port.
Anyone planning to visit should be aware that winds inside the marina blow 20-30 knots and can gust up to 40 knots on a reasonably regular basis. There are often white caps inside the breakwater so ensure you have sufficient lines and chafing gear.
Security in the anchorage is poor. There have been reports of fender theft and boardings. Also, fishermen interfering with yachts at anchor. However, the Armada Nacional (Colombian Coast Guard) are ever present within the Marina and can be alerted 24/7 on Channel 16.
A yacht anchored alone in Taganga Bay in December 2023 was boarded by armed men and the crew held at gunpoint while the boat was ransacked. See news item.
In case of Maritime Emergency in Colombia dial 146, or e-mail: jefcp04@dimar.ml.co
Cruiser Highlights for Santa Marta:
Excellent marina facilities; boatyard; easy repairs; reportedly a safe town to visit; good place from which to explore inland; Tayrona National Park just 34km away; archeological remains; best beaches in S. America; abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna.
Santa Marta is located within the only department in Colombia that has two Biosphere reserves declared by UNESCO.
Position – marina entrance:
11° 14.67’N, 74° 13.05’W
Last updated: August 2024
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Related to following destinations: Caribbean Coast (Colombia), Colombia, Santa Marta
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Colombia is due to open its international borders on 1st October 2020. But often these dates get delayed. But it’s a move in the right direction!
COVID19 update 24/4/2020
Borders remain closed.
Marina is also closed. However it is likely that the Marina will begin taking reservations again soon.
However passing yachts have taken refuge in the anchorage here. Also the authorities have permitted yachts to refuel, take on water and provisions. This is done through an appointed agent.
Please note that although the holding is good, the security in the anchorage is poor. There have been reports of fender theft and boardings in recent times. But the Armada Nacional (Colombian Coast Guard) are ever present within the Marina and can be alerted 24/7 on Channel 16.
We arrived mid-June 2018:
At arrival, we anchored next to the entrance of the marina. Two other sailboats were staying there too.
The rate of the marina for seven days for a 39 feet boat is 40 US$ per night (the daily rate is 50 US$). As an agent should cost 300 US$ the decision was easily taken. (Taking in account that outside the marina is no place where you could leave your dinghy attached!).
“El permiso de permanencía” is always extra (120 US$). (It expired for us some days later because of leaving again the country.)
A week later we left for several days for Tayona Park. We informed the “station de control” and after they received feedback from the marina that our paperwork was in process, we got the permission to go. The park itself is not very spectacular but the last bay was very calm to chill.
When we came back to the marina, we stayed for another couple of nights for the weekly rate. It was a good choice to take the marina as our agent.
In the marina’s shop, cold beer is available at very reasonable prices. A supermarket is a couple of minutes walk. If you look for restaurants where locals eat it’s five minutes to walk there.
Posted by Liz Evans on the main Colombia page:
I would like to advise cruisers who need to receive spares into Santa Marta not to use DHL as they do not acknowledge the ‘Vessel in Transit’ status and charge the import duty and local VAT which are 29% in total plus high currency uplift.
Advice is to use FedEx and keep the value of shipment under US$1000.00.
Have the package delivered c/o Marina Santa Marta and ask the friendly office staff to point out to the FedEx delivery person the ‘Vessel in Transit’ status of the shipment, to avoid paying the import taxes.
Posted on behalf of Twiganauten:
December 2014, we have been in the IGY Marina for one month.
The marina is perfect, we love the small town Santa Marta and the countryside is like paradise.
We did the tour to the “Lost City”, it was very very hard but worth to do it. Thanks to our tour guide Misael.
I recommend to make this tour 6 days instead of the normally offered tour of 4 or 5.
The terrain is difficult with very steep sections uphill and downhill.
The tour guide Misael grew up in this area, he knows people and nature and he has good contact with the Indians, Misael can arrange customized tours – email: misdelpineda_22@hotmail.com
Agent Dino – dino.shippingagent@gmail.com – made the clearances easy, Dino is very friendly and helpful.
We’ve been at Marina Santa Marta since 9 October. Water is no longer an issue. Occasionally, the dock water goes off for 15-20 minutes (maybe once per week), but otherwise, it is reliable. We are also drinking dock water THROUGH our SeaGull water filter, with no ill effects. Wade Alarie / SV Joana
Update July 28, 2014
For anyone planning to come to Marina Santa Marta in the near future, you should be aware that the marina is currently experiencing problems with its water supply. Twice within the past 1.5 weeks, there has been a rupture in the water supply pipeline that has taken approximately 12 hours to fix. During this time, there was absolutely no water in the marina.
Furthermore, the city of Santa Marta is currently experiencing a water crisis. In order to limit water use (mainly by power boat captains who wash their boats every day), water availability on the docks has been limited to two 2-hour periods (8-10am and 4-6pm) each day. Despite these restrictions, the full $6/day facility fee still applies.
– Laura Winter, S/Y Corinthian