El Rodadero has several high-end hotels and private 'clubs' that cater mostly to wealthy Colombians, whereas Taganga used to be a fishing village and is very popular with (mostly foreign) backpackers. Vendors are extremely aggressive if you are on the beach.Īside from the old center, the main attractions of Santa Marta are its two resort-like suburbs El Rodadero, to the south, and Taganga, to the north. This is a decent beach if you like beaches that are right in town with lots of people, vendors, and noise. Off to the right is the port snug behind another even bigger rock. From the beach, the view of the Caribbean Sea is more or less to the west (beautiful sunsets) with a huge rock of an island jutting up out of the water to make a somewhat dramatic effect. Every day, there are cargo ships coming and going and the action is very much visible. Santa Marta an important commercial port and tourist destination.
Understand Plaza de Bolívar: Banco de la República and Café Juan Valdez Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte.
