A local guide to living, investing and relocating to Santa Marta on Colombia’s Caribbean coast where the world’s tallest coastal mountain range meets white sand beaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4PGhnvioE
Thinking about moving to Santa Marta?
There’s nowhere else in the world quite like Santa Marta. You’ll find some of the best beaches in the Caribbean here, with Himalayan-sized peaks as the backdrop in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the tallest coastal mountain range on Earth.
This region has more ecotourism potential and outdoor lifestyle opportunities than nearly anywhere else in Latin America, but it’s still largely untapped.
Whether you want a long stay by the beach, a home to buy or a full move to Colombia, our local team can help you plan it. We know the neighborhoods, the rental market and the real estate agents.
Get to know the local community of Colombians, expats and digital nomads by staying at our coliving space in Playa El Rodadero.
Book a call to talk through your plans, then use the guides below to explore the beaches, neighborhoods and lifestyle.
Explore Our Santa Marta Travel & Destination Guides
LIVE ANYWHERE, EARN ONLINE
Earn your income online, live in paradise
Many people who move to Santa Marta bring their income with them because like most tropical paradises, there aren’t a lot of jobs beyond tourism.
Whether you want to escape the rainy climate in Bogotá or the long winters in Canada or the United States, having a consistent online income is key to enjoying your time in paradise.
The best way I’ve found to do that is an online workshop. It is a short live session you run every month that turns leads into clients for your coaching, program or service. All you need is a laptop, so you can run it from a beach in El Rodadero or a coffee farm in Minca.
In my next live workshop, I show you how to build yours.
1. Santa Marta’s Best Beaches
Santa Marta’s coast runs from the city beaches of El Rodadero and Playa Salguero up to the wild bays of Tayrona National Park. Our guide covers the 30 best beaches for swimming.
A local favorite is Playa Inca Inca, a small, quiet beach near El Rodadero that you reach on foot over the headland or by boat taxi.
2. Santa Marta Life Coliving
Santa Marta Life Coliving is an Italian villa a 5 minute walk from Playa El Rodadero. Rooms are private, with a double bed, a desk, air conditioning and fast Starlink internet.
Wilson and Liz host the house and run social nights like beach volleyball and karaoke. Stays are weekly or monthly.
3. Santa Marta Digital Nomad Guide
Santa Marta lets you live by the beach for less than Medellín or Bogotá. Internet quality varies a lot by neighborhood, so choose where you stay with care.
Our guide covers the best neighborhoods for remote work, internet, coworking and the local community.
4. Santa Marta Hiking Guide
You don’t have to go far to hike in Santa Marta. Short trails over the headlands from El Rodadero lead to quiet beaches like Playa Inca Inca.
In the hills above the city, Minca has jungle trails, waterfalls and coffee farms. Tayrona National Park has coastal trails between its beaches.
5. Santa Marta Trekking Guide
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the world’s tallest coastal mountain range. It climbs from the Caribbean to snow-capped peaks, and its foothills start at the edge of the city.
The best-known route is the multi-day trek to Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City, through the jungle of the Sierra Nevada.
6. Best Things To Do In Santa Marta
Santa Marta is where the Sierra Nevada mountains drop into the Caribbean Sea. Snorkeling, jungle hikes, coffee farms and colonial streets are all within a short drive of each other.
Our list covers 25 of the best, plus weekend escapes to Tayrona, Minca and Palomino.
7. Best Things To Do In El Rodadero
El Rodadero is Santa Marta’s most popular beach neighborhood, a 10 minute taxi from downtown.
It has a walkable beachfront, a jogging path, gyms and supermarkets, and short trails to quieter coves and sunset viewpoints.
8. Monthly Apartment Rentals
A monthly rental is the easiest way to try life in Santa Marta before you commit to a move.
Our guide compares apartments and houses across the beach neighborhoods. We can also help you find a rental in El Rodadero, Playa Salguero or Pozos Colorados.
9. Santa Marta Real Estate Tours
Thinking about buying near the beach? Tour condos and houses with an English-speaking local agent in El Rodadero, Playa Salguero, Pozos Colorados and Bello Horizonte.
Tours run 2 to 7 days and can include Minca, Tayrona and Palomino.
Latest Blog Posts
More guides to Santa Marta, Colombia
10 Best Multi-Day Treks In The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
10 Best Multi-Day Treks In The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
10 Best Santa Marta Hikes: Beaches, Waterfalls & Minca
10 Best Santa Marta Hikes: Beaches, Waterfalls & Minca
The 30 Best Beaches For Swimming In Santa Marta
The 30 Best Beaches For Swimming In Santa Marta
Everything You Need To Know About Santa Marta Webinar
Everything You Need To Know About Santa Marta Webinar
What $100,000 Buys You in Santa Marta, Colombia in 2026
What $100,000 Buys You in Santa Marta, Colombia in 2026
Coliving In Medellín: A Guide For Digital Nomads (2026)
Coliving In Medellín: A Guide For Digital Nomads (2026)
How To Buy Property In Colombia As A Foreigner: A Step-By-Step Guide (2026)
How To Buy Property In Colombia As A Foreigner: A Step-By-Step Guide (2026)
Santa Marta Monthly Rentals: A Guide to Apartments And Houses
