Santa Marta

About

Santa Marta was founded by the Spanish in 1525, making it their first settlement in Colombia, and the second oldest in South America. The city’s importance to the Spanish made it a target for English and Dutch pirates, who ravaged the colonial town over the centuries. Today, it’s a rough-at-the-edges port city that’s a popular retreat for Comlobian holiday makers. For the average tourist, the main draw is the old city center, where the colorful colonial buildings have an authentic “lived in” vibe. The Catedral de Santa Marta in particular is worth seeking out as it’s considered the oldest cathedral on the continent, and was the resting place of Simón Bolívar before his remains were sent back to Venezuela. You should also seek out the Museo del Oro Tairona in the old customs house. This free museum has a well curated collection detailing the history of the region’s four indigenous groups complete with English descriptions.