Travel Budget for Santa Marta Visit Santa Marta on a Budget or Travel in Style

Santa Marta, Departamento del Magdalena, Colombia

How much does it cost to travel to Santa Marta?

You should plan to spend around $32 (CO$123,240) per day on your vacation in Santa Marta. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $9.78 (CO$38,194) on meals
  • $5.15 (CO$20,099) on local transportation
  • $27 (CO$106,316) on hotels

A one week trip to Santa Marta for two people costs, on average, $442 (CO$1,725,365). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $32
    CO$123,240
  • One Week Per person
    $221
    CO$862,683
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $442
    CO$1,725,365
  • One Month Per person
    $946
    CO$3,697,212
  • One Week For a couple
    $442
    CO$1,725,365
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $883
    CO$3,450,731
  • One Month For a couple
    $1,893
    CO$7,394,423
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Santa Marta cost?

A one week trip to Santa Marta usually costs around $221 (CO$862,683) for one person and $442 (CO$1,725,365) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Santa Marta on average costs around $442 (CO$1,725,365) for one person and $883 (CO$3,450,731) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Santa Marta will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Santa Marta on average costs around $946 (CO$3,697,212) for one person and $1,893 (CO$7,394,423) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Santa Marta has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Santa Marta expensive to visit?

Santa Marta is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Colombia, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Santa Marta in depth.

Within South America, Santa Marta is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in South America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Humahuaca, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Recife.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Santa Marta Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Santa Marta?

The average Santa Marta trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Santa Marta travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) CO$106,316 ($27)
Local Transportation 1 CO$20,099 ($5)
Food 2 CO$38,194 ($10)
Entertainment 1 CO$52,631 ($13)
Tips and Handouts 1 CO$12,500 - 37,500 ($3 - 10)
Alcohol 2 CO$12,799 - 38,397 ($3 - 10)
Accommodation Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Santa Marta is $14 (CO$53,158). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Santa Marta is $27 (CO$106,316). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $14
    CO$53,158
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $27
    CO$106,316

Hotel Prices in Santa Marta

Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Santa Marta based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $38. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Santa Marta is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.15 (CO$20,099) per person, per day, on local transportation in Santa Marta.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $5.15
    CO$20,099

Recommended Services


Flights to Santa Marta
How much does it cost to go to Santa Marta? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Santa Marta
The price of renting a car in Santa Marta will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Santa Marta?

Typical prices for Transportation in Santa Marta are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Santa Marta, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Gas
    CO$20,000


Food Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Santa Marta can vary, the average cost of food in Santa Marta is $9.78 (CO$38,194) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Santa Marta should cost around $3.91 (CO$15,278) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Santa Marta is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $9.78
    CO$38,194

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Santa Marta?

Typical prices for Food in Santa Marta are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Santa Marta, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Breakfast
    CO$12,000


Entertainment Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Santa Marta typically cost an average of $13 (CO$52,631) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $13
    CO$52,631

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Santa Marta is $6.40 (CO$25,000) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Santa Marta is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $6.40
    CO$25,000


Alcohol Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $6.55 (CO$25,598) on alcoholic beverages in Santa Marta per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $6.55
    CO$25,598

What did other people spend on Alcohol in Santa Marta?

Typical prices for Alcohol in Santa Marta are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Santa Marta, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Beer
    CO$2,200
  • Beer
    CO$9,000


Water Budget in Santa Marta
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $1.03 (CO$4,021) on bottled water in Santa Marta per day. The public water in Santa Marta is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $1.03
    CO$4,021


Santa Marta On a Budget
Santa Marta Santa Marta, Colombia
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
Sights
Santa Marta's landscape consist of hot springs, crystal-clear rivers, cascades and a number of pristinely beautiful beaches. Start exploring this charming colonial city and get a taste of the local life at the Parque de los Novios and its leafy central plaza surrounded by restaurants and bars. The Rodadero is one of the most important tourist areas of the city due to the fact that it has the largest number of hotels, a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs so that you can experience a very unique stay. Live musicians and beach bars are the primary nighttime entertainment in this electric neighborhood. Those who have come to Santa Marta for beautiful beaches, this is your spot. Head to the gorgeous Playa Blanca, located on the other side of a headland just a short trip from the city. While this stunning stretch of sand is lined by a number of basic local restaurants, visitors still manage to feel miles away from the big city. Finally, visit the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino beautiful country estate where revolutionary hero Simon Bolivar lived out his final days.

Activities
As Colombia's premier beach destination, there are plenty of fun things to keep a traveler busy in Santa Marta. Check out to the stunning Tayrona National Park to end up on some of the best beaches in all of South America, where lush jungle scenery edges right up to the white sandy beaches and turquoise water for which the park is famed. Just north of town is Taganga, a tiny fishing village on the border with Tayrona National Park. Some come for its laidback small-town vibe, while others stick around to learn how to scuba dive on one of the most cost-effective PADI courses in the continent. Another incredible adventure is to trek to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). This spectacular indigenous citadel pre-dates the Inca and is a breathtaking sight surrounded by exotic jungle. Not for the faint of heart, a visit to the archaeological site requires an intense four to five-day trek through a difficult trail. Stop by the Museo del Oro to learn more about the history gold and the region. You can also go for a day in the charming town of Minca, only an hour's drive from Santa Marta's city center. Go for the day or stay overnight to really get to know this beautiful section of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and enjoy the organic coffee farms, jungle hikes and refreshing waterfalls.
Food and Dining
Seafood, fish, carimanolas, egg arepas, yam and sweet fritters as well as preparations with green bananas (unripe banana) are essential components of local cuisine. Ceviche, fresh fruit, and lobster are all widely available in Santa Marta's street stalls for only a few dollars. Head to the ocean promenade known as Avenida Bastidas for an unbeatable outdoor dining experience with spectacular ocean views. The cayeye, a dish made with unripe banana is a good example of traditional cuisine of Santa Marta.

Transportation
The Simon Bolivar airport, which has the same name as the one in Caracas in Venezuela has non-stop flights from Bogota and Medellin. It is located along the beach, 20 min south of town, but much closer to most of the beach resorts and only 10 min from El Rodadero, Santa Marta's main beach. The bus station is all the way out of town on the main highway and it will cost you between USD$1.75 and USD$3 to be dropped off near the beach in taxi. To avoid any trouble, you should fix the price before you get into the taxi. There are also mini buses that will bring you anywhere in the city for USD$0.50. Bus rides are available from Medellin (15 hours), Barranquilla (2 hours), Bucaramanga (8 hours), Bogota (16 hours) and San Gil (13 hours).

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.