No — Mercure Santa Marta Emile is near Pozos Colorados, about 20-25 minutes by taxi from the historic centre. It\u2019s a quieter, beach-side location rather than a downtown one.
Discover Authentic Santa Marta: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Santa Marta, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Minca, Aracataca and sailing trips to Tayrona National Park.
Top 5 Things to Do in Santa Marta
Mercado en Bastidas
The everyday market for thousands of samarios, with sections for fish, meat, fruit and grains, and food stalls dishing up lunch at local prices. Less polished than the historic centre, more real.
Centro Histórico
Colonial streets around Parque de los Novios, with colourful façades and a slower pace once the day-trip crowds thin out. Good for a coffee stop away from the beach.
El Rodadero
The city's liveliest beach strip, lined with restaurants — Donde Chucho is known locally for its seafood stew, a dish worth seeking out here.
Taganga
A small former fishing village a short trip from town, with a laid-back, backpacker energy and boats heading out to nearby coves.
Tayrona National Park
A few kilometres along the coast, with beaches backed by jungle. Worth planning as a half or full day out from Santa Marta.
Explore Santa Marta's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Santa Marta
We've mapped local spots around Santa Marta, from coffee farms to García Márquez's Macondo.
Day trips
Minca
Forty-five minutes from Santa Marta, a mountain village known for coffee and cacao. Hike to waterfalls, spot hummingbirds and visit a finca to see how the beans are grown.
Sierra Nevada · Mountain village · Perfect for nature and coffee
Aracataca
Gabriel García Márquez's birthplace, just over an hour's drive away. Visit his childhood home, now a museum, the Casa del Telegrafista and the white San José church. Magic realism, for real.
Aracataca · Literary town · Made for literature lovers
Laberinto Macondo
A hedge maze inspired by One Hundred Years of Solitude, about an hour from Santa Marta. Find your way out, then reward yourself with chicharrón at the restaurant.
East of Santa Marta · Maze park · Great for families
Sailing with Velero Santa Marta
Charter a crewed yacht for up to 10 people from Santa Marta marina and spend the day exploring the beaches and coves of Tayrona National Park, with snorkelling and a light fish lunch.
Santa Marta marina · Sailing trip · Ideal for groups
In the city
Waku Cuisine
Fusion and Arhuaco-inspired cooking with Sierra Nevada produce. The star: seafood from artisanal fishermen, especially lobster with smoked rice.
Santa Marta · Restaurant · Perfect for a special dinner
Centro de Vida Marina
An aquarium and marine centre with an underwater tunnel and endangered species, focused on education and conservation.
Santa Marta · Aquarium · Great for families
Guásimo
Seafood and fruit from the Magdalena region, in a stylish, relaxed room hung with the chef-owner's art.
Centro · Restaurant · Ideal for local cuisine
Museo del Oro Tairona
More than 500 pre-Hispanic pieces in the 18th-century Casa de la Aduana. Golden, and full of stories.
Centro · Museum · Perfect for history
FAQ
It\u2019s just a few kilometres up the coast, making it an easy day trip from the Pozos Colorados area.
The market in the Bastidas neighbourhood is the everyday market for residents, with lower prices and a more community feel than the areas geared toward visitors.
Minca, 45 minutes away, for coffee farms and waterfalls, or Aracataca, Gabriel García Márquez's birthplace.
Yes. Velero Santa Marta charters crewed yachts for up to 10 people to Tayrona's beaches and coves.
Waku Cuisine is known for lobster and seafood from local artisanal fishermen.
Where to Sleep in Santa Marta
See Mercure hotels in Santa Marta, all within reach of these picks.