Cartagena To Santa Marta: FULL Route + Travel Guide 2023

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Looking for the best ways to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta? You’re in the right place! 

Cartagena is one of the main tourist hubs in Colombia. It’s a vibrant, colourful city that’s popular with backpackers wanting to explore, soak in some of the cultures, dine out at popular rooftop bars and try some authentic street food.

Whilst in Cartagena, taking a trip to Santa Marta, the gateway to Tayrona National Park, is a must-do for any nature fans! But it’s quite the task to get there and usually involves at least six hours of dreaded bus travel.

Luckily for you, this is an easy journey we ourselves have completed in the past. We know all the tips and tricks to be able to travel between the two locations with ease.

This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from Cartagena to Santa Marta, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more.

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Cartagena to Santa Marta!

Still got a question about the journey from Cartagena to Santa Marta? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇨🇴 Other Colombia posts:

• 10 BEST Day Trips From Cartagena Colombia!
• Getsemani Cartagena: FULL Travel Guide
• Palenque Tour Cartagena: The BEST Day Trip!
• Medellin To Cartagena: FULL Transport Guide

Cartagena to Santa Marta: A Summary

The distance between Cartagena and Santa Marta is roughly 155 miles (248km). It will take around 5-6 hours to drive directly between the two locations, depending on traffic, road conditions and mode of transport. 

The most popular way to travel between Cartagena and Santa Marta is by bus.

In summary, there are four ways to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta. These options are:

• Public bus
• Tourist shuttle
• Private transfer
• Flying (although I don’t recommend this due to there not being any direct flights)

Personally, I think the best way to get to Santa Marta from Cartagena is by bus. Tickets can easily be booked online here, making your journey reliable, easy and straightforward.

But, there are four ways to travel between the two places, so I’ll explain in detail and let you decide how to travel between Santa Marta and Cartagena.

1. Cartagena to Santa Marta by bus

Travelling via bus, in my opinion, is the best option. Why? Well, buses in Colombia are amazing. You can expect air conditioning, USB ports, Wifi, modern seats and top-notch safety conditions.

You can book a direct bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta here, but let’s discuss some of the all-important details.

When you are travelling from Cartagena to Santa Marta, you will need to:

• 🚕 Get a taxi to the public bus terminal in Cartagena. This can take up to an hour due to traffic, so leave in plenty of time. For a small, 15-person bus, travel to the Berlinastur bus terminal.

• 🎟️ Buy tickets for a bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta. There are constant buses running between the two locations throughout the day. Prices usually hover around $12 USD per person. ➡ Pre-book bus tickets here!

• 🚎 Board the bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta. This journey will take roughly 5-6 hours depending on traffic and the road conditions. Buses are modern, clean, safe and even have USB ports, so sit back and relax!

• 🏨 The Santa Marta bus terminal is in the centre of town. From here, you can either travel to your accommodation (by foot or taxi) or board your next mode of transport for Minca or Tayrona Park! 

➡ BOOK A BUS TO SANTA MARTA NOW!

🦉TOP TIP: When booking your bus ticket online, be sure to check the exact terminal your bus will depart from. There are different-sized buses and departure terminals in Cartagena.

Which bus company is best?

If you look at the bus journeys online, you’ll see that you can book with either Berlinas, Unitransco, Copetran, Marsol or Flota La Macarena. That’s a lot of bus companies to compare and choose between!

But the bottom line is – they all run from Cartagena to Santa Marta.

In the grand scheme of things, there aren’t many differences between the buses. All of them get you from A to B. All of them are safe and take roughly the same amount of time.

The only slight differences are the sizes of the buses. The Marsol is a lot bigger and therefore has more locals onboard than the smaller Berlinas shuttle.

But again, this makes very little difference to your journey, and if you’re on a tight budget, I recommend going for the cheapest!

If you want to pre-book your journey through Bookaway, you will see options for Unitransco, Copetran and Flota La Macarena. Just book your bus depending on the time you need to leave and your budget. Don’t worry too much about the bus company.

Buying a ticket and boarding the bus

If you haven’t pre-booked your ticket online, you will need to buy your ticket at the bus station.

Whilst in Colombia, we both used online ticket systems as well as buying in person. We found we preferred booking online as our Spanish is pretty awful, and it saved a lot of queuing time. But this choice is entirely down to you.

When you arrive at the bus station, find the main ticket booth. Most bus stations do not take credit/debit cards (like most places in Colombia), so make sure you have enough cash on you.

Simply tell the ticket operator where you are going, and they’ll print you off a ticket. Keep hold of this, as the driver will check as you board the bus.

You will also have an assigned seat on your ticket. I recommend sitting in this seat, otherwise a local may get a little upset!

Depending on the bus you’re getting, your luggage will either go in the luggage holder underneath or right at the back.

Never put any valuables in any bags that aren’t with you, we’ve heard far too many horror stories about bags being stolen and going missing, so keep as much as you can with you!

There are toilets on all of the bigger buses in Colombia. If you’re getting a smaller shuttle, it will stop every couple of hours for toilet breaks. Top tip – pack your own toilet paper!

Don’t forget to take travel sickness tablets if you’re prone to becoming ill on long journeys. The roads in Colombia can be a little bumpy, and the drivers don’t exactly follow the same road rules we have in the UK, so it’s worth it!

You may also stop a few times at police checkpoints. Don’t worry, these are routine and you don’t need to do anything.

Finally, make sure you take your own food, drinks and snacks. There will be a couple of roadside stops for snacks (or someone will board the bus selling fruit, rice or anything else they can manage), but they aren’t great. Top up on as much food before the journey – six hours is a long time!

2. Cartagena to Santa Marta by tourist shuttle

Another way to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta is by tourist shuttle. Tourist shuttles are smaller than the big buses, but they’re just as safe and reliable.

There isn’t much difference between the buses and shuttles, apart from the size and the number of stops. But again, this depends on the bus or shuttle you book.

To look at prices and check the availability of tourist shuttles from Cartagena to Santa Marta, I recommend using Bookaway.

If you pre-book online, that means you don’t have to extensively test your Spanish skills at the bus station, and you can walk directly onto your transfer.

➡ BOOK A TOURIST SHUTTLE NOW!

3. Cartagena to Santa Marta by private transfer

Another way to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta is to travel via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you, you want your own space or you are short on time!

Similar to a taxi, private transfers will pick you up from your hotel or hostel in Cartagena and take you directly to your accommodation in Santa Marta. But of course, it’s expensive! I’d only suggest this mode of transport if you’re not travelling on a backpacker’s budget.

Private transfers from Cartagena to Santa Marta can take from 4-5 hours (depending on traffic, road conditions and other factors). Most hostels and hotels can organise this, or you can book a private transfer online here.

➡ BOOK A PRIVATE TRANSFER NOW!

4. Cartagena to Santa Marta by flying

Ok, I actually don’t recommend flying between Cartagena and Santa Marta. Why? Simply because there are no direct flights between Cartagena and Santa Marta (as of 2023). 

If you fly between the two locations, you will need to take an indirect flight via either Medellin or Bogota. This is a pretty long-winded way to get there, and I don’t recommend it!

Still want to check flight prices? I highly recommend this flight comparison site!

Arriving in Santa Marta: What next?

There isn’t a lot to do in Santa Marta, so staying for 1-2 nights before you head off to Tayrona or Minca is enough.

Bus terminals in Santa Marta have taxi ranks nearby. You can disembark your bus and jump in a taxi to your accommodation or next stop. Be sure to check on Google Maps to see if you can easily walk to your hostel instead of grabbing a taxi.

Travelling to Minca? Minca is only 45 minutes from Santa Marta, and you can find out how to get to Minca here!

If you’re getting buses around Colombia, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Where to stay in Cartagena

Cartagena is another big city in Colombia, and there are many different areas to stay in. I’ll be doing a post in the near future about all of the accommodation areas in Cartagena, but if you’re visiting for a short stay, I recommend booking accommodation in Getsemani.

Getsemani is the main ‘hub’ of Cartagena and is home to the biggest backpacker hostels. It’s also known for its colourful streets, range of restaurants, bars and nightlife.

For backpackers and short-term tourists in Getsemani (Cartagena), I recommend one of the following:

• Life Is Good Hostel: perfect for any short-term tourist. It’s a boutique hostel in an ideal location, and it was one of our favourite hostels in Colombia for a number of reasons. Stay here if you can! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Viajero Hostel: another good location a few minutes from Getsemani; perfect for solo travellers or couples. We’ve stayed in a few Viajero Hostels and have loved them! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Hotel Dorado Plaza Calle del Arsenal: a hotel with a rooftop in Getsemani. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Hyatt Regency: for a more luxurious stay in Cartagena! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• GHL Hotel Armeria Real: a beautiful hotel in the middle of Getsemani! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

Where to stay in Santa Marta

Santa Marta is another of Colombia’s buzzing coastal cities. Because it is the gateway to so many other popular destinations (such as Minca), there are plenty of hostels and hotels to choose from.

When booking a hostel or hotel, be sure to check the ‘map’ function. This just ensures that you are booking accommodation in the actual city (and not in the countryside, unless that’s what you’re looking for). If you are staying in the countryside, you will need to organise additional transportation to get there.

For first-timers in Santa Marta, I recommend the following hostels and hotels:

• Casa Avelina: popular with backpackers in Santa Marta. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Musa Paradisiaca Hostel: “a small paradise in the middle of the city”. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina: for couples in Santa Marta – a hotel in a GREAT location. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Alko Hotel Cotona: for a more luxurious stay in Santa Marta. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• The Hilton Santa Marta: yes, the Hilton! Prices for the Hilton in Santa Marta are reasonable, so you can stay in luxury at a more affordable price! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

Cartagena to Santa Marta: FAQS

1) How long should I stay in Cartagena?

If you are visiting Cartagena for the first time, I recommend staying for around 3-4 nights. This gives you enough time to spend a day at the beach, take some day tours out of the city (snorkelling or to Palenque are unmissable), roam the colourful Cartagena streets and have an epic Colombian night out!

➡ Book an epic stay in Cartagena now!

Related post: Cartagena Nightlife: Colombia Party Guide! | Getsemani Cartagena Full Travel Guide | Day Trips from Cartagena

2) How much is a taxi from Santa Marta to Cartagena?

Depending on where and when you book, a taxi or Uber from Santa Marta to Cartagena is around $100 USD.

3) Is Santa Marta worth going to?

Personally, I think Santa Marta is worth it. Why? Because it’s the gateway to so many incredible places in the country (Minca and the Tayrona National Park are worth the trip to Santa Marta alone).

There are a lot of mixed views about Santa Marta both on the Internet and among fellow travellers. In short, it’s a busy city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia that attracts many domestic tourists. It’s quieter than Cartagena (so if you found Cartagena too chaotic, you may prefer Santa Marta).

For more information about safety in Cartagena and Colombia, check out my in-depth, honest and realistic blog post about how to stay safe in Colombia as a solo female traveller here.

Don’t forget travel insurance for South America!

If you’re visiting South America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in South America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for South America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Cartagena to Santa Marta: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about getting from Cartagena to Santa Marta. When you’re planning a trip to Colombia, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Colombia content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇨🇴 Other Colombia posts:

• 10 BEST Day Trips From Cartagena Colombia!
• Getsemani Cartagena: FULL Travel Guide
• Cartagena Nightlife: Colombia Party Guide!
• Cartagena To Minca: Best Routes + Ways To Travel