We took the door to door transportation service one more time; the van was full of international tourists going to the same destination. It took about four hours to get there, but the ride was very pleasant; specially because I was talking to the driver and he gave me some helpful information.
Santa Marta is Colombian´s second most popular Caribbean destination. Most of its visitor are from Medellin, Bogota and major cities around the country. The international tourism is mostly European, backpackers who like to explore the beautiful beaches and take advantage of the low cost of living around this area.
Santa Marta has a port, making it a cruise ship destination. The city itself is not as charming as Cartagena but it has some nice spots where people can relax, have a drink and a good meal; the wow factor here is the ocean.
I will say that Santa Marta is in a remodeling process right now, with lots of potential to become a more desirable international tourist destination.
A good time to spend in Santa Marta is by taking a walk along the boardwalk, appreciate the ocean views and then go to "Parque de los novios" (The boyfriends park) to get refreshed with a cool drink and have a delicious Colombian meal.
Our house sitting was in a small beach town called El Rodadero, it´s only about 10 min drive from Santa Marta and it´s considered part of the city.
Rodadero is the most popular place in this area, here´s where most of the tourist from all over Colombia concentrate. The town is full of small restaurants, seafood being one of the main dishes; it has plenty of hotels and rental apartment buildings.
We were here during Christmas and New Year´s holidays so this little town was packed with people and finding a spot on the beach was almost impossible.
Life in Rodadero is about relaxing, relaxing and relaxing... there´s not much to do around town so if you like to be on the beach all the time without having the fancy amenities of a beach resort, this is the place to be.
We were fortunate to house sit an apartment that had a balcony overlooking the ocean, the views were amazing so we spent most of our time watching the world pass by with the company of two loving doggies.
Along the coast and close to Rodadero, there is another beach called "Bello Horizonte" (Beautiful Horizon); we discovered this place trying to find a restaurant that served American breakfast, JJ was craving some eggs and waffles.
Jana, the cleaning lady, told us about it and explained how to ride the local bus; so we didn't have to pay for a taxi all the time. Riding these buses was very convenient, inexpensive and very adventurous too... Some of these drivers can be wild but we survived the ride! The truth is that taking a taxi all the time can get a little pricey; as a foreigner, you would always end up paying more... so we try to do what locals do and have more fun along the way.
We found Bello Horizonte to be a very nice area with a feel of a more upscale life style. There is an outdoor shopping center with plenty of cute restaurants, cafes and some other amenities that we didn't find in Rodadero. We actually had a traditional Colombian dish called "Bandeja Paisa" which we accompanied with a refreshing coconut lemonade at one of the restaurants; we enjoyed a sunny day and the sound of the water fountains while having a delicious meal.
The beach right here was even more beautiful, clean, open and long enough to enjoy a good walk; we also found nicer resorts in a more quite atmosphere.
I will say that Rodadero is the perfect place for the younger crowd, who want to be in the middle of the action; in the other hand, Bello Horizonte is the perfect place for those who are looking for a more tranquil environment.
Santa Marta has many different beaches to visit, there are plenty of tour companies in town that offer these services. One of the main attractions of this area is Tayrona park, which is a natural national park protected by the Colombian government.
We booked a tour to explore this area the day before we were leaving to Medellin but, the alarm didn't go off and by the time the tour company was picking us up, we were still sleeping... so we missed it!
Our experience in Santa Marta was good, we felt safe and had plenty time to relax but by the third week we felt like we have had enough. Something to consider next time we apply for a house sit in a small town that doesn't offer many amenities; but life is a learning experience and overall we had a great time.
We have been in Medellin for three days, and we are loving it!
Medellin travel adventure to be continue...
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