Santa Marta

Santa Marta, founded in 1525, is the oldest surviving city in Colombia. The port is about half a mile from the historic centre, where cobblestone streets pass the Cathedral Basilica, the oldest church in the country, and the modest but well-curated Gold Museum in the old Customs House. Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the estate where Simón Bolívar died in 1830, has gardens and a small museum about his life. Tayrona National Park, about an hour east, has jungle trails leading to beaches backed by boulders and palm trees. El Rodadero, closer to town, is a more accessible beach with calm water. The Mercado Público is loud and packed with tropical fruit, arepas, and fresh fish. Ceviche from a beachfront stall is a good lunch. Spanish is the language, and the Colombian peso is the currency. Stick to well-travelled areas after dark, and keep valuables close in crowds.