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Santa Marta and its magical essence

Duration: 2h and 45min
Languages: English, Spanish
Quality Verified Registered on June 03, 2022

My name is David Lemus, a local tourist in love with these lands since the first time he set foot on them. Philosophy student and passionate about history, Owner and legal representative of Turismo Local Santa Marta, a community and regenerative tourism operating agency in Magdalena. My commitment to our territory is to show you the contrasts that Santa Marta has. I have worked alongside indigenous, peasant and fishing communities in the development of regenerative tourism with a positive impact on our region and the environment. During this time I was introduced to sociology and anthropology, which has allowed me to learn about the different cultural perspectives that represent the diversity and cultural heritage of our region, such as those of our indigenous, fishing, raizales, rural and urban communities. Welcome to the imposing Magdalena

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

Discover the magical essence of Santa Marta on our Free Tour! For two hours and 45 minutes, we will take you on a tour of the historic center of the city, where you can immerse yourself in its rich history and culture. From pre-Columbian times and the indigenous communities that inhabited these lands, to the colonization process that disintegrated them. We will explore the streets of Santa Marta through time, from the independence of Colombia to the beginning of the industrial era. We will analyze the social, environmental and cultural impact of industrialization in Santa Marta and its surroundings, and we will discover the influences that make up the current cultural richness of the city. Join us to tour not only the streets of the city but also its soul!

We will visit emblematic places such as Plaza Bolívar, the Cathedral of San Miguel, the Tayrona Palace and much more. Do not miss this unique opportunity to discover Santa Marta in all its splendor!

Our tour starts at:

1- Plaza Bolívar (meeting place)
Where I will show you the monuments, with their respective ancient and modern history, and I will show you all the activities to do there

2- San Francisco Square
Where I will show you the daily life of the locals, talking about customs and traditions

3- Cathedral Basilica
Our third square houses the oldest cathedral of Spanish colonial architecture in Colombia, as well as a great variety of colonial houses around

4- The couple's park
There I will tell you the local history of how the park ended up becoming the pink zone of Santa Marta and I will give you tips on gastronomy and places of entertainment.

6- zone of crafts
and souvenirs/exhibition of representative indigenous items from Santa Marta. Where we will learn very closely about the indigenous cultures that currently inhabit and the indigenous influences on the culture of the Colombian coast

7- Santa Marta Marina
Speaking of the marina, we will touch on the topic of tourism development in Santa Marta and how the city has adapted to it.

8- Tayrona Palace
Current governorate of Magdalena, place that was the first hotel in the bay of Santa Marta

9- Santa Marta Malecon
We will take a walk by the sea, with the sound of the waves while I tell you about the Morro de Santa Marta and the safe areas within the historic center.

9- Typical juice square (last stop) where we can buy a delicious native drink from the area, while we talk and have fun with a wonderful exchange of ideas.

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Parque Bolívar, Cra. 1, Santa Marta, ...
    Parque Bolívar, Cra. 1, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
    View on map

    Next to the statue of Simón Bolívar with flower shirt and sunglasses

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Parque Simon Bolívar
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Plaza San Francisco
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Catedral De Santa Marta
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Parque de los Novios
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Malecón de Bastidas - Santa Marta
  • 6
    Outside visit
    plazoleta de jugos santa marta

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

63 ratings
4.7
By category
Professionalism
4.77
Fun
4.74
Expression
4.75
Quality
4.74
Route
4.76
Generic
5 stars
55
4 stars
2
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
4
Anna 02 Mar 2024
Tulum

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Feb 2024
the tour was amazing, special, informative, really enjoyed it! totally recommend it if you want to experience the magic of Santa Marta:)
Monica 15 Feb 2024
New York

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Feb 2024
David is a fantastic guide. He is very passionate about the history and the city of Santa Marta. He has tons of information to share and brings it to life by visiting many key spots in the city. I really enjoyed his extra information about current life here in Santa Marta and trying some of the local fruit drinks. He had great restaurant recommendations and others ways to enjoy Santa Marta.
Lorena 29 Jan 2024

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Jan 2024
El recorrido es muy ameno y David lo hace muy interesante, ya que se mete en profundidad en lo que realmente le interesa al turista. Hemos aprendido mucho, nos lo hemos pasado genial y además David ha sido súper amable, disponible, divertido y abierto. Recomiendo este tour encarecidamente 🇨🇴👍
Ramona 27 Jan 2024
Doha

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Jan 2024
It was such an interesting and informative tour! I learned a lot about the history and culture of Santa Marta and the indigenous tribes. David is a great guide and story teller! Totally recommended!
Beatrice 25 Jan 2024

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Jan 2024
Bellissimo tour, molto completo sia di informazioni che di cose viste nella città. La cosa più bella é che le informazioni che ci ha dato non sono le tipiche che puoi trovare da solo anche su Internet, sono racconti e informazioni più ricercate e locali, si vede che c’è stato del lavoro da parte della guida . Abbiamo apprezzato tutto
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 10 people.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour requires the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
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