Travel itineraries in Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast
Here you will find the best travel itineraries in Cartagena and the Caribbean coast.
On the north coast of Colombia, there are great trips to take along the more famous tourist attractions or completely off the beaten track. Cartagena, St Marta and Riohacha are important hubs on the Caribbean coast. Thus, you can use Cartagena as a starting point for a trip to Barranquilla and San Andrés, among others. Santa Marta is a convenient starting point for a trip to Tayrona National Park , Ciudad Perdida and Minca, among others. Riohacha is a convenient hub for a trip to La Guajira.
Tip: Want to save travel time? Then start your trip in Cartagena, end in St Marta and catch the plane there, or vice versa.
Indicative travel times
Cartagena-St Marta 4-5h
Cartagena-Barranquilla 2-2.5h
St Marta-starting point Ciudad Perdida trek 2.5h
St Marta-Tayrona 1h
St Marta-Minca 45 min
St Marta-Palomino 2h
Palomino-Riohacha 1.5h
Tayrona-Palomino 1h
Tayrona-Costeño Beach 15 min
Check here the best itineraries in Cartagena and the Caribbean coast, for 1, 2 and 3 weeks.
Travel itineraries
1 Week: from Cartagena to Santa Marta
Day 1-2: Cartagena
Day 3: Bus to St Marta-Tayrona NP. Overnight stay outside the park
Day 4: Overnight stay in Tayrona NP.
Day 5: Bus to St Marta-Minca
Day 6-7: Minca
Day 8: Bus to St Marta
1 Week: Cartagena off the beaten track
Day 1: Arrival Cartagena
Day 2: Tour to the local market Marcado Bazurto
Day 3: Tour to the Afro-Colombian community
San Basilio de Palenque
Day 4: Bus to Barranquilla
Day 5-6: Barranquilla
Day 7: Bus to Cartagena
1 Week: colonial cities from Cartagena
Day 1-3: Cartagena
Day 4: Bus to Mompox
Day 5-6: Mompox
Day 7: Bus to Cartagena
2 Weeks: Cartagena – Tayrona – la Guajira -St Marta
Day 1-2: Cartagena
Day 3-4: Isla Múcura*.
Day 5: Bus to St Marta-Tayrona NP, overnight outside the park
Day 6: Overnight stay in Tayrona NP
Day 7: Bus to Palomino
Day 8: Palomino
Day 9-11: Tour to Cabo de la Vela-Punta Gallinas in la Guajira
Day 12: Return trip to Riohacha. Overnight stay in Riohacha
Day 13-14: Minca
Day 15: Bus to St Marta
* Alternatief voor Isla Múcura, is Casa en el Agua
2 Weeks: Cartagena -Tayrona – Ciudad Perdida – St Marta
Day 1-2: Cartagena
Day 3-4: Isla Múcura*.
Day 5: Bus to St Marta-Tayrona NP, overnight outside the park
Day 6: Overnight stay in Tayrona NP
Day 7: Bus to Costeño Beach
Day 8: Costeño Beach
Day 9-12: Ciudad Perdida
Day 13: Bus to Minca
Day 14: Minca
Day 15: Bus to St Marta
* Alternatief voor Isla Múcura, is Casa en el Agua
3 Weeks: from Cartagena to St Marta with islands and la Guajira
Day 1-2: Cartagena
Day 3: Flight to San Andrés
Day 4-6: San Andrés and/or Providencia*.
Day 7: Flight to Cartagena. Bus to St Marta. Overnight stay in St Marta
Day 8-11: Ciudad Perdida.
Day 12: Bus to St Marta-Tayrona NP. Overnight stay outside the park
Day 13: Overnight stay in Tayrona NP.
Day 14: Bus to St Marta-Minca
Day 15: Minca
Day 16: Bus to St Marta-Riohacha. Overnight stay in Riohacha
Day 17-19: Trip to Cabo de la Vela-Punta Gallinas in la Guajira.
Day 20: Bus to Riohacha-Palomino
Day 21: Palomino
Day 22: Bus to St Marta
Do you want to extend your trip with an additional beach destination? Then book a few nights at a hotel in Santa Marta at the end of your trip.