Taganga

Santa Marta’s neighbour, this formerly unassuming little fishing village now has become a uniquely Colombian seaside destination in its own right.

Taganga is still a fishing village and villagers help bring in the catch and shore up the boats of an evening, but in recent years Taganga has seen a far greater share of its income come from tourism.

Taganga has often been perceived as a destination that is overwhelmed by backpackers. This is not true, whilst Taganga has a nice mix of international tourists, the majority of visitors are Colombian families there to enjoy the beach and the ambience. It is a very compact town with a seafront spanning only about 8 short blocks. During the day visitors flock to the beach to enjoy the sun, have a beer in a beach bar, splash around in the water and enjoy a fresh fish lunch.

By night Taganga turns into a relaxed but bustling seaside village with a happy mix of locals, Colombian visitors and international tourists. There are a few bars in the village, but many prefer to buy refreshments from the store and drink al fresco on the sea wall or even the beach. Altogether this makes for a happy evening atmosphere. Don’t under-estimate how small Taganga is and don’t be surprised if you see the same groups of people a dozen times in the same night.

For us, Taganga is honest and humble fun with its feet firmly planted in Colombian costeño culture.

Thanks to the tourism that the village attracts, Taganga has built up a reputation for its snorkelling and scuba diving so for diving fans, it is a great stop off between Santa Marta and Parque Tayrona, it is even possible to commence the hike to Ciudad Perdida from there.

Programme

Taganga is an ideal option for anyone wanting to avoid the remoteness of some of our other Santa Marta and Tayrona accommodation options. Consider adding Taganga as a stopover to use as a launchpad for a day trip to Parque Tayrona or even a side trip to Minca

We offer private transfers from Santa Marta airport and can also arrange collection from Cañaveral. Ask your driver to point out Pescaito on the way through Santa Marta. It is a simple and unassuming neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city but unusually it is the origin of a disproportionately high number of Colombian national footballers including Colombian legend Carlos “Pibe” Valderrama.

Taganga has a number of hotel options, however, the accommodation we offer in our Taganga package is somewhat special and a firm favourite of The Colombian Way. We offer well appointed private apartments that are situated just 20 metres from the beach and feature modern furnishings, complete kitchens and a roof terrace with beach loungers.

We will gladly offer suggestions and make reservations for you to wile away the hours in the area, check out the diving, go on a boat trip in the bay or party the night away in a disco. We are also able to offer suggestions for bars and restaurants in the village for great breakfasts and dinners.