Palomino is a small town in Colombia, located in the department of La Guajira, in the Caribbean region. It is known for its natural and cultural richness and is one of the best destinations to enjoy the beach, the river, and the jungle.
In this travel guide written from our experience, we will tell you how to get to Palomino from Santa Marta, Bogotá, and Medellín. Additionally, we will explain what to do, the best activities, and recommend some beachfront hotels, along with other tips.
Let’s start planning your trip:
Where Is Palomino, Colombia
Palomino is located on the northern coast of Colombia and is a township of the municipality of Dibulla, in the department of La Guajira. It lies between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea, offering a diverse landscape that combines paradisiacal beaches, beautiful rivers, and dense jungles.
The distance between Santa Marta and Palomino is approximately 50 miles, which is about a 2-hour drive, depending on traffic conditions. It is also about 55 miles from Riohacha, the capital of La Guajira.
You may be interested in: Best Things to Do in Santa Marta
How to Get to Palomino, La Guajira
To get to Palomino from Santa Marta, you can take a bus from the Transport Terminal or the Public Market heading to Riohacha. The journey takes about 2 hours and drops you right at the entrance of the town. Buses are a budget-friendly option, but if you prefer a private transfer, you can book one here.
If you are traveling from Bogotá, Medellín, or Cali, the easiest way is to fly to Santa Marta and then continue by land. You can also find buses to Palomino from other Caribbean cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Riohacha.
By the way, if you haven’t bought your flight tickets to Santa Marta yet, don’t worry! Here are some links to help you find great deals and cheap flights from your city of choice and on the dates you need. Take advantage of the opportunity and book your tickets today:
✈️ Cheap flights from Bogotá to Santa Marta
✈️ Flights from Medellín to Santa Marta
✈️ Affordable flights from Cali to Santa Marta
Buy tickets for bus, minivan, or private car
How to Find Last-Minute Cheap Flights? While it is important to plan your trip in advance, we understand that it’s not always possible. So, if you are looking for affordable tickets to travel soon and save some money, we recommend using Skyscanner.
Skyscanner.com is a tool that allows you to compare flights from different airlines to find the best rates. To use it, click here, enter the departure and destination cities, and the travel date. With this information, it will search for the most affordable options, and you can choose based on price or layovers.
Is it safe to buy flights on Skyscanner? It depends. After selecting a flight, you’ll see a list of links from various airlines and agencies. The safest way is to purchase your tickets through the airline´s link. If you decide to buy from an agency, you should be a bit more cautious.
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Hotels and Hostels in Palomino, Colombia
In the town of Palomino, La Guajira, you’ll find a variety of accommodations, ranging from hostels and guesthouses to hotels and private cabins. Most places offer a relaxed atmosphere and are close to the beach or river.
Our recommended places to stay are: Makao Beach Hotel, Hotel Chiniu, Hukumeizi Hotel, Casa del Pavo Real Boutique Hostel, Tiki Hut Hostel, Villa Eden, Primaluna Beach Hostel, Aite Eco Resort, and Casa Coraje.
It is important to book your accommodation in advance, as Palomino is becoming increasingly popular, especially if you plan to visit on weekends or during peak seasons such as New Year’s or Holy Week.
Tips for booking good, affordable accommodation: The first recommendation is to book your accommodation in advance. If you wait until the last minute, it’s very likely that the best or most affordable places will be fully booked, and you’ll have to settle for the remaining options.
Our favorite website for finding accommodation is Booking.com. If you click here, you can save up to 15% on your stay. By entering your destination and travel dates, you can filter by price and location, and read reviews from other travelers. In many cases, you can also book without a credit card and enjoy free cancellation.
If you frequently book on Booking.com, you can access exclusive discounts, enjoy free breakfasts, and receive better rooms at no extra cost. This will allow you to get more affordable rates and enjoy additional benefits to save on your trip.
Click here to get up to 15% off your accommodation with Late Escape Deals! This promotion is valid until December 4th for travel until the end of 2025.
Things to Do in Palomino, Colombia:
1. Enjoy Palomino’s Beaches
One of the best things about traveling to Palomino is enjoying its beach, which connects to the river mouth and stretches for several kilometers of white sand, perfect for walking and sunbathing. If you want to stay right on the beach, you can book at: Makao Beach Hotel.
The sea in Palomino usually has strong waves, making it ideal for water activities like surfing and bodyboarding. However, it’s important to respect the safety guidelines, especially if there are flags indicating that swimming is not allowed due to weather conditions.
If you’re a sunset lover, we recommend taking a walk along Palomino Beach in the late afternoon. Although in some areas you can see coastal erosion and hotel expansion, there are still incredible spots where you can sit on the beach and take in the view.
You may be interested: Tayrona Park Day Trip
Find cheap flights to Santa Marta
2. Tubing on the Palomino River
One of the best activities in Palomino is tubing. This activity is an exciting and relaxing experience that involves drifting along the river on an inner tube. During the ride, you can listen to the birds singing and see the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Tubing in Palomino is very popular among travelers, with several routes available in both the Palomino River and the San Salvador River. We recommend the route that starts at a spot known as Pozo Caimán. We loved it because it left us right at the beach, next to the river mouth.
To get to Pozo Caimán, you’ll need to take a mototaxi for 15 minutes and then walk for 30 minutes through the jungle. During this walk, you’ll get to know the region’s flora and fauna. The tubing ride lasts about 2 hours and is generally safe, but remember to wear a life jacket at all times.
Tip: If you’re planning to travel to Colombia from abroad, with this Holafly eSIM, you’ll have unlimited data and keep your number for calls and WhatsApp without worrying about expensive roaming fees. Also, remember to get international medical insurance.
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Tip: If you don’t want to miss the most impressive places in Santa Marta’s historic center, we recommend taking this free walking tour. It’s available every day, lasts approximately 2 hours, and includes a guided tour of fascinating spots such as Parque de los Novios, the Basilica Cathedral, and the surroundings of the Tairona Gold Museum.
Booking the free tour in Santa Marta is quite easy! Just click here, choose your preferred date and time, and specify the number of people attending. Remember that the tour has no fixed price, but it is expected that you support the guide’s work with a tip based on the service provided.
Book the free walking tour in Santa Marta now!
3. Visit Quebrada Valencia
Another place you can visit near Palomino is Quebrada Valencia, a beautiful crystal-clear waterfall that forms natural pools at different levels. Here, you can walk along stone paths that will lead you to explore each of these pools, perfect for relaxing.
To get to Quebrada Valencia from Palomino, you can take a bus towards Santa Marta, which takes about 30 minutes. The creek is well-known by locals, so don’t hesitate to tell the driver that you want to visit it, and they will let you know where to get off.
Once you get off the bus, you’ll arrive at the starting point of the trail that leads to the creek. There, you’ll need to pay the entrance fee and continue walking about 3 kilometers through the tropical jungle. Upon arrival, you’ll find small shops where you can buy some food, and you may see howler monkeys and many colorful butterflies.
Hostels and hotels in Palomino: Makao Beach Hotel, Hotel Chiniu, Hukumeizi Hotel, Casa del Pavo Real Boutique Hostel, Tiki Hut Hostel, Villa Eden, Primaluna Beach Hostel, and Casa Coraje.
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Recommended: Minca Day Trip from Santa Marta
Are you planning a trip abroad? When organizing an international trip, we often focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but we tend to forget about the possibility of falling ill, having an accident, being robbed, or needing to return home earlier than planned due to a family member’s hospitalization.
If you want to travel with peace of mind and avoid worrying about unexpected medical expenses or logistical problems, it is essential to purchase international travel insurance. Additionally, in many countries, presenting travel insurance is a mandatory requirement when going through immigration.
This international insuranceoffers you comprehensive coverage and 24/7 assistance via phone, email, or WhatsApp. To purchase it, click here, select your trip’s start date and duration. It is valid for any destination, and you can buy it even if you are already traveling.
You can buy the insurance here and receive a 5% discount as a Travelgrafía reader!
4. Explore the Taironaka Archaeological Park
If you’re a traveler interested in history and pre-Hispanic cultures, you should know that just 30 minutes from Palomino, La Guajira, lies the Taironaka Archaeological Park, a fascinating place where you can learn about the legacy of the Tayrona civilization and the cultural richness of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Here you’ll find a window into the pre-Columbian past, as it preserves and displays in a small museum ceramics and tools that reflect the Tayrona’s skill and ingenuity. Moreover, you can explore a short hiking trail that will take you to discover ancient terraces, similar to those of Lost City.
One of the most popular activities in Taironaka is tubing down the Don Diego River. This river runs through the park and offers a refreshing and relaxing experience. Incidentally, you can also stay inside the park and book your room here.
By the way, if you’re planning to travel through the Colombian Caribbean, here are some travel guides that might be very useful for you:
Tayrona: How to Get There and What to See
Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
Minca, Santa Marta: What to Do and How to Get There
Recommended: Playa Cristal Day Trip
5. Travel to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
An excellent idea is to take advantage of your trip to Palomino to travel to the northernmost tip of La Guajira, especially Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, where golden beaches, impressive natural viewpoints, huge sand dunes, natural salt flats, and the rich culture of the Wayuu people await you.
To get to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, you must first travel from Palomino to Riohacha by bus, which takes about an hour and a half. From Riohacha, the easiest, safest, and most economical way is to take a tour, as La Guajira is a very remote destination with no public transportation.
We advise you to avoid driving to Punta Gallinas in your own vehicle, as it is located in the middle of Colombia’s largest desert and lacks gas stations, road signs, and public lighting. Here you can inquire about the tour we personally recommend, with daily departures from Riohacha.
Recommended Tour: La Guajira, Cabo de la Vela, and Punta Gallinas - 3 days / 2 nights
On this tour, you will visit Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, have time to swim at the beaches of Mayapo, Punta Arcoiris, and Pilón de Azúcar, explore the Taroa dunes desert, the lighthouses, and enjoy the viewpoints of Bahía Honda and Bahía Portete.
The trip starts in the city of Riohacha at 8 a.m. and the package includes transportation in a 4x4 vehicle, accommodation in a typical ranchería, full meals, activities, and travel insurance.
Trip available every day from Riohacha!
Price per person from: $832,000 COP
Tips for traveling to Palomino, Colombia
Now that you know how to get to Palomino from Santa Marta, Bogotá, and Riohacha, keep in mind that the climate is warm and humid most of the year, with an average temperature ranging between 25°C and 35°C. It can get very hot at noon, so it’s important to bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
The best time to visit Palomino is during the dry season, which generally runs from December to April and from June to August. During these months, there is less rain, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities and the beaches.
Respect the natural environment and local culture, especially when interacting with indigenous people. Avoid leaving trash on the beaches, river, or in the jungle. Also, remember to book your accommodation in advance, especially during the high season.
Search for tickets to Santa Marta
Tip: Save time and money by booking on platforms like GuruWalk, Civitatis, or Denomades. We recommend these sites because, in addition to being secure, they allow you to compare prices, read reviews from other travelers, learn about the itineraries in detail, and know exactly what each tour includes.
GuruWalk: Exclusively for free walking tours worldwide. Civitatis: Offers a wide variety of tours, guided visits, and excursions in hundreds of destinations. Denomades: Specializes in nature and adventure activities in Latin America.
On these platforms, you can book at very competitive prices, sometimes even better than at the destination! Plus, they offer a great variety of payment methods and, in many cases, have flexible cancellation policies that allow you to get a refund up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
Discover your next free tour on GuruWalk
Check out available activities on Civitatis
Book the best tours in Latin America on Denomades
Some travel packages you might be interested in:
Recommended tour: Ciudad Perdida from Santa Marta - 4 days / 3 nights
This 4-day trip to Ciudad Perdida includes 4x4 transportation from Santa Marta. We can pick you up in the historic center, El Rodadero, Taganga, or downtown Minca, and drop you off at the entrance of Tayrona on the way back.
The tour also includes accommodation in local campesino and indigenous camps, all meals, hydration, a bilingual guide (English and Spanish), a guided tour, entrance fees, and medical assistance insurance.
Guaranteed departures every day!
Discounted price per person: $1,800,000 COP
Sale valid for travel until December 31, 2024. After that, the regular rate will be $2,150,000 COP.
Recommended Guided Tour: Amazon, Mocagua, and Puerto Nariño - 4 Days / 3 Nights
On this adventure, you’ll explore the jungle, visit Puerto Nariño, and sail along the Amazon River in search of dolphins, piranhas, and wild birds. You’ll also visit the Peruvian community of San Antonio to learn about a responsible tourism project focused on the conservation of sloths and the Victoria Regia water lily.
The package includes boat transfers from Leticia, accommodation in a private room for couples, meals, pink dolphin watching, a night walk in the jungle, and tours of Mocagua, Puerto Nariño, Tarapoto Lakes, and San Antonio (Peru).
This tour is available every day from Leticia!
Price per person from: $1,780,000 COP
We hope you enjoyed this travel guide! If you found our information helpful, consider supporting our work by booking accommodations, tours, and services we recommend, or directly through the following affiliate links:
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