looking for budget hotels in santa marta

wabbits says on Jul 3, 2008, 12:33:

Mirimar hostel is pretty beat up, but you can get a single room for 8000 pesos (about $5), just to give you an idea. Also stayed in a dorm in Taganga in Casa De Felipe for 10,000. Taganga is a fishing town 10min from SantaMarta. It´s way more chill, has little fishing boats floating in the bay, and has a nice little beach. Its not playa blanca. There are many other hotels in Taganga which you might find more luxurious. I´d recommend staying in Taganga and then go party in Santa Marta. A cab is maybe 5-6000pesos. Colectivos are 1000 if i remember right.

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durito says on Jul 3, 2008, 12:40:

backpackers budget of $50-70 a night for a hotel?

i guess i lot has changed in 4 years since i was backpacking around south america on $14 a day

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Chriscan says on Jul 3, 2008, 12:48:

First you can get what you are looking for a lot cheaper in Santa Marta. I book friends into the Hotel Saboy which has AC and TV for about $15 a a night for 2 people. There is a lot of charactor in the streets at night (prostitutes) but it is safe.


Santa Marta isn't the best destination. The city isn't anything special at all. The thing about Santa Marta is that it is a fantastic hub to many smaller destinations. The only way it might move to the top of your list is if it rains. Tehre are a couple of really nice malls in Santa Marata.

If you liked playa blanca, you will love Parque Tayrona. There are some rooms available but most people rent tents or hammocks. Most backpaker types will agree that it is the biggest highlight of their trip in Colombia. Take lots of money because you can't get more there. I always stay until the money runs out.

If you want small beach towns, Taganga is popular - just a 10 minute bus ride from Santa Marta. It's very popular with backpackers and has a nice range of places to stay. The beach isn't that special but for $5 you can get a return trip to a beach that is close called Playa Grande.

If you want to get off the backpacker trail, go to Rio Burritaca. It's very small and not much happens but it's got a huge beautiful beach. There is also a neaby park that has waterfalls called Vallencia.

El Rodelero is skipped by most backpackers but is by far the most popular beach in the area for Colombians. It is small but has lots of skyspraper apetments and hotels. Many families go and rent apartments there. If you want to get away from the crowds there, you can take a boat to Play Blanca which is a smaller beautiful beach with a steep slope behind it. El Rodelero is a little more expensive, but unless you want the services of a city, it's definately better than santa marta but still only 15 min away. I wish I could remember the name of the hotel I booked my family in in El Rodelero. It's the only hotel on the beach with a pool in front and is right in your price range.


If you have a week, I would visit everything I listed. The Santa Marta area is ideal for a tourist looking for beautiful natural places.

As for the room service, you can almost always get room service. For a dollar, any hotel can find someone to go to a resturant and get you some food or whatever you want.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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Andy S says on Jul 3, 2008, 14:20:

guys thanks a lot for those replies....really helpful!

haha durito, yeah I know....it´s only for a week though and she´s pretty nice so hostel dorms are out!

maybe I´m best to book a night in a santa marta hotel and then go somewhere else the next day....I guess I´ll get a better idea of the area once I´m there.

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pedro says on Jul 3, 2008, 14:26:

Yep, good plan. It's high season in Santa Marta right now, due to mid-year school vacation.

You can get apartments by the beach that are within your budget.

When people say "Santa Marta", many times they really are referring to El Rodadero beach, which is ten minutes out of SM. You could just show up in Rodadero and take it from there.

Taganga is the backpacker concentration point. It's a short hop to some nice beaches, but I find the town itself kind of scummy.

que nota!

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gringokid says on Jul 3, 2008, 16:15:

Well I dont know what the prices are now.. and depends on the season. but I stayed in rodeo..or however you say it or spell it.. in Tamarac or something like that right on the beach.. with a refrig in the room.. for $35 a night.. a few years ago... it was awesome..it was about the same time of year.. around the end of june.. to the beginning of July... GOOD LUCK..

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Brians says on Jul 4, 2008, 06:33:

ppppppp

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Brians says on Jul 4, 2008, 06:33:

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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Gator says on Jul 4, 2008, 06:54:

It IS high season, June 25 to July 25. Example (not always true but typical) low season 60.000 cop daily, high 165.000 COP daily.

El Rodadero will be packed-if you get in a bind call Luz Polanco, 095 422-8597 or cell 315 734-9454, she can usually find something but expect big pesos.

For a nice place a copuple of short block from the beach try the Sorrento on Cr 3a. If you go to Rodadero try the Panaderia Bread on Calle 6, between 1 and 2nd-open early baked there, price is right and very good.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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eng65 says on Jul 29, 2008, 01:05:

dont speak shit...

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