Santa Marta, Colombia....my visa....international insurance....help would be appreciated

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to hear what people have to say about the town of Santa Marta, I might be going there to work for 6 months. Is it a nice place? What is worth seeing while I'm there?

Also, the company I will be working for is sending visa forms to be processed ICETEX. How long do you think it will take from the time they arrive at ICETEX, are processed there, and then sent to Chicago? I don't know how long mail from Colombia takes to get to the US. Any Americans would probably know that.

Finally, I am getting international insurance, but the company I am working for also says they are providing insurance, I'm wondering while i'm over there how much insurance do i really need......

By ardhvc on Nov 3, 2007, 10:44 in Travel tips.

b bruce says on Nov 3, 2007, 13:48:

My first trip to Santa Marta answered all of my questions. I have traveled throughout Mexico,Central America, China, Thailand and Laos. For me Santa Marta is Paradise Found!
Santa Marta is at the base of the highest coastal mountain range in the world. White sand beaches of the Caribbean and snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. You are very close to the National Park Tayrona and not far from Barranquilla if you need the big city some times. I have four classes remaining here for Marine Engineering and it looks like left knee replacement in the very near future. Once all done, I will be moving to Santa Marta some time next year. If you need some help when you arrive please let me know, I have friends there that would be glad to show you the area, best resturants, shopping etc! Have fun!

Alma del Norte says on Nov 3, 2007, 19:11:

Santa Marta;- Small, cute, friendly, ocasionally violent, always vibrant, (Afro vibe). Spent way too many rum-filled nights there. Rodadero for the wannabes and beach, Santa Marta old town for La Puerta nightclub, (Calle 11?), colonial architecture, Juan Valdez, seafood and general rumba. Of course, Taganga for the backpackers, laid back life and beach during the week but wall to wall Colombian daytippers at the weekend. More time on your hands...Cuidad Perdida - 5/6 day hike, MInca, you have a whole Caribe coast to explore - go do it! Most of what you need to know is already on this site.

La vida es una rutina

ardhvc says on Nov 5, 2007, 08:02:

is santa marta a safe place? I read it was. But I also read that the Sierra Nevadas de Santa Marta aren't as safe.

And I saw that one person put a post up about which is better Medellin or Bogota. I post a similar type of question now, which is better Santa Marta or Baranquilla?

robi666 says on Nov 5, 2007, 08:08:

That post it was made to have fun about the weather.
Every places has bad and good.
Santa Marta or Barranquilla? It depends on your lifestyle and what you appreciate the most. Do you love cars?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

scumbuster says on Nov 5, 2007, 10:59:

I was just in Colombia last month. I was in Bogota 1 week then flew to Santa Marta 1 week. I loved it. It was hot (90s) most days. It is suposed to be the rainy season but the week I was there it didnt rain. Santa Marta seemed smaller than I thought it would be. No skyscrapers. Lots of street vendors. Seems like a small town that just keeps going and going.. The mountains are great. Taganga is nice, quiet, laid back.
If you dont scuba I would recomend geting certified. It was great and it wasn't even the best time of year for clear water. They say Dec. to Apr. is 100' plus visibility. I have pictures of the town and beaches exc. If you want to see a few you can email me and I will send you a few. dug99 at hotmail.com

Chriscan says on Nov 7, 2007, 15:53:

I just rented a house in Santa Marta. It´s quite a deal. Brand new, never lived in for $150 a month. It was hard to find a resonable place to rent though. There are lots of places for sale in the $15000us range.

It is a party town but it´s way more relaxed than Cartagena. I like that the beggars and sales people don´t bother me as much.

As far as safety, I feel safe there but the nights are a little crazy. A few months ago there was some cival war type problems but as a normal person, the dangers are really blown out of proportion. There are a lot of great day trips from Santa Marta. I love Taganga and go there a lot when Santa Marta seems too busy. It´s about a 15 min bus ride. Rodelero is fun and ultra safe too. There are a lot of bands on the beach at night and the street meat is more addictave than Colombia´s number 1 export.

My girlfriend was living in Cartagena for years and she wanted to relocate to Santa Marta because it´s a lot more relaxed. Her daughter who spends about a month a year with her was really excited when she found out we were moving to Santa Marta.

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