Founded in 1525, Santa Marta is the oldest city in Colombia. Its sleepy colonial quarter is well worth a visit before taking to the mountains, wetlands and beaches that surround it. North of the city, Tayrona National Park is a vast jungle preserve of plunging waterfalls and deserted beaches, backed by the Sierra Nevada, the world’s highest coastal mountain range. The reserve teems with crocodiles, flamingos, egrits, and cotton-top tamarins.
Across this northern region of Colombia you’ll find one wildlife reserve after another. Beginning with Tayrona, the national park and the coastal breeze are absolutely worthy of exploration. Then we have the Sierra Nevada which is home to the Lost City also dubbed the Ciudad Perdida. Teeming with nature and culture this is an absolute must for adventure lovers.
Not to be forgotten is Palomino, another powerhouse of natural wonders and breezy beachside properties waiting to take you in.
There are a few comfortable and quirky properties around, including a stunning private house set high in the cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada. Down on the beach, Merecumbe, favored by a certain Colombian diva, leads the pack.
