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Palomino is a small, laid-back village on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, just past Tayrona National Park, where a river runs down from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and straight into the sea. It’s known for hammocks, eco-lodges, long empty beach and one of the best lazy afternoons in Colombia: floating down the river on an inner tube. This guide covers how to get there, what to do, whether you can swim, and when to go.
Where is Palomino?
Palomino sits on the main coastal highway (the Troncal del Caribe) east of Santa Marta, at the edge of the La Guajira department. Between Santa Marta and Palomino you pass the entrances to Tayrona National Park, so many travellers combine the two.
How to get to Palomino
- From Santa Marta: local buses run along the coast road from Santa Marta’s market area and take roughly two hours, depending on traffic and stops. Ask the driver to let you off in Palomino; the beach and most lodges are a short walk or moto-taxi ride from the highway.
- By private transfer: faster and easier with luggage, especially from Santa Marta’s airport.
- From Tayrona: flag down a bus heading east from any of the park entrances.
Things to do in Palomino
River tubing
The classic Palomino afternoon: a short ride or walk inland, then a gentle float down the Palomino River on an inner tube, through jungle, until it meets the sea. Local operators rent tubes and arrange transport up the river. Go in the morning or early afternoon, take water and sun protection, and keep valuables in a dry bag. After heavy rain the river runs faster, so ask locally before you go.
The beach
Palomino’s beach is long, wide and lined with palms, and rarely crowded. It’s beautiful for walking, sunsets and hammock time.
Indigenous culture and the Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to indigenous communities including the Kogui and Arhuaco. Some local guides offer respectful visits and walks into the foothills. Choose tours run with the communities’ consent, and follow your guide’s lead on photography.
Slow down
Yoga, surf lessons when conditions allow, cafés, and simply doing nothing: Palomino is more about atmosphere than sights.
Can you swim at Palomino beach?
Be careful. The sea at Palomino often has strong waves and currents, and the beach isn’t lifeguarded everywhere. Many visitors swim in the river or where the river meets the sea instead. If you go in the sea, stay close to shore, never swim alone or after drinking, and ask your lodge about conditions that day.
When to go
The driest months on this coast are roughly December to April, which is also peak season, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter. The rainier months bring more river water (better tubing, but more mud and mosquitoes) and fewer people.
Where to stay
Palomino has everything from hostels with hammocks to eco-lodges and boutique cabins near the beach or the river. Staying near the beach gives you sunsets; staying near the river is quieter and greener. Expect a simpler setup than the cities: power cuts happen, Wi-Fi can be slow, and it’s worth bringing enough cash, because ATMs are limited.
Practical tips
- Bring cash, insect repellent, sun protection and a torch.
- Download maps offline and get a local SIM or eSIM before you arrive.
- Combine Palomino with Tayrona National Park and Minca in the mountains above Santa Marta.
Planning a trip to Palomino?
- Stay connected: get a Colombia eSIM from Airalo so you have data as soon as you land.
- Airport pickup: book a private transfer from Santa Marta’s Simón Bolívar airport with Kiwitaxi or GetTransfer.
- Flights: compare flights to Santa Marta on Aviasales.
More beaches in Colombia
Quick answers
How far is Palomino from Santa Marta? Roughly two hours by local bus along the coast road, less by private transfer.
Is Palomino worth visiting? Yes, if you want a slow, natural beach stop with river tubing. It’s not a party town or a resort.
Is the sea safe to swim in at Palomino? Often not: waves and currents can be strong. The river is the safer place to cool off.