The Isle of Santa Marta

[Ken2]

Greetings ~
Has anyone ever visited the Island of Santa Marta?  If so,  what can you tell me about it.  Are the accomidations good?  Is it a quiet place?  Is it extremely expensive or reasonable?  What activities are available, etc., etc.  
Thanks...  
Ken

[Pete E]

... in response to The Isle of Santa Marta, posted by Ken2 on Feb 26, 2002

Santa Marta is not and island but a coastal city east of Barranquilla.My friend spent his honeymoon there in August and liked it alot.There are beautifull beaches and not too much of a town I don't think.He stayed in a first class hotel on the beach,$100 a night for 2,including all food and beverages,including alcohol.I saw pictures.It looked very nice.Its the next place I want to go in Colombia.I am going to try and get my wife there for a few days when we visit Cali next Christmas.
San Andreas is an island in the Caribean about 400 miles north of Cartegena and maybe 200 miles east of El Salvador.It is part of Colombia.Its a small island with nice beaches.Sort of a hotel on the beach place,nice if you like beaches and water sports.Not much else there except it is a duty free port with good bargains.Forget Providencia,another Colombian island 50 miles or so east.Not much there,no good hotel,mosquitos at dusk that will eat you alive.
San Andreas and Cartegena are my favorite Colombian places.Cartegena is a more interesting city with colorfull buildings and history and even though its on the water and looks great in photos the beaches themselves are not that good.
I would go to Cartegena for the city and Santa Marta for the beaches.

Pete

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: The isle of Santa Marta?Or San Andre..., posted by Pete E on Feb 26, 2002

My two favorite Colombian beaches so far are at Arrecife, Parque Tayrona an hour east of Santa Marta and at El Valle, Choco department on the Pacific coast fourty minutes from Bahia Solano. In both locations you can rest assured that no one will approach the lady on the beach asking to braid her hair and you can see whales in season at El Valle. I haven't been to San Andres yet, been kind of putting it off.

[Colonialjd]

... in response to Re: Re: The isle of Santa Marta?Or San A..., posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2002

Does anybody know if people surf in Colombia.  If so, where are the best waves?  With all that coastline there must be some great spots for those bold/crazy enough to find them.

colonial

[Wayne]

... in response to surf report, posted by Colonialjd on Feb 26, 2002

I saw some great point waves flying in from San Andreas.  I also saw a nice left peeling off the south end of San Andreas.  I think there are fantastic waves in Colombia.  But I just don't think the risks are worth it.  You just don't know when the wrong guys are going to happen along the beach and create a problem for you.  I was originally planning to hang out in Cali for a while then head on down to Costa Rica for a few waves at the Loma Del Mar.  I figured it can't be that much more expensive to add a leg to the trip.  Wrong....  It was going to cost almost double so I just spent the whole time in Cali focussing on my mission.  There are many places to surf in the world that you don't have to worry about your safety, I just can't get excited about trail blazing in Cali.  I prefer Tavarua, Namotu, Mentawais Indonesia, Costa Rica, mainland mexico and Maui for windsurfing.  If you catch some waves in Colombia, I would love to hear about it.  I can see it now, an agency catering to surfers on the coastline.  There are alot of lonely guys in Maui looking for good waves and a good women.

Wayne

[Colonialjd]

... in response to Re: surf report, posted by Wayne on Feb 26, 2002

I found a Colombia surf site called iguanamar.  The two surf sites noted area on Isla San Andres & a place called Pradomar.  The report was in Spanish but the from November through Feb. there is an average of 12 foot waves.  the rest of the year 4 go 5 feet.  

Going surfing would be a great way to meet some of the locals.  From the photos on the site I would be old enough to be the grandfather of most of the kids on the beach.  

It must be nice not having to wear a wetsuit.

[Cali vet]

... in response to pradomar & San Andres, posted by Colonialjd on Feb 27, 2002

Pradomar is about 35 minutes out of B/quilla and before Puerto Colombia on the route to Cartagena. It's a beachside hotel and restuarant and they do a lot of surfing in front of it. It's a nice place to take a date for the afternoon. You can go for lunch and swim from their beach.

[Cali vet]

... in response to The Isle of Santa Marta, posted by Ken2 on Feb 26, 2002

You may be confusing the island of San Anres with the oceanside resort town of Santa Marta on Colombia's Atlantic coast. If you mean Santa Marta I have stayed near there at Rodadero which is the town/tourist center fifteen minutes away. This has the nicer hotels and many tourist attractions. I paid $30 for a single. Much cheaper hotels can be found in Santa Marta proper.

[Ken2]

... in response to Re: The Isle of Santa Marta, posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2002

Thanks for the clarification.  I guess I misunderstood where its located as I had no map when I posted this.

Ken