Saturday 24 August 2019.
Highlights: Orientation walk Santa Marta, Gold Museum, Farewell Dinner

A very easy day after the hard work of yesterday hiking in the heat and humidity.

We stayed until early afternoon at our hotel in Tayrona. I had plans to go hike down to the shore but in the end I just couldn’t find the energy. Instead I enjoyed breakfast, and later lunch, at the hotel and relaxed reading a book.

Our drive to Santa Marta took just over an hour. On arrival at the Hotel Tayromar only one room was ready. Several of the group including my took the opportunity to explore the arts and crafts market across the street.

Santa Marta Street Art

After checking in (the hotel had air conditioning – Yes!) our group orientation walk was postpone for 20 minutes due to a down pour. One of the things I now realise to get used to in Caribbean parts of Colombia is that the weather can quickly turn to a downpour but just as quickly stop.

Santa Marta Arts and Crafts Market

Santa Marta was founded in 1525, by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia and is the oldest surviving city in Colombia. Santa Marta has rarely been the most significant city in Colombia but has still important to the overall country.

Santa Marta Orientation Walk

After the city orientation walk I visited the free Gold Museum which is much more than the name implies. This museum covers the history of Santa Marta and the surrounding areas including from before the Spanish arrived. It’s worth a visit.

Sunset as seen from our Santa Marta hotel

That night we said farewell at a group dinner which then moves onto a bar for final drinks. Sadly the G Adventures tour of Colombia is now over. I very much enjoyed this tour despite the many problems (delayed/cancelled flights, being sick, stolen wallet, lost hotel booking etc) as these problems, other than may be the stolen wallet have little to do with the country. There is big inequality in Colombia but an emerging middle class. There is colour, the is nature and there is cultural all of which are worth experiencing.

Santa Marta night life