How to get to Palomino?

The Colombian hipster beach town

In the north of the Colombian Caribbean coast, there is a beautiful town called Palomino. It has a hipster vibe, a relaxed return flow and an excellent stopover when traveling along the north coast of Colombia.

It is a popular destination among backpackers, tourists, and travelers. The area is in excellent progress to grow and become more known for tourism, and like many other tourists are exploring and finding their way to this beautiful idyllic beach town. For the local community, this brings economic development. It is a quiet town to visit.

This town is located about an hour north of Santa Marta, and you can go by bus, taxi, or car. Palomino is a great place to visit on a beautiful beach, enjoy the cool nightlife and good food and sweet drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. It is also a good resting point to explore more of the Colombian region of La Guajira.

We stopped in Palomino for a beautiful weekend as we left Valledupar on Friday night. It was a nice respite from the heat and warmth experienced in Valledupar. I was in Palomino a month before with my two friends from the Netherlands, and I knew that I would return to this place in the future.

Palomino has, in many ways, the same flow as Taganga, a beautiful town for travelers and backpackers. It is a sleepy beach town that is becoming a destination with trendy hostels and lovely restaurants/cafes/bars.

Palomino has a laid-back vibe and great cool restaurants and bars surrounded by nature, and it’s a unique way to spend days in a friendly atmosphere. The people and the atmosphere made me feel like North Bali, Indonesia has positive energy, and on the beach at night, you can hear the waves of the sea.

I can say that it is one of the best places to stop, relax and enjoy a good meal and cocktails if you are traveling along the north coast of Colombia between Santa Marta and La Guajira.

How to get to Palomino by bus?

The surrounding scenery, as well as the beach, is one of the main attractions on a visit to Palomino, and you can tube down the river.

How to visit Palomino?

You can get to Palomino by bus from Santa Marta or Riohacha. From the Santa Marta market, some buses leave every 15 – 60 minutes.

How to get from Riohacha to Palomino by bus? Get them at the Riohacha terminal. The cost should be approximately 15,000 pesos and visit the website for more information www.redbus.co

 

How to get from Cartagena to Palomino? You have options to get from Cartagena to Palomino.

You can take a bus from the terminal in Berlinas or Marsol to Santa Marta, then take a bus from the market to Palomino. Berlinas Tour was 45,000 pesos from Cartagena to Santa Marta. I spent a few days in Santa Marta and Barranquilla.

Santa Marta is a must for a day or two or more, and if you have more time, You must visit The Lost City. Visit my blog about Cuidad Perdida at this link.

Can you fly to Palomino?

You can fly to Riohacha, Santa Marta, Cartagena or Valledupar, then taking a bus is the cheapest way from the terminals there.

Good things to do in Palomino

Tubing on the Palomino River, one of the most popular things to do in Palomino. Tubing on the Palomino River is an adventurous way to spend some quality time. You can leave the hotel and go by motorbike to the forest and go up the mountain for an hour. The cost is around 40,000 pesos depending on the point you want to enter the river.

The Palomino River is calm, cool, and clean throughout the float, and the guide makes sure you have a great time.

River tubing is a great way to spend enjoyable hours in the jungle while enjoying great views of nature and the scenery of the beautiful Sierra Nevada forest. You can see and hear different birds, and the floating scenery is impressive. The best time is to plan it early in the morning, then it’s still cool, and after that you can relax at the end of the river on the beach for the rest of the day if you want.

Tubing down the river is one of the best things to do in Palomino.

relax on the beach

The beach in Palomino is lovely. You can go left to the south out of Makao Hotel, or you can go right. If you go to the left, you will reach the Palomino River, where the metro ride also ends. If you go to the right (northern section) this is a lovely walk for an hour. The beach is magnificent, and after an hour, you will see the San Salvador river that comes in the sea from the Sierra Nevada. The nature here is fantastic, even more untouched, you can walk for an hour and see only five people, at first, it may be quiet, but as you go along the beach to the San Salvador river in the north, it becomes nature. It is a good advice to bring drinking water, sunscreen, a hat and a white shirt.

Surfing in Palomino

Keep in mind that the waves have a strong undercurrent and you have to be a good swimmer. Always keep in mind that nature knows no mercy and always respect nature and the sea. There are proper surf lessons on the beach, and it was fun surfing.

Where to dine in Palomino

Whether you like Cazuela de Langostinos, Coconut Lemonades, delicious local craft beers from Cervecería Sierra Nevada, good meat or fresh fish, it’s all there at Palomino. I think you’re thirsty and hungry reading all the stuff, yes they have it all. It’s good to know, take enough cash with you, there are no banks nearby.

Excellent Pizza Restaurant in Palomino is Restaurant Prima Luna

At the Prima Luna restaurant it is the best pizza you can eat in the area. I came here many times. The pizza is prepared on an original stove, which gives it a rich and delicious flavor. You can try to explain the taste of the water, but the best way is to drink it.

Night life

In the vibrant hippy scene, there are good bars and restaurants with live music and DJs depending on the night. Some bars close at 11, but then everyone goes to the beach if they want the after party.

The best stay in Palomino

There are several options to stay in Palomino. There are several lodges in the city and in the forest just outside of Palomino. My feeling is that the best way to visit is in the city, so you can access the beach and restaurants that are within walking distance, instead of taking a taxi or tuk-tuk all the time.

The best place to go in Palomino

The second place to choose is the Dreamer Hostel, a popular hostel in Palomino where my friends stayed.

The Dreamer has a pool, bar and restaurant. There are also private rooms available, and it has the perfect location on the main road in town, right next to the beach.

My first option was to go to a hotel instead of a hostel. I am more of a traveler than a backpacker, and would prefer, if possible, to choose a hotel over a hostel.

So after searching booking.com and different websites the best one that came out was:

Hotel Makao – with a unique beach

If you want to stay on the beach at a friendly price, then you have to go to Makao. The rooms are lovely, beautiful bathrooms and good beds, and there is a beautiful private beach with a lounge area and bar. There is a restaurant and surfboard/bike rental available for guests. Believe me; Hotel Makao is an excellent place for couples.

The upstairs rooms don’t have air conditioning, but fans, but the wind breeze is lovely, and you can hear the sea and you will sleep perfectly relaxed and wake up with new energy. I preferred the A/C room because after a long day, busy night, it’s nice to cool off and rest, but that’s a personal thing.

The Hotel Makao is the perfect place for a romantic getaway in Palomino. If you decide to stay on the beach, treat yourself to staying here.

At night, you can hear the waves of the sea and the air is fresh.

I hope you like this blog, and please leave a comment.