Santa Marta and Taganga

The first church in Latin America

Santa Marta is a town located on the east coast of Colombia, in the Magdalena department. It has been founded in 1525 by a Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Batistas. The first catholic church of Latin America has been built right here in 1526. Santa Marta is also the oldest city of Colombia and second oldest of Latin America.

Portrait of Simon Bolivar 

The cathedral is built in a colonial style, placed in the historical centre. In here the great man of Latin America rested for eight years, after being transferred to his birthplace – Caracas. It is Simon Bolivar, the Libertador, who fought successfully the independence of Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown. He took part in founding new independent nation of Gran Colombia, at that time covering the area of Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, north of Perú and north-west of Brasil  of which he became a president on 7^th of September 1821.  He helped democratizing most of Latin America. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela and died in la Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta.

Monument in honour of Simon Bolivar
in La Quinta de SAn Pedro Alejandrino

Iguana chilling on a tree

La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is open to the public and the house where Simon Bolivar passed away is available for viewing. I felt honoured visiting  the house. If you’re not familiar with the history of independence it’s a good place to start your learning, as the history is explained, supported by paintings, it also displays some belongings of Bolivar. In the park there’s also a museum of art and an old sugar cane mill. Surrounded by various species of plants, flowers and trees, we have also spotted a few iguanas, chilling on the trees.

Taganga beach

The beaches of Santa Marta are not very nice, polluted as there are plants and port in the bay. The Rodadero has a long strip of the beach, which is slightly better, but not for my gusto.  Located 15 minutes from Santa Marta is easily accessible small fishing village called Taganga. You can get there by catching one of the minibuses on the crossroads of Calle 11 and Carrera 5. The bus cost COP 1200 one way per person and if there’s traffic it will take you there in 25 minutes maximum, when no traffic it’s 15 minutes only. The place is beautiful. It’s a cove, with quite a narrow strip of beach, but the views are beautiful. It is located by the highest coastal mountain range in the World, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.  We chilled out there until the sunset, which is spectacular, as provided in photos.

Taganga's magic sunset

 I’m nicely surprised by the way Colombians are. They don’t try to trick you, overcharge as usually people do in other countries, name it Thailand or Brasil. They’re very polite and give you tips on how to get to places by bus etc. The street vendors have never charged us extra for what they sell. It’s quite unusual for such a touristic places, God Bless Colombia!