#CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA BUS HOW TO#
#CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA BUS DRIVER#

Transporte Especial: CellPhone-30, 31, 31 Santa Marta Bus Terminal The numbers for these door to door van services are provided below, though you can probably ask reception at your hotel or hostel to arrange transport for you. If you are going to Barranquilla (half way between Santa Marta and Cartagena) you will pay 25.000 COP to Cartagena, you will pay 50.000.

You can also catch a cab to Taganga or Rodadero which will take you to your exact destination for around 10.000 COP To Barranquilla and Cartagenaįrom Santa Marta, you can get a van to pick you up at your hotel/hostel and drop you off at your desired destination in Barranquilla. These pick up locations are marked on the map above. These buses are filled to capacity and leave approximately every half hour. This could leave you stranded in an unfamiliar area with unknown further transport issues.Small buses can be caught to nearby destinations. This typically only works if your hotel or hostel is in the main centre of either city, aside from that, the shuttle will drop you off “nearby” where you’re staying. Instead, they leave either from local offices or in the case of Marisol, they offer direct pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.īut be warned: The “door to door” service offered by Marisol is rarely that. The best part about these smaller shuttles is that they don’t leave from the main bus terminals outside of the cities. The shuttles themselves will cost around $40.000 COP per person, which is only a few dollars more than a large bus. While both have their similarities, Berlinastur stood out as the best option for us. Two of the most popular companies are Marsol and Berlinastur. Costing only slightly more than a bus ticket, many of them save costs in other areas. Best Overall: ShuttleĪbsolutely our preferred and most recommended option are the smaller shuttles. Check them all for the best prices.Īlso, there will always be some touts trying to sell you bus tickets, but these often come with inflated prices or longer routes. Only buy tickets from the ticket booths at bus stations, and keep in mind that several different companies may have ticket booths. On the Santa Marta side, the terminal is much closer and a taxi will cost around $5000 and a local bus roughly $1600 COP. Another option are the green and white local buses that will run you around $2500 pesos and take around an hour. The ride itself should take around 30 minutes – depending on traffic. To reach the bus station in Cartagena, a taxi will cost around $20,000 pesos (slightly less if your bargaining skills are on point). Some we’ve been told are incredible, others to avoid altogether.Īlthough bus travel is relatively simple and care-free, there are two important things to consider for this specific trip:įirst of all, one thing to note is that the main bus terminals in both Santa Marta and Cartagena are some distance from the city centre, meaning added costs to the seemingly inexpensive trip. There are several bus companies that make the journey between cities, all with varying quality and prices. Making the trip from Cartagena to Santa Marta is no different. Travelling by bus is easily the most common way to get around Colomba. Flying is Quick and Comfortable Bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta – The Cheapest Option

#CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA BUS DRIVER#

Always be sure to hire from a reputable company and agree on prices before boarding.Ĭonsidering that some of the other options are not only significantly cheaper and the overall time of the journeys only a little longer, hiring a driver would be a last-resort option. Prices and quality vary between the different car options but keep in mind, hiring a private driver comes with additional risks. If you’re the type with extra money to spend, this is definitely an option, but not one we’d typically recommend. And while a flight itself might be quick, the time spent waiting around at the airport as well as transport to and from would take away from the convenience significantly.īoth flying and taking a taxi/uber are relatively similar in price, ranging from around 300,000-400,000 pesos. Although hardly the cheapest, the point-to-point travel time is without question the quickest. We’re including these on the list simply because they are an option. *at time of writing, $10,000 COP = $3.60 USD The Not So Budget Option: Fly/Private Car

#CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA BUS HOW TO#

The following post will break down how to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta and back again. Up the coast, the town of Santa Marta is the perfect base for the beaches of Tayrona National Park, the laid-back vibes in the mountain village of Minca, = and the incredible Lost City Trek. But as beautiful as it is, there’s no reason to not push further. If during your time in Colombia you find yourself on the Caribbean coast (and why wouldn’t you?), you’ll without question end up in Cartagena.

Cartagena to santa marta bus