PALOMINO
A cool hippy town which can gobble you up for weeks has a touch of the artisan. Locals and tourists who came and stayed line the dirt roads selling their homemade wares; from jewellery to space cakes. Cheap, feels like the southern beaches of Cambodia, a place to wind down for a few days.
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getting there
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From Santa Marta | Take the bus from Mercado Central which leaves every 15 minutes. If the bus is full then just wait for the next one and hop on quick. Keep in mind that you will probably have your backpack with you so it will be a hot uncomfortable bus journey for 2 and a half hours. The bus stops on the corner of Calle 11 and Carrera 9, technically there's an office but just park yourself on the steps and wait for the bus. You pay the stewards who will likely see you before you see them. It's walkable from most of downtown Santa Marta. Its also super busy, there's a large fruit market, Supermarket and drug store for those last minute snacks and travel sickness tablets.
The cost from Santa Marta is 12,000Cop (£2.10) and because everywhere is pretty close in Palomino you can hop off on the main road, it drops you off at the petrol station (or anywhere you ask) and you can walk to your hostel or take a Moto Taxi.
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Top Tip: There's no ATM in Palomino and some of the businesses are cash only. Make sure you have enough cash before departing Santa Marta.
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To Stay
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We recommend staying at a hostel that has a pool. The weather is hot and humid in Palomino so a pool is ideal to cool off. Expect some downpours and subsequent mud.
Bikini Hostel | We stayed here for the whole week and enjoyed it. It has a pool with plenty of loungers, an on-site bar and pizza restaurant and also does coffee, cakes, waffles and ice cream. We had a double room with a private bathroom, breakfast was included for £21 a night - although breakfast was not the best. The location was perfect, in the middle of the main strip but quiet enough at night to get a good sleep.
Dreamer Hostel | Probably the most popular hostel for backpackers. Located closer to the beach with a pool and party vibe. A double room will cost around £56 and a bunk in an 8 bed dorm will cost around £11 a night.
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Makao Beach Hotel | If you have a bigger budget then Makao Beach Hotel has direct beach access, sea view rooms and an on-site restaurant although it does not have a pool. A double room will set you back £65 a night with breakfast included.
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To do
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Walk a Dog | Palomino is home to 2 dog shelters, Dogshelter Palomino and Animal Soul. Both offer daily doggy walks to help with the costs of running the shelters and vets bills. All dogs are up for adoption. Eventhose who have been rehomed and escaped back to the shelter (twice) - we're looking at you Mango.
If you are a dog lover then this is definitely something you have to do. We visited Dogshelter Palomino and fell in love the the first day. We enjoyed coffee and cake at their on site cafe whilst playing with the dogs, and stayed 3 hours. The next day we took them for a walk. They offer two walks 8am and 3pm.
At 3pm you take the dogs for a 20 minute walk to the river, jump in, then float downstream. Aftersome play time it's a 15 minutes walk back to the shelter. It takes around 2 hours in total and costs 50,000Cop each (£9).
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Animal soul offers a daily dog walk and picnic which you can book online here for 115,000Cop each (£20)
Go Tubing | Palomino is a popular tubing destination with the river close by and it's calm waters. Prices are around 50,000 Cop (£9) but there’s so many vendors on the street that you might get it cheaper. Most include a Moto Taxi ride to the start and back.
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To Eat & Drink
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Pizza | Turcolandia has the best pizzas we've tried in South America by far. We cant recommend it highly enough. A vast menu, lovely owner and the nicest homemade sweet and spicy accompaniments. It's so good we went twice. A large pizza costs 42,000Cop and a Club Colombia Beer is 4,000Cop - mini market prices.
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Bakeries | Pan’omino and Delicias Koda are both great bakeries if your hostel doesn’t include breakfast. The chocolate bread at delicias is to die for and a cinnamon roll and coffee at panomino costs just 12,000Cop (£2.10). We went to both and then went again.
Burgers | Juntos, has a good selection of juicy burgers that were cooked to perfection especially the bbq burger and the pulled pork burger. Prices start at 25,000cop
Arepas | The best place for your arepa fix is La Arepera, where the most expensive arepa is 20,000Cop (£3.50) which is a mix of meats. It was succulent, juicy and full of flavour. It’s one of the top rated places to eat in Palomino and we don't dissagree.
Empanadas | For a quick snack Grosso Empanadas is the place to go, either 4,000 or 5000Cop with different flavours daily. The Chumichurri, spinach and bbq pork were incredible, the long queue just goes to show how good they are. You'll find their little stall halfway down the main drag on the way to the beach.
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something else
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Swimming | The sea on the Caribbean coast is notoriously dangerous. Palomino is no exception. Red flags cover the beach, the shore is steep and the sea gets deep fast. The Rip tides that exist there are invisible and the surf is high. You'll sea locals ignoring all of that. Don't swim, it's not worth it.
NEXT STOP
The mountains of Minca are just an hour from Santa Marta and hide Coffee & Cocoa plantations. You'll find a laid back backpacker vibe, a slightly cooler climate and ninja level mosquitos.