Written by Marcus Kayode, Marika Maslanka, Santiago Rodriguez
03/08/2025
Danilo Arenas, Pexels
Santa Marta is served by Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR) for air travel and the Santa Marta Transportation Terminal for bus services, acting as the main gateways to the city and surrounding areas.
By Air:
Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR) is located 14-16.5 km south of Santa Marta city center.
Domestic Flights:: Non-stop flights from Bogotá (BOG) typically take 1 hour 31-36 minutes, with one-way prices ranging from $24-$40 USD. Flights are also available from Medellín (approx. 1h 15-20m) and Cali with airlines like Avianca, JetSMART, and Wingo.
International Flights:: Direct flights are available from Panama City (PTY) to SMR, taking about 1 hour 31 minutes with Copa Airlines. Flights from the United States, such as Miami (MIA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), average around 9-10 hours with layovers, and round-trip costs from the US can be around $628 USD.
By Bus:
The Santa Marta Transportation Terminal is located in the southwest of the city, approximately a 30-minute drive from the city center.
From Bogotá:: The bus journey takes approximately 17 hours 30 minutes to 19 hours 45 minutes, with costs ranging from $26-$60 USD. Operators include Expreso Brasilia and Berlinas.
From Cartagena:: Travel by bus takes about 4 to 6 hours, with fares starting from $13-$22 USD or $60,000 COP.
From Barranquilla:: The bus trip is around 2 hours and costs approximately $9 USD.
From Medellín:: The journey averages 17 hours 55 minutes, costing around $55 USD.
From Bucaramanga:: The average travel time is 11 hours 1 minute, with costs around $32 USD.
Local Transportation (to/from hubs):
Taxis:: From the airport, a taxi to El Rodadero is around $26,450 COP, with an additional airport fee of $4,550 COP. From the bus terminal, a taxi to the city center costs between $15,000 and $20,000 COP, plus a $1,000 COP departure fee. Within the city, taxi fares generally range from 6,000 COP to 8,000 COP, and it is advisable to agree on the fare beforehand.
Public Buses:: Blue public buses connect the airport to main areas. Buses from the bus terminal also serve the Historic Center, Taganga, Bonda, and El Rodadero for about $2,300 COP per person.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
