Playa Palomino
Playa Palomino
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Playa Palomino and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
61 within 5 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
445 reviews
Excellent
222
Very good
119
Average
55
Poor
31
Terrible
18
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
marcossino
Naples, Italy1,856 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
I tell you about our experience.
Palomino is basically a dirt road full of potholes and dust that runs perpendicular from the beach up to (1 Km) to cross the state road where your bus will probably stop. The beach is between the mouth of two rivers that carry many sediments that make the water not cloudy but more making even the sand blackish. In so much sea made around we have never bathed in such dark water. If we then add that in the days of our stay there were big waves (with brown foam) with relative current I let you imagine what a nice relaxing bath. The country then so vaunted does not seem to me a big deal. Made of locals x tourists who compete for those few present during the week (the situation improves at the weekend).
In short, we were there in August I do not know if the situation changes at other times of the year but it seems difficult, certainly the palms come up to lap the water but x those who have already seen such views can very well pass over.
Palomino is basically a dirt road full of potholes and dust that runs perpendicular from the beach up to (1 Km) to cross the state road where your bus will probably stop. The beach is between the mouth of two rivers that carry many sediments that make the water not cloudy but more making even the sand blackish. In so much sea made around we have never bathed in such dark water. If we then add that in the days of our stay there were big waves (with brown foam) with relative current I let you imagine what a nice relaxing bath. The country then so vaunted does not seem to me a big deal. Made of locals x tourists who compete for those few present during the week (the situation improves at the weekend).
In short, we were there in August I do not know if the situation changes at other times of the year but it seems difficult, certainly the palms come up to lap the water but x those who have already seen such views can very well pass over.
Automatically translated
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rowan H
Cairns, Australia1,722 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
The majority of the beach has been severely damaged by erosion so there remains only about 5-10m of width before the fences start. Compounding this is the fact that the beach available is very angled and so you can’t comfortably sunbake on it.
The locals seem to be trying to stem the tide by placing strategic sandbag walls to capture the erosion but this only detracts further from the beaches appearance.
The sea was rough the entire time we were there, giving it a brown appearance and making it unpleasant and dangerous for swimming.
Most of the remaining visitors to the beach seem to be clustered around the opening of the rio palomino (the river people tube down) as there was a little bit more sand here and they were able to swim in the sheltered opening of the river. Definitely not ‘beach feels’.
Much like the town I believe this area has been stripped of its natural beauty through overjealous development.
The locals seem to be trying to stem the tide by placing strategic sandbag walls to capture the erosion but this only detracts further from the beaches appearance.
The sea was rough the entire time we were there, giving it a brown appearance and making it unpleasant and dangerous for swimming.
Most of the remaining visitors to the beach seem to be clustered around the opening of the rio palomino (the river people tube down) as there was a little bit more sand here and they were able to swim in the sheltered opening of the river. Definitely not ‘beach feels’.
Much like the town I believe this area has been stripped of its natural beauty through overjealous development.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carito
Bogota, Colombia80 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
Palomino Beach is an extremely narrow beach, local businesses practically reach the sea. In addition to its frankly, the town of Palomino is not a pretty or clean town. It may be a suitable place for very young people who come to party but not for families.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ranis555
Toulouse, France154 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
It's a bit dirty and not really taken care of... I've been there before and I know that some hostels and restaurants are really working to promote sustainable tourism but seriously, a lot of tourists just trash the place down. Palomino is a beautiful place, it is also a sacred place for 4 indigenous communities and it is the home to several species! If you go, which I recommend you do, please take care of the beach, don't throw garbage, don't buy plastics or straws...
Written 5 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yazmin R
Bogotá, Distrito Especial, Colombia17 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
If you love nature this is the beach for you !! You can get here by public bus from Santa Marta ( 2 Hours trip aprox for 3 USD) on your own car or by taxi, dependig on your budget. Avoid tours in white vans. I took a very disapointing one and they left us abandoned in the beach so we had to come back by public bus. The beach is a paradise an it worth a visit. There are some hostels and restaurants near the beach. Visitors are nature lovers and backpackers. Consider that you need to walk about 10 or 15 minutes from the main road to the beach. If you take your own car there is a parking place near the beach but the road is bumpy
Written 17 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iso
London, UK25 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Confused by some of the bad reviews of Palomino beach - it’s really nice! We’ve been to beaches across Asia and South America and we were still impressed by this one. We stayed in a Palomino for a week and went to the beach and swam every day. Yes it is narrow, but there’s still more than enough space to lay down, you can walk all the way along (about 15 minutes) to get to where the river meets the sea, which is really nice, and there’s a few restaurants there where you can get fresh fish and drinks. It’s also really nice because it’s not built up, so it’s just palm trees, beach and sea. You can happily swim there, the waves are really fun to jump around in, and it’s not a busy beach apart from at the weekend. Would definitely recommend!
Written 25 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay H
3 contributions
Oct 2019
How can anyone give this place 4 or 5 stars unless they have never been to the ocean outside of a huge city. Muddy and horrible road leads to an unpleasant narrow strip of sand with a brick building and a couple dodgy restaurants. Also absolutely no "cool vibe" as everyone seems to describe. Baffling.
Written 10 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunny Dr
Alexandria, VA1,400 contributions
Sept 2018
This town has become a favorite vacation spot of a younger crowd, many international and many surfers. It has its personality, mostly small
Hotels and hostels. The beach is pristine and was almost empty when we visited. We were gifted by the most amazing view of the Sierra Nevada
Hotels and hostels. The beach is pristine and was almost empty when we visited. We were gifted by the most amazing view of the Sierra Nevada
Written 22 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flocculus
Potomac, MD110 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Palomino was our favorite beach during our tour of the Colombian Caribbean coast. The sand is nice, and the strength of the waves vary. There is a congested area of food and drink places by the river, but those and vendors have not taken over a large area. You can eat and drink and then escape.
Written 8 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenBoat
St. Petersburg, FL199 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
If you, like me, are interested in finding isolated beaches, without the chaos, touts, and mass tourism found elsewhere, Palomino is a good find. First, due to the conflict situation of the recent past, Palomino is very undeveloped. The small town only has a handful of hostels and very few services. So, the beach is very tranquil and often completely isolated. Second, the view. The beach sits at the bottom of the worlds highest coastal mountain range, so you can sit on the beach and see the snow capped Andes and tropical forest at its base. It is surreal. Finally, the beach is beautiful as far as Colombian beaches go--outside the park beaches to the west--and is free. It's easy to find a hostel (quiet or rowdy, the area has both), and just unplug for a few days. As of last year, wifi was barely even a thing.
One word of caution, the currents are very strong so not a swim beach. Also, make sure you have any medical supplies you may need; I had an allergic reaction while there at night and couldn't find a driver to return to Santa Marta, and was unable to track down any antihistamine. I had to bother travelers in the middle of the night to find something which is often the best and only solution.
One word of caution, the currents are very strong so not a swim beach. Also, make sure you have any medical supplies you may need; I had an allergic reaction while there at night and couldn't find a driver to return to Santa Marta, and was unable to track down any antihistamine. I had to bother travelers in the middle of the night to find something which is often the best and only solution.
Written 23 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, quiero viajar con mi perro pero no sé si en la playa pueden entrar mascotas. ¿Alguien sabe?
Written 28 December 2021
Buenos dias,
Me podrian por favor aconsejar como llegar desde Palomino a Santa Marta? No puedo encontrar ningunas conexiones por paginas web, quizas esta ruta la recorren unos buses pequenos? La unica ruta que me sale es a/de Cartagena. Si hsy otros buses, conocen la frequencia de su salida?
Muchas gracias de antemano.
Saludos,
Kalina
Written 11 February 2020
Una buena pregunta luego del asesinato A mansalva qué ocurrió este fin de semana en Palomino todavía hay gente que tiene ganas de visitar este lugar tan tenebroso una pareja asesinada a manos de desalmados la investigación continúa
Written 23 December 2019
Infame que aquí en Colombia se hable de seguridad y toda clase de cuentos para termi ar en una triste tragedia como esta..
Written 23 December 2019
Bonjour, nous sommes une famille canadienne de 4, dont deux jeunes enfants de 6 et 3 ans, nous voyagerons en mars 2019, ma première question, est-ce que la mer est recommandable pour la baignade? Par quel moyen de transport pouvant nous partir de l'aéroport de Cartagena vers Palomino et en combien de temps? Merci beaucoup!
Written 22 October 2019
Bonjour,
La mer est bonne, mais il y a quand même de grandes vagues. En faisant attention il ne doit pas y avoir de problème. En marchant sur la plage vous arriverez au lieu ou la riviere de Palomino rencontre la mer. L'eau est plus calme la. Nous sommes aussi parti de Cartagena vers Palomino. Je vous conseille "transportes Marsol". Ce sont des shuttles qui partent de Cartagena en passant par Barranquilla vers Palomino. Il ne s'arrete que quelques fois et ils disposent de climatisation. Nous avions fait la réservation à l'hotel. Il sont venus nous cherchez à la porte de l'hotel. Le prix etait raisonable, je pense 60 000 pesos. Palomino est très joli. N'hésitez pas a y aller. Je vous recommande hotel Makao pour y rester.
Written 24 October 2019
Buenas noches. Se puede acampar allá y en caso afirmativo, cuanto vale? Gracias.
Written 27 February 2019
En que mes del año es mejor viajar para poder disfrutar el mar y que no haya tantas olas?
Written 16 February 2019
Durante todo el año las olas siempre van a estar presentes, no es el sitio ideal si la idea es nadar tranquilamente, yo he estado en diferentes épocas del año y siempre es así.
Written 20 February 2019
En qué lugar en Palomino podría pasar el
Día con opción de buena comida y un lugar adecuado para ir con un niño de 1 año y gente mayor de edad.
Written 10 January 2019
La desembocadura del Río Palomino con el Mar Caribe es buen lugar, para recomendarte.
Written 17 January 2019
Hola. Voy a hospedarme en Santa Marta y quiero ir a Palomino. Cuántas horas hay? Y que tour me recomiendan y más o menos cuáles son los precios? Gracias.
Written 13 December 2018
Hola de del mercado de Santa marta salen busetas hacia Palomino, le sale 10 pesos el pasaje y dura 2 hs, yo vivo en Palomino hace 3 años tengo una escuela de surf por si te interesan clases de surf, TIDE escuela de surf en Facebook
Written 15 December 2018
de Cartagena a palomino cuantas horas son por carretera Qué ruta coger para llegar
Written 27 February 2018
Yo hice el recorrido al revés.... y son como 6 pasando por Barranquilla y la carretera es la principal, google o waze le indican sin problemas...buen recorrido en el dia.
Written 28 February 2018
ferdiaboli
Cali, Colombia
Como se llega a las playas de palomino desde sabta marta y horario de regreso..gracias
Written 20 September 2017
debes tomar la ruta hacia riohacha...no es dificil. El waze te lo puede indicar. Los buses urbanos son baratos y los puedes ubicar en la plaza o en las agencias de los buses. Tienen muchos horarios, puedes adaptarte al que mas te guste
Written 28 February 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 10
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing