Taganga is a town that has remained in time since you will not find large stores, hotel chains, or restaurants, everything there is typical of there. What's more, some streets are not yet paved, but all this makes it a very cheap destination, a perfect place to disconnect and live like natives for a few days.
As for plans, you can start touring the town in one morning to enjoy its gastronomy such as fried fish, sweaty fish, broth and always accompanied by a crispy plantain. Then you must go to enjoy different water activities such as snorkeling and diving since the sea is very calm waters.
Another plan to do in Taganga during the day is to go to the viewpoint that is located on the mountain behind the town. There you will have a panoramic view of the entire natural landscape, the houses, its coastal beach, and the Caribbean Sea.
Because it is a fishing village, you can learn about fishing with the locals. One morning do a day of fishing guided by a native fisherman, for this, you must agree with him on the schedule and price, some do not charge you but if you want to contribute to tourism in Taganga we recommend you contribute.
How to get to Taganga from Santa Marta
Taganga is located 7 kilometers from Santa Marta (close to the limits of the Tayrona Park) which would be about 20 minutes of travel. To get to Taganga the cheapest option is to take a bus from the historic center of Santa Marta or the Terminal. The value of the ticket is 1,800 Colombian pesos (it would be less than a dollar) and the route is a blue minibus that says "Taganga".
Getting to Taganga by Taxi
Another option to get to Taganga from Santa Marta is utilizing a taxi that would cost you about 12,000 Colombian pesos (4 dollars). Remember to establish the rate with the taxi driver before getting into the vehicle.
One last option if you arrive in Santa Marta by plane and want to go directly to the town of Taganga, take a taxi at the Santa Marta airport and ask it to take you directly to the town; the value of the fee is 40,000 Colombian pesos (12 dollars).
Beaches in Taganga
Taganga has a very wide coastal beach that curves through the town. Some parts are clean but others not so much due to the number of boats and fishing canoes but if you are looking for more tranquility nearby there are virgin beaches with golden sand and crystal clear water, these are some that you should visit:
Big Taganga Beach
Playa Grande is famous for being a virgin golden beach. To get there you can walk along a path that crosses the Taganga mountain. The walking time is 20 minutes and the route is along the road to the viewpoint. What they recommend in the town to go to this beach is that you don't go alone and don't come back late either; since there are many rumors about the security of this site. Another option to get to Playa Grande Taganga is to go and return by boat, it takes 5 minutes and the cost is 8,000 Colombian pesos (2 dollars).
Crystal Beach
It is a beach that is 15 minutes away and you can only get there by boat. This beach is characterized by being more natural, and calm and with good areas for snorkeling.
Cape San Juan
It is part of the virgin beaches of Tayrona. You can go by bus to the entrance to the park, walk through the interior of the forest until you go along the coast to reach Cabo de San Juan and you can return to Taganga by boat.
Climate of Taganga
The weather in Taganga varies throughout the year with two seasons; Despite being a beach destination, it has a rainy season where the weather is cloudy and reaches a temperature of up to 23°C, this occurs from September to November and from March to May.
The dry season in Taganga is very hot and can reach temperatures of up to 33°C. This is given from December to February and from June to August. The best time to visit the town is mid-January and February, which is the dry season and hotels are in the low season.
Hotels in Taganga
As for accommodation in the town of Taganga, there are no chain hotels and much fewer resorts, but you will find many hostels and boutique hotels that are in very good condition and at a very good price.
Most of them are far from the beach, so we recommend you check the location on Google maps because there are somewhere you will have to walk for more than 20 minutes to get to the beach.
Diving Schools
In Taganga there are several diving schools since the nearby beaches make it a mandatory activity to do. To do this activity, they are transferred by the same school in a boat that leaves from the bay to one of the virgin beaches of Tayrona.
It doesn't matter if you don't have diving experience, the instructors show you how they can achieve a low level and enjoy the experience. There are diving plans for a price of 125,000 Colombian pesos (36 dollars) and there are other three-day courses with certification.
Taganga at night
Despite being a quiet town, a plan that you should do on weekends is to go to the various bars and clubs at night, these are the meeting point for travelers from Santa Marta and El Rodadero. There is an area called “el paseo de la playa” where you will find bars and shops to start the night with a beer and then continue to the clubs. There is a very famous and visited by foreigners called "El Mirador" where the party ends at 4 in the morning and then you continue the party on the beach.
Thanks, we just want you to save time and money. In return, support us by sharing this guide with your networks
It costs you nothing but you help us a lot!