Department of Magdalena - Colombia

Capital: Santa Marta
Altitude: 6 meters over the sea level (Santa Marta)
Distance from Bogotá: 965 Km.

The district is located to the north zone of the country, in the region of the Caribean prairie.
There are many tourist locations, historical, cultural and natural such as natural parks plenty of local flora and fauna.

Santa Marta

This is the capital city of one of the most tourist districts of the country.  It is situated close to The Caribean Sea.  This is an ideal place for resting and for ecoturism or archaelogical and adventure tourism.

Tourist places

The Cathedral,  The Antropological and Ethnograpic Museum, Quinta de San Pedro Alejandro, El Rodadero, Taganga, The Big Marsh of Santa Marta and The Acquarium Museo del Mar.

National parks

Parque Nacional Tayrona

This natural park is covered by beaches with crystaline waters and white sand appart from spectacular choral structures.  It is located in the Caribean region.  The most popular places of the park are: El Cañaveral, Las Playas Tranquilas and Los Naranjos.

The park is not only nature, it is, also, a reflect of ancient cultures; it contains locations with human rests and ruins like the ones belonged to The Chairama  a famous ancient population.  Such location comprehends a group of terraces, paths and houses.  It is considered a sacred place for indigenous cultures.

Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

The park presents huge snow-capped mountains.  It also has beautiful landscapes which include forests, jungles, mountains and moors.  The different ecosystems are plenty of diverse flora and fauna like a hundred species of mammals, birds, reptiles and so on.  Some activities can be practiced, among them: climbing, walking, fishing, camping and thermal baths.

Parque Isla de Salamanca

A big zone covered by mashes, groves, fens and woodlands where various species of birds on migration and reptiles live.

Other interesting locations

La Ciudad perdida

The Lost City is a location for archaelogical research.  It was discovered in 1976 in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.  Its population lived in The X and XV Centuries.  Nowadays, it is surrounded by other communities: Koquis and Armarios.  It is situated 34 Km. from Santa Marta, near to The Buritaca River.

This is one of the most beautiful places of South America.  It is in the middle of an exuberant jungle.  It was declared a human and cultural patrimony and it is in the fifth position talking about the seven wonders of Colombia.

It is possible to observe ruins that were built by prehistorical people.  The constructions show a stone architecture; it includes terraces, walls, roads, bridges, stairs and channels.  Many ceremonial centers were located there appart from houses and places for storing.
Thanks to the archaelogical researches, 300 archaelogical locations (big and small) have been stablished in the coast and in the jungle.

Playas El Rodadero (Beaches)

Some nice landscapes: dry forest, mountainous beaches and islands, marine fauna, green waters and white sand.  A perfect place for resting.
It is surrounded by moderns hotels, restaurants and sports centers.  During night time, there are many restaurants which offer a good service and typical music.