Beachfront
Hammocks, sea viewsHostels along the beach, with pools, bars and restaurants. A walk down sandy lanes from the main road.
Village guide
Things to do in Palomino
A laid-back village on the Caribbean coast where a river runs down from the Sierra Nevada to a wild beach. Hammocks, river tubing and some of the most relaxed hostels in Colombia.
35
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 7,975 reviews
2–4
Days to slow down
Where the river meets the sea
Palomino is a small village in La Guajira, around two hours east of Santa Marta, at the point where the Río Palomino flows out of the Sierra Nevada into the Caribbean. On clear mornings you can see the snow-capped peaks from the beach. The village itself is a strip of shops along the main road, with sandy lanes leading down through palm trees to the sea.
People come to slow down. The beach is long, wide and wild, lined with palms and hostels with hammocks, pools and bars. The best thing to do is float down the river on an inner tube, from the jungle to the sea. The Sierra Nevada is home to the Kogui, Arhuaco and Wiwa peoples, and some Indigenous communities near Palomino welcome respectful visitors.
Give Palomino two to four days. It combines well with Tayrona, which has an entrance on the road back to Santa Marta, and with a trip further into La Guajira. Bring cash, mosquito repellent and patience: power and internet can be unreliable.
Where to base yourself
Stay on the beach for hammocks and sea views, or in the village near the main road for cheaper beds and easy buses.
Village
Budget, busesCheaper hostels near the main road, with shops and local restaurants.
River and jungle
Nature, quietA few hostels inland near the river, surrounded by forest.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Palomino
Go river tubing. Take a motorbike taxi up to the start of the trail, walk around 20 to 40 minutes through the jungle, then float down the Río Palomino on an inner tube for one to two hours, all the way to the sea. Tubes are rented in the village. Go in the morning, and check the river with your hostel, as it can rise fast after rain in the mountains.
The beach is beautiful for walks and sunsets, but the sea has strong currents and big waves. Swim only where locals say it is safe, and never alone. Surf lessons are available on calmer days.
Visit an Indigenous community with a local guide to learn about the culture of the Sierra Nevada, or take a yoga class at one of the beach hostels. The Quebrada Valencia waterfalls, on the road towards Santa Marta, are a good stop, and Tayrona's eastern entrances are close.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beach is free and long enough to have stretches to yourself. Walk to the river mouth at sunset, where the fresh water meets the sea.
Swimming in the calm parts of the river near the beach is free, and many people prefer it to the sea.
Hammocks at your hostel are free, and that is how most days in Palomino end.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Fresh fish with coconut rice and patacones is the staple, and fresh juices made from tropical fruit are everywhere. The beach hostels have restaurants, many with vegetarian food.
The village along the main road has cheaper local restaurants serving menús del día, plus small shops for supplies.
There is no big supermarket, so stock up in Santa Marta if you plan to cook.
Nightlife
Going out
Palomino is relaxed, but a few beach hostels have busy bars and run parties, especially at weekends and in high season.
Otherwise, nights are about hammocks, music and drinks on the beach.
Take a torch: the lanes to the beach are dark.
Getting around
Getting around
The village is small, and the beach is a walk down from the main road. Motorbike taxis take you to the start of the tubing trail and around the area.
Buses run along the coast road to Santa Marta, around two hours, passing Tayrona's entrances, and east to Riohacha, the starting point for tours to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas in the desert of La Guajira.
Santa Marta's Simón Bolívar airport is the nearest.
Costs
What Palomino costs
Palomino is good value. Dorm beds start around €8, with well-rated beach hostels from €10 to €18. Village food is cheap, beach restaurants cost more.
Tubing is cheap, including the tube and the motorbike taxi.
Bring cash. ATMs are limited and can run out, and many places do not take cards.
Safety
Safety and scams
Palomino is relaxed and generally safe. Take normal care with belongings on the beach and in shared spaces.
The sea is the main danger. Strong currents and waves make it unsafe for swimming much of the time. The river can rise quickly after rain in the mountains, so check before tubing.
Mosquitoes and sandflies are common, so bring repellent. Respect Indigenous communities and ask before taking photos. In an emergency, call 123.
Worth leaving the village for
Jungle parks, waterfalls and the desert of La Guajira.
Tayrona National Park
Jungle beaches. Check closure dates before going.
La Guajira desert
Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, the northern tip of South America.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Holiday crowds and hostel parties.
Mid-December to January
High season
Palomino
Beach hostels fill up and parties are busiest. Book ahead.
March or April
Semana Santa
Palomino
Colombian holiday crowds on the coast.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Palomino, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Bella Flor Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
La Natura Hostel & Pool
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Casa del Pavo Real
Dorms from €23 a night
See dates and book
Freesoul Hostel Palomino
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Maria Mulata Palomino
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Kanta Sana
Dorms from €17 a night
See dates and book
El Zoo Hostel And Pool
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Tiki Hut Hostel
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Praba Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Dreamer Palomino
Dorms from €19 a night
See dates and book
Jaba Jan
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Primaluna Beach Hostel
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
When to go
Palomino is hot all year. December to April is the dry season. September to November is wettest, with a muddier river.
Jan
Dry season, busy
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry. Semana Santa
Apr
Dry, rains begin
May
Some rain
Jun
Mid-year holidays
Jul
Drier
Aug
Hot
Sep
Rainy
Oct
Wettest. Muddy river
Nov
Wet
Dec
Dry season. Book ahead
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Afternoons can be very humid.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Palomino prices.
Treat these as a guide. La Guajira tours cost extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Palomino questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Palomino?
By bus from Santa Marta along the coast road, around two hours. Ask the driver to drop you in Palomino.
How many days do you need in Palomino?
Two to four for tubing, the beach and slowing down. Many people stay longer.
Can you swim in Palomino?
The sea has strong currents and big waves, so it is often unsafe. Ask locally, never swim alone, and use the river instead.
How does river tubing work?
Rent a tube in the village, take a motorbike taxi to the trail, walk around 20 to 40 minutes, then float to the sea for one to two hours.
Is there an ATM in Palomino?
ATMs are limited and can run out of cash. Bring enough from Santa Marta.
Palomino or Tayrona?
Tayrona has the famous beaches and jungle trails. Palomino is better for relaxing, with the river and hostels on the beach. They are close enough to do both.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April, the dry season. Avoid October if you want a clear river.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare hostels in Palomino: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.