About

Come take a Journey with us! We built this hostel from the ground up as a paradise for travelers who are looking to share their experiences and stories with each other in a gorgeous natural setting. Whether you are looking for a relaxing day in our refreshing infinity pool overlooking the jungle of Tayrona National Park or a day exploring the waterfalls, mountains, and beaches that surround The Journey. We are the perfect location to start all of your adventures, from Tayrona National Park, which is just over 1 km down the road to hidden waterfalls followed by tubing, you can return from your day to a warm welcome from our staff, family-style meals, cold cocktails, showers, and comfy beds. At The Journey, a hot breakfast of either eggs or avocado toast is included with your stay and served from 7:00-10:00 am, for those who want to get an early start! We feature our family dinners, a great opportunity for the whole hostel to share a meal and meet new people, perfect for solo travelers and groups alike! Journey Tours, our own tour company, can help you arrange tours all around this stunning coast. We offer horseback riding, cacao tours, surf lessons, waterfall hikes, tubing, visiting an indigenous village, and even a newly discovered day trip to ruins in the mountains. Don't forget to ask about our Journey To-gos, a homemade lunch packed by our chefs to take with you on any adventure!

Our private accommodations include air-conditioned rooms with a view of the park and open-design cabins with mosquito nets. We have choices of dormitories as well, some closed with air conditioning and some open for a full nature experience, mosquito nets included! All of the rooms are equipped with lockers and outlets. The rooms are built into the foothills of the mystical Sierra Nevada, so your view is overlooking beautiful Parque Tayrona.

We offer free filtered drinking water, so our guests can stay hydrated for any adventure in our incredible coastal nature. We have an on-site tienda and bar, along with home-cooked meals at a reasonable price. Please note: upon arrival, each guest needs to sign up for dinner (served each night at 7 pm). We can accommodate vegetarians! If the guest does wish to have dinner, it is their responsibility to advise us. We also offer a late-night snack menu for those who are looking for more options. In our evenings we have activities in our bar, from salsa dancing to wine and painting there is always something to do at The Journey.

We take Debit, MasterCard, Maestro and Visa. Please be advised there is a 4% charge when paying with card. For travelers coming from big cities - keep in mind when coming to the coast, there is very little access to ATMs.

During your stay, we can fully book the following tours for you:

- Lost City Trek
- Saltillo Falls + Tubing
- Horse Back Riding
- Cacao Tour
- Surfing lessons

Activities to do while you’re here:

- Parque Tayrona, a 15 minute walk
- Monkey Trail, a 40-minute walk
- Quebrada Valencia, a 15-minute bus ride
- Poza Encantada, 10 minute bus ride
- Swim in the Caribbean Sea, 20 minutes walk

House Rules

Check In

14:00 - 23:00

Check Out

until 11:00

  • Non Smoking
  • Taxes Included
View House Rules

Facilities

  • Free Breakfast
  • Free Parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Free Internet Access
  • Free Security Lockers
  • Free Luggage Storage
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Airport Transfers
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Reviews

9.1Superb(1804)
  • Value for Money
    8.9
  • Security
    9.4
  • Atmosphere
    9.1
  • Cleanliness
    9.0
  • Staff
    9.3
  • Location
    9.4
  • Facilities
    8.8
Summary of traveller reviews

The Journey Hostel in Santa Marta offers breathtaking views and a fantastic infinity pool, perfect for relaxing. Guests praise the friendly and helpful staff, delicious food, and the social atmosphere created by family dinners. Its prime location makes it ideal for exploring Tayrona National Park.

Stayed in Jul 2026
7.1
H
Hannah
Female, 25-30, Canada
WARNING: Do not drink the "filtered" water provided by this hostel. I drank from the water station during my stay and ended up getting really sick (tmi but really bad diarrhea). 5 other people staying there that we knew got sick as well. When I got back to Canada they said I contracted a bacterial infection. The illness completely ruined my trip and presented a major health hazard. Please protect yourself and only drink sealed bottled water. Management must clean and test the water immediately.
Stayed in Jul 2026
9.1
L
Lucas
Male, 18-24, England
Really nice location and cool hostel with nice beds
Stayed in Jun 2026
10
M
Mollie
Female, 18-24, England
It was really great. Very nice food. Can walk to entrance of national park. The pool is really nice. The bed was comfy and the bathroom was nice. Good vibes there!!!
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Location

km 33 via la guajira, magdanela, fnc The Journey H, Santa Marta, Colombia
33.1km from city centre