Getting to and away from Santa Marta

Getting to and away Types:
Getting to and away

By Lorraine Caputo

Bus

Santa Marta’s bus terminal is about midways between the city and El Rodadero. It has showers, bathrooms, ATM, luggage keep (7 a.m.-7 p.m.), snack stands, shops, phones and internet.

To Barranquilla: Frequent departures 4:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. with Ochoa, Brasilia, Berlinas and Cootragua; all charge $5.30 and take 2 hours.

To Cartagena: Ochoa—2:30 p.m., $13.20, 4 hours. Brasilia—two late morning and four mid-to-late afternoon buses, $13.70, 4 hours. Berlinas—half-hourly 4:30 a.m.-4 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours.

To Montería: Brasilia—10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 9 p.m., $29, 7 hours.

To Riohacha / Maicao: Every half-hour with Brasilia, Cootragua (cheapest), Ochoa 3 a.m.-6 p.m., $9.50-10.50 / $12.15-14.75, 2.5-3 hours / 4-5 hours.

To Venezuela direct: Amerlujo (daily noon) and Berlinas (daily 12:30 p.m.) depart for Maracaibo ($39.50, 7 hours), Barquisimeto, Maracay, Valencia and Caracas ($87, 17 hours); passport needed to book ticket.

To Bucaramanga: Berlinas—3 p.m., 8 p.m., $32, 10 hours. Copetrán—3 morning and 3 evening departures, $32, 10 hours. Brasilia—8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 8:30 p.m., $44, 9 hours.

To Valledupar: Copetrán—7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. Cootragua—7 a.m., 9 a.m. Colibertador—5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m. Cootracosta 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m. All these charge $10.50 and take 4 hours.

To Bogotá: Berlinas—2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., $42, 17 hours. Copetrán—4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., $63.50, 17 hours. Brasilia—2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., $63.50, 18 hours.

To Medellín: Ochoa—same schedule as Barranquilla, $42, 14-15 hours. Copetrán—5 p.m., $64.75, 15 hours. Brasilia—8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., $64.25, 14-15 hours.

Air

Santa Marta’s Aeropuerto Simón Bolívar is 16 kilometers (9.5 miules) south of the city. Three airlines offer national flights, with international connections:

• Aero República—To Bogotá: twice daily, with national and international connections, $200 one way. (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Carrera 3 17-27, Tel.: 5-421-0120.)

• Aires—To Barranquilla, Valledupar ($138) and Montería ($100) daily; also Cartagena ($100) daily, with international connections to Panama City ($418, daily; one way tickets sold only to Panamanian residents or those travelers who have an on-ward ticket), Curaçoa (Tuesday, Saturday) and Aruba (Sunday, Thursday). (Carrera 3 17-27, local 4, Tel.: 5-431-7024.)

• Avianca—To Medellín: daily, $191 one way; to Bogotá: daily, $201 one way. (Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Carrera 2A 14-17.)

Train

The tourist train Ruta de Maconda, from Santa Marta to Aracataca, is presently on hold until the gobernación of Magdalena Department can assure clearance of the tracks.