Colombia Caribbean coast and islands
Discover lively seaside cities, wildlife-rich lagoons and the untamed beauty of Tayrona National Park. Offshore you’ll find palm-shaded islands with sugary beaches and coral atolls.
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The Caribbean coast is not all about Cartagena, the colonial jewel which is such a magnet for visitors. There, the city beaches are fun but not exceptionally beautiful. East along the coast, the road passes the seaport Barranquilla and the bird-filled marshes and lagoons of La Ciénaga, reaching the pleasant seaside resort of Santa Marta. Just beyond is hilly, jungle-covered Tayrona National Park, embracing one of the most beautiful wild stretches of Caribbean coast. Golden beaches shaded by coconut palms are backed by rugged hills full of monkeys and iguanas. Offshore the Rosario islands are blissful coral atolls, while further afield is the quirky English-speaking volcanic island of Providencia.
Holidays Caribbean coast and islands
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Where to go when - our guide to Caribbean coast and islands
The weather in Caribbean coast and islands is wide and varied
Stretched across the length of Colombia’s Caribbean coast are lively seaside cities, wildlife-rich lagoons and the wild beauty of Tayrona National Park. Offshore you’ll find the Rosario islands and Providencia, palm-shaded havens with sugary beaches and coral atolls. These are year-round destinations with plentiful sunshine throughout, though you could plan your visit based around the chance of rainfall. From August - November there are more frequent showers which can be torrential, whilst December - April tend to be the driest. If it’s joyful dance and music that you enjoy, catch the annual exuberant carnival celebrations of Barranquilla in February or March. This is an extremely exciting (albeit very busy) time to visit.
View our Caribbean coast and islands weather guidePapagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
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Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Consultant
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
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Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
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Evie Oswald - Travel Consultant
It’s hard to believe that Evie has had time to cram so much in to her life so far. Having lived as a child in the Americas and Europe she found herself immediately attracted to Latin America.
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Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Escorted Groups team.
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Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
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Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
