The 14 Best Things to Do in Palomino, Colombia – Colombia’s picturesque beach town

Are you looking for a laid-back destination on the Caribbean coast that fantastically combines nature and beach? Look no further: Palomino, Colombia, is a simply ideal coastal destination.

When we visited, I set my mind on “backpacker party town” and was totally surprised by the relaxed, natural atmosphere that awaited us in Palomino. We ended up spending almost two weeks in this wonderful place. Palomino definitely became a major highlight on our Colombia itinerary.

Since I noticed that a lot of information online about this place is completely outdated (Palomino has changed quite a bit in the last few years), I’d like to give my own overview of the best things to do in Palomino.

So let’s get started right away with all the essential info for your trip to Palomino.

Palomino, Colombia, Facts

• There are no ATMs in Palomino. So be sure to bring enough cash.
• Had only about 3,000 inhabitants in 2005 (certainly more today).
• It has established itself as a tourist destination only in the last 5-10 years
• Palomino is divided into the main settlement (along the main road) and the tourist settlement (in the beach area)
• It’s a good starting point for various excursions in the region (e.g., Tayrona National Park)

Why visit Palomino – What to expect

I was a little concerned before we took a closer look at this “mystical place” ourselves. So many travelers we met along the way in Colombia spoke so well of Palomino. In contrast, travel blogs paint a very different picture of Palomino – it virtually screams “backpacker party place” at you.

However, once we arrived in Palomino, everything was quite different. We quickly realized that Palomino has changed greatly in the last five years, and thus, many of the travel blog reviews out there are simply outdated.

If you’re looking for backpackers and partying, you’re still in the right place in Palomino, BUT if you want a laid-back, quiet location on the beach, you’re in the right place too. Whether you are a sun seeker, yoga lover, backpacker, or water sports enthusiast, everyone will find what they are looking for here. So make sure to make Palomino part of your Colombia itinerary.

It all depends on the type of accommodation you choose and, most importantly, its location. Right on the main street (Carrera 6), you’ll find a lot of music, bars, and alcohol, but just one street away, you can find relaxed accommodations with yoga and massages – so be sure to read reviews from other travelers at Booking.com or TripAdvisor before booking.

There are plenty of vegetarian restaurants (Bali-style) and a few places to enjoy seafood or local Colombian cuisine.

Palomino for Digital Nomads

For us as digital nomads, a good internet connection and plenty of privacy to work in is a top priority. And we were extremely surprised about the decent internet connection in Palomino. Video calls and working online – no problem at all. That’s why we spontaneously extended our stay in Palomino from three nights to almost two weeks.

The 14 Best Things to Do in Palomino

Let’s take a look at some of the best things to do and see in Palomino. While there are no real “this is a must-see” attractions here, I’d still like to put together a little list of popular attractions and activities in Palomino to give you an idea of what there is to do there.

Palomino’s Beach

Palomino is a coastal village. Located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, the best thing you do here is spend a lot of time on the beach. And Palomino’s beach is just perfect for that.

More than two kilometers of beach invite you to take long walks, relax, do water sports, or enjoy a refreshing drink in one of the beach bars.

Admittedly, the sea here is not always suitable for swimming, as the currents can be powerful and the waves accordingly high. Nevertheless, I found Playa Palomino to be one of the most beautiful beaches of our Colombia trip.

Extra info: Yes, we are talking about the Caribbean coast here. A real Caribbean dream beach, like, for example, on the Caribbean islands or the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, does not exist here, unfortunately—nevertheless, the beach of Palomino scores with a lot of character.

Palomino’s stunning sunsets

But not only during the day but also in the evening, a visit to the beach of Palomino is worthwhile. The sunsets here are breathtaking. Although the sun does not sink directly into the sea, it bathes the sky in extraordinary colors.

The best way to watch the sunset is to walk along the surf or have a cool drink on the beach.

The atmosphere is great because many locals and visitors come to the beach to experience this natural spectacle together at this time of the day. Definitely a big recommendation.

Playa los Cocos

If Playa Palomino feels too crowded, I have some good news for you. After a 20-minute walk along the coast, you’ll first reach Rio Palomino (we’ll get to that in a minute). Crossing it, you’ll come to an even more natural and isolated beach: Playa los Cocos.

Here you can enjoy even more tranquility since there are not many stands and offers.

Extra info: Playa Los Cocos also has a relatively strong current. Therefore, this is not necessarily suitable for swimming either.

Rio Palomino

Maybe you feel like me at the beginning. The beach is beautiful, Palomino is relaxed, and the stay is just fantastic, but somehow you still would like to go swimming. But don’t worry, Palomino has an excellent solution for that.

The Rio Palomino meets the beach here. This creates a small pool of water that is perfect for swimming.

This is fresh water, which is also a great advantage for some. Visitors and many locals come here every day to enjoy a relaxing dip in the small river pool. The water is a little cooler than in the sea, but in the pool, the water is definitely warm enough for swimming.

River Tubing

One of the most popular tours in Palomino is river tubing. You can rent a floating ring (like the one in the picture above) and float down the Rio Palomino until you finally arrive at the beach.

There are several tour operators in Palomino and different types of tours. Some tour providers will take you all the way to the river. Others will take you to visit an indigenous tribe first or have a short hike, like this tour.

For many visitors, this is one of the best memories of Palomino. And many told us how much fun river tubing is.

Extra info: River tubing is not equally popular throughout the year. That’s because, at the end of the dry season, when the river has lost a lot of water, river tubing can take a full 2½-3 hours. Combined with the strong Colombian sun, be sure to ensure you have plenty of sunscreen and be sure to wear head protection. With our super white bread skin, we decided to skip the fun after seeing the glaring sunburns of some others that went on the tour.

Surfing

While the sea off Palomino may not be suitable for a leisurely swim, it’s even more so for surfing. Would you like to take your board for a spin? Then Palomino is the right place for you.

It doesn’t matter if you are already a practiced pro and just want to rent a surfboard or if you are a complete beginner and want to start with courses.

You can always spot a few surfers in the water throughout the day (unless it’s raining cats and dogs).

Visit Tayrona National Park

With its proximity and good accessibility, Palomino is an ideal starting point for a visit to the nearby Tayrona National Park. If you visit the region, I highly recommend a little hike through this beautiful park.

You can visit Tayrona on a day trip or as a multi-day trip. On a day trip, you will most likely hike from the entrance of El Zaino to Cabo de San Juan. Along the way, you can discover some beautiful beaches, forest areas, and wildlife such as birds, monkeys, and, if you are lucky, even sloths.

If you want to have the beach all to yourself early in the morning, an overnight stay in the park may be worth your while. Choose one of the campsites, lodgings, or hammocks on the beach of Cabo de San Juan.

The photos of Tayrona National Park do not lie – a visit is definitely worth it. Some of Colombia’s most beautiful Caribbean beaches await you here.

Enjoy Colombia’s tasty Food

Although Palomino is quite a small town, I was really surprised by the wide range of delicious restaurants you can find here.

Holss

First and foremost, our favorite restaurant Holss. You’ll find delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent service here.

Extra tip: Don’t be late to enjoy one of the delicious lunch menus. Unfortunately, they are always sold out far too quickly.

Taquería Palomino

Still in the mood for a tasty snack? Taquería Palomino has super tasty tacos for just about a euro. My favorites are the cauliflower tacos.

Veggie Kitchen Palomino

More vegetarian cuisine. I especially recommend you try the burgers and (tomato) soups here.

Pan’omino Merenderia Cafeteria

Would you like something sweet for in between meals? Whether breakfast or just a few sweet pastries as a snack. You’ll find a delicious selection here. I particularly loved the cinnamon buns.

La Sierrita

Great place to have breakfast, coffee, or enjoy a delicious piece of cake.

Waterfall Quebrada Valencia

Had enough of lazy beach days and feel like hiking? How about the Quebrada Valencia waterfalls? This hike starts just a relatively short drive from Palomino. It’s best to book a tour (locally or online, e.g., this one).

A short hike (about 30 minutes) takes you through the beautiful countryside to the waterfall. Refresh yourself in the cool water flowing from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta over the Quebrada Valencia waterfall into the basin.

So don’t forget your swimsuit (and plenty of sunscreen!).

Tabata Fitness

Welcome to the Jungle Gym at Palomino. If swimming and surfing options aren’t cutting it for you and you’re craving a gym, Tabata Fitness is the spot for you.

While I tend to avoid gyms when I travel (and at home, but that’s another story), this is precisely what many others are looking for. If you are one of those, you’ll be happy about the selection of different fitness offerings to work out various body parts. Join one of the classes with Jen or work out on your own.

Happy Hour at the beach

Every day, especially on the beach, you can expect a happy hour with selected cocktails (two for the price of one). The times, prices, and selection vary depending on the bar, but usually between 5 and 7 pm – just in time for the sunset on the beach.

We enjoyed, for example, two delicious mango daiquiris at La Ola restaurant right on the beach.

Let yourself be pampered

From massages and yoga sessions to cocoa ceremonies and many other creative activities, courses, and treatments: Numerous offers await you in Palomino.

Just ask at your accommodation or check out this pinboard with exciting offers at Holss Restaurant.

Dog Shelter

If you have already been to Colombia before visiting Palomino, you surely know how many street dogs live here. I would have loved to take every single one of them home with me and give them a better life.

If you want to do something good for these furry friends, you have the chance to do so at the Dog Shelter in Palomino. Every day at 8 am and 3 pm, you can join a dog walk.

Warning: you may fall madly in love with one of these sweet dogs and take them right home.

Other ways to support the dogs of Palomino are, of course, donating or visiting the Dog Shelter Café.

Enjoy Palomino’s Nightlife

Ok, Palomino used to be known as an absolute backpacker party town. Even though this is not necessarily the case anymore, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the nightlife.

With several cool bars and – typically Colombian – lots of music, you can enjoy your night here. Just walk along Carrera 6 after dark, and I’m sure you’ll find something interesting.

Extra: It’s Hammock Time

Palomino, relaxation, and hammocks simply belong together. You will find hammocks in almost every good accommodation. Typically Caribbean style, just lie in them and unwind.

Enjoy the day, relax with a good book or a cool drink, and let the impressions of the surrounding nature, the chirping of birds, and nature sounds have an effect on you – Definitely my favorite activity in Palomino.

Where to stay in Palomino

Usually, I always like to recommend several accommodations for different budgets at this point. But in Palomino, we found a crystal clear favorite: Casa Juana.

Definitely one of the best accommodations in Colombia (and in general). They put a lot of emphasis on outstanding service. The owners and staff are all super sweet, accommodating, and you’ll feel right at home as soon as you pass through the gate to the little garden paradise.

We tried three different rooms (the best for us was the family room with balcony) and could fully enjoy the absolute tranquility of this place. Finally, Casa Juana was one of the reasons why we extended our stay from three to more than ten days.

Absolute recommendation.

Extra tip: Ask them to explain the game Ligretto and enjoy a fun evening with other guests and staff.

Please do me a favor: Give an extra belly scratch to my favorite kitty, Dalí.

Check more info, prices, and availability of Casa Juana

The thing with the money in Palomino

Over the last few years, the infrastructure in Palomino has been fundamentally upgraded. The power supply works much better (however, there are still short power outages from time to time), and the connection to the Internet and the phone has been expanded and now works great. The only thing that is really missing is an ATM.

There is no ATM in Palomino. So be sure to have enough cash on you to get by during your stay. The nearest ATM is in Mingueo, about 20 minutes away.

Can I pay with card in Palomino?

Yes and no. Some accommodations and restaurants offer card payment, e.g., our favorite restaurant in Town, Holss. However, many accommodations and restaurants charge an additional fee of up to 15%. And that’s just in case they accept cards at all.

Therefore, be sure to stock up on enough cash in another Colombian city before heading to Palomino.

What about tipping?

Tipping is appreciated in Palomino. So if the service is good, feel free to tip a little (around 10 % is standard in Colombia).

Where is Palomino

Palomino is located on the Colombian Caribbean coast in the north of the country. The small village is located about 90 from Santa Marta and 70 km from the city of Riohacha.

How to get to Palomino

Palomino does not have its own airport. So if you want to travel from a more distant destination, you should book your flight to airports nearby, such as the airport in Santa Marta.

Getting to Palomino from Santa Marta

Getting there from the nearby city of Santa Marta is pretty straightforward. There are various buses and vans that run daily between the two towns. The vans and buses leave directly from the bus terminal in Santa Marta.

The travel time depends not only on the traffic but also on your transportation choice. There are the official local buses, which are a bit cheaper, but stop for everyone and therefore tend to take a bit longer. There are also tourist buses that go directly.

Furthermore, if you are visiting the famous Tayrona National Park, you can perfectly fit this into your trip as it is located about halfway between the two Colombian towns.

The last option to get from one place to the other is a taxi. Expect to pay around €35-40 per ride.

Getting to Palomino from Riohacha

You can also get to Palomino from the northwestern town of Riohacha. Just get on one of the public buses and let the driver know that you want to get off in Palomino.

Another option is to take a taxi. Here you should expect to pay about 30 € for the ride.

Getting to Palomino from Cartagena de Indias

Getting to Palomino from Cartagena de Indias is also a popular option. Buses leave Cartagena from the main bus terminal several times a day. If you choose a simple bus, you usually don’t even need to book a ticket in advance.

Look for a bus in the direction of Riohacha. Palomino is not necessarily a standard stop, but you can tell your bus driver to stop there for you without any problems.

The ride is relatively relaxed, so it can actually be done in about seven hours.

Extra tip: If you are leaving from Palomino to Cartagena de Indias, as we did, you will first need to take a colectivo cab to Mingueo. There you can buy your bus ticket (no prior reservation necessary) and just get on the next bus to pass by.

Palomino Transport – How to get around

In Palomino, you usually don’t need public transportation. In the village, everything is located relatively close to each other, so you can generally reach the things to see in Palomino on foot.

From the bus stop to the village, you can either walk (about 20-30 minutes) or take a moto-taxi (tuk-tuk) for around 10,000 COP (about 2 €).

If you have booked a tour (e.g., tubing), the transport by van, motorcycle, or tuk-tuk is usually covered in the price.

Where is Palomino

Palomino is located on the Colombian Caribbean coast in the north of the country. The small village is located about 90 from Santa Marta and 70 km from the city of Riohacha.

How to get to Palomino

Palomino does not have its own airport. So if you want to travel from a more distant destination, you should book your flight to airports nearby, such as the airport in Santa Marta.

Getting to Palomino from Santa Marta

Getting there from the nearby city of Santa Marta is pretty straightforward. There are various buses and vans that run daily between the two towns. The vans and buses leave directly from the bus terminal in Santa Marta.

The travel time depends not only on the traffic but also on your transportation choice. There are the official local buses, which are a bit cheaper, but stop for everyone and therefore tend to take a bit longer. There are also tourist buses that go directly.

Furthermore, if you are visiting the famous Tayrona National Park, you can perfectly fit this into your trip as it is located about halfway between the two Colombian towns.

The last option to get from one place to the other is a taxi. Expect to pay around €35-40 per ride.

Getting to Palomino from Riohacha

You can also get to Palomino from the northwestern town of Riohacha. Just get on one of the public buses and let the driver know that you want to get off in Palomino.

Another option is to take a taxi. Here, you should expect to pay about 30 € for the ride.

Getting to Palomino from Cartagena de Indias

Getting to Palomino from Cartagena de Indias is also a popular option. Buses leave Cartagena from the main bus terminal several times a day. If you choose a simple bus, you usually don’t even need to book a ticket in advance.

Look for a bus in the direction of Riohacha. Palomino is not necessarily a standard stop, but you can tell your bus driver to stop there for you without any problems.

The ride is relatively relaxed, so it can actually be done in about seven hours.

Extra tip: If you are leaving from Palomino to Cartagena de Indias, as we did, you will first need to take a colectivo cab to Mingueo. There, you can buy your bus ticket (no prior reservation necessary) and just get on the next bus to pass by.

Palomino Transport – How to get around

In Palomino, you usually don’t need public transportation. Everything is located relatively close to each other in the village, so you can generally reach the things to see on foot.

From the bus stop to the village, you can either walk (about 20-30 minutes) or take a moto-taxi (tuk-tuk) for around 10,000 COP (about 2 €).

If you have booked a tour (e.g., tubing), the transport by van, motorcycle, or tuk-tuk is usually covered in the price.

FAQs for visiting Palomino

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About the AuthorVicki

Hi, we are Vicki & Eduardo, an international travel couple on a mission to help you save money for priceless travel experience. Follow us through the miracles of this world and you will be rewarded with a bunch of practical travel tips.

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