Nestled at the foot of the world’s highest coastal mountain range, Santa Marta was founded in 1525 and is the oldest inhabited city in Colombia. Likewise, the city’s whitewashed cathedral claims to be the country’s oldest church. The Museo del Oro tells the even earlier history of the region’s indigenous people, who were skilled goldsmiths, as well as the story of Spanish colonization. The story continues with Simón Bolívar, the “Great Liberator,” who led Colombia and other South American countries to independence from Spain. Bolívar died in Santa Marta at Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, now a museum memorializing the leader. The natural wonders embracing Santa Marta are as fascinating as the city’s history and include two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Hike through the rainforest to a secluded stretch of beach in Tayrona National Park, or trek to the cascading waterfalls of Quebrada Valencia in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park.
