Colombia & Islands 41 Days

End 2025, with another epic 30,000 mile voyage to Columbia. Heading to the Columbia islands off the coastline of Nicaragua and Caribbean Ocean.
Sadly, my five year relationship ended with Mandy. Now travelling with my friend Jaine.
Much love xxx Read more

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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Santa Marta - Free Walking Tour
January 7 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Always use Freetours.Com to book tours across the world.

Basic principles are that you pay via tipping depending on your experience and satisfaction.

We visited the most iconic places in the historic center of the city of Santa Marta, walking through the culture and history of the city, and appreciating sites such as:

Simon Bolivar Square
Gabriel Garcia Marquez Library
Customs House
Town Hall
Mail Alley
Cathedral Square
Calle Grande and Calle Real
Tayrona Palace
Lovers' park
Boardwalk of the bayRead more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Santa Marta - Beaches
January 8 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
We opted to stay South of Santa Marta town centre, see enclosed map (Hotel Santorini Resort). In essence, we were North of the airport and South of the town centre, approximately 6 miles.

Beaches in the town centre are suffering from pollution from a nearby port.

Be warned that all public beaches are very busy on Sundays, family pilgrimage complete with a portable sound system.Read more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Santa Marta - Taganga
January 9 in Colombia ⋅ 🌬 29 °C
Taganga is a traditional fishing village and corregimiento of Santa Marta, located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia at about 10 minutes or 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Santa Marta. Both Santa Marta and Taganga were founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas on July 29, 1525, making them two of the oldest remaining colonial settlements in present-day Colombia.

Only worth a half day visit, short taxi ride from Santa Marta town.Read more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Sail Boat - Tayrona National Park
January 11 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We sailed to a Tayrona Beach and anchored where we enjoyed the mountains meeting the ocean.

Sonata is a 58ft cutter rigged ketch built in 1979 in Taipei, Taiwan with 26 capacity.

Due to very strong cross winds (25-35mph) we couldn't open all the sails, had to motor for most of the journey.

Stopped At: Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Calle 22 Carrera 5, Tayrona National Park, Santa Marta Municipality Colombia

Personally, I wouldn't recommend this trip as all marine life is dead (sea urchins), and the speed boats all have competing sound systems, long beach full of noise.Read more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Cartagena - Isla Grande Island - Boat
January 12 in Colombia ⋅ 🌬 26 °C
We had a 3.45am departure from Santa Marta in a private taxi to Cartagena.

Unfortunately, all the speed boat ferries to Isla Grande island depart Cartagena between 8.30am and 9.30am.

Sadly, our first bus option arrived at 10.15am, therefore, missing the connecting boats to Isla Grande.

Throughout, our travels across Columbia we have used "In Drive", a much cheaper alternative to Uber. Via the "City to City" option you can book drivers directly when other transportation fails.Read more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
Isla Grande - Part I
January 13 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
During the first morning of exploring this tiny island, it became apparent that more than 70% of sea front developments are NOT hotels! Dedicated to bringing day guests from Cartagena on speed boats.

Generators, sound systems, and guests arrive at 9.00am and remain until 3.00pm. The island disruption ends at around 3.00pm as DJ's play the last tune and generators are switched off.

The two most famous day event locations are Paue (see images), and Bora Bora.Read more
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Colombia & Islands 41 Days nitroxwater
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Isla Grande - Part II
January 14 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
With such a large percentage of tourists to Isla Grande embarking as day visitors (70%), you can see the impact that this has on small local businesses and restaurants.

Walking to what is referred to as the town centre, that term needs to be used very loosely. You get an insight into the poverty and meager lives that many islanders are exposed to on a daily basis. One local supermarket has almost empty shelfs! This is a far cry from the bar & sunbathing experience offered to all the VIP day visitors.

If planning a trip to Isla Grande research your accommodation very carefully, might have limited restaurants in the vicinity.Read more
Love this photo xx [Nikki Mullings]
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Trip end
January 23, 2026