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Colombia🇨🇴 | townsPalominoRío Palomino tubing, empty palm beach, Wayuu bracelets, dusty main road | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Palomino
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Palomino sits on a single dusty main road where motorbike taxis idle under almond trees and the Caribbean surf is audible from the last row of houses. It lies on the north coast of Colombia, between Santa Marta and the Guajira desert, with the Sierra Nevada rising behind it. The town itself is a strip of hostels, juice stands and beach bars, and the sea is too rough for swimming in many spots, so don’t come for urban sights. Come for the river tubing, the long empty beach and easy, social evenings. When I asked a hostel owner where to eat, she sent me to a home kitchen for fish with coconut rice. A first day works well like this: walk to the beach in the morning, eat that fish, then float the river at dusk.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 town in Colombia
Why Palomino should be on your travel list

Palomino works because the mountains, river and sea all start at the edge of town, so you can fill days without a bus. Most travelers stay two to four nights, and many stretch it once the hammock habit sets in. The best known ride is tubing down the Río Palomino, which drifts from the Sierra foothills to the shoreline. Hikers can go inland toward indigenous Kogui and Arhuaco communities with a local guide, which gives the trip some substance beyond beach time. Evenings are social but mellow, with hostel dinners, small bars and fire shows rather than clubs. Solo travelers meet people quickly, and slow travelers, yoga fans and anyone who wants beach days will like it most. Anyone after sights, museums or nightlife will be bored after a day.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Palomino Beach: A long, empty strip of coarse sand backed by coconut palms, with the Sierra Nevada rising behind it. Currents are strong, so wade rather than swim unless the flag and the sea both look calm. Go in the early morning, when it is cool and nearly deserted. Free, 2 to 3 hours.
  2. Tubing down the Río Palomino: You float on an inner tube from the foothills through shaded jungle to the sea, with the river cold and clear. Operators run it from the town, and the outing is best in the morning. Expect roughly US$8 to 15 including the ride up, 3 to 4 hours.
  3. Río Palomino river mouth: Where fresh water meets the Caribbean, you can swap a cold river dip for a warm sea one in a few steps. Late afternoon is pleasant, with locals fishing and kids playing in the shallows. Free, 1 hour.
  4. Calle Principal
… read more 👉
  1. Palomino Beach: A long, empty strip of coarse sand backed by coconut palms, with the Sierra Nevada rising behind it. Currents are strong, so wade rather than swim unless the flag and the sea both look calm. Go in the early morning, when it is cool and nearly deserted. Free, 2 to 3 hours.
  2. Tubing down the Río Palomino: You float on an inner tube from the foothills through shaded jungle to the sea, with the river cold and clear. Operators run it from the town, and the outing is best in the morning. Expect roughly US$8 to 15 including the ride up, 3 to 4 hours.
  3. Río Palomino river mouth: Where fresh water meets the Caribbean, you can swap a cold river dip for a warm sea one in a few steps. Late afternoon is pleasant, with locals fishing and kids playing in the shallows. Free, 1 hour.
  4. Calle Principal and the Wayuu bracelet stalls: The dusty main street is lined with small cafés, arepa stands and Wayuu-style woven goods sold by local vendors. Evenings are liveliest, when the grills fire up. Browsing costs nothing, bags usually run US$5 to 25, and an hour covers it.
  5. Horseback ride to the beach and river: Local guides lead short rides along the sand and over the river, which is a relaxed way to see the coast. Early morning avoids the heat. Roughly US$15 to 25, 2 to 3 hours.
For a day trip, head to Tayrona National Park, the Minca cloud forest, or Santa Marta’s old center.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Palomino

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🏘️ NeighborhoodsHow different areas shape the experience

Palomino is small enough to cover on foot and by motorbike taxi, and three areas matter: the town, the beach strip and the river corridor.
  • Town center: A few dusty blocks around the main road, with bakeries, arepa stands, mini-markets, ATMs and tour offices. Skip lingering here after errands. You get cheap empanadas, fresh juice and the best chance to compare tour prices before you commit.
  • Beach strip (Playa Palomino): A 20 to 30 minute walk or short moto ride north of the highway, a long line of palm-backed sand with beach bars and seafood shacks. Swimming is poor because of strong currents and rip tides, so come to walk, sunbathe and eat grilled fish with coconut rice while waves crash in front of you.
  • Río Palomino and the tubing area: Upstream from the bridge, the river runs cold from the
… read more 👉
Palomino is small enough to cover on foot and by motorbike taxi, and three areas matter: the town, the beach strip and the river corridor.
  • Town center: A few dusty blocks around the main road, with bakeries, arepa stands, mini-markets, ATMs and tour offices. Skip lingering here after errands. You get cheap empanadas, fresh juice and the best chance to compare tour prices before you commit.
  • Beach strip (Playa Palomino): A 20 to 30 minute walk or short moto ride north of the highway, a long line of palm-backed sand with beach bars and seafood shacks. Swimming is poor because of strong currents and rip tides, so come to walk, sunbathe and eat grilled fish with coconut rice while waves crash in front of you.
  • Río Palomino and the tubing area: Upstream from the bridge, the river runs cold from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The tubing launch is a short ride from town, and the float back through jungle and past boulders is the one activity here worth planning around. You finish rinsed, cooled and a little sunburned.
  • Highway edge: The main road carries trucks and buses. Nothing to see, but you pass through it to catch transport onward, so keep it short.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

7:00 AM, River mouth: Start where the Río Palomino meets the sea, because the beach is nearly empty and fishermen are working. Walk the sand and watch the light come up over the surf. From here, stroll back into town.
8:30 AM, Breakfast on the main road: Try arepas with eggs and fresh juice at a small local kitchen. It’s a few minutes on foot to the next stop.
10:00 AM, Tubing the Río Palomino: Take a motorbike taxi to the launch point and float down through shaded jungle for a couple of hours. You end near the sea, which makes this the easiest way to see the valley.
1:00 PM, Lunch by the beach: Order fried fish with coconut rice at a family restaurant. Then rest in a hammock while the midday heat passes.
3:30 PM, Quiet back lanes and farms: Walk the dirt tracks behind the main road, where fruit … read more 👉
7:00 AM, River mouth: Start where the Río Palomino meets the sea, because the beach is nearly empty and fishermen are working. Walk the sand and watch the light come up over the surf. From here, stroll back into town.
8:30 AM, Breakfast on the main road: Try arepas with eggs and fresh juice at a small local kitchen. It’s a few minutes on foot to the next stop.
10:00 AM, Tubing the Río Palomino: Take a motorbike taxi to the launch point and float down through shaded jungle for a couple of hours. You end near the sea, which makes this the easiest way to see the valley.
1:00 PM, Lunch by the beach: Order fried fish with coconut rice at a family restaurant. Then rest in a hammock while the midday heat passes.
3:30 PM, Quiet back lanes and farms: Walk the dirt tracks behind the main road, where fruit trees, chickens and small farms sit away from the hostel strip. Few travelers wander here, and locals usually greet you. It’s a good look at everyday life.
5:30 PM, Beach sunset: Walk back to the sand for sunset, with the surf loud and palms silhouetted.
7:30 PM, Dinner and a fire show: Finish at a hostel bar, where travelers swap plans over cheap drinks.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

Palomino is hot all year, with daytime highs around 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F) and nights near 24 to 26°C (75 to 79°F).
  • Dry Season (December to March): Least rain and the best beach and river conditions, with steady sea breezes. Colombian holidays and New Year bring crowds and higher prices, so book ahead.
  • Shoulder (April to June): Heat and humidity build, with showers that sometimes cancel tubing. Quieter, with easier bargaining on beds.
  • Mid-year dip (July to August): Often drier again and busy with domestic holidaymakers.
  • Wet Season (September to November): The heaviest rain, with afternoon downpours, muddy roads and a swollen river. Prices drop, but the sea is rough and tours get canceled.
Daylight is roughly 11.5 to 12.5 hours across the year. Arrive midweek in peak months to dodge the weekend rush.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

The best budget beds in Palomino are along the beach road and in the streets just off the main highway, where dorms run about US$8 to 15 a night. Beach-side stays put you steps from the sea and the sound of waves, but the walk back at night is dark and unpaved, so carry a headlamp. Hostels and cheap guesthouses there often have hammocks, open-air common areas and fans, and most of the social scene happens there.

On the town side, you are within a few minutes of the bus stop, ATMs, supermarkets and cheaper restaurants, which makes arrivals and departures simple. It is noisier at night from trucks … read more 👉
The best budget beds in Palomino are along the beach road and in the streets just off the main highway, where dorms run about US$8 to 15 a night. Beach-side stays put you steps from the sea and the sound of waves, but the walk back at night is dark and unpaved, so carry a headlamp. Hostels and cheap guesthouses there often have hammocks, open-air common areas and fans, and most of the social scene happens there.

On the town side, you are within a few minutes of the bus stop, ATMs, supermarkets and cheaper restaurants, which makes arrivals and departures simple. It is noisier at night from trucks and music, though lodging tends to be a bit cheaper. Staying on the river side costs a little more for jungle quiet, and you depend on motorbike taxis to reach town and food.

For most backpackers, the beach strip is the better pick. Book ahead for December, January and Easter, when rooms fill quickly.

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

Motorbike taxis are the easiest way around Palomino because the beach, river and town sit several kilometers apart along flat dirt tracks, and drivers wait at nearly every corner. Walking covers the town in minutes but gets sweaty fast in the heat. Traffic is light apart from trucks on the highway, and there is no formal public transport inside town.
  • Walking: Fine for the town center and the beach road if you start early. Allow 20 to 30 minutes from the highway to the sand, and you get the quiet palm-lined stretch before the sun climbs.
  • Moto taxi: US$1 to 3 for most short rides within town, beach and river launch. Agree the fare first. It is quick and bumpy, and you arrive at the tubing start without a long hike.
  • Bicycle rental: About US$4 to 8 a day at some hostels. Worth it for the flat beach
… read more 👉
Motorbike taxis are the easiest way around Palomino because the beach, river and town sit several kilometers apart along flat dirt tracks, and drivers wait at nearly every corner. Walking covers the town in minutes but gets sweaty fast in the heat. Traffic is light apart from trucks on the highway, and there is no formal public transport inside town.
  • Walking: Fine for the town center and the beach road if you start early. Allow 20 to 30 minutes from the highway to the sand, and you get the quiet palm-lined stretch before the sun climbs.
  • Moto taxi: US$1 to 3 for most short rides within town, beach and river launch. Agree the fare first. It is quick and bumpy, and you arrive at the tubing start without a long hike.
  • Bicycle rental: About US$4 to 8 a day at some hostels. Worth it for the flat beach road, less so in midday heat when the sand tracks turn slow.
  • Intercity bus and minibus: Buses and shared vans on the Santa Marta to Riohacha highway stop at Palomino. Santa Marta is roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours away for US$4 to 7, and Riohacha about 1.5 hours for US$4 to 6. Services run from early morning until late afternoon, and you flag them from the roadside.
Skip taxis for long hauls unless you share the cost. Colectivos and buses cost far less and run often enough that waiting seldom passes an hour.

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A backpacker in Palomino spends about US$48 to 60 a day, and the high-season total here comes to US$52.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$10 to 18 (high season)Beach hostels cost more in December to January. Off-season dorms run US$8 to 12.
MealsUS$12 to 20Set lunches cost US$4 to 6, and grilled fish by the beach about US$8 to 12.
Local transportUS$3 to 6Moto taxis cost US$1 to 3 per ride, and buses to Santa Marta US$4 to 7.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$8 to 15River tubing runs US$8 to 15. Tayrona costs about US$20 to 25 for foreigners.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 6Water, sunscreen, snacks and the occasional beer.
Total Daily BudgetUS$52Based on mid-range figures with high-season dorms.
Eat set lunches in town instead of beachfront restaurants, which can cost double.

source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsBest day trips from Palomino

Palomino works well as a base because the highway links it to bigger spots in under two hours, and most trips return the same day.
Tayrona National Park (Zaino or Calabazo entrance):
The park's jungle trails and beaches are about 45 minutes to 1 hour west by bus, then a short walk or ride in. Entry for foreigners runs roughly US$20 to 25, with transport adding US$5 to 10 round trip. Go early and in the drier months, and check for seasonal closures. First-timers often underestimate the heat and carry too little water.
👉 Explore Tayrona National Park
Río Palomino tubing:
The float takes 2 to 3 hours downriver through forest, with tours around US$8 to 15 including a ride back. It suits any time except after heavy rain, when currents rise. Bring sandals that stay on.

Santa Marta:
The city is 1.5 … read more 👉
Palomino works well as a base because the highway links it to bigger spots in under two hours, and most trips return the same day.
Tayrona National Park (Zaino or Calabazo entrance):
The park's jungle trails and beaches are about 45 minutes to 1 hour west by bus, then a short walk or ride in. Entry for foreigners runs roughly US$20 to 25, with transport adding US$5 to 10 round trip. Go early and in the drier months, and check for seasonal closures. First-timers often underestimate the heat and carry too little water.
👉 Explore Tayrona National Park
Río Palomino tubing:
The float takes 2 to 3 hours downriver through forest, with tours around US$8 to 15 including a ride back. It suits any time except after heavy rain, when currents rise. Bring sandals that stay on.

Santa Marta:
The city is 1.5 to 2.5 hours away by bus for US$4 to 7 one way. You get the old center, seafood and the waterfront promenade, plus easy onward buses. Leave by mid-afternoon so you are not stuck with fewer return services.
👉 Explore Santa Marta
Riohacha:
About 1.5 hours east by bus for US$4 to 6, it has a long boardwalk, a Wayuu craft market and fresh fish. Go on a weekday morning, when the heat is milder.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Palomino is relaxed and broadly safe, and most problems come from carelessness rather than crime. The beach is the main hazard: currents and rip tides are strong, and drownings do occur, so wade rather than swim. Walking the dark beach road at night alone is where I would take extra care, so go in a group or take a moto taxi and carry a headlamp. Petty theft from unattended bags on the sand and in dorms happens, so use lockers and keep valuables with you. Agree the fare before a moto ride, and book tubing through your accommodation or a known office rather than street touts. Vendors on the beach can be persistent, but a polite no is enough. Carry some cash, since ATMs can run empty on busy weekends.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Palomino

Palomino is worth two or three nights, and it works poorly as a quick stopover. The draw is a wide Caribbean beach backed by palms, tubing down the Río Palomino for about US$8 to 12, and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rising behind town. Most travelers end up staying longer than planned because the pace is slow and the beach runs for kilometers in both directions.
Plan on 2 to 4 days in Palomino. Two days covers a morning of river tubing, a beach afternoon and an evening in town, while a third and fourth day make room for a guided hike up the river valley or a Tayrona-area excursion, usually US$10 to 25 per outing. Add a day if rain or rough surf interrupts the beach plans.
Palomino can be done from Santa Marta, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours away by road, but a day trip leaves you roughly four hours on the bus for a few hours on the sand. Buses toward Riohacha run along the coast road for around US$4 to 6 each way, and you get off at the highway turnoff. Sleeping at least one night lets you tube the river in the morning and catch the beach at its best, which a same-day round trip can’t manage.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian towns near Palomino

Explore more nearby:

  • Puerto Colombia—Ruined pier, old railway station, brown-sand beach, arepas de huevo| 155 km away
  • Santa Cruz de Mompox—Albarrada riverfront, silver filigree, island town, swamp boat rides| 242 km away
  • Santiago de Tolú—Fishing malecón, morning catch, San Bernardo islands, Gulf of Morrosquillo| 293 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Palomino

Palomino disappoints people who treat it as a one-night stop, and others who swim where the undertow is strong. Give it at least two nights, and swim only at the river mouth or where locals do. I would skip the pricey beach clubs and spend that money on a local guide.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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