Colombia's smallest beach town has a nightly bar scene on its 200-metre crescent bay that punches well above its population of 2,000 for a backpacker party circuit.
Year-round. The dry season (December to April) has the best weather and the largest backpacker crowd.
Taganga is a fishing village 5km north of Santa Marta by road, in a natural bay surrounded by dry hills. The bay is 200m wide with a palm-lined beach, a small fishing fleet, and a concentrated cluster of beachfront restaurants and bars. The town itself is one street deep: the main road runs along the beach, with hostels and guesthouses stacked up the hillside behind. Population is approximately 2,000 permanent residents plus a variable backpacker presence. It is one of the cheapest places to eat and drink on the Colombian Caribbean coast.
The beach bar circuit is informal and entirely condensed: walk the 200m of beachfront and you have seen everything. La Brisa Loca Hostel and Hobie Cat Beach Club are the main social anchors. Music ranges from reggaeton to electronic depending on the night. A Club Colombia beer costs COP 4,000-6,000 (£0.85-1.25); cocktails COP 8,000-12,000 (£1.70-2.50). The bars typically run until 1-2am; some extend to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. Taganga also functions as the dive base for the area: PADI Open Water courses cost USD 200-280 (among the cheapest in the Caribbean) and the underwater topography around Parque Nacional Tayrona (20km east) is the draw.
Party hostels within reach of Taganga's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
The beach is shallow and calm for swimming in the morning; afternoon wind picks up from around 2pm. Dive centres (Oceano Scuba and Poseidon) are on the main beachfront road and offer morning two-tank dives for USD 50-80. The PADI Open Water course takes 3-4 days and is bookable on arrival in most months. Fruit and ceviche from beach vendors cost COP 3,000-8,000.
The beachfront fills from 7pm. La Brisa Loca is the most social hostel-bar combination: the rooftop bar fills from 8pm and the ground-floor beach area runs until 2am. Hobie Cat Beach Club runs more music-focused evenings on Fridays and Saturdays. Walking the full beachfront circuit takes 10 minutes and covers every option. A taxi back to Santa Marta at night costs COP 15,000-25,000 (£3.15-5.25).