4.6 (475) · Santa Marta · By Santa Marta Sailboat Free cancellation
My name is Luis, and I'm an economist who spent over 20 years as a consultant. One day, I decided to swap my office for my true passion: sailing and enjoying nature, especially the sea.
I've been sailing since I was just 10 days old, a passion passed down from my family. I love sharing my knowledge of the sea and navigation with everyone who joins me on board.
Since moving to Colombia with my family, I've discovered Tayrona National Park from a unique viewpoint: the sea. It's an experience we're excited to share with you.
We are bilingual (Spanish and English) and enjoy chatting, sharing local stories, and creating unforgettable memories. We'll ensure you have a truly memorable day.
The experience is led by my dedicated team.
✓ Kayak and snorkel gear provided✓ Marina Entrance fee included✓ Use of snorkeling equipment✓ Water, ice, soft drinks, fruit, and snacks✓ Grilled fish with salad, or ham, cheese, and salad pita sandwich✓ Passenger Insurance✕ Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.Activity Schedule
8 h
At 11:00 AM, we'll board the Artivela, our sailboat, and set course for Bahía Concha in Tayrona National Park. The journey to our destination will take about 1.5 hours. During the trip, we'll share fascinating stories and facts about the park and its people. We'll also set up our fishing rods along the way.
We'll sail past the bays of Taganga and Granate, then navigate the famous passage by Isla Aguja, the only island within Tayrona National Park. After passing the island, we'll enter Bahía Concha and aim to anchor as close to the beach as possible.
Our guests can choose to swim, stroll along the beach, go snorkeling, or simply relax and sunbathe on the boat. You'll also savor a fresh fish dish grilled right on board.
Around 3:45 PM, we'll begin our return journey to Santa Marta. We'll sail back, and everyone is welcome to help with the sails. We expect to arrive at the marina around 5:00 PM.
Please note: Tayrona National Park is closed from February 1st to 15th, in June, and from October 19th to November 2nd. However, we continue sailing on an alternative route during these times!
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona Bahia Concha
Mobile or paper ticket accepted. One ticket per booking.
The meeting point is at the charter station, located next to the restaurants.
The return point is the charter station, located next to the restaurants.
We will meet at 10:30 AM at the charter station at the International Marina of Santa Marta.
Upon arrival at the Marina entrance, please mention you are going to the Artivela sailboat, and I will come out to meet you.
The tour departs promptly at 11:00 AM.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed on board. Public transportation options are conveniently available nearby. Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap during the journey. Specialized infant seats are available upon request. This activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Our home on the water has no restrictions for travelers. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend taking preventative medication. Sailing to Tayrona with Luis and his team: Unique!
Consider bringing seasickness medication if you are sensitive. Wear comfortable clothing and swimwear. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Bring a towel and a change of clothes. An underwater camera is recommended for snorkeling. For a full refund, please cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Product code: 173175P1
Activity offered by Santa Marta Sailboat via Viator.
WizardTrip Help Center Nature lovers Adventure seekers Families Couples Sail through the stunning Tayrona National Park. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and beach time. Savor a delicious grilled fish lunch onboard. Experience the park from a unique sea perspective. Bilingual guides share local stories and insights.
Population 505,915 (2025)
Elevation 8 m
Currency Colombian peso
Official language Spanish
Driving on the right
Power plugs A, B · 110 V
Emergency number 123
Capital city Bogotá Average temperatures 27° Jan 27° Feb 27° Mar 28° Apr 28° May 28° Jun 28° Jul 28° Aug 27° Sept 27° Oct 27° Nov 27° Dec Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.
What happens if the weather is bad? + The tour will be cancelled if the weather is unfavorable, and you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
What happens if there are not enough participants? + The tour will be cancelled if the minimum number of participants is not met, and you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
Can I bring my own drinks? + Water, ice, soft drinks, and fruit are included. Beer and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased on board.
What should I bring for the trip? + We recommend bringing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel, swimwear, and a change of clothes. Seasickness medication is also advised if you are prone to it.
Are there any age restrictions? + Infants are welcome and must sit on an adult's lap. Specialized infant seats are available.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Beautiful excursion
68rebeccam, September 2026
Beautiful trip, we were on a catamaran, very smooth ride, beautiful beach, fun people to meet on the boat, nice snorkeling!
Response from the operator · velerosantamarta Thank you, Rebecca! A smooth ride, a beautiful beach and good company on board is exactly the day we hope for. Glad you enjoyed the snorkelling too. We'd love to have you sailing with us again.
Luis Martínez, Velero Santa Marta
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
BAD Customer service
340nicoleg, August 2026
I’m sorry to say that this tour was extremely disappointing and fell far short of what was advertised.
To begin with, the sailboat departed almost 40 minutes late. Despite booking the English-language tour, neither of the crew members in charge spoke any English, making communication very difficult throughout the day.
The tour description promised access to snorkelling equipment and kayaks, but neither was ever provided. Lunch service was also poorly organized. Our family group of eight was served in multiple rounds, with only four people receiving food initially. The crew then had to return to the boat for more meals, serving three additional family members while my husband waited another 30 minutes before finally receiving his lunch. This was frustrating and unnecessary.
The tour also advertised soft drinks and snacks. In reality, we received only a single slice of watermelon on the way to Concha Bay. Drinking water was not bottled and had a salty taste, and the only soft drink available was Coca-Cola.
The most concerning part of the experience occurred when the sailboat broke down. Our group of 18 passengers was stranded on the beach for approximately an hour with very little information about what was happening. Eventually, another boat arrived to pick us up, but communication from the crew was poor throughout the situation. By then, it was already after 5:30 p.m., even though we were originally scheduled to depart for Santa Marta at 3:00 p.m. It was terrifying knowing that we might be at open sea on the dark as it was already sunset.
When I asked whether the company’s head office had been informed and why a replacement boat had not been sent sooner, the response from the crew member in charge was essentially, “You can write a complaint. I need to leave. Another boat will pick you up and provide more information.” There was no apology, no reassurance, and no effort to keep passengers informed. To make matters worse, there was no cell service in the area, leaving us with no way to contact anyone.
Overall, the lack of organization, poor communication, failure to deliver the advertised activities and amenities, and complete absence of customer service made this a very disappointing experience. We paid more than CAD $900 for our family and expected a professional and enjoyable excursion. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
I would strongly recommend that others think carefully before booking this tour.
Response from the operator · velerosantamarta Thank you for your feedback. We are truly sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations.
We would like to clarify what happened that day. As the sailboat was arriving at the destination, the engine suffered a serious mechanical failure. This is a very rare situation, but unfortunately it can happen at sea, and it clearly affected the rest of the day.
Once the issue occurred, our emergency protocols were activated immediately in order to bring all passengers back to the marina as soon and as safely as possible. We are one of the few operators with additional vessels available to respond to this type of contingency, and a support boat was arranged to return the group and assist with the vessel.
Because of this emergency, the crew had to focus not only on the passengers’ return, but also on securing the sailboat and coordinating its safe recovery to port. We understand that communication may not have been as constant or detailed as expected, and for that we sincerely apologize.
However, we must also clarify that it is not accurate to say the boat departed 40 minutes late. According to our operation record, the vessel departed at 11:07 a.m., which is within the normal boarding and departure process for this experience.
We regret the inconvenience caused by the mechanical failure and the impact it had on the service. Despite the difficult situation, our team acted with the priority of protecting passengers, coordinating the return, and ensuring everyone made it back safely.
That said, due to the service shortcomings that occurred as a consequence of the situation described above, we have decided to issue a partial refund of 20% as a gesture of goodwill.
We take your comments seriously and will continue improving our communication and service protocols for unexpected situations like this.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Beautiful day at sea, but in Spanish only.
laurajulieg2026, August 2026
We had paid for the activity in English. However, no one spoke English on board the boat.
Response from the operator · velerosantamarta Nous regrettons de ne pas avoir eu d’équipage bilingue ce jour-là. C’était une erreur de notre part, et nous nous en excusons sincèrement.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Highly recommended.
Roam32778015724, July 2026
Excellent experience. Bahía Concha is a beautiful, calm, and crystal-clear beach. The sailboat trip was unbeatable and the crew very friendly.
Response from the operator · velerosantamarta ¡Muchísimas gracias por compartir tu experiencia! 🌊⛵
Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste Bahía Concha, su tranquilidad y sus aguas cristalinas, así como la navegación en el velero y la atención de nuestra tripulación.
Fue un placer tenerte a bordo y esperamos recibirte nuevamente muy pronto para otra experiencia inolvidable en el mar.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Great day sailing!
S7230XYsydneyh, July 2026
The whole experience was great! Timing was exactly as stated in the description. I think the value for the trip was well worth it. We were with a group of 15 travelers total and it didn’t feel too crowded. All the boat staff was fantastic, attentive and friendly. Would recommend!
Response from the operator · velerosantamarta Thank you, Sydney! Keeping to the schedule and making sure nobody feels crowded on board are two things we work hard on, so it's great to hear both came through. I'll pass your kind words on to the crew. Hope to welcome you back.
Luis Martínez, Velero Santa Marta
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