Where to stay in Palomino if you’re looking for the beautiful beach hotels, unique huts and impressive tree house hotels? What was once a quiet coastal town is today an increasingly popular beach destination in Colombia. The Caribbean beach attracts many travelers to the relaxed beach village, where you can stay in beautiful hostels and hotels. There are many beautiful and unique places to stay in Palomino. In this blog we help you to make a choice. Where to stay in Palomino? What are the best hostels and hotels in Palomino?
Booking.comHow to get to Palomino in Colombia
Palomino is a beach destination on the Caribbean north coast of Colombia. The village is located in the east, so towards the border with Venezuela.
The coastal town is located near many others tourist destinations in Colombia. The popular Tayrona National Park and the jungle of the famous Lost City Trek are both around the corner. Also jungle destination Minca, Santa Marta with its airport and the colorful Cartagena are located in this part of Colombia. Palomino is therefore almost always easy to fit into your Colombia travel itinerary.
Of all the tourist destinations in the north, Santa Marta is the most central city. From Santa Marta, a bus service goes east past Tayrona National Park to Palomino. The bus journey takes about 2 hours in total. If you are traveling to Palomino from, say, Cartagena or Minca, you will have to switch buses in Santa Marta.
Why Palomino is worth a visit
Palomino is worth a visit for its relaxed atmosphere and Caribbean beach. It is not a destination for people who like to plan their days full of sightseeing and activities, because there is not much to do. Visitors mainly come to Palomino to spend some wonderful days at the beach or laze by the hotel pool. This makes Palomino a very popular destination after the intensive, multi-day Ciudad Perdida hike or after hiking in the Tayrona National Park.
Read more: best things to do in Palomino
For those who still want to plan some activities in Palomino, there’s enough to do. A beach walk on the Caribbean beach is always a good idea, especially during the beautiful sunset. The best things to do in Palomino include tubing down a mountain top in the river towards the sea. Especially recommended in the early morning, when nature has just awakened and you are surrounded by monkeys and the sound of tropical birds. Although Palomino is not a big surfing destination, it offers surfing lessons and you can rent boards. Dreamer Hostel is a well-known place to rent boards.
So why do many travelers dislike Palomino and advise against visiting this coastal destination in Colombia? Palomino is very popular with tourists, so it certainly doesn’t offer an authentic, local experience. The beach can also be a bit disappointing if you picture yourself enjoying a Caribbean bounty beach. The main beach Playa Palomino near the village is nowadays only a narrow strip of sand due to years of erosion. Fortunately, if you walk a little further east on the beach, it gets better and there are much nicer stretches of beaches. We understand the negative opinions about Palomino very well, but we still love the relaxed vibe, the wonderful idleness, the beautiful accommodations with tropical gardens and the great restaurants. It was a wonderful break during our otherwise quite active sightseeing trip.
10x where to stay in Palomino
Palomino’s unique places to stay are one of two reasons – the other being the Caribbean beach, of course – to travel to this destination in Colombia. Many hostels and hotels in Palomino are located directly on the beach or have a lovely swimming pool with sunbeds. Most of them are beautifully built with natural materials and palm leaves, which fits perfectly with this Caribbean destination!
#1 Aite Eco Resort for a luxury hotel right on a private beach. The location is slightly east of Playa Palomino, so you are close to all amenities, but also secluded enough for ultimate tranquility. There are two outdoor pools and a restaurant. The beautiful cabanas on the beach are perfect for wonderfully relaxing beach days.
#2 Tiki Hut Hostel for a budget-friendly hostel with an outdoor swimming pool, tropical garden and on-site restaurant. Guests stay in attractive palm leaf huts scattered around the pool and in the garden. There are many organized activities, making this the perfect place to meet other travellers.
#3 Casa del Pavo Real Boutique Hostel for a hostel has the style and comfort of a boutique hotel. There are free bicycles, the hotel has a private beach, there is an outdoor swimming pool in the gardens and you can enjoy meals in the on-site restaurant with Caribbean and fish dishes.
#4 Casa Chapolin Boutique Guesthouse for a stylish boutique hotel with an exotic garden with palm trees. The hotel rooms have a patio with a garden view. The beach is only a few meters away and Casa Chapolin has surfboards to take out on the water. Be sure to book a wonderful massage for total relaxation.
#5 Dreamer Palomino for one of the most popular hostels in Palomino. The tropical gardens have an outdoor pool with hammocks, a volleyball court and an on-site restaurant. The location a few meters from the Playa Palomino is perfect.
#6 Selina Palomino for a beautifully styled hostel from the well-known Selina brand. The hostel is located directly on the beach, there are free yoga classes in the morning and you can take surfing lessons or rent a board. The outdoor pool, stylish decor and relaxed atmosphere make this a top choice for Palomino.
#7 Casa Juana Palomino for a unique place to stay with roofs of palm leaves, located in a tropical garden. The hotel gets high review ratings because of its relaxed atmosphere, lovely gardens, friendly staff and delicious breakfast.
#8 Makoa Beach Hotel for a modern hotel with a sea view. Makoa is a boutique hotel with beautiful decor, a beachfront location and an on-site restaurant. Hotel guests can rent bicycles and surfboards.
#9 Villa Eden Palomino for a well-priced hotel in the heart of the village. All of Palomino’s restaurants and shops are located in this part of the village. The hotel has a lush garden and a small but lovely outdoor pool with sunbeds. The stylish decor and delicious breakfast complete the experience.
#10 Palomino Sunrise for a budget-friendly hotel in Palomino. Guests stay in basic, but attractive huts with palm leaf roofs, located in the garden and around the outdoor swimming pool. The hostel is located just outside the hustle and bustle of the main street, but a short walk from the restaurants and the beach.
5x where to stay near Palomino
Colombia has many beautiful sandy beaches just outside Palomino, located in more remote places outside the tourist village. Spread along the Caribbean coast you can spend the night in beautiful hotels and beach cabanas right by the sea. We highly recommend staying here if you’re not necessarily interested in the hippie shops and restaurants of Palomino, but mainly want to relax on the beach.
#1 Senda Casalina Ecolodge for a sustainable place to stay just 4 kilometers from Palomino. There is a lush garden full of palm trees, a free breakfast with homemade bread and Sierra Nevada coffee, an on-site restaurant and a private beach. All rooms have a private terrace with a view of the sea.
#2 Hotel La Finca Buritaca for a beautiful luxury hotel on the Caribbean coast, located between Palomino and Tayrona National Park. The small-scale hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, a shared lounge and a garden. The enthusiastic reviews call La Finca Buritaca a paradise because of the intimate atmosphere, the beautiful gardens full of exotic animals, the free kayak tour and the spacious rooms.
#3 Gitana del Mar Boutique Beach Resort for a lovely beach hotel right by the sea. There is a spa, pool, bar and restaurant. Guests stay in tropical-style rooms and suites with thatched roofs and garden views. The beach resorts look extremely photogenic down to the smallest details.
#4 ONE Sanctuary Natural for a unique hotel more inland at Palomino. ONE is located on the Rio Palomino in the mountains south of the village. The beautiful jungle location is very different from the beach atmosphere of Palomino itself and the review praises the beautiful surroundings, atmospheric eco huts and beautiful gardens.
#5 UUTTAAKA Eco-Hotel for a sustainable eco-hotel on the beach east of Palomino. The unusually designed hotel consists of stacked hexagonal hotel rooms, each with a balcony overlooking the sea. The somewhat secluded beach location and unique architecture make it one of the most special places to stay at Palomino.
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