Santa Marta Columbia

Last activity 05 September 2022 by jmb0675

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PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member20 May 2022 15:53:57

I travel to Santa Marta about 4 times a year I would like to meet up with some expat's when I am there

I am from California

cccmediaEcuador / Colombia Expert20 May 2022 22:10:47

10278

Climate.

Pete's doing it right by visiting Santa Marta. With its high heat in the daytime, the place is not suitable for most Expats as a year-round destination.

The afternoon highs average 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (about 33 degrees Celsius) every month of the year.

New arrivals to Colombia who like moderate temps should consider Medellín and the cities of the Coffee Zone. In the Zone, Manizales has the highest elevation of the major cities and thus the coolest temperatures.

---

Se lo nota: the name of La República is misspelled in the title of this thread.

cccmedia

ChipWActive member21 May 2022 03:14:37

I lived in B'quilla for my first 7 years here in Colombia and the heat/humidity combo is the problem, as I see it. But then, I lived in southern Arizona before coming to CO, so temps of 100+ were the norm for me. The CO coast doesn't get that hot, but with the humidity, it feels hotter than hell. It's the same in Santa Marta and pretty much all of the Caribe coastal regions of CO. Go a bit more interior in Atlantica and Cesar and it's even hotter.

lauramulhollandNew member22 May 2022 20:35:18

Hello all, My wife and I currently live in Santa Marta and we love it. It does get hot, however we recently lived in Naples, Fl where the weather is comparable. My wife is originally from Medellin, however, I met her in Fl.

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member22 May 2022 21:14:43

I will be in Santa Marta Arrive June 16 depart June 23

Staying near the marina

nico peligroSerial expat28 May 2022 14:54:32

743

Travel here 4 times ayear and cant even spell the countrys name?

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member28 May 2022 17:57:04

@PeteWattersChatsworth18 Just bad at spelling

CanadaDougContributor28 May 2022 18:29:18

156

@PeteWattersChatsworth18 when are you in Santa Marta?

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member28 May 2022 18:33:46

June 20 leave 23

jmb0675Active member30 May 2022 20:16:47

#10

Hi Pete

My husband and I have lived in Rodadero, Santa Marta for about 7 years. Love it! Orginally from S. Cal. But moved here from Wa. Great place to live. Still has a "small town" feel.

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member31 May 2022 15:36:46

#11

Where is S. Cal I live in Chatsworth

ChipWActive member01 June 2022 14:31:08

#12

Hey Pete, S. Cal = Southern California. Oh, and Wa. = Washington State (not DC). I'm also from WA - from the farming town, or so it used to be, of Kennewick originally.

I've visited Santa Marta several times. I like that town, it's small yet big enough you can find just about everything you need. I believe the only big store missing is Homecenter (unless they've built one there in the last couple of years).

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member01 June 2022 16:00:06

#13

We will be there June 20-23rd

CanadaDougContributor02 June 2022 12:45:20

#14

156

@PeteWattersChatsworth18

missed you. we are there a little earlier.

CanadaDoug

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member02 June 2022 16:09:26

#15

maybe next time

Juan DroverseNew member13 June 2022 15:47:34

#16

@PeteWattersChatsworth18 Colombia*

PeteWattersChatsworth18Active member14 July 2022 05:24:34

#17

expet to be back mid september

cccmediaEcuador / Colombia Expert14 July 2022 07:22:43

#18

10278

Based on past posts on Expat forums,

I think the reason why one has trouble

connecting with Expats in Santa Marta

is the heat.

SM is the classic place that's fun to visit,

but is just too hot in the daytime to

wait on the street on a regular basis*

for a bus to get to an air-conditioned mall!

Ipso facto, few folks move to Santa Marta

and then stay on to live there.

cccmedia in the Paisa capital

*or even a semi-regular basis

jmb0675Active member04 September 2022 20:24:56

#19

Hi Pete

Sorry for the delay. We're from Lakewood Ca. Then moved to Auburn Wa. Been here for years and hope to stay to the end. Let me know when youre back.

mtbeContributor05 September 2022 01:20:54

#20

171

Recommend looking for Facebook groups in Santa Marta, to hook up with other Expats. Just search for "Santa Marta Expats" or "Expats in Santa Marta" and other variations...

South American VoyagerActive member05 September 2022 07:14:34

#21

My fellow Californians, (a shout out to Chatsworth and Lakewood) I live in Medellin 5 years now but travel on road trips and am on the coast including Santa Marta numerous times each year and stay for weeks to a month each visit.

And........this California kid is from Huntington Beach!!!!

I lived almost 20 years in Irvine/Newport Beach and Tustin Ranch in my professional career days (which now seems like a distant memory if not my life at all as I am so far removed from the hustle and bustle of it all) but have many fond memories of LA and the OC but just don't want to return.

So no wonder I gravitate to the ocean as my passion is long distance open ocean swimming and I get my fill of it on the coast.

Even with my experience with warmer weather even I who loves the warmth and humidity and beach life, well after about 2 or maybe 3 weeks I am ready to cool down so when I am in Santa Marta I will escape for a week to Minca then the playa keeps calling me back.

@ Chip, yes there is a Homecenter in Santa Marta, I was last in it in March this year, took about 40 minutes to drive there in my car so it is a ways inland. Near Route 90.

This week I am finishing up with my dental here in Medellin so plan to be back on the coast this mid month.

@ jmb0675 in Rodadero, is the malecon reconstruction work finished yet? I was last there in January and looks like they were months away from completion.

A gratuitous photo of me on my balcony in Santa Marta in March 2022.

Santa-Marta-apt-balcony-overlooking-the-

South American VoyagerActive member05 September 2022 07:21:15

#22

Trying to see/understand how to post the photo......hope this works.

(EDIT) 8 attempts and not working so good.

jmb0675Active member05 September 2022 13:28:21

#23

@South American Voyager

Huntington beach! Wow great place to ditch class and spend the day . My dad was stationed in Long Beach so grew up all up and down PCH.

Construction is still on going. What a pain . Between that and the tourists makes getting around a challenge.

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