How to Get from Medellin to Palomino (Local Guide for Digital Nomads)
- Aloha Palomino
- hace 6 días
- 3 Min. de lectura
Actualizado: hace 6 horas
Palomino, La Guajira is a small Caribbean beach town that’s easy to reach from Medellín. The fastest way is to fly and then take a short bus/collectivo up the coast. Below you’ll find the exact departure points, hours, and local fares—plus a direct bus option and private transfers.
Palomino is served by two nearby airports—Santa Marta (SMR) and Riohacha (RCH)—so you can compare fares and pick what works best. Below is the most practical Medellin to Palomino breakdown.
Option A — Fly Medellin to Santa Marta (SMR), then bus to Palomino (recommended)
1) Fly Medellín (MDE) → Santa Marta (SMR).Routes are typically served by airlines such as Avianca and JetSMART , LATAM. Check direct vs. connecting flights for your dates.
2) From Santa Marta Airport to the bus:
Go to Mamatoco (closest bus stop to the airport).
Taxi airport → Mamatoco: about COP 35,000.
3) Bus/collectivo Santa Marta → Palomino
Where to board: Mamatoco or the Central Market.
Hours: 5:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., departures every 15 min.
Duration: ~2h - 2,5h (traffic + stops).
Price: COP 14.000
Option B — Fly to Riohacha (RCH), then car/bus to Palomino
1) Fly Medellín (MDE) → Riohacha (RCH). Look for Avianca and LATAM . Pick whichever schedule fits your day.
2) Riohacha → Palomino (co-op cars/collectivo)
Where to board: the “4 Vías” area (local cooperative stop)
Hours: all day, typically until 6:30 p.m.
Price: about COP 25,000.
Duration: ~1h15–1h30.
Ask for direct to Palomino; you’ll be dropped on the highway close to town.
Option C — Direct night bus from Medellín (budget, no flight)
Several companies Brasilia and Copetran run long-distance buses Medellín → Riohacha (with an easy stop in Palomino) Medellín → Palomino.
Travel time: ~15–18 hours depending on route/stops.
When to choose this: tighter budgets, heavy luggage, or you prefer traveling overnight. Bring a sweater (A/C is strong).
Private transfer (door-to-door)
Prefer zero changes? We can book a private transfer (airport ↔ Casa Aloha / Palomino) with trusted local drivers—perfect for late arrivals or large bags. Message us on WhatsApp for price, availability, and pickup details. (COP 250.000)
Local tips for digital nomads
Cash: carry small bills for buses, fruit stands, and motos.
ATM: There is Bancolombia atm at the main road (troncal del caribe)
Connectivity: at Casa Aloha, 200 Mbps Starlink with solar energy backup keeps calls stable during local power cuts.
Walkable & safe: safe town—most cafés, restaurants, the beach and rivers are a short walk.
What to pack: light clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent (brand recomend Nopikex), reusable bottle, flip flops and tennis.
Mosquitos & repellent
Wear repellent daily. This is tropical jungle/coast. The brand that works best locally is NOPIKEX (widely sold in Colombia).
Colombian hack: buy Menticol (cooling alcohol) + NOPIKEX bar. Add NOPIKEX bar on Menticol bottle and shake. It refreshes and boosts the effect—great for Palomino, Santa Marta, Tayrona and La Guajira.
If you already have bites: ask a pharmacy for Caladryl to calm the itch.
Common-sense care: avoid eyes/mouth, patch-test first, reapply after swimming/sweating, and follow each product’s label.
Ready for Medellin to Palomino? Book your room with a dedicated desk and ask us to arrange your private transfer and weekend tours in La Guajira. We’ll make the logistics easy so you can focus on work—and enjoy the sea after calls.
Book your stay (best direct rate)