Camali Hotel

Awesome place! An urban oasis! Truly and highly recommend it to anyone planning to travel to Santa Marta. Staff was very friendly and helpful - I don't have any electronic gadgets and they gave me very helpful tips and guides in navigating myself around including going to Tayrona Park on my own taking public transportation. Their breakfast was great - truly home cooking! My room was very comfortable. I only stayed for two nights and wished I stayed longer to explore more Santa Marta use the hotel's facilities like the shared kitchen. This is also a great hotel for families - the pool is "private" and very clean. For a time, I felt it was like it was a home away from home particularly because my spoken Spanish is not so good and yet I was understood well. The location is authentic, nothing polished or showcased. While a taxi is highly recommended for night/evening, you'll get a real feel of how people live there - neighbors sitting in a house's porch to chat and spend the afternoon away, fruit vendors pushing their carts, students playing in the park after school hours, in nearby Avenida Liberator people lining up in a medical supply clinic early in the morning, etc. Amazingly a great cultural experience! Very different from where I live now but also a great learning lesson and appreciation of how we all live differently yet also similarly in some ways.

Excellent place, clean, friendly staff. A bit outside from the city center, but only a 15 min walk. Would stay there again.