Pearl of the America. Santa Marta an important commercial port and tourist destination. Everyday there are cargo ships coming and going and the action is very much visible. From the beach, the view of the Caribbean Sea is more or less to the north with a huge rock of an island jutting up out of the water to make a somewhat dramatic effect. Off to the right is the port snug behind another even bigger rock. This is a decent beach if you like beaches that are right in town lots of people, vendors, and noise vedors are rather aggressive if you are on the beach. Speaking of expenses, there is a high season and low season. High season is more December thru April.Simon Bolivar said that Santa Marta as the most beautiful Bay ever. http://wikitravel.org/en/Santa Marta