History &amp; Heritage in Bolivar

Hidden Bolívar: The Murals of Calle 17

If you came to Santa Marta looking for Tayrona, El Rodadero, or the historic center, you missed out on the most authentic part by far. The barrio Bolívar, just

3 days ago

Bike Messengers of Bolívar: Routes That Waze Ignores

In the barrio Bolívar of Santa Marta, the traffic on the Troncal del Caribe is a curse we all know. Cars stand still, buses honk, and the sun beats down like le

Bolívar: The Salsa Workshop That Tourists Don't Dance To

It's six in the evening in the Bolívar neighborhood of Santa Marta. The sun no longer burns like at noon, but the heat clings to the walls of the colorful house

The Barter Corner: Cashless Trade in Bolívar

It's 7 in the morning at 15th Street and 8th Avenue, in the barrio Bolívar neighborhood of Santa Marta. The sun is just peeking over the Sierra Nevada, and ther

Los patios de Bolívar: gardens that beat the heat

In the barrio Bolívar of Santa Marta, the sun beats down hard most of the year. Temperatures hover around 30°C with a heat index that rises several degrees, and

Traces of the Rupture: Streets That Were Once Beach

If you walk today along Carrera 4 in the barrio Bolívar in Santa Marta, what you see are houses, neighborhood stores, parked motorcycles, and the constant noise

Postal Code 470004: The Other Solidarity Network

If you arrive in Santa Marta with a map of tourist sites in hand, barrio Bolívar doesn't appear. There is no monument, boardwalk, or hostel with a pool to put i

The Sounds of Bolívar: Champeta, Porro, and Corner Reggaeton

If you walk through Barrio Bolívar in Santa Marta on a Saturday afternoon, the first thing that hits you isn't the heat, but the bass. A rumble that comes from

Bolívar from the Heights: Neighborhood Viewpoints and Rooftops

When most people think of Santa Marta, they imagine El Rodadero, the Historic Center, or Tayrona National Park. But if you move a few blocks away from the touri

The Pool Hall That Is the Last Gathering of Old Fishermen

The smell of saltpeter and old wood clings to your clothes before you even cross the door. Inside, the sound of ivory balls colliding against the green felt com

Bolívar: the workshop of memory on the hillside

If you come to Santa Marta and only stay in El Rodadero or the Historic Center, you are missing the city that truly breathes. Up on the hillside overlooking the