Santa Marta

As of May 2026, Santa Marta, Taganga, Palomino have 5,085 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 1% increase from the previous year.

The average Airbnb or VRBO in Santa Marta generates COP33.6M per year. High-performing properties earn COP100.1M/year, while low-performing properties earn COP9.6M/year. This wide revenue variance suggests that earnings are heavily tied to specific asset positioning rather than market-wide demand, as stagnant supply levels fail to lift average returns.

Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Santa Marta. Average annual revenue is COP33.6M with 22% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to COP100.1M/year. The delta between average and high performance indicates that a small segment of the market captures a disproportionate share of total revenue despite flat supply growth.

The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Santa Marta is 22%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of COP350K, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of COP78K per day.

4+ bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Santa Marta, with annual revenue of COP59.7M. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Santa Marta market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.

Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Santa Marta area. Santa Marta: Lenient. Registration with tourism authority (RNT) required, but enforcement minimal. Many hosts operate informally without permits. Light oversight. Taganga: Lenient. Technically requires RNT registration and local permits, but enforcement nearly non-existent. Most operate without formal compliance. Palomino: Lenient. Minimal formal regulations, RNT registration nominal. Rural area with very limited enforcement. Hosts operate freely with little oversight. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.

The Santa Marta Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has grown 1% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 6%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics. The slight decline in RevPAR alongside minimal supply growth points toward a shift in traveler spending power or preference rather than an over-saturated inventory.

Launch around October, 2-3 months before peak winter season (January peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is 15% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (October-May) when gaining traction is harder.

The most common amenities in Santa Marta listings include: Kitchen (96%), Air Conditioning (96%), Tv (93%), Pool (71%), Washing Machine (63%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Pool, Lake Access, Bbq, with Pool properties earning approximately 40% more (COP67.0M/year vs COP48.0M/year).

Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Santa Marta over the last 12 months: May: COP1.5M, June: COP2.2M, July: COP2.4M, August: COP2.1M, September: COP1.6M, October: COP1.9M, November: COP1.9M, December: COP3.4M, January: COP4.7M, February: COP1.9M, March: COP2.4M, April: COP2.5M. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.

The overall average nightly rate in Santa Marta is COP350K, up 13% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average COP241K/night, 2-bedroom properties average COP338K/night, 3-bedroom properties average COP530K/night, 4+ bedroom properties average COP929K/night. Rates peak in January and are lowest in May.

Guests in Santa Marta book an average of 28 days in advance, down 16% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 25 days, 2-bedroom: 29 days, 3-bedroom: 33 days, 4+ bedroom: 37 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.

Over the past year, the Santa Marta Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply grew 1%, revenue per listing decreased 6%, occupancy fell 14%, average nightly rates increased 13%, and lead time decreased 16%. These metrics suggest a transition toward shorter, more expensive stays, indicating that yield management is currently struggling to offset lower overall occupancy.

In Santa Marta, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Tuesday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Saturday and are lowest on Tuesday. Weekends show 18% higher occupancy than weekdays.