Palomino is a small town on the Caribbean coast and the ultimate place to unwind after visiting Tayrona National Park or completing the Lost City Trek. In Palomino, you'll find a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere where you can chill for a few days and enjoy the sun, sea, and beach. Attend a party, take a long beach walk, and tube on the river. We'll provide you with the best tips for this laid-back village in the north of Colombia!

Palomino is a tranquil coastal town, but there are certainly enjoyable activities to do in the surrounding area. We've compiled the best tips for you.

Tip: Many blogs mention that there is no ATM in Palomino. This was indeed the case until recently, but now there is one. However, it may be out of order, or your card may not work. Our advice is to bring enough cash for your stay in Palomino. If you need to withdraw money and can't do so at the ATM in Palomino, there is an ATM a 20-minute drive away in the village of Mingueo.

Tubing on the river is by far the most well-known activity in Palomino. But what is tubing exactly? It's nothing more than drifting down the river towards the sea on a large inflated inner tube. Don't expect an adrenaline rush, but enjoy a leisurely float while sipping on a drink and taking in the jungle scenery. With a bit of luck, you might spot some wildlife. Along the river, you can find howler monkeys, parrots, ospreys, and toucans.

You'll see tubes everywhere in Palomino, and locals will ask if you're interested in tubing. You then hop on the back of a motorcycle, with the tube over your shoulder, and you're taken to a hut where you can purchase a ticket. On the way, you can ask the driver to stop at a supermarket to grab some drinks. Then, the climb uphill begins, and at some point, the motorcycle can't go any further. You walk a bit through the jungle with your tube until you reach the starting point on the river. You then jump into the tube and float gently towards the sea. Once there, you can return the tube and walk back to Palomino along the beach. Or, take some time to relax at Playa Los Cocos (tip 4). You're now very close to it.

Around Palomino, fun beach parties are often organized. When we were there, there was a Full Moon party just outside the village. Expect mainly tourists and not many locals, but it's a lot of fun to experience on the Caribbean coast. We took motorcycle taxis to get to the party. When we left the party early in the morning, they were already waiting at the exit to take us back to Palomino.

From Palomino, you have a magnificent view of the Sierra Nevada. This is the highest coastal mountain range in the world. The highest peak, Pico Cristóbal Colón (Gonawindua), is an impressive 5,775 meters (18,947 feet) above sea level. It's truly amazing to be able to see snow-capped mountain peaks from the tropical beach. Throughout the day, the mountaintops are often hidden in the clouds. Early in the morning, the weather is usually clearest.

he beach in Palomino can get quite crowded, especially on sunny days when the sea is calm. Especially if you're in Palomino during the high season, between December and February, you may seek a quieter spot on the beach. In about 20 to 30 minutes, you can walk to the much calmer Playa Los Cocos. The beach is on the other side of the river, which means you have to walk through the river mouth to get there. It's best to visit this beach when the sea is calm.

A very cool and relatively unknown excursion to take from Palomino is visiting Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Flamencos. This is a nature reserve just over an hour from Palomino. You take a trip on a sailboat with a local guide and can spot many flamingos. There is not much information online, but you can easily find a tour guide in Palomino. If this is not possible or you prefer to book online, GetYourGuide offers a tour, but it is a bit pricey.

Had enough relaxation in Palomino and in the mood for something active? Take a delightful beach walk to the San Salvador River east of Palomino. It takes just under an hour, and the beach becomes increasingly beautiful as you get closer. The beach here is wider than in Palomino itself, and there are more palm trees.

During your stay in Palomino, you will notice that there are a considerable number of stray dogs. The founders of Dogshelter Palomino want to address this issue and rescue as many dogs as possible. To receive donations for the dog shelter, they organize daily Dog Walking Tours at 08:00 AM and 3:00 PM. You can also book trips with a guide and dogs through their website.

The funds from donations are used to care for the dogs and to sterilize stray dogs, preventing them from reproducing.

If you don't want to take a walk but still visit the dog shelter, they have recently opened a café where you can enjoy a drink in the company of the dogs.