Santa Marta - Clearance

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Full details on the formalities required for clearing into and out of Colombia can be found at Colombia Formalities.

General Clearance in Santa Marta:

Colombian law normally requires all visiting yachts to engage an agent to handle port clearances on arrival. Marina Santa Marta has the authorisation to act as a clearance agent.

Do not attempt to contact the Port Captain except through your nominated clearing agent (Agencia Maritima) on arrival.

The marina will organise all clearance on behalf of the yacht owner.

The following documents must be sent prior to arrival to make the marina reservation and appoint the marina as an agent:

  • Crew passports
  • Departure zarpe from last port (mentioning that Santa Marta is your next destination)
  • Vessel Registration
  • Proof of yellow fever vaccination for all crew
  • Covid vaccination certificates for all crew (currently confirming if this is still a requirement – was in Nov,23).

Once all the above is received, the marina can start the process with the Colombian authorities. Expect clearance to take several days.

The only cost for clearing into Colombia at this marina is the cruising permit charge – however, it does mean 5+ days berthed in the marina. On your 5th day in the marina, the agent will contact the officer from Customs-DIAN, who will inspect the boat and give the TIP. This process takes 48 hours.

Yachts at anchor cannot use the services of the marina for clearance, however, there are a number of shipping agents in town who offer this service for approx. US$150.

Go alongside the eastern dock or anchor south of the dock. Officials for clearance prefer to board at the dock.

Ensure that your zarpe lists Santa Marta as your next port of call, otherwise you may find yourself in severe difficulties and/or paying a stiff fine.

For a list of agents see Clearance Agents.

Last updated:  November 2023

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  1. September 2, 2020 at 10:13 PM
    jacklill says:

    Colombia is due to open its international borders on 1st October 2020. But often these dates get delayed. But it’s a move in the right direction!

  2. April 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM
    jacklill says:

    COVID19 update 24/4/2020

    Borders remain closed.
    Marina is also closed. However it is likely that the Marina will begin taking reservations again soon.
    However passing yachts have taken refuge in the anchorage here. Also the authorities have permitted yachts to refuel, take on water and provisions. This is done through an appointed agent.
    Please note that although the holding is good, the security in the anchorage is poor. There have been reports of fender theft and boardings in recent times. But the Armada Nacional (Colombian Coast Guard) are ever present within the Marina and can be alerted 24/7 on Channel 16.

  3. July 12, 2018 at 10:22 PM
    Data Entry1 says:

    We arrived mid-June 2018:
    At arrival, we anchored next to the entrance of the marina. Two other sailboats were staying there too.
    The rate of the marina for seven days for a 39 feet boat is 40 US$ per night (the daily rate is 50 US$). As an agent should cost 300 US$ the decision was easily taken. (Taking in account that outside the marina is no place where you could leave your dinghy attached!).

    “El permiso de permanencía” is always extra (120 US$). (It expired for us some days later because of leaving again the country.)

    A week later we left for several days for Tayona Park. We informed the “station de control” and after they received feedback from the marina that our paperwork was in process, we got the permission to go. The park itself is not very spectacular but the last bay was very calm to chill.
    When we came back to the marina, we stayed for another couple of nights for the weekly rate. It was a good choice to take the marina as our agent.

    In the marina’s shop, cold beer is available at very reasonable prices. A supermarket is a couple of minutes walk. If you look for restaurants where locals eat it’s five minutes to walk there.

  4. January 9, 2018 at 9:00 PM
    edData Entry1 says:

    Posted by Liz Evans on the main Colombia page:
    I would like to advise cruisers who need to receive spares into Santa Marta not to use DHL as they do not acknowledge the ‘Vessel in Transit’ status and charge the import duty and local VAT which are 29% in total plus high currency uplift.

    Advice is to use FedEx and keep the value of shipment under US$1000.00.
    Have the package delivered c/o Marina Santa Marta and ask the friendly office staff to point out to the FedEx delivery person the ‘Vessel in Transit’ status of the shipment, to avoid paying the import taxes.

  5. December 9, 2014 at 12:54 PM
    Data Entry1 says:

    Posted on behalf of Twiganauten:
    December 2014, we have been in the IGY Marina for one month.
    The marina is perfect, we love the small town Santa Marta and the countryside is like paradise.
    We did the tour to the “Lost City”, it was very very hard but worth to do it. Thanks to our tour guide Misael.

    I recommend to make this tour 6 days instead of the normally offered tour of 4 or 5.
    The terrain is difficult with very steep sections uphill and downhill.
    The tour guide Misael grew up in this area, he knows people and nature and he has good contact with the Indians, Misael can arrange customized tours – email: misdelpineda_22@hotmail.com
    Agent Dino – dino.shippingagent@gmail.com – made the clearances easy, Dino is very friendly and helpful.

  6. November 2, 2014 at 1:12 PM
    Data Entry1 says:

    We’ve been at Marina Santa Marta since 9 October. Water is no longer an issue. Occasionally, the dock water goes off for 15-20 minutes (maybe once per week), but otherwise, it is reliable. We are also drinking dock water THROUGH our SeaGull water filter, with no ill effects. Wade Alarie / SV Joana

  7. July 29, 2014 at 4:17 AM
    Data Entry1 says:

    Update July 28, 2014
    For anyone planning to come to Marina Santa Marta in the near future, you should be aware that the marina is currently experiencing problems with its water supply. Twice within the past 1.5 weeks, there has been a rupture in the water supply pipeline that has taken approximately 12 hours to fix. During this time, there was absolutely no water in the marina.

    Furthermore, the city of Santa Marta is currently experiencing a water crisis. In order to limit water use (mainly by power boat captains who wash their boats every day), water availability on the docks has been limited to two 2-hour periods (8-10am and 4-6pm) each day. Despite these restrictions, the full $6/day facility fee still applies.
    – Laura Winter, S/Y Corinthian