Private room in large historic estate, Santa Marta

Room in Santa Marta, Colombia

  1. 2 beds
  2. Private attached bathroom
Stay with Felipe
  1. Superhost
  2. 13 years hosting

Listing highlights

Dive right in

This is one of the few places in the area with a pool.

Self check-in

You can check in with the building staff.

Room in a villa

Your own room in a home, plus access to shared spaces.
Some info has been automatically translated.
Ample room with private bathroom (no AC) overlooking the patio, in a century-old estate in Santa Marta's historic center, a few blocks away from the seafront.
The estate has only 4 rooms for guests, guaranteeing privacy, peace and refuge from the boisterous downtown area. This room sits under the shades of two trees, boasts high ceilings and has a standing and a ceiling fan. It has 2 beds. The garden is filled with plants and features a small pool. The perfect base to explore the region.

The space
Discover the world of magic realism through this late XIX-century estate in downtown Santa Marta, one of the oldest Spanish-founded cities in South America.

Located four blocks away from the seafront, this unique building has resisted the test of time, keeping most of its original features intact (the woodwork on the high ceilings, the tiles on the floor, the arcs overlooking the patio, and the main structure). The estate boasts 4 guests rooms (each with a private bathroom) and many large common spaces: a patio with a garden, fruit trees, and a small swimming pool; a common dining area, a veranda, a massive living room, and a studio suited for a conference room or home office.

Each room is furnished with a double bed (extra bed if necessary), a working desk, and a standing closet, and has its own private bathroom. We’ve tried to recreate the original atmosphere of a traditional Caribbean household, enhancing the main architectural traits of the building and choosing with care the furniture and décor, keeping alive the welcoming spirit of these households.

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Casa del Níspero–Casa Bermúdez
Jorge loves this house dearly. He was not born here, though. It was his grandfather’s home, and he lived there as a child, surrounded by his ants when his mother died. He used to climb that same mamoncillo tree to get to the rooftop and across to his cousin’s house. He remembers his uncle admonishing him to be careful, “Te vas a matar, paleo!” Other memories are of the massive rooms constantly filled with music: piano, violin, every family member seemed to know how to play an instrument. Or the never-ending duels when a person close to the family passed away: the black dresses worn for months over, the absolute silence, the somber atmosphere in defiance of the vociferous nature of the Caribbean.

You listen to Jorge’s childhood stories, and it’s impossible not to think of Gabriel García Márquez. The magic is there to be touched and felt, just as in this house, which was his family’s and now is ours. We, too, believe there is something special about it. We felt it when we first laid eyes on it when we saw the magnificent mamoncillo tree governing the patio like a wise king from a fairy tale. We dreamt of beautiful things to come and poured ourselves into the space and the streets around it through our cultural center, JáfanaJafana. We’ve had plenty of wonderful moments here, and all along felt humbled to have been entrusted with its legacy.

Guest access
Keys to the house and the room.
A fully furnished room, with its private bathroom
Utilities, WiFi, ceiling and standing fan (No AC) (no hot water)
The common areas of the house: living room, veranda, dining area, kitchen (+utensils), patio, small pool, studio/library.
Water and coffee available as a courtesy. No restaurant service.
Andreína, the housekeeper, lives onsite. Common spaces are tended to on a daly basis, guest rooms are cleaned three times a week. The pool person comes twice a week.
We can do laundry for 10.000 (cop) per kilo.

During your stay
Since I moved to the US I manage bookings virtually, and make sure you are being taken care of. We have a team on the ground that can help with whatever is needed. Andreína is amazing with guests. My partner Less is behind the scenes making sure all goes smoothly. Either way, we are at hand and ready to make your stay memorable.

The guesthouse is adjacent to our cultural center/city lab (Al Local by JáfanaJafana: a garden and a library and all the things in between). Through Jáfana, we aims to explore new and creative interactions with the community, as it deals with the relatively recent influx of foreign tourism. Guests are welcome to visit anytime and invited to take part in its activities.

Other things to note
We know the city and the area quite well and can address any question or inquiry.

We are in permanent contact with the guest throughout the stay, as frequently as required. We have built a network of trusted parties through which we can offer each guest a customized experience, according to their specific needs. We have a network of local guides for Taganga and its surroundings, birdwatching in the mountain or la ciénaga, massage therapists, dancing or yoga teachers, among others.
If the visitors like autonomy and privacy, we’ll let them be!

Registration details
127024

Where you'll sleep

What this place offers

Lock on bedroom door
Courtyard view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm
Unavailable: Smoke alarm

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Rated 4.95 out of 5 from 66 reviews.

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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 95% of reviews
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Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
This listing’s location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighbourhood highlights

Enter the world of Macondo through this early XX Century Late–Colonial mansion in downtown Santa Marta, the oldest Spanish-founded city in South America.

The house is located on the Calle 12 (or Calle de la Cruz), 4 blocks away from the waterfront and within walking distance of restaurants, cafes and bars, part of a vibrant and colorful historical district. Everything you need is either next door or very close (small hyperbole).

The historic center in Santa Marta is undergoing a process of urban renewal that has altered the local dynamics to the core. In terms of size, it is not as large as Cartagena's, so everything is really accessible. It most be noted that this urban renewal process is not over by any means. Probably wise to bear in mind that Santa Marta is a Colombian city, where it is best to be always careful and mindful of context.

Pay a visit to the Cathedral, oldest one this side of the Panama Canal, or 'la casa donde velaron a Bolivar'. The hacienda where El Libertador died is also a must see here in Santa Marta. It's called La Quinta de San Pedro (30mn bus or taxi ride from the house).

Lots or restaurants and bars to choose from. Great breakfasts at Lulo Café, fancy diners at Ouzo or Guácimo. The bar to go is, without a doubt, La Puerta. If you fancy some Salsa and live bands, should try Manuelito in Pescaíto (take a cab).

Book suggestion – Cien Años de Soledad
Santa Marta is some 80 km away from Aracataca, the town where Gabriel García Márquez was born. This is Macondo country.

Santa Marta is the gateway to La Sierra: the beautiful beaches and landscapes of Tayrona Park, the dozens of rivers that descend from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the snow peaks of the magnificent mountain, sitting along the edge of the Caribbean, all make this corner of the world a truly unique place.

Meet your host

Superhost
587 reviews
4.8 out of 5 average rating
13 years of hosting
My work: Journalist/producer
Favourite song in secondary school: Comfortably numb
Fun fact: Had a Carnival epiphany_Tego was the MC
For guests, I always: Fried delicacies & corozo juice for BF
Pets: Manda’s house, Manda’s rules. (Zoras2)
I am a journalist and entrepreneur based in Baltimore with a home in Santa Marta (Colombia). I love to travel, and in occasions get to do it for work. Discovered Airbnb as a guest in 2010 and have since become a host. I was born in Colombia, but lived abroad for a while, always longing to return. I met my better half by the Caribbean, founded a cultural/community center with her (JáfanaJafana) and we both manage the house of our dreams: a republican estate in the historic center of the oldest city founded by Spaniards on the South American continent. My English is broken and my life split. Hoping to fix both things sooner rather tan later.

Felipe is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 15:00
Checkout before 11:00
3 guests maximum
Safety & property
No smoke alarm
Exterior security cameras on property
Pool/hot tub without a gate or lock