Rodadero is a well-known tourist district located just south of Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast in the Magdalena Department. El Rodadero is one of the country’s most visited urban beach destinations. The area offers a mix of high-rise hotels, beachfront apartments, restaurants, clubs, and shopping centers. Rodadero Beach is a wide, crescent-shaped bay with calm waters. The sand is light gray, and the beach is equipped with umbrellas, chairs, and a wide array of vendors. Jet skis, banana boats, and boat rides to nearby Playa Blanca and the aquarium are common activities. The boardwalk is active both day and night, offering open-air dining and nightlife along the coast. I do not recommend swimming in any of Colombia's urban beaches, including Rodadero, due to the lack of consistent pollution controls and wastewater management. That said, the water in Santa Marta is generally cleaner than in Cartagena, thanks in part to lower levels of industrial and port activity.
Rodadero is also a launch point for excursions to Playa Blanca, Bahía Concha, and Tayrona National Park, which offer much cleaner and more natural beach environments.