Santa Marta Celebrates 500 Years with the Fiesta del Mar: Culture, Tradition, and Ocean in One City

Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia, is celebrating its 500th anniversary with a historic edition of the Fiesta del Mar, taking place from July 23 to 29, 2025.

Under the slogan “The Heart of the World Beats!”, the 65th edition of the festival brings together ancestral culture, free concerts, sports competitions, and nautical parades—positioning Santa Marta as a leading destination for cultural and sustainable tourism in the Caribbean.

🗓️ Highlights: July 26 to 29

📍 Saturday, July 26

• Traditional Whale Boat Parade through Santa Marta Bay—one of the most emblematic events of the Fiesta del Mar.
• Folkloric Parade featuring local and national dance groups.
• IXEL Moda Runway Show, spotlighting Colombian and Indigenous designers.
• Free Concert with artists such as Pipe Peláez, Eddy Herrera, Altafulla, and more.

📍 Sunday, July 27

• Second day of parades and cultural displays along Calle 30.
• Nautical sports competitions.
• Outdoor symphonic concert.
• Fireworks and mapping show lighting up El Morro at night.

📍 Monday, July 28

• Super Concert at Playa de Los Cocos, featuring international stars:
  🎤 Carlos Vives
  🎷 Grupo Niche

• Pyromusical show over the bay to close the night.

📍 Tuesday, July 29

• Commemorative Ceremony for the city’s 500th anniversary at the Cathedral Basilica.
• Closing of IXEL Moda.
• Grand finale “Heart of the World” concert, featuring:
  ✨ Wilfran Castillo
  ✨ Adriana Lucía
  ✨ Bomba Estéreo
  ✨ Systema Solar
• Cultural and spiritual activities with local Indigenous communities.

🌊 Why Is This Fiesta del Mar Historic?

• It celebrates 500 years since the founding of Santa Marta in 1525.
• It reclaims and uplifts ancestral identity, local art, and Caribbean culture.
• All events are free and open to the public, as part of a commitment to cultural inclusion.
• For the first time, the festival joins forces with the Hay Festival, the Iberoamérica 500+ Conference, and sustainable fashion spaces like IXEL Moda.

Experience the City with Awareness

Santa Marta is not only honoring its past—it’s also looking toward its future. If you’re in the city during the celebrations:

• Respect natural areas and keep beaches clean.
• Support local entrepreneurs and artists.
• Enjoy concerts and events with environmental and civic responsibility.

Santa Marta pulses. Santa Marta celebrates. Santa Marta inspires.
The 2025 Fiesta del Mar is more than just a celebration—it’s a moment of reflection, a tribute to ancestral territory, and a call to recognize the Caribbean’s place in the heart of all Colombians.

Happy 500th Birthday, Santa Marta!

📎 Here’s the link to our latest feature, focused on Santa Marta and its 500 years:
https://tierra-querida.com/edicion-4/