El Rodadero is Santa Marta's main resort beach, about four kilometres south of the historic centre on a broad bay with calm, warm Caribbean water. The beach is wide, the sand is clean by Colombian coastal standards, and the protected bay means gentle waves — good for swimming and snorkelling. The beachfront is lined with restaurants, juice stands, and lounger rental operations, and the whole scene is emphatically local: this is where Colombian families from the interior come on vacation.
The water here is excellent for water sports — jet ski rental, parasailing, and boat trips to the offshore aquarium are all operated from the beach. At night, El Rodadero has its own quieter bar and restaurant scene, slightly separate from the historic centre's nightlife. If you want a hotel with direct beach access, this is where to look; prices are generally lower than you would expect for a beachfront location.