Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino

The Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is a former sugar and rum hacienda on the eastern edge of Santa Marta. Simón Bolívar, the Liberator of much of South America, arrived here ill and exhausted in December 1830 and died a few days later. The house is kept as it was, with his bed, period furniture and the clock stopped at the hour of his death. Around the house are the old sugar mill and distillery, a huge marble Altar de la Patria, a museum of contemporary Latin American art and botanical gardens full of century-old trees and iguanas. It is one of the shadiest places in the city, so it works well even at midday. Free guided tours are offered in Spanish (tips welcome); allow 60–90 minutes.