The story of a dream read under the palm trees
It all began one afternoon in March 2024, when Ana María Restrepo, a retired literature teacher living on Calle 22 with Carrera 4, sat down on a bench in Parque de las Palmas, in the heart of Bello Horizonte. She carried under her arm a copy of Cien años de soledad and, without meaning to, started reading aloud to herself. Within minutes, a neighbor walking her dog stopped to listen. Then a young student from Universidad del Magdalena joined in. By the time the sun began to set behind the buildings, there were already six people discussing García Márquez's magical realism.
That is how the book club was born, which today, in May 2026, brings together over forty neighbors every two weeks. What started as an impromptu gathering became a ritual that has transformed the community life of the neighborhood. The official name is "Lectores Bajo las Palmas", though everyone simply knows it as "the park club."
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The founders are three: Ana María Restrepo (68 years old), Carlos Jiménez (34, graphic designer), and Lucía Martínez (28, librarian at the Centro Cultural de Santa Marta). Each brings a different perspective: Ana María the literary rigor, Carlos the creativity for the dynamics, and Lucía access to books and contacts with local publishers. Together, they managed to not only keep the club alive but to grow it into a reference point for the cultural life of Bello Horizonte.
Parque de las Palmas, located between Carreras 3 and 5 with Calles 21 and 22, is the perfect setting: it has concrete benches, a covered gazebo where they meet when it rains, and a constant breeze coming down from the Sierra Nevada. The neighbors have installed two wooden shelves donated by the Junta de Acción Comunal, where anyone can leave or take books for free.
What to do at the book club
The meetings are not just for reading. Each session is designed to make the experience complete. Here is what you can expect:
- Shared reading: A chapter or a short story is chosen to be read aloud by everyone. It doesn't matter if you stutter or read slowly; no one judges here.
- Guided discussion: Ana María prepares three or four questions to open the debate. For example: "How do you think the author describes solitude in this passage?" or "What would you do if you were the protagonist?".
- Book exchange: Everyone brings a book they have already read and leaves it on the central table. You can take any book you want, with no obligation to return it.
- Literary coffee: Doña Rosa, from the corner store (Carrera 4 #21-12), prepares coffee and lemonade which she sells for $2,000 COP per cup. Part of the profit is donated to the club.
- Special activities: Once a month they invite a local writer. Authors like María del Carmen Restrepo (poet from Santa Marta) and oral storyteller Juan Pablo Rincón have visited. Entry is free.
The club has no membership or fee. You just need to arrive at Parque de las Palmas on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. (every other Saturday, check the calendar below). If you arrive early, you can help set up the chairs, or if you arrive late, no one scolds you: you sit on the grass and listen.
List of books read in the last year (2025-2026)
To give you an idea of the type of readings they handle, here are the titles they have discussed from January 2025 to May 2026:
- La casa de los espíritus – Isabel Allende (January 2025)
- El coronel no tiene quien le escriba – Gabriel García Márquez (March 2025)
- Los habitantes del mar – Various local authors about the Caribbean coast (May 2025)
- El amor en los tiempos del cólera – Gabriel García Márquez (July 2025)
- La tregua – Mario Benedetti (September 2025)
- Pedro Páramo – Juan Rulfo (November 2025)
- Relatos de un viajero por Santa Marta – Compilation of 19th-century traveler chronicles (January 2026)
- Ensayo sobre la ceguera – José Saramago (March 2026)
- La maravillosa vida breve de Óscar Wao – Junot Díaz (May 2026)
At the next meeting (Saturday, June 15, 2026) they will start Crónica de una muerte anunciada. If you want to read it beforehand, you can borrow it from the park shelf or from the Biblioteca Pública de Santa Marta (Calle 16 #3-20, a 15-minute walk away).
Where to eat or drink before or after the meeting
Bello Horizonte has simple but tasty options to complete the literary experience. Here are some recommendations from the club members themselves:
- Tienda de Doña Rosa (Carrera 4 #21-12): Besides coffee and lemonade, she sells beef and chicken empanadas for $1,500 COP each, and yuca pastries. Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is the meeting point before the gatherings.
- Panadería El Buen Pan (Calle 22 #3-45): They have pan de bono, almojábanas, and coffee with milk. A full breakfast costs around $6,000 COP. Open Monday to Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Restaurante La Costeñita (Carrera 5 #21-30): Typical food from Santa Marta: rice with coconut, fried fish, patacones. The midday executive menu costs $15,000 COP. Open Monday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Several club members go for lunch before the 4:00 p.m. meeting.
- Heladería El Parque (on the park corner, no fixed address): A cart selling coconut, mango, and corozo ice cream for $3,000 COP each. Ideal for the Santa Marta heat. Only open in the afternoons, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you prefer something more elaborate, the neighborhood has options like Pizzería Bello Horizonte (Carrera 3 #22-10), which delivers. But club members recommend staying in the park and sharing what everyone brings: some bring fruit, others cookies, and there is always someone with a bottle of panela water.
How to get there and transportation
Parque de las Palmas is in the geographic center of Bello Horizonte, a residential neighborhood in Santa Marta located south of the city, near Universidad del Magdalena and Centro Comercial Buenavista. Getting there is easy from any point in the city:
- On foot: If you are in downtown Santa Marta, it is about a 30-minute walk south, along Carrera 1 to Calle 22, then turn left. It is a flat and safe walk during the day.
- By bus: The bus routes that pass through Bello Horizonte are Route 7 (which goes from the Mercado Público to the University) and Route 12 (which connects to Rodadero). The fare is $2,200 COP (reference price as of May 2026). Get off at the stop on Carrera 4 with Calle 21, half a block from the park.
- By taxi or mototaxi: From downtown, a taxi costs between $8,000 and $10,000 COP. A mototaxi (motorcycle taxi service) costs about $5,000 COP. You can request them through apps like Didi or Uber, or hail them on the street.
- By private car: The park has no formal parking lot, but you can park on the surrounding streets (Carrera 4 and Calle 22) for free. However, arrive early because on Saturdays it fills up quickly.
If you are coming from Rodadero or Taganga, take a bus to the center and get off at the Terminal de Transporte (Calle 22 with Carrera 1), then walk 10 minutes east. The full trip from Rodadero can take 40 minutes by bus.
Local tips to enjoy the club to the fullest
These tips come from the founders and long-time members. They are things that don't appear on the club flyers:
- Bring your own favorite book to exchange. It doesn't matter if it's a novel, a poetry collection, or a comic. The exchange table always has variety, but the most popular books (like those by García Márquez) go fast. If you bring one, you ensure you take another.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. 4:00 p.m. is the official time, but by 3:45 p.m. people are already setting up chairs, putting out the exchange table, and heating the coffee. It is the best time to meet members and chat without the rush of the discussion.
- Don't be afraid to participate if you are new. Ana María always asks at the beginning: "Anyone here for the first time?" and welcomes you with a hug. They don't force you to read aloud if you don't want to. You can just listen.
- If it rains, the meeting moves to the gazebo. Parque de las Palmas has a zinc roof covering about eight benches. If the downpour is very heavy, it is canceled and rescheduled for the next Saturday. But in Santa Marta, rains are usually short.
- Bring mosquito repellent. Bello Horizonte is near the Ciénaga Grande, and in the afternoons mosquitoes can appear. The club has a couple of mosquito coils, but they are not enough for everyone.
- The club has a WhatsApp group. It is called "Lectores Bajo las Palmas" and is managed by Carlos. There they announce schedule changes, share book reviews, and organize visits to the Biblioteca Pública. You can join by asking for the link at the meeting.
A curious fact that few know: Parque de las Palmas was, in the 1980s, a pasture where cows grazed. When Bello Horizonte was urbanized, the neighbors fought to prevent a shopping center from being built and to keep it as a green area. Today, thanks to that struggle, we have this space where reading and community come together.
Interview with a member: how it changed their relationship with the neighborhood
We spoke with Jorge Luis Pérez, a 42-year-old accountant who lives on Calle 21 #4-08. He has been in the club for a year. This is what he told us:
"I came to the club by chance. One Saturday I was walking my dog and saw a group of people sitting in the park with books. I thought it was a yoga class or something. I approached out of curiosity and Ana María offered me a coffee. Since that afternoon, I haven't missed a single meeting. Before, my life in the neighborhood was limited to going to work, buying bread, and locking myself in the house. I didn't know my neighbors. Now, thanks to the club, I know the names of over thirty people. I've even made friends I go running with on Sundays. Reading together creates a different bond. When you discuss a book, you end up talking about your life, your fears, what you like. The club gave me back my trust in the community. Bello Horizonte is no longer just a place where I live; it is my neighborhood."
Upcoming meetings calendar (May - July 2026)
Meetings are every other Saturday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Parque de las Palmas. Here are the confirmed dates:
- Saturday, June 1, 2026 – Discussion of Crónica de una muerte anunciada (chapters 1-3). Reading aloud and debate.
- Saturday, June 15, 2026 – Full discussion of Crónica de una muerte anunciada. Special guest: literature professor from Universidad del Magdalena, Andrés Felipe Torres.
- Saturday, June 29, 2026 – Poetry session: each member brings a poem by their favorite author. Free reading and comments.
- Saturday, July 13, 2026 – Start of El túnel by Ernesto Sabato. First part.
- Saturday, July 27, 2026 – Final discussion of El túnel. Plus, a massive summer book exchange.
The calendar may change if it rains a lot. Check the WhatsApp group or ask at Tienda de Doña Rosa the day before.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy the books to participate?
No. The club has a shelf with donated books that you can borrow. Additionally, the Biblioteca Pública de Santa Marta lends copies for 15 days. If you can't get the book, you can still attend and listen to the discussion; many members bring printed copies of key chapters to share.
Can children come to the club?
Yes, children are welcome. In fact, there is a children's section on the park shelf with stories and fables. During meetings, parents take turns reading to the little ones while the adults discuss. If your child is very restless, you can bring them a coloring book or a toy. It's fine if they run around on the grass for a while.
Does the club charge any membership fee?
No, it is completely free. There are no fees, no registrations, no commitments. You just need to arrive at the park at 4:00 p.m. on meeting Saturdays. If you want to support, you can donate a book in good condition to the community shelf, or buy a coffee from Doña Rosa, but it is not mandatory.
What if I haven't read the book of the week?
Don't worry. Many members arrive without having finished it. Ana María always summarizes the previous chapters at the beginning. Additionally, discussions often include textual quotes that are read aloud. You can participate with your impressions of what you have read so far, or simply listen and learn. No one is going to test you.
Does the club only read classic literature?
No. Although they have read classics like García Márquez and Benedetti, they have also explored science fiction (with Isaac Asimov), contemporary essays, and books by local authors. In the June poetry session, for example, they will read from Neruda to poets from Santa Marta like José Antonio Noguera. If you have a book suggestion, you can propose it at the end of any meeting and it will be voted on.
CTA: Attend the next meeting
If you are reading this and live in Santa Marta, or if you are visiting and want to experience an authentic neighborhood life experience, we are waiting for you. The next meeting is Saturday, June 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at Parque de las Palmas (Carrera 4 with Calle 22, Bello Horizonte). Bring your favorite book to exchange, or simply come with your curiosity. It doesn't matter if you are an avid reader or if you haven't opened a book in years. Here everyone has a place.
The book club is not just about books; it is about people who meet, who listen to each other, and who build community. As Ana María says: "A neighborhood that reads is a neighborhood that dreams." Don't miss it.