During the INVEMAR - MACROFAUNA I expedition (1998-1999), specimens of 16 species of crustacean decapods of the Galatheidae family, belonging to three genera, were collected. In this paper the distictive characteristics of 12 of the species, registered for the first time for the Colombian Caribbean, are presented. This paper also includes taxonomic keys, species images, bathymetric and geographic data and comments of their morphological variations. Additionally, the holdings of the family, collected in Colombian localities and deposited in biological collections, according to the reviewed bibliographical references, are listed. The species are: Agononida longipes (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880); Munida constricta A. Milne-Edwards, 1880; M. evermanni Benedict, 1901; M. flinti Benedict, 1902; M. forceps A. Milne-Edwards, 1880; Munidopsis alaminos Pequegnat and Pequegnat, 1970; M. brevimanus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880); M. erinaceus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880); M. longimanus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880); M. platirostris (A. Milne-Edwards and Bouvier, 1894); M. polita (Smith, 1883); and M. ramahtaylorae Pequegnat and Pequegnat, 1971.