Visiting Tayrona National Park | Enjoy Colombia's best beaches
Exploring Tayrona Where to stay How to get around Things To Do How to get there Favourite stays
Where the lush foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta melt into the crystal-clear sea, you’ll find Tayrona National Park.
Home to seven of the best beaches in the country, Tayrona National Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Colombia.
Picturesque beaches, hiking, diving, snorkelling and unique biodiversity attract both local and international tourists. Tayrona was even shortlisted for the title of one of the five most important national parks in the world.
For a national park, there’s a surprisingly large amount of information that you need to know about visiting Tayrona. Read on to find out how to plan your trip, including which entrance to use, how much it costs, when to visit, and more.
Is Tayrona worth visiting?
Part of Tayrona’s mystery comes from the fact that visitors can’t go everywhere. Some beaches along the hiking trails are off limits to people due to preservation and dangerous currents.
Instead, you get to admire the untouched masterpiece of mother nature. How often do you see a beach with no footprints at all?
Don’t worry, there are still plenty of beaches perfect for enjoying a swim after your rewarding hike there.
We’re not the only ones who see the magic in this place. There are a number of Indigenous groups still living in and caring for Tayrona.
Where to stay in Tayrona
Where you choose to stay in Tayrona is an experience in itself. Do you want a relaxing retreat surrounded by nothing by jungle? Or do you want to sleep under the stars in Tayrona National Park? Here are your options:
- Staying around Tayrona National Park
- Sleeping in a hammock, tent or cabin inside the national park
- Staying in Santa Marta (our least favourite option)
Location #1: Outside Tayrona National Park — jungle retreats and relaxation
Once you see the accommodation available around Tayrona, you might even consider staying in your accommodation all day long without even visiting the national park.
We’re joking of course, but the standard of accommodation around Tayrona is incredible. Think jungle paradises with views of nothing but nature.
Being just outside Tayrona National Park makes getting to the park in the morning super easy.
Accommodation around Tayrona National Park
Our two favourite spots have to be Senda Watapuy and Senda Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos. You can’t get more serene and picturesque than these two places. They offer views of the beach, infinity pools and jungle-inspired luxury rooms. What more could you ask for?
La Casablanca Tayrona House is our favourite for those on a budget thanks to its stunning pool, spacious rooms and beautiful gardens.
Top Tip: Restaurants around Tayrona aren't that great. Most accommodations are aware of this and serve food on site. We recommend eating at your accommodation instead of wasting money on a disappointing meal.
Location #2: Inside Tayrona National Park — sleep under the stars
If one day in Tayrona National Park isn’t enough for you, a little hack is to stay the night. This way you pay for one day in Tayrona, but get to stay for two.
The best part is that you get to experience the magic of Tayrona without the hordes of tourists. Plus the stargazing here is amazing!
Accommodation inside Tayrona National Park
There are a number of campsites dotted throughout the park that you can stay at. However, the most popular and one of the easiest to get to is Cabo San Juan campsite.
At this campsite, you have three options: hammock, tent or cabin.
None of them can be booked online in advance. When you arrive at one of the entrances to Tayrona National Park, you should book it there.
Hammocks
There are two options when it comes to hammocks. One set of hammocks is under a shelter on the beach and the others can be found in an open-air hut on a peninsula out at sea.
If you don’t mind a slightly colder and windier night, we’d choose the hammocks on the peninsula as the views are incredible!
The hammocks on land cost [price 40,000 COP], the ones on the peninsula cost [price 50,000 COP].
Tent
A tent can be a good option if you want to be a bit more protected from the elements. Don’t expect the most luxurious experience, but hey, it’s part of the adventure!
Tents cost [price 80,000 COP] per night and can fit two people.
Cabin
For [price 200,000 COP] (two people) you can still sleep on Cabo San Juan beach, just slightly more protected from the elements.
The cabins are very basic, but it’s more about what’s outside your room rather than inside.
Other places to stay inside Tayrona
If Cabo San Juan isn’t off the beaten track enough for you, then some other places available to camp include Castilletes, Cañaveral, Arrecifes and Playa Brava.
Some of these spots also offer more luxurious accommodation options.
Location #3: Santa Marta — a day trip to Tayrona
Another option is to stay in Santa Marta and travel to Tayrona for the day. The journey takes between 30 min and 1 hour depending on which entrance you use.
Find out how to get from Santa Marta to Tayrona.
However, busy and dirty Santa Marta isn’t our favourite place in Colombia, so why spend more time there than you need?
Plus, there are incredible jungle accommodation options all around Tayrona National Park that you won’t want to miss out on!
How to visit Tayrona National Park
There are two main entrances to Tayrona National Park, so your first decision is which one you’re going to use.
El Zaino entrance
El Zaino is the most popular and main entrance. It puts you in an ideal location to visit a number of Tayrona’s beaches without having to walk too far.
The walk from El Zaino to the main beach, Cabo San Juan, takes around 2 hours.
Get to the El Zaino entrance early to avoid queues and get to the beaches before everyone else.
Top Tip: It’s a 30-minute walk to get from the El Zaino entrance to the trailhead. We recommend taking the shuttle bus for [price 5,000 COP]. It saves you time and money, and you skip the part where you’re just walking along a road.
Calabazo entrance
Your other option is the Calabazo entrance. It’s further from the main sections of Tayrona Park — it’s a 3.5-hour walk to Cabo San Juan — but it does have some advantages.
If you want to enjoy some more adventurous hiking without the crowds then this entrance might be better.
Tayrona National Park entrance fee and opening times
The park is open every day between 7am and 5pm. We highly recommend getting there when it opens so you can make the most of your day in the park and avoid the crowds.
Entrance costs [price 57,500 COP] most of the year. During the high season (December to February), entrance increases to [price 66,500 COP]. You can pay this by card.
There is also an additional [price 5,000 COP] fee for insurance, which has to be paid in cash.
When is Tayrona National Park closed?
It’s important to know that Tayrona National Park is closed for a proportion of February, June and October every year.
The Indigenous communities living in Tayrona request this so that they can physically and spiritually clean the area, allowing the plants and wildlife to return.
In 2023, Tayrona National Park was closed on:
- 1-15 February
- 1-15 June
- 19 October – 2 November
The last time we checked, the same closure schedule applies for the year 2024. However, these dates can still vary slightly every year, so make sure to check out Parque Tayrona for the latest information.
How to get to Tayrona National Park
Getting to Tayrona National Park is an easy task. Everything you need to know about how to get to Tayrona can be found in our informative route guides: Santa Marta to Tayrona and Cartagena to Tayrona.
If you’re staying in accommodation just outside of Tayrona National Park, the best way to get to one of the entrances is by bus or moto taxi.
The bus should cost [price 2,000 COP] and a moto taxi around [price 5,000 COP], depending on your haggling skills. You can fit two people per motorbike.
Best beaches in Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is home to some of the best beaches in Colombia. You’ll get to experience the best of the Caribbean coast, with perfect turquoise waters and white-sand beaches.
There are a number of different beaches that you can visit in Tayrona National Park. Some are ideal for swimming, others can only be admired from the hiking trail due to dangerous currents.
Here are some of our favourite beaches in Tayrona:
#1 Cabo San Juan — Tayrona’s most popular beach
Cabo San Juan del Guia is without a doubt Tayrona's most popular beach. With most people starting their hike from El Zaino, Cabo San Juan is often the end point of most people’s hikes.
The beach couldn’t be any more perfect for a refreshing swim after a sweaty hike. There’s plenty of shade on this beach too, plus places to grab some food and a drink.
The only downside to Cabo San Juan is that it can get very busy! Try to get there early to have some time at the beach by yourself. Or consider staying overnight?
#2 La Piscina — a tranquil natural pool in the sea
You’ll find La Piscina on the way to Cabo San Juan. It can be a great place to stop on the way there or back.
La Piscina is one of the best beaches for swimming in Tayrona. The rocks around the small bay form a barrier from the waves, creating a natural and calm pool in the ocean.
It's paradise!
#3 Playa Cristal — only 300 people are allowed on the beach every day
What makes Playa Cristal special, aside from its incredible beauty, is that it used to be an important ceremonial place for the Indigenous people living in Tayrona.
Playa Cristal is a little harder to get to than the other two. It’s not along the main hiking route that everyone takes. Instead, it has to be accessed via the Palanga entrance. Coupled with the fact that only 300 people are allowed on the beach every day, it’s a pretty intimate place.
Best things to do in and around Tayrona
Most people visit Tayrona purely for the national park. But if you want to enjoy a few more days in your jungle retreat, there are actually a number of things to do around the area.
#1 Get off the beaten track and follow the Monkey Trail
You won’t find a lot of information online about this trail. It’s simply a peaceful and not frequently used path that runs from the main road to Los Naranjos Beach.
The trail got its name, the Monkey Trail, from the howler monkeys and titi monkeys hanging out in the trees.
Even better, the Monkey Trail feels like a hidden gem as you cross rivers and walk between banana plantations without seeing another person. Los Naranjos Beach is the epitome of tranquillity. You’ll never see it busy!
Although the water can be a bit rough, the river that runs into the sea can be a nice place for a dip. Do keep an eye out for the crocodiles, though — we’re serious!
The trail starts here.
#2 Go horse riding through the jungle
You can ride horses within Tayrona National Park. You’ll see them at the entrances, offering you rides to the beach. We’re not recommending that you ride these horses as they’re often overworked, and not best cared for.
Instead, go horse riding outside of Tayrona National Park. It can actually be better as you get to escape into nature without anybody else.
You’ll get to gallop along the beach, ride through rivers and take in the spectacular scenery. It’s pretty magical!
For 2 hours of horse riding expect to pay [price 70,000 COP]-[price 100,000 COP] per person. For well-kept horses and a great experience, you can book your tour by messaging +573136093595.
#3 Relax on the beach in Palomino
If Palomino isn’t already on your Colombian itinerary (we would highly recommend that it is), then you can visit the laidback beach town from Tayrona.
You can check out our Palomino guide to find out what it’s like, where to eat and what to do there.
How to get to Tayrona National Park
In summary
Now that you’ve finished reading this guide, you're almost ready for your adventure in Tayrona National Park. The next step is to create your personalised itinerary with our top picks of things to do in Tayrona National Park. Simply choose your favourite activities and places to visit, and you're all set to make lasting memories in Tayrona National Park.
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