How to visit Tayrona National Park in Colombia

Tayrona is the most popular national park in Colombia for both locals and tourists. Expect lush jungles, pristine beaches, and rich biodiversity. You’ll likely run into some wildlife on of the trails. It is known for its stunning landscapes as this is where the Sierra Nevada mountains meet the sea. Beyond the stunning landscapes, Tayrona holds deep cultural significance, as it is home to the indigenous Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa, and Kankuamo communities, who consider the area sacred. These groups, descendants of the ancient Tayrona civilization, view the park as a spiritual and ecological place, maintaining a deep connection to the land. Tayrona is must visit destination in Colombia. You can choose to do a hike through the park or just enjoy the beaches and wildlife. In this guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know about how to visit Tayrona National Park—from how to get there and where to stay, to the best trails, beaches within the park.

Find my full travel route through Colombia here.

Entrance Fees and Park Hours

Tayrona National Park has different entrances and hiking routes. In order to get to any beach, you will always have to walk. How far, depends on the entrance and destination.

Two entrances:

The two entrances are El Zaino (main entrance) and Calabazo. Both are open from 8 AM to 5 PM.

El Zaino is the main entrance and from here you can also reserve a tent or hammock if you’d like to stay in the park. The trails from this entrance are better maintained than from the other entrance. From the Calabaza entrance you can reach a different side of the park. I’ll describe the different hikes below.

Entrance fee: 87,000 COP /~21,40 USD during the high season. 73,500 COP/ ~18,10 USD in the low season. Note that there are different prices for locals.

You’ll also need to pay mandatory park insurance at the entrance, which costs 6,000 COP/1,50 USD. Additionally, you can pay for camping and accommodation at the gate.

Tayrona closes for several week each year

Tayrona National Park is one of the most popular destinations in Colombia, but it’s also a religious site for various indigenous tribes.Three times a year the park closes for two weeks. The tribes can then perform their rituals in piece and the trails a chance to recover from tourism.

Closing dates Tayrona 2024

1 februari t/m 15 februari
1 juni t/m 15 juni
19 oktober t/m 2 november

Bus from El Zaino entrance

You can skip the first and also the most boring part of the hike. From the entrance to the start of the trail is a ‘normal’ road and it takes 1 hour to walk this part. The bus is only 5000 COP/€1, for a single trip so it’s well worth it. You pay cash to the driver. The drive takes around 10 minutes.

Extra tips: You can pay with card (some blogs mention that it’s only cash.) They do need your passport details, but a copy/photo on your phone is sufficient

What to do in Tayrona

There’s a few ways to enjoy Tayrona National park. That is by hiking, seeing the wildlife and relaxing on the beach.

Hiking options in Tayrona

There are two main hikes. The one from the Main entrance to Cabo San Juan is the hike that the majority of visitors will do. This route takes around 2 hours and you’ll hike through jungle and stop at several beautiful beaches. It’s the most accessible route and it takes you past the most impressive spot in Tayrona. If you only have 1 or 2 days, I’d recommend starting here.

You can walk to Cabo San Juan and back or you can choose to camp in the park for a night. Camping gives you the opportunity to see the sunset and sunrise in the park, but it’s less comfortable than some of the beautiful lodges just outside. The chance of seeing wildlife is also much bigger in the morning, so that could be another reason to spend a night in the park.

If you have an extra day, you may consider continuing from Cabo San Juan to Playa Brava. This is a rougher 3 hour route that will take you to a more remote part of Tayrona. From Cabo San Juan you start hiking to El Pueblito. This part is mostly ascending! From there you continue for one more hour to Playa Brava. There’s only one available place to stay and that is Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke. Make sure to book in advance. The next day, hiking from Playa Brava to the Calabazo exit will take you 2,5 hours.

The Beaches in Tayrona National Park

Cabo San Juan: This is the most popular beach, as its the end of the main hike. It’s very picturesque and suitable for swimming. It’s one of the main camping spots. You can book a tent or hammock here.
Playa Brava: This beach is also an excellent spot to camp (enter this beach from the Calabazo entrance). It a little bit wilder and more remote. Since the sea here is quite rough, there is no swimming here.
Arrecifes: You can’t swim here, because of the undercurrent, but it’s a gorgeous place to visit nonetheless.
La Piscina: The name of this beach means ‘swimming pool’ as there are rocks surrounding it, making it look like a saltwater pool (which is also safe for swimming!).
Playa Cristal: The beach with the clearest, most beautiful water and the perfect place for snorkeling and swimming! Generally, you’ll only get to this beach on a snorkeling tour by boat.

Wildlife and Nature in Tayrona

The park’s lush rainforests, mangroves, and pristine beaches create a rich habitat for an astonishing variety of wildlife. Visitors can spot howler monkeys swinging through the canopy, white-headed capuchins, and the elusive jaguar prowling deep within the jungle. Birdwatchers are treated to over 300 species, including the iconic Andean condor and vibrant toucans. The park’s marine life is equally impressive, with coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, and occasionally dolphins gliding through the turquoise waters

The best time to visit Tayrona National Park

The best time to visit Tayrona depends on your preference. During the rainy season:April/May and September-November you can expect rain showers, but this will be when the park is the most quiet. December, January, June and July are the holiday months and many Colombians will be visiting the park. A good compromise is visiting in March, with only a slight chance of rain and outside of holiday season.

Getting to Tayrona National Park

Santa Marta to Tayrona: Take either a bus or private transfer to Tayrona National Park. If you are arriving at the Santa Marta airport, you will need to get to the bus terminal or market area. The buses to Tayrona Park leave about every 30 minutes from Calle 11 & Carrera 11 in the Central Market.

Walking: If you’re staying in one of the lodges, just outside the park you can walk to the entrance or catch the bus by the side of the road.

Where to Stay in and Around Tayrona

Inside the Park:

There is a few big really big advantages to staying inside Tayrona National Park. For one, you only have to pay the entrance free once. Second, you have a better chance of seeing wildlife early in the morning. Finally, you avoid some of the crowds by already being inside the park once people start entering in the morning. Inside the park you can choose to camp or stay in ecohabs/Cabanas for more comfort. If you’d like to stay in a cabana or lodge, make sure to book in advance!

The camping options for Cabo San Juan & Arrecifes can be booked at the El Zaino Entrance. If you’d like to book Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke, you have to book online. The biggest and most popular campsite is Cabo San Juan. There are around 80 tents here! Bring warm clothes, because they do not provide a blanket.

There are also a few more comfortable spots to stay inside the park:

Ecohabs Tequendama

Arrecifes Refugio Natural

Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke

Outside the Park:

I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in Santa Martha, because I think it’s just a little too far out. You won’t get to the park early enough to avoid the crowds. However, there are several really nice accommodation just outside the park. From there you can just walk to the entrance or catch a bus. I personally stayed in Quetzal Dorado Eco Lodge and it was wonderful!