Tayrona National Park is the most popular national park in Colombia, and for good reason. With 150 km2 (57 mi2) of jungle, miles of beaches, and a good chance of encountering wildlife, it’s a must-visit destination. During our trip, we even came across a group of cotton-top monkeys that only live in Northern Colombia. To make the most of your visit to Tayrona National Park, it’s important to prepare accordingly. There are many different choices you can make that can make a big difference to your experience. Below, we’ve provided practical tips and more things that you need to know to help you get the most out of your visit. Of course, the beauty of the park will speak for itself, as you’ll see in our photos.

Tayrona closes its doors for several weeks each year

Tayrona National Park isn’t just an important attraction in Colombia; it’s also a sacred place for four different indigenous tribes who call this region their home. Three times a year, the park closes for two weeks to allow the indigenous tribes to perform their rituals in peace, for trail maintenance, and to give nature a chance to recover from all the activity. While it may be inconvenient for travelers, it’s a vital practice for the protection of nature and the preservation of the indigenous population’s culture.

Closing dates Tayrona 2023

• Feb. 1 to Feb. 15
• June 1 through June 15
• October 19 to November 2

 

The different etrances

Tayrona National Park has two entrances: El Zaino and Calabazo. El Zaino is the main entrance that almost everyone uses, and we recommend starting there because you can reserve your tent or hammock. This is very important, and we’ll explain why later on. The paths from this entrance are also well-maintained and will take you past all the stunning beaches. If you enter through the Calabazo entrance, you’ll explore another part of the park. Below, we’ll provide you with a better idea of the potential routes and various options.

Visit Tayrona in 1 or 2 days

About 90% of visitors take the same route, starting from El Zaino and leading to the iconic Cabo San Juan beach. This route takes about 2 hours and runs mostly through the jungle, passing other beautiful beaches such as Arrecifes and La Piscina along the way. It’s the most accessible route, but some describe it as challenging due to the heat. If you have 1 or 2 days to explore Tayrona, we recommend this option because it takes you to the most beautiful places.

You can walk to Cabo San Juan and back to the entrance in one day, but it’s much more enjoyable and relaxing to spend a night in Tayrona. After all, before sunset, all the day-trippers leave, and the sunrise is absolutely fantastic when everything is still quiet and the jungle comes alive. So, if you want to experience Tayrona fully, we highly recommend an overnight stay. The next day, walk back along the same route you came. Keep your ears open along the way because you’re likely to encounter wildlife in the early morning.

Visit Tayrona in 3 days

Do you have more time and want to visit the less crowded area of Tayrona? Then, after spending a night at Cabo San Juan, you can proceed to Playa Brava. This challenging hike takes at least three hours, but you’ll hardly encounter anyone along the way. Some sections of the trails are not well maintained, so be prepared for some sections where you may need to hike more carefully or with extra effort. In short, if you’re in good shape and up for a challenge, it can be a fun adventure to explore this lesser-known part of Tayrona.

Starting from Cabo San Juan, you’ll trek up the mountain for about two hours to El Pueblito. This ancient village was once home to indigenous people, but it’s currently not accessible to tourists, so you’ll need to walk past it. From there, it takes about another hour to reach Playa Brava. Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke is the only accommodation available in this area of the park, so it’s crucial to book your stay well in advance if you plan on staying here. After spending a night at Playa Brava, it’s just a 2.5-minute walk to the Calabazo exit.

The distances in Tayrona National Park

• El Zaino entrance to hike starting point: 1 hour walk or 10 minutes by shuttle bus
• Starting point walk to Arrecifes: 1 hour walk
• Arrecifes to La Piscina: 30-minute walk
• La Piscina to Cabo San Juan: 20-minute walk
• Cabo San Juan to El Pueblito: 2-hour walk
• El Pueblito to Playa Brava: 1 hour walk
• Playa Brava to Calabazo exit: 2.5 hour walk

 

Staying overnight in Tayrona National Park

We highly recommend staying overnight in Tayrona for several reasons. Not only does it give you plenty of time to swim leisurely at beautiful beaches, but it also allows you to experience the peaceful moments of sunset and sunrise. In the past, it wasn’t possible to reserve overnight stays, so visitors had to rush through the park to secure a place to sleep at the campground. Fortunately, things have improved, and you can now book your overnight stay at a ticket office just before the El Zaino entrance. This way, you don’t have to hurry to the campsite and can be sure to have a tent or hammock waiting for you.

You have the option to choose from a hammock, tent, or even a few bungalows at certain campsites. Most visitors choose to stay at either Arrecifes or Cabo San Juan. Cabo San Juan is the largest campground, space for up to 80 tents, which can take away from the natural beauty of the area. However, we decided to stay here anyway because it’s situated on the most beautiful beach in Tayrona, and as you can see from the photos, it provided a stunning view to wake up to.

Note: Are you planning to visit Tayrona and spend a night at Playa Brava in three days? Keep in mind that you can’t reserve your stay at the entrance and must book online in advance.

Choosing between a tent or hammock

Plan on spending the night in a hammock or tent at Arrecifes or Cabo San Juan. The bungalows are often booked in advance by locals, so they may not be an option for visitors. We personally preferred having our own space, so we decided to go with a tent. The bedding was clean, and the mattress was comfortable enough. If you prefer a hammock, you can choose between the “camping” area or the “mirador” at Cabo San Juan. The camping area is a roofed space with 50 hammocks lined up under it, while the mirador is a small house on top of a rock in the sea with a great view, but the wind can make it quite chilly at night. The evenings can also cool down considerably, so make sure to bring warm clothing, even if you’re sleeping in a tent because blankets are not provided.

Packlist Tayrona

Avoid bringing too much gear to Tayrona since you’ll be carrying everything yourself. Fortunately, lockers are available at the campsites. Below is a list of items that might be useful to bring along. Consider your plans and decide which items are necessary for your trip.

Note: They check your bag at the entrance very thoroughly for alcohol and drugs. Alcohol can be purchased in the park but you are not allowed to bring your own.

8 additional tips for Tayrona National Park

A few more important things to consider

#1 Don’t forget to bring your passport

You must be able to show your passport at the entrance so don’t forget to bring it with you.

#2 Visit Tayrona off weekends and holidays

Don’t be disappointed if you’re not the only visitor at Tayrona. As Colombia’s most popular national park, it’s often crowded. To avoid the crowds as much as possible, it’s best to visit on a weekday and outside of major holidays. Approximately 15 times a year, Colombians have a long weekend due to a holiday falling on a Monday or Friday. During these weekends, families tend to go out and explore, leading to popular destinations becoming extremely crowded. As a result, even Fridays or Mondays can be quite busy. It’s best to check in advance when these holidays occur.

Holidays Colombia 2023
Holidays Colombia 2024

#3 Use maps.me

The maps.me app displays the hiking trails in Tayrona, which can be very helpful when you’re unsure which route to take at a junction or want to make sure you don’t miss any of the beaches along the way.

#4 Be at the entrance by 8:00 a.m.

Tayrona National Park opens at 8 a.m., so it’s a good idea to arrive at the entrance by then. Not only is it less hot in the morning, but the park can quickly become crowded with long queues. Once at the entrance, it’s best to arrange your accommodation immediately to have more options available. Later in the day, walking the trails in Tayrona can sometimes feel like being on a train, as the paths can get quite crowded with visitors, which takes away from the charm of the experience. Additionally, there’s a better chance of spotting wildlife in the early morning, so that’s a nice reason to start early.

#5 Don’t go swimming at Arrecifes

The current at Arrecifes is often very strong, and sadly, many people have drowned there. Swimming is prohibited in this area. However, you can still enjoy a nice swim at La Piscina and Cabo San Juan. If you’re looking for a quieter beach, consider stopping just before La Piscina at Playa Arenilla. This hidden beach is sometimes empty and you may get it all to yourself. If Cabo San Juan feels too crowded, walk a bit further to Playa Nudista. It’s often much quieter here, and you can swim safely.

#6 Leave your backpack or suitcase at the hotel or hostel

Be sure to store your suitcase or backpack at your hostel or hotel before heading to Tayrona. This is an option at most places you stay and is often free of charge.

#7 Take the van from the entrance to the beginning of the trail

Be sure to store your suitcase or backpack at your hostel or hotel before heading to Tayrona. This is an option at most places you stay and is often free of charge.

#8 Take enough cash with you, including for your onward journey

There aren’t any ATMs in the Tayrona area, and not all hotels accept credit card payments, so be sure to bring enough cash. If you’re also planning to travel to Palomino after Tayrona, it’s best to bring even more cash because there are no ATMs there either.

From where to visit Tayrona National Park?

You may sometimes hear that travelers visit Tayrona from Taganga or Santa Marta, but we do not recommend it. It’s much nicer to stay close to Tayrona, so you don’t have to wake up too early and can start the hike with more energy. There are some nice hotels close to the entrance of Tayrona, often surrounded by nature. If you’re in Santa Marta, take the bus towards Palomino and make sure to pin your hotel on Google Maps or maps.me, so you know when to stop the bus. The cheapest buses without air conditioning depart from here, while some more luxurious buses with air conditioning are also available here.

Our favorite places to stay close to Tayrona

If you have the time, we recommend staying here for at least one night before your visit to Tayrona and one night after your visit. The area around Tayrona has some fantastic hotels, and it’s great to have a good rest after all the hiking, sweating, and sleeping in rough conditions. The Quetzal Dorado Eco Lodge is located on a small hill, offering stunning views of the jungle in Tayrona National Park. You’ll be staying in a nice bungalow with a small porch and a hammock, surrounded by tropical birds. With a bit of luck, you may even hear howler monkeys roaring in the morning. The lodge also features a great restaurant, a nice pool, and both pool and foosball tables for entertainment.

Senda Koguiwa is another little paradise in the midst of nature, located just a 5-minute walk from the entrance to Tayrona. The rooms here are a bit more luxurious, and the hotel is situated next to a river where you can take a nice walk or a refreshing dip around sunset. Eco Hostal Yuluka is a charming hostel that’s around 2 kilometers away from the entrance to Tayrona National Park. It boasts a beautiful garden filled with many plants and flowers, as well as a nice pool. The double rooms are spacious, and if you’re looking to stay on a budget, they also have a nice dorm available.

Quetzal Dorado Eco Lodge More information

Senda Koguiwa More information

Eco Hostal Yuluka More information

Want to read more about these accommodations and the differences? Then check out our article on the 5 Special Jungle Hotels at Tayrona National Park