You see a photo on Instagram — "What a stunning place!” - and rush to check where it is. To your delight, you discover it’s in South America — on your continent! In Colombia, no less! Even better, you can find affordable flights from where you live, Brazil, to Colombia. And Colombia is not an expensive country to visit.
There, in that millisecond everything was already defined: Colombia has been at the top of my travel wishlist, and visiting the Tayrona National Park as a must-see on your itinerary.
Imagine unspoiled rainforest, pristine beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, hiking trails through palm groves, abundant wildlife, and sunshine all day long. And it's all just under an hour from the town of Santa Marta, on Colombia's Caribbean coast.
Never heard of this paradise? Or have you been dreaming about it for a while, just waiting to figure out the details? Let’s dive in! Here, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Tayrona National Park in Colombia: how to get there, the best time to visit, where to stay, what to do, and most importantly — whether it’s really worth the trip.
All posts about our trips to Colombia, for you to get inspired and plan your next trip:
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How to get to Tayrona National Park, Colombia
We were traveling through Colombia, and after enjoying a few days in Bogota and Cartagena de Indias, we set off by car towards Tayrona National Park.
There’s no need for a car to get around in Cartagena. In fact, if you’re staying in the historic area (Ciudad Amurallada), having a car will only be a hassle. So, we picked up our rental car on the last day. We rented from Alamo, near Cartagena Airport, and returned it at Santa Marta Airport.
By airplane
The main international airport in Colombia is Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport (BOG) , with flights to various cities across the Americas and Europe. Avianca is the main Colombian airline, but there are other companies operating both international and domestic routes. We flew from São Paulo to Bogotá with Avianca—the departure time was inconvenient, in the middle of the night, but that’s the price you pay to reach a new destination.
From Bogotá, you’ll need to take a domestic flight to Santa Marta(unless you’re up for a 1.000 km road trip). Santa Marta is a medium-sized town on the Caribbean coast, and its airport is about 50 km (31 miles) from the main entrance of Tayrona National Park. At the time of this post, there are also flights to Santa Marta from Medellín, Cali, Pereira, and Panama City. There is transfer servicefrom Santa Marta to Tayrona.
On our way back, we dropped off the car at Santa Marta airport (Simón Bolívar International Airport – SMR) and flew back to Bogotá with VivaAir ( low-cost airline now bankrupt). At the time of writing, Avianca, LATAM, and Wingo also operate this route.
By car
Tayrona National Park is 250 km (155 miles) east of Cartagena. It took us about 4 hours to drive there, not counting the time spent on our lunch stop. The road passes through Barranquilla, one of Colombia’s largest cities, though there’s not much of interest for the average tourist — other than the fact that it’s Shakira’s hometown.
We stopped for lunch at Isla Rosario (not to be confused with Islas del Rosario near Cartagena, about which I tell in this post), at Popeye El Marino Restaurant This rustic but delightful restaurant is beautifully situated, though it’s in a rather underdeveloped area along the route from Cartagena to Tayrona. Even so, if you’re driving this way, it’s worth stopping for a meal or snacks, the food was excellent.
Driving in Colombia
Was it easy to drive through Colombia? Yes, we had no problems at all.
From Cartagena to Tayrona National Park, the roads are paved and single-lane, generally well-maintained and signposted. Traffic in towns and cities can be a bit chaotic and disorganized, but it’s not too different from other places in Latin America.
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Where to stay in Tayrona National Park, Colombia
The main town close to Tayrona National Park is Santa Marta, which offers a variety of accommodation options to suit all styles and budgets. If you're staying in town, you can easily arrange a day tour to visit the park.
From downtown Santa Marta, it’s about 16 km (10 miles) or a 30-40 minute drive to the park's first entrance. From there, it’s another 24 km (15 miles) or an additional 20-30 minutes to the main entrance.
While staying in Santa Marta is convenient for visiting the park, we wanted to relax on the beach, enjoy our hotel, and appreciate the natural beauty of the region, so I looked for accommodation closer to the park's main entrance. That's why I looked for accommodation options close to the park, at Playa Los Naranjos.
Another popular option is to camp inside the park. There are campsites near some beaches, and information about them is readily available online.
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Where we stayed at Tayrona National Park
We stayed at Senda Maloka Barlovento, one of the accommodation options within Finca Barlovento. Words can't fully capture the beauty of this place. It’s located at the mouth of the Rio Piedras, the river that marks the boundary of Tayrona National Park, practically in front of Los Naranjos Beach. Another option in the complex, Senda Cabaña Barlovento, is literally on the edge of the sea, built atop rocks where the waves crash. Right by the complex is Villa Playa Tayrona, which looks amazing and has good reviews.
Senda Maloka Barlovento itself is simple but comfortable and cozy. The balcony overlooking the river and the sea is sensational, and the sunsets are incredible. The room was spacious and comfortably accommodated the four of us. There’s no hot water in the bathroom, but this wasn’t an issue since the area is so warm.
There’s an on-site restaurant with tables on the same balcony—the food is great, and the staff is very attentive. We had dinner there every night and lunch one day; everything was delicious, and the juices were wonderful. The pool is on a deck in the middle of the woods, and there’s a spa (which we didn’t use). The inn is about a 5-minute drive from the park's main entrance, El Zaino.
This was by far the best lodging experience of the trip and one of the best we’ve had in recent times. If I ever return to Colombia (and I will!!), I will definitely come back to this inn.
NOTE: This not a sponsored post. I didn’t receive any compensation for recommending this inn, and I won’t earn anything if you stay there. I’m recommending it simply because it’s a spectacular place, and we had a fantastic experience.
Other accommodation options near Tayrona
Along the road connecting Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park, particularly in the El Zaino area, there are numerous accommodation options . You’ll also find places to stay in Playa Los Naranjos, ranging from campsites to boutique hotels, catering to all price points and comfort levels.
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How to visit Tayrona National Park in Colombia
If you love nature, hiking and adventure, and want to experience paradisiacal beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, you’ll fall in love with Tayrona. The park stretches from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Caribbean coast, encompassing beaches, forests, desert areas, and mountains. We only explored the coastal areas, but there’s so much more to discover.
How to get to Tayrona Park – El Zaino Entrance
The main entrance to the park is El Zaino, located in the eastern part of Tayrona. Here, you’ll pay the entrance fee—try to arrive early, as there’s usually a long line, and at least when we visited, there was a limit on the number of daily visitors. It’s also important to check the park's opening and closing times, as they can vary throughout the year, and there are periods when the park is closed. You can find this information, along with details about entrance fees, on the Park's official website (in Spanish), where you can also find information about where to camp.
From El Zaino, you’ll drive 4 km to a parking lot with some basic facilities (bathrooms, a snack bar, and a shop). If you don’t have a car, there’s a shuttle bus that takes you from the entrance to the parking lot — it’s worth taking the bus, as the route is long and not particularly scenic..
Hiking in Tayrona Park
From the parking lot, a beautiful hiking trail through the forest leads to the beaches. The hike isn’t difficult, with some sections on wooden walkways, but there are several ups and downs, many steps, and some stretches on soft sand. It’s also a relatively long walk to reach the most beautiful and swimmable beaches. Our daughters, who were 9 and 10 at the time, complained a bit along the way, but they did great overall and finished with smiles on their faces.
We followed the trail to the beaches of Cañaveral (closed for swimming because it was turtle nesting season), Arrecifes, La Arenilla and La Piscina — the latter two were perfect for swimming, and we spent a good amount of time there just enjoying the water. We then continued to Cabo San Juan de Guia.
The entire journey took us about 8 hours (round trip), including stops to swim at three beaches. It took us around 2 hours each way. At Playa Arenilla, there were stalls selling juice, beer, and food, and at San Juan del Guía, there’s a larger setup with a restaurant and restrooms. You can even camp on this beach, which must be an amazing experience—check the official Tayrona Park website for more details.
Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, as there are no sources or places to buy it along the trail. Use lots of sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes for the walk—preferably sneakers. I made the mistake of wearing my Havaianas flip-flops, which ended up falling apart at the last beach, leaving me to walk all the way back barefoot!
How to get to Tayrona Park – West side
The other entrance to the park is on the west side, closer to Santa Marta . From there, you can drive and then continue on a trail to the beaches of Guaiaca, 7 Olas and Crystal. You can also take a boat to reach other more distant beaches. We didn’t get a chance to explore this part of the park, but it’s definitely on the list for our next trip to Colombia.
If you prefer an organized tour, there are several options departing from Santa Marta.
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Santa Marta, Colombia
On the last day, we left the hotel early and headed towards Santa Marta, where we took our COVID tests (still mandatory for entry into our next destination) and explored the town. While its seafront is pleasant for a stroll, with a nice pier and some good dining options nearby, Santa Marta doesn’t have any major attractions. If you have some extra time, it might be worth visiting the local Museo del Oro. We had lunch in town and then made our way to the airport.
From there we flew to Bogota and the next day we continued our journey to EUA.
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Is Tayrona Park in Colombia worth visiting?
YES, ABSOLUTELY!
Choosing to visit the Tayrona Park region was a decision we made among several possible destinations in Colombia. We had four days available and could have gone to Medellín, San Andrés, Valle del Cocora, or any other destination in this amazing country—a country that constantly surprised us with its beauty and the warmth of its people.
We chose Tayrona, and we have no regrets . In fact, out of all the options we considered, we’re certain it was the best choice for those final days of our trip. The park and beaches were incredibly peaceful, without the overwhelming crowds we encountered in Cartagena. The water was refreshing, the landscapes stunning, the facilities excellent, and the food delicious. In short, it was the most enjoyable part of our 12 day trip through Colombia!
It was absolutely worth it. Just writing this post makes me want to book a flight back to Santa Marta, explore the parts of Tayrona Park we didn’t get to see, and of course, revisit the ones we already loved.
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All our posts about traveling in Central and South America:
- Complete guide to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: Tips and essential itinerary
- Brazilian Amazon - How to visit the Amazon Rainforest
- What to do in Alter do Chão: Exploring amazonian beaches and rainforests in Brazil
- The best tours to do in Bonito, Brazil, in 4 days
- Ultimate Guide to Bonito: Exploring the Southern Brazilian Pantanal's Hidden Paradise
- Bonito, Brazil with kids: When is the right age to visit?
- What to do in Chapada dos Guimaraes – Mato Grosso
- What to do in Pirenópolis: charming ecotourism in the heart of Central Brazil
- What to do in 3 days in Bogotá
- What to do in Cartagena de Indias – Colombia
- How to visit Tayrona National Park – the most beautiful beaches in mainland Colombia
- The best of Colombia – 12-day itinerary
- Guatemala – 10-day itinerary
- El Calafate and Perito Moreno Glacier - the best of Argentinan Patagonia
- Torres del Paine photographic expedition - Chilean Patagonia
- One week in Belize: a perfect itinerary for first-time visitors
- Things to do in Belize: the best of San Ignacio, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker
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