National park · Colombia
Tayrona National ParkParque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Go for 2–3 nights, not a day trip: enter at El Zaíno before 8:00, walk the coast trail to Cabo San Juan (2–2.5 h), sleep in a hammock or tent, and swim only at La Piscina — Arrecifes has a deadly riptide.Go for 2–3 nights, not a day trip: enter at El Zaíno before 8:00 AM, walk the coast trail to Cabo San Juan (2–2.5 h), sleep in a hammock or tent, and swim only at La Piscina — Arrecifes has a deadly riptide.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
approximate
Established
1964
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
At a glance
- Country
- Colombia
- Area
- 150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
- Land area is usually given as about 150 km², plus a marine zone; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1964
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
Tayrona is where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta drops into the Caribbean: dry forest, coral, and a chain of beaches linked by one main coastal trail. It is small, it is busy in December–January, and it closes for about a month a year for Indigenous-led restoration. The Kogui, descendants of the Tayrona people, still live in the upper park and the wider Sierra. Treat it as a two-night walk with a pack, not a beach stop-off from Santa Marta.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1964.
Size and age
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²) · national park since 1964
Land area is usually given as about 150 km², plus a marine zone; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- A coast trail you walk with a pack between beaches, with no road along it.
- Cabo San Juan's double beach and the hammock camp above it.
- Reef-sheltered swimming at La Piscina, the one beach here that is safe for most swimmers.
- Kogui and Tayrona heritage: the park is a cultural site as much as a nature one.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanPeak crowds and peak prices; book beds weeks ahead
- FebPark may close for about 30 days for restoration — check dates
- MarDry, hot; fewer people than January
- AprDry and clear; good walking
- MayFirst rainy season starts; mud on the trail
- JunRain; park may close for about 30 days — check dates
- JulDrier spell; school holidays bring Colombians
- AugDry-ish and busy
- SepSecond rainy season; slippery rock
- OctWettest stretch; some paths muddy
- NovRain easing late in the month
- DecPeak season; camps full, prices up
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howler and titi monkeys on the coast trailAll year · Heard more often than seen; loudest at dawn. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Iguanas and lizardsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (400+ species recorded in the park)Mar–Jun | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| JaguarsAll year · Present but night-hunting and very rarely seen. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Santa Marta
White bus from Calle 11 with Carrera 9 near Mercado Público to the El Zaíno gate; ask the driver to stop there.
1 h
From Santa Marta by taxi
Taxi to El Zaíno; cheaper per person for groups of three or four.
50–70 min
From Taganga
Morning boat to Cabo San Juan, returning mid-afternoon; wet ride, protect your bag.
1 h
From Palomino or Riohacha
Intercity bus along the coast road; get off at the El Zaíno gate.
1–2.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| El Zaíno gate | The only road entrance, on the Santa Marta–Riohacha highway; ticket office and unofficial guides. | Open daily; pay entry here. |
| Cañaveral and Castilletes | The only sector reachable by car; camping, cabins and a restaurant. | Shuttle or 4 km (2.5 mi) walk from the gate.Shuttle or 2.5 mi (4 km) walk from the gate. |
| Arrecifes | Budget camps and hammocks; rough surf, no swimming. | 45 min walk from Cañaveral. |
| La Piscina | Sheltered cove behind a reef; the safe swimming beach. | 15–20 min walk from Arrecifes. |
| Cabo San Juan de la Guía | Double beach, big campground, restaurant and the wooden bungalow. | 30–40 min walk from La Piscina. |
| Upper park (Kogui land) | Indigenous territory above the coast trail. | No visitor access. |
Sketch map
- 1El Zaíno gate · Gate≈11.282, -73.915Map ↗
- 2Cañaveral · Sleep≈11.306, -73.929Map ↗
- 3Arrecifes · Sleep≈11.315, -73.950Map ↗
- 4La Piscina · Beach≈11.323, -73.959Map ↗
- 5Cabo San Juan de la Guía · Beach≈11.329, -73.965Map ↗
- 6El Pueblito (closed trail) · Trail≈11.316, -73.979Map ↗
- 7Santa Marta · Town≈11.240, -74.199Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the coast trail from El Zaíno to Cabo San Juan, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, foreign visitor (high season) | COP 71,000–85,000 | person | 2026 estimate; low season is cheaper. Colombians pay less. |
| Park entry, foreign visitor (low season) | COP 49,000–60,000 | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Compulsory visitor insurance | COP 5,000–8,000 | person | Added at the gate (check). |
| Shuttle El Zaíno gate to Cañaveral | COP 3,000–5,000 | person | 4 km; or walk it. |
| Hammock, Cabo San Juan | COP 40,000–50,000 | person per night | Premium hammocks cost more; bring a liner. |
| Horse or mule to carry luggage, Cañaveral to Arrecifes | COP 20,000–40,000 | load | Arrange at Cañaveral (check). |
| Boat, Taganga to Cabo San Juan | COP 50,000–70,000 | person each way | Rough open-water crossing; you still pay park entry on arrival. |
| Meal in the park | COP 30,000–50,000 | person | 2026 estimate; seafood and rice plates. Cash is safer than card. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry ticket permit or guide
El Pueblito trail permit or guide
Overnight bed in the park no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- COP 71,000–85,000
- COP 49,000–60,000
- COP 5,000–8,000
- COP 3,000–5,000
- COP 40,000–50,000
- COP 20,000–40,000
- COP 50,000–70,000
- COP 30,000–50,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia — PNN Tayrona before you go.
Park rules
- No swimming at Arrecifes
- Strong riptides have killed swimmers. Swim at La Piscina only.
- No alcohol or drugs
- Banned in the park; bags are checked at El Zaíno.
- No drones
- Not allowed without park permission (check).check
- No campfires and no camping outside set areas
- Use the designated camps at Cañaveral, Arrecifes, La Piscina and Cabo San Juan.
- Stay out of the upper park
- Land above the coast trail is Kogui territory; do not walk up uninvited.
- Take your rubbish out
- Bins are limited; carry waste back to the gate.
Where to stay
In the park
Cabo San Juan campground
Hammocks, rented tents and a cabaña above the double beach; electricity only a few hours a day.
In the park
Arrecifes camps
The budget cluster: hammocks, tent space and simple cabañas under fruit trees.
In the park
Ecohabs, Cañaveral
Mid-range to upper-mid-range huts above the beach; the priciest option inside the park.
Near the park
Santa Marta or Taganga
Full range of hotels and hostels, 1–1.5 h from the gate; better for a day visit.
Safety
Rip currents at Arrecifes and Cañaveral high
Heat and dehydration on the coast trail medium
Theft from tents and hammocks at night medium
Muddy, slippery trail in the rainy seasons medium
Rough boat crossing from Taganga medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Cañaveral and Castilletes are reachable by vehicle with short, mostly level walks.
- The coast trail to Arrecifes, La Piscina and Cabo San Juan is sand, rock and steps; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Hammock and tent sites are on uneven ground; the Ecohabs at Cañaveral are the easiest beds to reach.
Visiting lightly
- Do not hire anyone offering a walk into Kogui villages; entry to Indigenous land is by invitation, not ticket.
- Carry out all plastic; the park has no working recycling on the trail.
- Buy meals at the park restaurants rather than packing in everything, so the camps stay viable.
- Respect the annual closure: it exists to let the coast and the communities recover.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tayrona National Park?
Foreign visitors pay roughly COP 71,000–85,000 in high season and about COP 49,000–60,000 in low season (2026 estimate), plus a small compulsory insurance charge at the gate. Colombians pay less. Bring cash: card readers at El Zaíno are unreliable.
What are the best hikes in Tayrona National Park?
The main coast trail from El Zaíno through Cañaveral and Arrecifes to La Piscina and Cabo San Juan, 2–2.5 hours one way, is the one to do. The steeper El Pueblito ruins trail above Cabo has been closed since 2019 (check). For a bigger trek, look at Ciudad Perdida instead.
When is the best time to visit Tayrona National Park?
March–April and July–August: drier trails and fewer people than December–January, which is peak season. Rain falls mainly May–June and September–November. The park also closes for about 30 days a year, starting in February or June on a rotating basis, so check the official dates before booking.
Can you swim at Tayrona?
Only at La Piscina, where a reef forms a sheltered pool. Swimming is banned at Arrecifes because of strong riptides, and Cañaveral and Cabo San Juan can be dangerous too. Ask staff before entering the water anywhere.
Do I need to book accommodation inside the park?
Not compulsory, but hammocks and tents at Cabo San Juan and Arrecifes fill up in December–January and around Colombian holidays. Book ahead for those dates; outside them you can usually turn up and choose.
How do I get to Tayrona from Santa Marta?
Take the white bus from Calle 11 with Carrera 9 near Mercado Público to the El Zaíno gate, about an hour, or a taxi for groups. From the gate it is 4 km to Cañaveral by shuttle or on foot, then the coast trail.
Is Tayrona worth it if I only have one day?
It is tight. You can reach Cabo San Juan and return in a long day, but you will spend 4–5 hours walking in heat. Two nights inside the park, or one night at Cañaveral, is a much better use of the trip.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go