Colombia is a rustic stuffed with treasures for vacationers to get pleasure from, a kind of treasures is most definitely the idyllic Tayrona Nationwide Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Pure Tayrona or Parque Tayrona). Mendacity alongside Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast, this stunning nationwide park is dwelling to seashore after beautiful seashore, hid by jungle forest and dramatic hills. Tayrona Nationwide Park provides a terrific change of tempo from exploring Colombia’s energetic, bustling cities, to not point out it has picture-perfect surroundings.

When you’re planning a visit to Tayrona Nationwide Park it’s undoubtedly greatest to be ready, as this distant paradise isn’t probably the most simple of locations. Not solely do you must deal with attending to the nationwide park and discovering your method round, however there are many different features to plan which you’ll have not even thought of. That’s why we’ve put collectively this information to Tayrona Nationwide Park in order that you realize precisely the way to have a profitable journey.

Transient Background to Tayrona Nationwide Park

Earlier than we get into the main points of the way to go to this magical place, it’ll be helpful if you realize a little bit extra in regards to the park itself. Tayrona Nationwide Pure Park, as it’s formally recognized, is one in all Colombia’s hottest nationwide parks due to its spectacular surroundings and unimaginable biodiversity.

Discovered on the jap finish of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the park has the spectacular mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Nationwide Park as its backdrop. Established in 1964 as a nature park, the park consists of 150 sq. kilometers of land and one other 30 sq. kilometers of marine reserve. Moreover its pure bounty, the park and neighboring mountains are dwelling to varied indigenous communities and several other ruins of previous settlements.

The nationwide park has two entrances which you’ll be able to arrive by means of, the primary is at Zaino, and the opposite is at Calabazo. You’ll probably go Calabazo to achieve Zaino, however coming into by means of it places you fairly removed from the park’s fundamental sights.

Greatest Time to Go to Tayrona Nationwide Park

Since Tayrona Nationwide Park boasts tropical climate 12 months spherical and continues to develop in reputation, it’s essential that you just contemplate while you plan on visiting. Not solely do you wish to make sure you get nice climate whilst you’re there, you most likely additionally wish to keep away from contending with crowds of different guests for tenting and seashore spots.

The climate at Parque Tayrona is at its greatest from January by means of March, with largely dry skies and milder temperatures. After all that is additionally when the park is at its busiest, with excessive season falling from mid-December to mid-January, but in addition from mid-June to mid-July. For the perfect mixture of dry climate and smaller crowds, February and March are the perfect time to go to Tayrona Nationwide Park.

Now, temperatures on this a part of Colombia don’t range a lot and neither does the excessive humidity, however you’ll be able to count on loads of rain from mid-August by means of November which makes it a foul time of 12 months for suntanning on the seashore in addition to tenting.

How Lengthy to Go to Tayrona Nationwide Park

Deciding on how lengthy to go to Tayrona Nationwide Park could be difficult, however it largely comes all the way down to what you’re trying to do there. When you simply wish to do some sightseeing and see what the park has to supply, someday will do. The identical goes if you happen to’re simply trying to lounge on a seashore.

However if you happen to’re after a pleasant stress-free getaway surrounded by seashores and jungle, you would possibly select to remain longer. Many individuals select to spend 2 or 3 nights in Tayrona Nationwide Park, sunbathing on the seashore, swimming, and discovering new mountaineering trails to discover.

Entrance to the Tayrona Nationwide Park is open from 8am to 5pm. After all, these occasions don’t intrude with these already within the park who plan to remain the evening.

How A lot Does the Entrance Price to Tayrona Nationwide Park Value

To enter Tayrona Nationwide Park, you’ll first must pay for a park go. There aren’t time intervals related to the go, so you have to to purchase a brand new go every time you enter the park. For international nationals who aren’t residents of Colombia, the go prices 42,000 COP. Prices related to tenting or transport are paid separate to the park go.

Methods to Get to Tayrona Nationwide Park

Up by the Caribbean Sea, Parque Tayrona is a little bit faraway from probably the most well-worn vacationer spots all through Colombia. Due to this fact, step one in getting there may be to make your solution to the town of Santa Marta. Santa Marta and the sleepy neighboring city of Taganga are proper on the doorstep of Tayrona Nationwide Park and act as a gateway to the park, in addition to the Misplaced Metropolis of Ciudad Perdida.

To succeed in Santa Marta, probably the most direct strategy is to fly into the Santa Marta airport on a home flight. There isn’t an enormous quantity or number of flights, so you could want to return by means of one of many larger airports at Cartagena or Barranquilla as a substitute. From both Cartagena or Barranquilla, you’ll be able to take common buses which make the journey to Santa Marta. Cartagena is a couple of 5 hour bus trip, whereas Barranquilla is a little bit over 1.5 hours away. It’s essential to notice that the bus stations in Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta are all fairly far out from the town heart.

As soon as in Santa Marta or Taganga, you now have a selection of the way to get to Tayrona Nationwide Park. The only method is to hop aboard one of many common buses which depart from Mercado Publico in Santa Marta and take about an hour. These buses will say Palomino on the entrance, which is their last cease, however they’ll cease alongside the way in which on the fundamental Zaino park entrance of Parque Tayrona. Making this similar journey by taxi will price a good bit extra however could also be value it if you’re in a bigger group or to save lots of on time.

A extra adventurous solution to get to or from Tayrona Nationwide Park is to take a speedboat which connects Cabo San Juan, Tayrona’s hottest seashore, with the city of Taganga. The trip takes between half-hour and 1 hour and might get fairly tough relying on the circumstances out on the water. As soon as in Taganga you’ll be able to simply catch one of many common minibuses or a taxi to Santa Marta.

Map of Tayrona Nationwide Park

The under map of Tayrona Nationwide Park is just not essentially the perfect however it ought to provide you with a greater understanding of the place issues are geographically situated. Observe that Ecohabs is in Cañaveral.

Methods to Get Round Tayrona Nationwide Park

Overlaying 150 sq. kilometers of jungle and hillside alongside the coast, Tayrona Nationwide Park is just not a wholly simple place to get round. Fortunately although, many of the main vacationer spots are situated within the park’s jap finish and aren’t terribly exhausting to get between. An enormous issue figuring out on the way you get round Tayrona Nationwide Park can be which half you’re attempting to get to. For various elements of Parque Tayrona, your transport choices embrace shuttle bus, strolling, and horseback.

1. Shuttle Bus

The principle entrance to the nationwide park is named the Zaino entrance and is discovered simply off Nationwide Route 90. An essential factor to know although for these arriving right here, is that the doorway is a good distance from the park’s seashores and most attention-grabbing spots. Fortunately, there’s a shuttle bus which prices 3,000 COP and can take you additional into the park to the primary seashore at Cañaveral. When you’d want to go by foot, nonetheless, you may have a 5 km stroll to the coast in entrance of you.

2. On Foot

Excluding the highway that leads from the park entrance to Cañaveral, most locations in Parque Tayrona are solely capable of be reached by grime trails, seashores, and/or staircases. Which means that you’re probably going to have hike up and down the jungle-covered coast on foot to achieve Tayrona’s stunning seashores. Whereas it might not look very far on a map, the hike to Cabo San Juan entails loads of uphill strolling, made much more tiring by the tropical humidity. It could possibly take as much as 2 hours to stroll from Cañaveral to the seashore at San Juan del Guia, so plan accordingly.

3. On Horseback

A really completely different solution to go is to climb right into a saddle and take a horseback trip over to Parque Tayrona’s seashores. Simply the place the shuttle drops individuals off at Cañaveral, there are horses that you could rent to take you over to Cabo San Juan or reserve to convey you again within the afternoon. When you’re not eager on the lengthy stroll, that is one other solution to go. It needs to be stated that quite than following the coastal route which entails staircases, the horses are guided alongside trails additional inland so you could not get as a lot of a view.

The place to Keep in Tayrona Nationwide Park

Maybe one of many hardest choices to make for a go to to Tayrona Nationwide Park is the place to remain. It may be simple to be overwhelmed by all of the choices out there to you. Nonetheless, these decisions depend upon whether or not you might be planning a day journey or plan to spend a number of days within the park.

1. Staying Inside Tayrona Nationwide Park

When you plan to go to the nationwide park for greater than someday, you’re going to want to remain within the nationwide park itself. Choices for lodging in Parque Tayrona boil all the way down to staying in one of many park’s accommodations, pitching a tent in one of many campgrounds, or spending your nights in a hammock.

Sure, it’s potential to sleep in a hammock in a single day if you happen to reserve one early sufficient. A extra personal expertise which prices roughly the identical, is to camp in one of many designated campgrounds by the seashore, akin to at Cabo San Juan or Arrecifes. When tenting, it’s potential both to hire a tent or to convey your individual. In any other case, for a extra snug keep, there are the accommodations within the park.

For these trying to deal with themselves throughout their go to, Ecohotel Yachay Tayrona is the way in which to go. Sitting on the highway contained in the Zaino entrance, this lodge has stunning views of the encompassing jungle and nice meals courtesy of its connoisseur restaurant.

When you’re after a steadiness of consolation and value, you then’ll wish to contemplate the Lodge Jasayma Parque Tayrona. This eco lodge is bursting with character and due to its employees and environment, you’re sure to get pleasure from your keep right here whereas contained in the park.

For a pleasant seashore view in Parque Tayrona, head for Tenting Castilletes Parque Tayrona on Castilletes Seaside. With clear rooms and a scenic location, to not point out nice meals, that is  a terrific place to base your self for a days sightseeing.

2. Staying Exterior Tayrona Nationwide Park

When you solely plan to spend the day in Tayrona Nationwide Park, then your choices transcend the park, both to the institutions simply exterior the Zaino park entrance, or again to Taganga and Santa Marta. Staying proper exterior the park could be fairly handy, because you received’t have far to journey on the finish of the day. Equally, Taganga is simply on the sting of the park and could be an reasonably priced place to remain. Santa Marta nonetheless is the large metropolis of the world, with loads of lodging and amenities to supply vacationers.

To wrap your self up in luxurious environment throughout your go to, keep at Lodge Boutique Don Pepe within the very heart of Santa Marta. With superbly furnished rooms and personal terraces, it’ll be simple to unwind right here after a protracted day trip exploring.

For distinctive worth for cash, it’s exhausting to say no to Lodge Suite Boutique El Cactus. Situated in downtown Santa Marta, the rooms on this 4-star lodge are spacious and employees are exceptionally welcoming.

An awesome selection for backpackers simply exterior the park is Eco Hostal Yuluka. With dorms and personal rooms, there’s a lot to get pleasure from right here together with the swimming pool and the in-house restaurant.

For extra lodging choices in or close to Tayrona Nationwide Park take a look at Reserving.com. They constantly supply the perfect charges and their customized service is on level.

Suggestions for Visiting Tayrona Nationwide Park

As a way to allow you to take advantage of your journey, listed below are our suggestions for visiting Tayrona Nationwide Park.

1. Know the Park Guidelines

As with every nationwide park, there are specific guidelines guests to Parque Tayrona are anticipated to observe. For example, some seashores don’t have any swimming allowed indicators, whereas swimming at any seashore is prohibited after 6pm. It’s additionally forbidden to usher in alcohol and guards will truly search your luggage earlier than you enter to make sure there’s nothing contraband inside. For the complete park guidelines, go right here.

2. Arrive Early

The park opens at 8am, so that’s the greatest time to reach. Come later within the morning and also you’ll be met by a line of individuals attempting to enter. Entry into Tayrona Nationwide Park could be fairly drawn out, as as soon as you purchase your passes you must anticipate an orientation/instructional video to display. Then there’s the road for luggage to be inspected and solely then are you into the park correct. It’s greatest to reach on the park early so that you don’t lose an excessive amount of time simply getting in.

3. Issues to Pack

Whether or not visiting for the day or staying in a single day, you’re going to wish to think twice about what you convey with you. To start with, make sure you convey your passport, as it’s vital for entry. You additionally must convey sufficient money with you as prices can add up and every thing within the park is money solely.

Different necessities to your park go to, are bathing swimsuit, seashore towel, sunscreen and hat to your time on the seashore. You then’re most likely going to need good strolling sneakers, particularly if you happen to do the lengthy stroll/hike from the Zaino park entrance. And don’t neglect to convey insect repellent with you to keep away from getting stung by mosquitoes.

Talking of mosquitoes, you could or could not get requested for a yellow fever vaccination certificates when coming into Parque Tayrona. Yellow fever continues to be very a lot current in these elements of the world, so ensure you get vaccinated earlier than leaving dwelling.

The large factor to pack nonetheless is meals and water. Within the warmth, even if you happen to’re not mountaineering, you could keep hydrated. Meals could be pretty costly within the park, so it’s value bringing in meals and snacks with you to chop again on prices.

Greatest Issues to Do in Tayrona Nationwide Park

Now that you just’re ready to truly head off to Tayrona Nationwide Park, it’s time to get to the precise itinerary of your go to. A lot of the issues to do in Tayrona Nationwide Park are seashores to go to and trails by means of the jungle to hike alongside. Whether or not you see all of those sights in a single day or unfold them out throughout your go to is as much as you.

1. Cañaveral and the Jungle Stroll

Nonetheless you select to get there, Cañaveral is the place the coastal path of Parque Tayrona begins. As you go, the trail will range between mild grime trails surrounded by vibrant inexperienced jungle and staircases constructed into the hillside lined in boulders. When you attain the upper factors of the path, you’ll be handled to some very good views of the coast, together with over to Punta Castillete. Later elements of the trail will take you into uncommon beachside thickets and well-worn dusty tracks, all of which retains the stroll attention-grabbing.

2. Playa Arrecifes

The primary seashore you’ll arrive at on the path is Playa Arrecifes. An extended stretch of flat beachfront, Arrecifes seashore often has piles of boulders which divide it. You most likely received’t see many individuals at this seashore as you’re not allowed to swim right here and it’s one of many extra uncovered seashores because it’s not in a cove. Nonetheless, it’s a pleasant place to stroll alongside, particularly with the small lagoon on one facet.

3. La Piscina

For individuals who can’t wait any longer for a swim, La Piscina is the place you lastly get to splash round. With a reputation that actually interprets as “the pool”, the nice and cozy Caribbean waters of La Piscina are perfect for swimmers of all capabilities. Sheltered by rocks additional out, the water right here is calm and fairly shallow, in different phrases completely kid-friendly. Extra so than different seashores, this seashore appears to be the go to for locals visiting Parque Tayrona.

4. Cabo San Juan

That is indubitably Tayrona Nationwide Park’s hottest seashore and signature picture spot. Formed like a curved “V”, the 2 seashores of Cabo San Juan be a part of collectively at a rocky level. On the high of this level you’ll discover a implausible lookout level in addition to a hut stuffed with hammocks. With palm bushes gently leaning over the seashores, Cabo San Juan couldn’t look extra like a tropical paradise. Since this a seashore you’re allowed to swim at, and with park amenities close by, that is the seashore that many vacationers select to base themselves at.

5. Playa Brava

One of many lesser-seen seashores within the nationwide park is Playa Brava, partly as a result of the panorama does such a great job of hiding it. This isolation with deep jungle and hills behind it make the seashore one of many park’s most scenic and atmospheric.

Additional west alongside the coast from Cabo San Juan, Playa Brava doesn’t sit on the identical coastal path because the others. As a substitute, you could enterprise deep into the jungle from Cabo San Juan previous the huts and ruins of Pueblito earlier than you’ll find the path in the direction of Playa Brava. As such, Playa Brava is greatest reached by these coming by means of the park’s second entrance at Calabazo and who’ve greater than someday in Tayrona.

6. Bahia Concha

In contrast to the opposite seashores of Tayrona Nationwide Park, Bahia Concha is one you’ll be able to simply attain from Santa Marta. That’s as a result of you’ll be able to truly drive to it from the town. The opposite good thing about Bahia Concha is that you just don’t want the nationwide park go to enter. Nonetheless, the seashore right here isn’t as good as a few of the park’s different seashores and lacks a little bit of the jungle environment discovered elsewhere.

7. Different Seashores of Tayrona Nationwide Park

We’ve actually solely touched upon just a few of the seashores in Parque Tayrona, primarily these which can be simple to achieve or enable swimming. However there are numerous others to hunt out when you’ve got the time. Playa Cañaveral is a small seashore which sits under the Ecohabs Tayrona lodge, whereas Playa Castilletes has a little bit of a wild, distant vibe to it.

Then there are locations like Playa Nudista, Tayrona Nationwide Park’s nudist seashore. Discovered simply up the coast from Cabo San Juan previous the subsequent level, this seashore doesn’t appear to get many guests, though it’s potential to swim there when lifeguards are current.

Tayrona is a big nationwide park and there are numerous extra seashores off to the west that are actually solely reachable by boat. However the reward for getting out to those distant seashores is that their isolation additionally makes them a few of the park’s most stunning seashores. Bahía Chengue, Playa Gairaca, and Playa Cristal fall into this class, with Playa Cristal a pleasant place to go for a snorkel.

Properly there you may have it, your information to visiting Tayrona Nationwide Park. With all this data, you should not have any drawback having a terrific journey to this implausible Colombian vacation spot.