Parque Tayrona, Colombia

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Parque Tayrona is a beautiful national park next to the sea, with white sand beaches, where you can sleep in a hammock and relax. It's very popular with travelers.

Population: 0 Elevation: 1 meters. Average temperature: hot degrees Celcius. | Editing history.

Places to stay:

Hammocks in Arrefices (2 comments) Cheapest night: 2 US$/night. Dorm beds available.
Most travelers sleep in hammocks in Arrefices, a short walk from Canaveral. Just walk there and you can't miss it. Hammocks are under a roof and cost about 6000 pesos per person (US$ 2.5), or you can bring a tent (3000 pesos per person).

Cabo de San Juan (1 comments) Cheapest night: 5 US$/night.
If you walk beyond Arrefices until Cabo de San Juan (Cape of St. John), you'll find stunning beaches, a campsite with 2 small beaches safe for swimming. There are a couple of different options for accommodations: (1) rent a hammock next to the restaurant/bar for 12000 pesos a night; (2) rent a hammock on a nearby hill (with gorgeous views) for 15000 pesos a night; (3) pitch a tent for 10000 pesos per person per night. There are basic showers and toilets and a small shop selling snacks and drinks. Breakfast around 6000 pesos.

Ecohabs huts (0 comments) Cheapest night: 30 US$/night. Private rooms available.
You can rent some fairly fancy cabanas (huts) with great views from Ecohabs, a cabana with 2 beds is about 70000 pesos (US$ 30). You have to book these in advance in Santa Marta (http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co, tel 423 07 04).

Things to do:

There's not much more to do in Tayrona than to relax, swim a bit, explore the park and the beaches and make friends :) In the park, you can walk up the hill through the jungle to El Pueblito, a small village. Be careful where you swim, many of the beaches are not safe. Especially the Arrecifes beach has strong currents and is not safe for swimming.

Tayrona is very safe and generally not affected by any guerilla/paramilitary problems in the Sierra Santa Marta.

Bring mosquito repellent, light clothes and some time to kill. You don't need malaria pills in the park. You do need a yellow fever vaccination but it's not usually checked. You need to bring your passport. Bring snorkeling gear if you want to go snorkeling.

Food and drinks are somewhat more expensive here (beers at 3000 pesos, breakfast 6000), so you might want to bring a bottle of rum or even something to cook and some rice and lentils. (Officially you are not allowed to bring in any alcohol into the park and sometimes bags are checked at the main gate.)

Getting around & transportation:

There are a few ways to get to Parque Tayrona. The easiest way is probably to take the boat which leaves daily in Taganga. Or book with one of the hostels - both Miramar and Casa Familiar make bookings. Or you can just take the bus yourself: go to Calle 11 with Carrera 11 in Santa Marta and get the bus that says "Tayrona" on the front, it's about 4000 pesos. The bus will drop you off at the entrance of the park.

The entrance fee to the park is 25000 pesos - you'll need to show your passport. A jeep from here to take you further in the park to Canaveral costs 3000 pesos, or you can just walk (1 hour). From where the jeep drops you off you can easily walk to Arricifes in less than an hour. Or you can rent a horse to go there.

 

Reviews

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Tayrona

By gringisimo on Jun 18, 2009, 17:45.

The good: The scenery
The bad: The prices

Before I went to Tayrona I got a lot of shitty advice from many different people. Here's my two cents:
Getting there- I caught a boat from Taganga for 25 lukas and the ride was spectacular. Worth every penny. If you book the boat trip ahead of time, you'll pay twice that. Show up to the beach at 830 or 9 and bargain with the captains assistants. Dont believe the guys on the boat that tell you arriving by water exempts you from the entrance fee. You're almost certain to pay it. It's cheaper in bus (from the Mercado in Sa Marta) but not as cool plus you're likely to be searched and have your rum and other goodies confiscated. By boat you wont have any problems with the fuzz. But still, stash your gear well.
Staying There- "Donde Andres" at Arrecifes. 5,000 a night if you've got your own hammock. Andres is a nice guy once you get to know him, but dont be suprised if he's a bit brusque at first. Also, he might hit you with a gringo tax if your spanish isnt up to par.
Eating- Bring you own food. Save space in your pack by leaving all unneccesary stuff at your hotel in Sa Marta or Taganga. And bring your own water. And booze. Even if you bring a lot of food in, chances are you'll run out and have to pay. La Panaderia (between Arrecifes and La Piscina) sells really good bread at 2000. Don Alonso and family run a little stand at a beach called Arenilla (after panaderia on the way to la piscina). Make friends with him and you'll eat well for cheap.
Etc- Bugs. Bring repellent, but either way, you should expect a few bites...

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Comments

Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 21, 2008, 11:17: Good story in the NYT: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/travel/11Explorer.html?pagewanted... Poor but snappy 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 1, 2008, 17:05: An easier way to get to park is by boat from Taganga. Boats leave daily between 9 and 11 am. It's good to boat in with food and hike out. Throw your stuff on a horse when you hike for 15000 pesos or ride a horse for the same price. Bring snorkel gear into the park as there is lots to see. Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 1, 2008, 17:06: Careful bringing rum in, the cops may take it and return it when you leave if you hike in. Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

irenarco says on Feb 8, 2009, 23:52: Update info about ecohabs huts: Now there is some zones of the Park under private admin. Prices have increased: 220U$ per night (max. 5 pax) see more details in the site: http://www.concesionesparquesnaturales.com/portal/Espanol/Tayrona/Tayr... 0 funny, 0 helpful.

avinash says on Mar 26, 2009, 08:21: For more information you can always visit our website: www.aviatur.com or Call Center 24 Hours: (571) 3821616 Looking for a Job in Bogotá and Medellín. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rolocito says on Apr 16, 2009, 22:41: Any info about (recent) prices for a tent or hammocks at Arrecifes in Tayrona Park? Thanks, R. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

sbf says on Aug 3, 2009, 09:33: SCT-"Safe Colombian Tours" Inexpensive English speaking guides and interpeters starting from 3 usd per hour (groups can share the cost, i.e. a group a 4 people will pay less than one dollar per traveler!!!!!!!!) We can find you the cheaper option available in road and air tickets (clearing out the always present tentation of overpricing goods and services to foregin looking visitors) only paying a very small fee Low Cost Travel Agency but with a very warm an personal touch. contact: cafemaya at telefonica.net 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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