Tayrona Park Colombia: what to do, beaches, hiking and tips
During our trip to Colombia, We absolutely wanted to discover the Tayrona National Natural Park. 🌴
After having traveled part of the country as a family, we wanted a day of a little more nature, between tropical forest, hiking, and the beaches of the Caribbean.
So we headed to Tayrona with the children, and let me tell you that we weren’t the only ones to have this idea!
We chose to visit the park by The entrance of El Zaino, Mainly because we were staying right next door, at Casa Iwana, approximately 15 minutes by car from the entrance.
In this article, I’ll tell you Our experience, But I also give you all the practical information to prepare your visit: the different entrances, the 2026 prices, the car ticket, the beaches, the hiking trails, where to sleep and my tips for making the most of Tayrona.
📍 Where is the Tayrona Park located?
The Tayrona Natural National Park It is located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, in the Magdalena Department, near Santa Marta.
Here, the tropical forest meets the Caribbean Sea directly.
People come to Tayrona for its beaches, of course, but also for the walking among incredible vegetation, observing nature and discovering the different landscapes of the park.
And that’s exactly what I loved: Tayrona isn’t just a day of «beach towel» fun. To reach some of the most famous beaches, you have to walk and cross the forest.
The park is also located on the ancestral territory of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is therefore important to respect the trails, the park’s guidelines, and the sites considered sacred.
🌴 How many entrances are there to the Tayrona Park?
That’s probably The first question to ask before booking your hotel.
The park has several sectors and several access points. The main land access points are:
- El Zaino
- Calabazo
- Palangana / Neguanje
- Bahía Concha
There are also access points by sea from Santa Marta, El Rodadero or Taganga.
The sectors do not exactly offer the same experience.
El Zaino is in particular the main access route to reach Cañaveral, Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan del Guía.
Calabazo It also allows you to reach the area of Cabo San Juan, but with different routes and generally longer ones.
The sector of Palangana / Neguanje It also allows access to Neguanje, Playa Cristal and Cinto, while Bahía Concha constitutes a different sector, closer to Santa Marta.
👉 Our choice: El Zaino, Because it was the most convenient entrance compared to our accommodation.
🚗 Why did we choose the El Zaino entrance?
We were staying at the Casa Iwana, at just 15 minutes by car from the El Zaino entrance.
It was really convenient because we wanted to arrive as early as possible.
If you plan to visit Tayrona, I recommend choosing your accommodation based on the following: the entry you want to use.
The park is vast and the different access points do not allow you to reach the same areas.
In our case, being close to El Zaino allowed us to leave early and arrive quickly at the entrance.
⏰ We arrived at 7:30… and there was already a huge crowd!
On the day of our visit, we arrived around 7:30 at El Zaino.
The entrance was supposed to open at 8 a.m., Because we were in low season.
And despite that, there was already A huge crowd !
We quickly realized that it was better to arrive before opening time if we wanted to avoid wasting too much time in the queue.
Today, the official schedule indicates an entrance for El Zaino at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in low season, while in high season the entrance begins to 7 a.m..
👉 My advice: arrive early. Even before the opening, there may already be many visitors.
🍳 Where to have breakfast before entering?
It’s a small trick that we found very convenient.
Since there was already a queue, One of us stayed in the queue while I went to buy something to have for breakfast.
Just next to the entrance, there are several small huts and restaurants where you can buy food and drink.
It’s therefore very convenient if, like us, you arrive early and haven’t yet had breakfast.
🎟️ The steps to enter Tayrona National Park
Once our turn came, we followed the various entry procedures.
1. Pay the mandatory insurance 🛡️
The first step is to take out the mandatory insurance with assistance for visitors.
During our visit, we paid: 7,000 COP per person and per day.
For our family of 4: 28,000 COP.
The park confirms that visitors must take out accident insurance with assistance from an authorized operator.
2. Buy the entrance tickets
We then went to the ticket desk to buy the entrance tickets.
During our visit to August 2026, We have paid:
81,000 COP per person, For non-resident foreign rates in low season.
For the four of us: 324,000 COP.
The official tariff currently published by Parques Nacionales is indeed 81,000 COP in low season for a non-resident foreign visitor, against 96,500 COP in high season.
3. Buy the car ticket 🚗
Since we had come by car, we also bought the car ticket.
We have paid:
21,000 COP for the car.
This ticket allowed us to access the Parking located at the entrance.
And for us, it was really appreciated.
Because Tayrona already requires walking… so starting the day with an extra walk just to get to the entrance is just not worth it for us!
The park specifies that parking must be done in the authorized parking areas and that, when parking capacity is reached, access can continue on foot.
🛂 Remember to bring your passport
If you are a foreigner, take your passport with you.
Personally, I always prefer to specify this in my articles because it’s typically the little detail that can be forgotten at the bottom of the hotel safe!
How long does it take to visit Tayrona?
It really depends on what you want to do.
You can spend a day in the park and discover several beaches from El Zaino, or plan a longer hike and even sleep inside the park.
The El Zaino sector allows, in particular, to reach Cañaveral, Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan. From Calabazo, it is also possible to reach Cabo San Juan by another route.
👉 If you are just coming to discover Tayrona, I recommend that you plan ahead. a good day.
And if you're with children, it's better to plan for a reasonable schedule rather than wanting to see everything.
🏖️ The beaches of Tayrona
This is obviously one of the main reasons we wanted to come.
From the El Zaino area, the most popular beaches and areas include:
- Cañaveral
- Corals
- Arenilla
- The Swimming Pool
- Cabo San Juan
The landscapes are truly magnificent, with this tropical vegetation that gives the impression of being in a movie set.
But beware: Not all beaches are accessible for swimming. Some are particularly exposed to currents and waves. Therefore, you must always respect the signs and instructions of the park.
Cañaveral
Cañaveral is one of the first areas accessible from El Zaino.
The beach is surrounded by vegetation and offers a beautiful setting.
But beware: swimming is prohibited there due to the sea conditions.
👉 We look, we photograph, we enjoy the landscape… but we’re not going to take a dip where it’s forbidden!
Corals
Arrecifes is another emblematic beach in the area.
It is a particularly wild place, with the forest reaching almost to the sea.
Again, the restrictions regarding bathing must be respected.
Arenilla
Arenilla is a small beach that is located on the way to Cabo San Juan.
It is known for its calmer waters and pleasant setting for a break.
It’s typically the kind of place where you want to put down your bag and take a few minutes to rest before continuing on your way.
The Swimming Pool
The Swimming Pool really does live up to its name!
This beach is protected by a natural barrier of rocks that allows for a calmer sea.
This is one of the areas where swimming is possible, subject to the conditions and instructions of the day.
It is also a very pleasant place to take a break during the hike.
Cabo San Juan del Guía
And then there is Cabo San Juan, probably the most emblematic sector of Tayrona.
You have probably already seen the photo of the small kiosk perched on the rock in the middle of the sea.
It’s right here.
The panorama is magnificent, with the two beaches and the tropical vegetation around.
But it is also one of the most visited places in the park.
👉 Here’s another good reason Arrive early !
What to put in your bag for Tayrona?
Here is what I recommend you to take:
- 💧 lots of water; ;
- 🧴 sunscreen; ;
- 🧢 hat or hat; ;
- 👟 suitable shoes; ;
- 🩱 swimsuit; ;
- 🧺 small towel; ;
- 🍌 some snacks; ;
- 🔋 external battery; ;
- 🦟 possibly a repellent; ;
- 💵 a little cash; ;
- 🛂 your passport.
Eating during a hike: you don't need to plan everything in advance!
Good news if you are traveling with family: You will regularly find something to eat and drink during the hike.
Along the way there are several small stands and places where you can buy things. fruits, fresh drinks, snacks and other small treats to nibble on.
It’s quite convenient, especially with children: you don’t have to fill your backpack with food for the whole day.
🥤 And with the heat, the fresh drinks They are most definitely welcome!
⚠️ Beware of restaurants in Cabo San Juan
However, once they arrived at Cabo San Juan, If you want to eat in, plan for a slightly larger budget.
We found that The restaurants in Cabo San Juan were really expensive compared to the prices that can be found elsewhere in Colombia.
👉 My advice: if you have the opportunity, Buy some supplies and drinks before arriving in Cabo San Juan. You will thus be able to enjoy the beach in peace without feeling like you’re blowing your budget on a meal.
And above all, keep some space in your bag for water: In Tayrona, you walk and it's hot! 😅
When to visit Tayrona?
You should also check the park's closing times before planning your trip.
Tayrona temporarily closes several times a year as part of the strategy «Breathing Tayrona», This allows the territory to benefit from periods of rest, and the indigenous communities to carry out their cultural and environmental activities.
The dates can be changed: Always check the official dates before your trip.
And if you want to avoid the busiest times, prioritize a less crowded period as much as possible.
🚨 The rules to be observed in Tayrona Park
The Tayrona Park is a protected natural area, so there are some rules to be followed to preserve the places and the wildlife.
- 🚁 Drones are prohibited without permission It is impossible to take out your drone just to take a few aerial photos of the park. The recreational or personal use of drones is not allowed in protected areas.
- 🐒 Do not feed the animals and do not try to touch them or approach them.
- 🚶♀️ Stay on the marked trails, Especially during hiking trips.
- 🚯 The waste must be returned with you and some single-use plastics are prohibited at the entrance.
- 🔥 Fires are only allowed in designated areas.
- 🐕 Pets are not allowed in the park.
- 🍾 Alcohol and psychoactive substances are prohibited.
- 🌊 Swimming is only allowed in designated areas. Some beaches may be closed due to safety reasons.
- 🛕 Finally, Tayrona is part of the ancestral territory of several indigenous peoples: it is important to respect the sacred places and the local communities.
👉 A little reminder if you are traveling with children: Explain to them from the very beginning that they are entering a protected natural area. We watch the monkeys, the birds, and the other animals… but we don’t feed them or touch them! 🐒
❓ FAQ – Tayrona Park
What is the best way to visit Tayrona?
It depends on your itinerary. To discover Cañaveral, Arrecifes, La Piscina and Cabo San Juan, El Zaino This is the main access road. Calabazo also allows access to the Cabo San Juan area via another route.
What time does El Zaino open?
In low season, entry is currently indicated from 8 a.m.. In high season, it starts 7 a.m..
How much will Tayrona cost in 2026?
During our visit in August 2026, we paid 81,000 COP per person, to which were added 7,000 COP insurance per person and 21,000 COP for our car.
Can we come by car?
Yes. We came by car and bought a car ticket to access the parking lot near the entrance.
Can I pay with a bank card?
During our visit, payment was possible in cash or by bank card.
Can you swim in Tayrona?
Not everywhere. Some beaches are off-limits to swimming due to currents and sea conditions. Always follow the park's instructions.
How long does it take to visit Tayrona?
One day is already enough to discover part of the El Zaino area, but there are many more opportunities if you want to go on a longer hike or spend the night in the park.
Is it possible to visit Tayrona with children?
Yes. We did this with our 2 children. You just need to bring enough water, good shoes, and adapt the route to the pace of the family.
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