By air
Santa Marta (SMR), ~1 h by road
South America · Colombia
Tayrona, Colombia
Jungle meets the Caribbean
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April (the park closes for some weeks each year)
Don't miss
Cabo San Juan
Arrecifes
La Piscina
Pueblito
Things to do
Jungle trails to Cabo San Juan
Snorkelling at La Piscina
The Lost City trek nearby
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, insect repellent, hiking shoes
A quieter corner
Cabo San Juan's hammocks at dawn
Questions travellers ask
Is there a best time to visit Tayrona?
December to April. Check before you travel, as the park closes for some weeks each year.
Which city do I fly to for Tayrona?
Santa Marta (SMR), about 1 h away by road.
How should I spend my time in Tayrona?
Follow the jungle trails to Cabo San Juan — its hammocks at dawn are the hidden gem — then snorkel at La Piscina and see Arrecifes and Pueblito. The Lost City trek is nearby too.
What should I pack for Tayrona?
Swimwear, insect repellent and hiking shoes. Refuel on fried fish with coconut rice.
About Tayrona
- Coastal
- Forest
Where it is
Tayrona National Natural Park lies on Colombia's Caribbean coast in the Magdalena department, about 34 km from Santa Marta, where the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta run down to the sea in jungle-backed bays.
History
The park is named after the Tairona culture, whose people built stone terraces, paths and towns in the Sierra Nevada, among them Ciudad Perdida, and lived here until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The area was declared a national park in 1964.
People
The Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo peoples, heirs of the Tairona, live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta above the park, which they regard as the heart of the world. Kogi communities are guided by their mamos, spiritual leaders, and the white clothing and woven mochila bags of the Arhuaco are known across Colombia.
Known for
- Cabo San Juan's palm-fringed beaches
- Jungle trails to Arrecifes
- Snorkelling at La Piscina
- The Lost City trek nearby
- Monkeys, lizards and tropical birds
Did you know?
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, rising behind the park, is one of the highest coastal ranges in the world, with snow-capped peaks of about 5,700 m just 42 km from the Caribbean shore.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.