Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

Obviously a stunning place, very very worth the trip - some inconsistent info out there so sharing our experience: - entered at Zaino, spent only the one day there, overnight in the park seems like it would be a lovely experience though - park opened at 7am, we arrived by 7:30am which was absolutely the right time to beat the crowds - not a flip flop situation - nice hike through jungle on good paths but definitely a big hike - we saw plenty of wildlife! Fantastic time

We loved the hike/beaches here. We did the hike to the furthest beach. The hike is beautiful with palm trees, beaches, and animals along the way. We hiked in, spent some time on the beach, and hiked back in 4 hours. We were rushing a bit because we hired a taxi to wait for us, and we had gotten there later in the day. We only got 30 minutes on the beach. If I were to do it again, I'd take my time and spend more time at the beach. I'd say give yourself at least 6 hours to hike and spend time on the beach. There are many restaurants along the way on the beaches and in the jungle. There are also ice cream and water vendors along the way, in the jungle! The beaches are beautiful. It was wonderful, I would definitely recommend doing this.

A must experience when you are close to it. Busses go from the city of Santa Marta (9000 cop) and will you back from the park (until 18:00). There are multiple tracks and beaches to "discover". Before paying the entrance fee you have to buy an insurance (18000 cop), in a way it makes sense: there is a lot of climbing to do. There are also options to stay the night here (multiple campsites), it is worth it! A beautiful diverse part of Colombia.

The classic journey from the main entrance to the popular beaches in Tayrona National Park is highly overrated. The entrance fee is steep, and the mandatory insurance feels like an extra burden. The park is overcrowded, and you hardly see any wildlife. The trails smell bad due to horse droppings, and the commercialization with numerous restaurants makes it feel less like a natural park and more like a crowded beach. Although the beaches are beautiful, the two-hour walk through the forest is monotonous. It’s probably better to arrive directly by boat to less accessible beaches or explore other entrances, though I can’t confirm those options. The park also has known management issues and environmental concerns, which can impact the overall experience. I felt uncomfortable being part of a system that seems mismanaged and exploitative, even without taking the horse rides. The presence of horses likely scares away wildlife, and seeing cats and dogs in the park is strange and probably contributes to the lack of wildlife. I don’t fully understand the many positive reviews; perhaps they come from national pride, lack of exposure to other parks, or a focus on the beautiful beaches rather than wildlife.

I don’t understand the hype. The actual beaches were nice but: Beaches are very overcrowded/small Park is expensive to enter Food inside is expensive/crappy There are so many better beaches in Central/South America. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Tayrona National Park is breathtaking, but my visit was overshadowed by poor management and an obvious focus on making money over creating a good experience. From the start, there are multiple fees: insurance, entrance, and accommodation like tents or hammocks. None of these can be paid by card, forcing visitors to carry large amounts of cash. Inside the park, card payments are still not accepted, but they conveniently offer an ATM with extra fees. This outdated system feels like an unnecessary inconvenience, especially considering how overpriced everything is compared to the surrounding area. The rules about not bringing plastic bottles or alcohol seem reasonable at first for environmental reasons, but they sell both inside the park, creating more waste since there’s no water refill station. This contradiction makes the rule feel less about protecting the environment and more about forcing visitors to buy from them. The accommodations are disappointing. Despite paying a premium, the bathrooms are inadequate, with only two sinks for the entire camp, limited showers, and no toilet paper in the mornings or evenings. When the weather is bad, there’s no help or alternatives provided. I saw someone sleeping in a hammock who was terrified during a thunderstorm, but the staff didn’t offer any assistance or support. The mandatory insurance fee felt like a waste. It’s supposed to cover emergencies, but when a friend asked for a simple bandage, the staff didn’t have any basic first-aid supplies. It’s frustrating to pay for a service that doesn’t actually provide any help when needed. One of the most upsetting parts was the horse service. Horses are used to carry not only tourists but also heavy suitcases along the difficult trek. The animals looked skinny and exhausted, struggling with the weight on rough trails. This service should be canceled for animal welfare reasons. It’s sad to see tourists prioritize their own comfort at the expense of these animals’ well-being. On top of that, the constant use of horses has badly damaged the trails, making them harder to walk. Hikers are also forced to stop frequently to let horses pass, disrupting the trek. The restaurants didn’t make up for the disappointment. Service was very slow, the food was overpriced, and the quality was average at best. The pathways throughout the park are poorly maintained, and during rain, they become muddy, flooded, and dangerous to walk on. For the amount of money visitors pay, it’s clear that none of it is being reinvested into maintaining the park or improving the visitor experience. What’s most frustrating is that Tayrona could be an incredible destination, but the focus on profit overshadows its natural beauty. Instead of feeling welcomed and cared for, visitors are left dealing with high prices, poor facilities, and disappointing services. I won’t be returning to Tayrona, and I can’t recommend it to others. There are better places nearby that are more affordable, more enjoyable, and managed in a way that respects both nature and visitors.

The experience of the natural world you get here is up there with some of the best. The trees so big, covered in vines, and monkeys running around. The clear water beaches, sand blending into the jungle, fish, and mountain views. Would be 5 stars if it wasn’t for the prices. You have to pay entrance to things constantly that it takes away from it all- for the road, for the entry, for insurance, for hammocks (so expensive by the way!) etc. Then the food and drinks are overpriced too.

Today was an incredible journey hiking through the jungle seeing all the wildlife, trying to survive the heat on the way to Cabo San Juan beach as its the best one. Although, going to Tayrona from Santa Marta is possible you literally will get to the best beach and have like 1 hour before you need to head back. I would recommend staying a minimum 2 nights inside the park at one of the cool hotels or if you're on a budget walk down to the camping areas and be the first to the beach in the morning. You can also stay near the enterance at a hotel and catch the Tayrona bus on the side of the road for super cheap. Walking is an option but you'll want to save your energy for hiking in the park. Highly recommend you wear good hiking shoes but be prepared to get a little mud on them. Also,. take the bus to the drop-off point to begin your torturous hike from there. Bring up to 1 litre of water grabbing more water along the way at the vendors. There is also Popsicles. It will take a minimum of 2 hours and closer to 2.5-3 depending how often you stop for breaks. Do not race trying to get to the beach as I witnessed a few people passing out in front of me at lunch but luckily there are medical staff available. I had a delicious and fast lunch at Cabo San Juan. Pay at the window at the restaurant enterance and go find a table to chill at. I had a chicken, rice and salad. Don't forget to order a fresh fruit smoothie when you order your food. Prices were alright but not the cheapest as expected in the jungle. Cabo San Juan was basically 2 small beaches split in the middle. The farther one more busy. There is also a viewpoint to take in the views. Camping at various places was also available. I wouldn't leave past 3pm AT THE LATEST as it gets pitch black by 6pm. Please walk back or take the horses for $60000 foreigner price $50000 local price. Please follow @bouncingplaces on YOUTUBE as It helps support the channel so I can continue sharing amazing places like this to eat and fun adventures as I travel the world full time 🌎 🙏 See you in the next one! Keep on Bouncing Baby 😎❤️👍💯