Looking for a place where you can enjoy unspoiled beaches, nice hiking, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and just generally getting away from it all?  Then you need to visit Tayrona National Park on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.  It is a must include for nature and beach lovers during your time in Colombia.  Read on to learn some handy tips to Plan Your Trip to Tayrona National Park.   [caption id="attachment_17089" align="aligncenter" width="675"]How to Plan Your Trip to Tayrona National Park The Tayrona National Park is the perfect heavenly setting for nature lovers / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]    

When to Go

One thing to keep in mind is the park closes several times a year to give nature a chance to rest and recover.  It also allows some peace and quiet for the indigenous people that still call the area home and consider it to be a sacred place. The park is normally closed during the entire month of February and for a couple of weeks around the middle of the year and later in the year.  Be sure to double-check the exact dates before planning your trip. It’s also worth considering that from October-December there are more frequent rains.  You can still go then, but it could be a bit muddy, so pack shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Peak seasons around Christmas, Easter, and mid-June-mid-July also see larger crowds than other times of the year.  While it is still unusual to see the park reach capacity, you should keep that in mind as well.  Otherwise, the climate along Colombia’s Caribbean doesn’t change much.  It’s always beach weather!   Travel Tips: Discover Colombia's Best Beaches, heavenly scenes to refresh your senses!   [caption id="attachment_17091" align="aligncenter" width="675"]How to Plan Your Trip to Tayrona National Park Throughout the year the park takes advantage of the Caribbean climate. It's always beach weather! / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]    

Where to Stay

There are a few hostels, cabins, and luxury lodges located around the entrance to the park, but since it’s a long hike in, it is best to stay inside the park itself.  For a more upscale experience, check out the Ecohabs, located on their own private beach. Most visitors choose to stay in the hammocks and camping area at Cabo San Juan del Guía.  There is a nice beach there and another within a short walk.  Visitors can rent a hammock, rent a tent, or set up their own tent.  There is also a restaurant, general store, and bathroom and shower facilities on site.    

What to See in the Tayrona National Park

The highlight is the hike in and the beautiful scenery along the way.  It takes about 2.5 hours to hike from the main entrance of the park to Cabo San Juan.  There is a great lookout point from atop a big rock where you can see the beaches below. Once you get a bit further along, you’ll pass several nice beaches.  The first few, you cannot swim at due to dangerous currents, but eventually you’ll come to calmer ones, including La Piscinita, where rocks out in the water make for a natural swimming pool. Once reaching Cabo San Juan, you can enjoy the beaches there.  A bit further on, you’ll come to another beach that is actually a nude beach.  However, most people don’t actually go in the nude, but you might see a few people without their bathing suits, so be prepared.  The beach there is really nice and long and tends to have fewer people than around Cabo San Juan itself.  Do beware the waves can be quite strong. There’s not really much else to do.  Bring along a good book and enjoy a drink or two from the store in the evening, meeting and chatting with fellow travelers.  With limited electricity and spotty cellular service, it’s a great chance to unplug for a while.   Travel Tips: Enjoy a Tour to Cañaveral and Arrecifes in Tayrona Park with Daytours4u!   [caption id="attachment_17090" align="aligncenter" width="675"]How to Plan Your Trip to Tayrona National Park Cabo San Juan is the most sought beach by tourists who come to know the Tayrona Park / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]    

Getting There

You can get private transportation or take the public bus from the market in Santa Marta.  You can also catch the public bus from Riohacha or Palomino to the entrance of the park. You may be able to get charter bus service directly to the park in Cartagena or elsewhere along the Caribbean coast.  If you can’t get service to the park itself, you’ll have to go through Santa Marta.    

Some Good Tips for Tayrona National Park

Given the hike in, you’ll want to make sure you arrive at the park by early afternoon.  Likewise, when leaving, you’ll want to do the same to make sure you can get transportation back to Santa Marta or elsewhere. Be sure to pack the following:  sunscreen, insect repellant, and a flashlight.  If you are going during the rainy season, be sure to bring closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and a raincoat.  Truthfully it’s not a horrible idea to have those any time, just in case.  Also, if you plan to stay in a hammock, it’s a good idea to make sure you have a pair of jeans and a sweater in case the breeze gets chilly at night. Make sure you also bring along cash, as there are no ATMs in the park.  Finally, as of mid-2020 single use plastics have also been banned from Colombia’s National Parks, so avoid packing plastic bags or single serve plastic bottles.  Also, note that knives and alcohol are not allowed in the park.   [caption id="attachment_17092" align="aligncenter" width="675"]How to Plan Your Trip to Tayrona National Park The Tayrona National Park is known for its coastal lagoons, rainforest and abundant biodiversity. / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]   Finally, as mentioned above, the indigenous people who have lived here for thousands of years consider the area sacred.  Be respectful of them and nature and be sure to not litter and clean up after yourself.   Travel tips: Discover one of the most important ecological areas of the Colombian Caribbean coast: Playa Cristal in Tayrona Park  

By:  Adam McConnaughhay, author of the Cartagena Explorer blog.