How To Spend 2 Days in Tayrona National Park (& Is it Worth the Hype)

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Thick jungle separates the Caribbean Sea from the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. A stunning natural area known as Parque Tayrona. Palm-fringed half-moon beaches scattered with large SUV-sized boulders rubbed smooth from centuries of crashing waves. Ask any Colombian the most beautiful destination in their country & 9 times out of 10 they will emphatically recommend Tayrona National Park. And with over 450,000 people every year making the short hike through the jungle carrying coolers of beer, speakers, and camping equipment to sleep on its sandy shores it’s hard to argue. But with that many visitors often comes environmental destruction. We weren’t sure if 2 days in Tayrona National Park would live up to the hype after spending more than 2 months savoring the lesser-visited regions of Colombia. Yet alone if it would be worth the hefty entrance price tag. 

This guide will help you decide if you should pay the most popular Colombian national park a visit and if you do–how to make the most of your time there. 

Your Complete Guide to 2 Days in Tayrona National Park 

First here are a handful of things you should know about Tayrona National Park right away. 

1. The park is busiest from 10 AM – 4 PM everyday. Once the day-trippers leave you’ll get your peace & quiet.
2. This will be a rustic beachy experience. Don’t expect luxury. 
3. You’ll need to arrive at the park at 6:30 AM on day one to buy tickets. I recommend staying nearby rather than Santa Marta (but definitely no further away than Santa Marta). We stayed at Eco-Cafe El Mirador Hostel.
4. The prettiest beaches are the furthest away. 
5. There are two park entrances. This guide will focus on the main tourist entrance El Zaino because the trail here leads to more beaches. The other entrance does have less people but the path is longer and it essentially leads to one beach- Playa Blanco. 
6. You cannot swim at most of the beaches in Tayrona due to the rip current and waves. But you can freely swim at two- Cabo San Juan & La Piscina.  
7. The Tairona Indigenous people still live within the park. You’ll see then but as always be respectful and don’t shove a camera in thief face. 
8. There is lots of wildlife in the jungle here. Howler monkeys, capuchins, tamarin monkeys, iguanas, agouti, and tons more. Keep your eye on the trees. 

Is Tayrona National Park Worth the Hype? 

Yes. 

After 6 long weeks trekking some of the spectacular hiking trails in Peru, we were in dire need of some beach time. If your goal is also to find the most spectacularly scenic beaches in Colombia for maximal relaxation— this is your place. 

After a somewhat disappointing visit to Capurgana (for beaches that is), we were starting to think that Colombia’s beaches just weren’t up to par with the tropical waters of nearby countries like Costa Rica and the San Blas Islands of Panama. 

But Tayrona is the crown jewel of Colombian beaches. 

Yes, you will have to contend with crowds (but I have tips below on how to escape them) & yes it is expensive for the average backpacker (I also have tips to make it cheaper). But it’s worth it. 

Here’s what you need to know to ENJOY Tayrona National Park to the fullest extent and feel it was worth your time. 

The Logistics of Visiting Tayrona National Park 

Reading other blogs before our stay we were a little confused about how Tayrona worked. 

Did you hike in? Do you have to book camping in advance? How much cash should we bring with us? There are a lot of questions to answer. 

Here’s the basic outline of what to expect in Tayrona. 

1. Beyond Santa Marta ATMs are essentially non-existent. Pull out as much cash as you can here. 
2. At the park entrance BEFORE you get into the massive ticket line you should reserve your hammock/tent from the venders. 
3. At the park entrance you will purchase your ticket. You CANNOT as of 2022 purchase tickets online. 
4. Then you will take a shuttle to the “parking lot” about 5km into the park. 
5. From here you hike 2-3 miles to the beaches with all your stuff. Pack light. 
6. You’ll camp/hammock at one of the beaches within the park. 
7. Food inside the park is pricey. Check out my tips for how to save money inside the park for my fave food deals. 
8. There are boats at Cabo San Juan beach that will take you back to Taganga (or around the bend to other beaches). I don’t recommend staying in Taganga however. But if you’re dreading the walk back this is an option. The last boat leaves at 4 PM. 

Tayrona National Park is closed for a large portion of time in February for environmental rehabilitation. Be sure to plan your trip around this closure. We didn’t in 2019 & that’s why we missed it our first time around. 

That’s the bare bones of what to expect at Tayrona NP and I’ll get into all the details below. 

But first, where to stay before/after Tayrona National Park? 

You have to arrive at Tayrona EARLY to get tickets (they only allow a certain amount of visitors per day). Like 6:30-7:00 AM early. This means you’ll need to sleep nearby. 

& hostels/guesthouses near here book early because Tayrona is so popular. Here’s where we recommend you stay…

ECO MIRADOR (BEFORE) 

This is a cheap rustic treehouse-like accommodation literally right off the main road 10-min from Tayrona. This makes grabbing the bus early in the morning (& getting to this hostel in general) very easy. 

CASA ALIBRI (AFTER) 

This was my favorite place to stay in all of Colombia. For 58,000 COP per night, we got a double room at this jungle-surrounded guesthouse with the most amazing hosts. This is great for after Tayrona because we got a few days enjoying the peaceful serenity of the jungle and SPECTACULAR views while finally being able to shower and recharge after a few days totally off the grid. The host here is also a killer chef and will cook all your meals if you would like. 

The trick here is getting to this guesthouse requires a 10-min motorbike journey (on a mototaxi) so it’s not the best for rising early and getting to the park itself. 

But back to Tayrona…

How Many Days Should You Stay In Tayrona? 

I recommend staying for 2 nights (3 days) to maximize beach time. If you can handle sleeping in a hammock 2 nights in a row that is. If you spend any less than 2 days in Tayrona National Park it’s 100% NOT worth the hefty entrance fee to visit the park.

Much of your first morning will be spent hiking into the park and on your final day, you’ll want to leave early when the crowds start filtering in. So a single night was not quite enough. 

Note: You’ll pay a 5,000 COP “insurance” fee per day you stay in the park. But if you tell them you’re only staying one day…there’s no one to say otherwise.

Where to Sleep in Tayrona- Hammock, Tent, EcoLodge? 

You have three options for staying overnight in the park. 

& you absolutely do want to stay at least one night. Most Colombians visit only for a day trip which means the beaches are crowded from 10 AM – 4 PM. Before & after however, blissfully quiet. Those were my favorite moments in Tayrona National Park. 

Option One: Expensive Ecohotels 

If you’re not on a budget & prepared to book well in advance you can stay at one of the fancy Eco-lodges within the park. This is obviously the most comfortable option. They have access to their own private beach as well so it’s not crowded at all. 

The downside (aside from the price tag) is it’s rather far from the other more scenic beaches in Tayrona which means you’ll have to get up very early if you want yo visit them before people arrive. But you also could just stay at your own private beach areas. 

Option Two:The Tent

For 60,000 (one person) or 100,000+ COP (double) you can sleep in a pre-set up tent on a wooden platform. They aren’t very comfortable and you have to bring your own sleeping bags/blankets etc. Or you can rent used ones for an extra fee.  

Option Three: The Hammock

This is the most popular backpacker option and what we chose to do as well- with no regrets I might add. 

For 40,000 COP ($10) per hammock, you can sleep soundly although not totally comfortably near the beach. 

You can also bring your own camping gear and set it up in their designated campgrounds for a smaller fee. 

There are hammocks/tent sites at several of the beaches inside the park. I recommend choosing a hammock at Cabo San Juan because it’s the most popular beach and if you sleep there you’ll have it to yourself in the evening and morning. 

How to Buy Your Tayrona Tickets & Reserve Your Hammock/Tent.

Alright. You’ve decided what you want to do (days to stay & how) now it’s time to organize it. 

Once you arrive at 6:30 AM at Tayrona’s main entrance on the bus (you can use the local bus to Palamino from Santa Marta or vice versa) you’ll probably see one massive line. This is where you’ll purchase your entrance ticket. 

But before you do that…

You’ll be approached by a vendor who explains the various Tayrona sleeping options to you and you’ll pay them (in cash) to reserve your hammock or tent. This is important because sometimes they can fill up and you’ll end up having to stay in a less scenic location. 

If you are a couple I would send one person to the left side which has tables and handles the sleeping reservations and the other to hold your place in the ticket line. 

You can purchase your PARK ENTRANCE tickets with credit card for a small extra fee. 

The cost of the park ticket is 62,000 COP per person. No matter how long you decide to stay in the park. So the longer the better. 

When you purchase your entrance ticket you’ll also have to buy “insurance” which is an additional 5,000 COP per person PER DAY you plan to stay in the park. This part must be done in cash & you’ll receive a wristband to wear. 

If you have travel insurance as we do, this seems like an unnecessary cost. You could conceivably tell them you’re only staying one day-pay the 5,000 COP and then stay as long as you want to. No one checks the wristband once inside the park. 

Then after an hour of waiting (the park doesn’t open until 8), you’ll pay 5,000 COP per person to ride the shuttle the 5 KM to the real entrance. Don’t be a hero and try to walk it to save money. It’s not a scenic path and it’s already going to be a long day of walking ahead of you. 

At this point you’ll have one last thing to sort out…will you walk into the park (you should) OR pay to ride the horses that are crowded into this area. Aside from it being rather expensive, it’s totally unnecessary. You also miss the opportunity to spot any wildlife in the park this way. 

The trails are not difficult and have very little elevation gain. 

What to Pack for 2 Days in Tayrona National Park 

Let’s talk a bit about what to bring to Tayrona National Park. Since you’ll be doing some walking you’ll want to pack light- only the essentials. 

1. Bathing suit. 
2. Sarong/beach towel. 
3. A good book for long beach days
4. One beach/hiking outfit. 
5. Sweatshirt for the evening. 
6. Headlamp. 
7. Soap or Sanitizer. 
8. Cash. 

But some things can help you save money while in the park. Here are the extras we packed that came in handy. 

1. Loaf of bread & jam/Nutella (for breakfast) 
2. Trail mix/chips/fruit for snacks. 
3. Gatorade/water because it’s extraordinarily expensive in the park. But don’t go overboard. We saw several people struggling to carry gallons. Remember you have to walk for miles. It might be better in the end to just spring for some water on the last day. Regular bottles were about 6,000 COP a piece. Another place your LifeStraw Filter Water Bottle comes in handy. 
4. Beer/alcohol. Far more expensive in the park. Just bring a few for sunset. 

Ideal Route for 2 Days in Tayrona National Park 

To get the full park experience this is my recommendation…

Entering the Park

On your way into the park take the lesser traveled inner park route to the left of all the horses at the hike entrance. This is slightly longer but less uphill than the other route (where all the tourists go) and you’ll have a way better chance of spotting wildlife at this time of day. We saw all three kinds of monkeys (howler, tamarin, capuchin) and tons of birds. 

Once Inside the Park

Beach hop your way up the coast. 

We stopped at Arrecifes & La Piscina. The first beach (carnaval) is the most crowded because it’s easy for day-trippers to get to. 

Then in the afternoon hit Caba San Juan. Here you’ll speak the small wooden shack, present them your hammock receipt and they will give you your hammock number. 

TIP: If you’re someone who travels with camera gear and a drone, like us, bring a standard lock! They have a locker for each hammock to keep your stuff secure. 

Early the next morning I recommend walking from Cabo San Juan to Playa Nudista. 

Leaving the Park

On your way out of the park (after 2 days of beach-bumming) take the popular route along the coastline you skipped on the way in. This way you don’t miss out on the miradors & you get the opportunity to buy some fresh-pressed orange juice or ice cream from the Tairona people. 

Here’s a little park map for reference. 

Best Beaches in Tayrona National Park 

To save you some time…these are the 4 best beaches you should prioritize within Tayrona National park. 

La Piscina 

The swimming beach. The sand here is soft and the water is swimming pool calm. The further down the beach you walk the more isolated it is. 

Cabo San Juan 

The epic sunset beach. You can also swim here but because of the boats and the sheer amount of people, it’s not the best swim. But the viewing tower offers great views and the beach shack has cheap coffee for your early mornings. 

Playa Nudista 

Barely anyone ventures as far as this beach making it wonderful for nude sunbathing or just regular sunbathing whatever floats your boat. You can’t really swim here, however. 

Tip: Use Maps.Me to locate the beach. Many people walk the path from Cabo San Juan and stop at the first stretch of sand they find past it. But that isn’t Playa Nudista. It’s about a 10-15 min walk. 

Playa Blanca 

The beach no one makes it to. The easiest way to reach this beach is a long walk from the other entrance. If you’re only looking for a practically private beautiful beach this one could be for you. You have to enter from the Calabraza entrance or pay for a boat shuttle from Cabo San Juan. 

Food in Tayrona National Park 

The restaurants at Cabo San Juan beach are extraordinarily expensive. 40,000 COP+ for a mediocre plate of meat/rice. Here’s the food that I do recommend inside the park. 

• Fresh pressed orange juice from the Tairona people (just before Arrecifes) 
• Hand-pressed Egg Arepas from Arrecifes
• Ham + Cheese Sandwiches from the sandwich shack on Cabo San Juan beach
• Hot coffee from the window on Cabo San Juan Beach. 

How Much Does Tayrona Cost? 

For many backpackers’ strict budgets Tayrona National park is a major splurge but I think it’s worth the money. 

Here’s a breakdown of what we spent as two people for 2 days in Tayrona National Park. 

Entrance Fee: 60,000 COP ($15) x 2 

Insurance: 5,000 COP ($1.25) x 2 

Shuttle into Park: 5,000 COP ($1.25) x 2

Shuttle Out of the Park: 5,000 COP ($1.25) x 2 

Hammock Rentals per night: 40,000 COP ($10) x 2 

Egg Arepa Breakfast: 5,000 COP ($1.25)

Morning Coffee: 2,000 COP ($0.50) 

Ham Sandwich: 8,000 COP ($2)

Orange Juice for the Hike: 5,000 COP ($1.25)

Water: 6,000 COP each. ~ 12,000 COP/ day ($3)

Beer: 7,000 COP ~ 14,000 COP/day ($3.50)

Once inside the park, you can expect to spend about $25 per day per person inside the park including the hammock fee if you plan to buy a beer or two and pack most of your meals. 

Ways to Save Money in Tayrona National Park

There are lots of ways to make your visit to Tayrona cheaper. Here’s what we did. 

1. Pack lots of lightweight and easy meals. Yes it’s super boring to just eat bread and jam for 2 days but you’ll save loads. 
2. When you do buy food make sure it’s from the vendor shacks and not the restaurants. 
3. Stay for 2 days in Tayrona National Park (3 days/2 nights is even better) to make the hefty entrance fee worth your while. 
4. Walk through the park instead of opt for the horses. 
5. Take the local bus to reach the park entrance. Fares range from 2,000 COP or $0.50 (eco mirador hostel) to 7,000 COP or $1.75 (coming from Santa Marta). 

Other Colombia Caribbean Destinations To Visit 

Even as budget travelers we found Tayrona National Park to be well worth the splurge. Most travelers can fit the 2 days in Tayrona National Park into their itineraries quite easily. The beaches were truly incredible. But if you’re not someone who craves lazy beach days and will be impressed by palm-fringed shores then maybe give Tayrona a pass and instead spend more time in the jungles surrounding the Santa Marta region.

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