Tayrona National Park Day Trip
Duration
10 hours
Price from
$55 / person
Category
Nature
Difficulty
Moderate
The most popular day trip from Santa Marta — and for good reason. Your guide leads you through jungle trails to reach Tayrona's most iconic beaches: Cabo San Juan, Playa Cristal, and La Piscina. The hike in takes 1.5–2 hours through dense tropical forest with howler monkeys, iguanas, and hundreds of bird species along the way. Both coves at Cabo San Juan are spectacular — one calm and swimmable, the other wild with crashing surf. Start early to beat the heat and the day-trip crowds. This is one of the best days you'll have anywhere in Colombia.
To improve this tour outcome, connect it with the right beach choice, verify water temperature + sea-state, and place it in your itinerary.
Highlights
Plan your tour
Difficulty
Moderate
Best time to go
December–April (dry season); avoid Colombian holiday weekends when the park fills up
Physical requirements
Comfortable hiking 3–4 hours total. Flat-ish jungle trails with some rocky sections near Cabo.
Insider tip
Demand a departure time before 7 AM — arriving at El Zaino early is critical to secure park entry. Bring more water than you think you need, cash for food inside the park, and sandals for the river crossing near La Piscina.
Recommended operators
Not specified
Licensed operators
Not specified
Warnings
- The park closes entirely Feb 1–15, Jun 1–15, and Oct 19–Nov 2 for indigenous ritual periods — verify dates before booking
- Several tour operators promise Playa Cristal but access it from El Zaino which requires a long hike; true Playa Cristal (Neguanje sector) is a separate boat-access beach — clarify with your operator
Next step to build your trip
Beaches to pair with this tour
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