COLOMBIATHE AMERICAS
My Tayrona National Park Experience In Colombia: A Must Visit Place
A Unique Mix Of Mountains, Forest and Beaches At Caribbean Coast
Continuing from my previous post. After a day’s rest in Riohacha, I traveled to Tayrona National Park. I spent 2 nights in the Park. Before going to Tayrona National Park, I had a short stop at Camarones town to visit the Flamingos sanctuary. I was really excited to see Pink flamingos which I missed seeing during my visit to Kenya. I hire a moto-taxi for 20000 cop (Colombian Pesos) to visit the sanctuary but it was not the best season to see Pink Flamingos. I was able to see just a few, which you can see in the picture above. The strangest thing happened with me on the way to Camarones, I met a Venezuelan guy in the public transport who showed me the INR 100 currency note and when I asked him how he got the same. He told me he met an Indian guy back in Venezuela a long time ago who gave him this note. It was the last thing I was expecting. He was really happy to see me. I gave him INR 50 currency note as a souvenir and bid him goodbye.
DAY 1
I reached Tayrona Park a bit late. It is highly recommended to reach the Park as early as possible. There are two entrances to Tayrona National Park: El Zaino and Calabozo. I used the El Zaino entrance, the most popular one. There’s a shared vehicle I boarded to reach at the end of the paved road. From here one has to walk inside the park. I planned on staying at Don Pedro Camp. It took me around 90 mins to reach the Don Pedro camp from this point by walk. The way to reach the camp was plain, hilly, scenic, full of nature, sandy and with the views of beautiful beaches. It was mesmerising, to say the least. It was like unravelling the mystery as you never know what are you going to see around the corner. I was really tired after reaching the camp but thanks to my unrelenting exploring spirit, I set out to explore the park after leaving my stuff in the tent. The park is huge. It covers around 30 square km of a maritime area and approx. 150 square km of land. I went out to explore. My plan was to go to Piscina beach but I reached Cabo beach and it was really magical. Beautiful beach with stunning mountains in the background. It was almost the time for sunset but I couldn’t stop myself from taking a dip in the water. It felt so refreshing after the really tiring day. After the sunset, I head back to my hostel and it was a crazy adventure. Don’t do the same mistake I did. It gets really dark in the park after the sunset. I used my mobile phone’s light to navigate through the park but I was going nowhere after walking for more than half an hour. The different noises I was hearing are not helping either. I was holding on to my nerves and I finally met some local people who showed me the way to my camp and I took a sigh of relief after reaching my camp. It was a crazy end to the very long day. Cabo beach is 40-45 mins walk from Don Pedro Camp.
DAY 2
Next day, I went straight to Piscina beach on the way from Playa Arrecifes beach. Playa Arrecifes beach is 10-15 mins walk from Don Pedro Camp. There are also horses available inside the park for commuting. I chilled at Piscina beach for a while before going to Cabo beach. At Piscina beach, I found a great spot under the shadow of a tree. Dipping in the sea, sipping coconut water and resting under the shadow. I had a great time. Try to come early in the day at Piscina beach as it gets really crowded by noon. Cabo beach has a camping area and it is the best place to stay in the Tayrona park as per the common norm but it’s pretty crowded here. You can get a boat to Taganga from near Cabo beach. It is a popular fishing town. After taking another dip in Cabo beach. I went to the Playa Nudista beach which is next to Cabo beach. Very few people were here. It was a welcome change away from the crowd. My plan was to hike till Playa brava beach but I learnt my lesson from the other day and decided not to go there. I walked back to my camp and just reached in time before sunset. Playa brava is near to the second entrance of the Park i.e. Calabozo. Being in the park gives you a unique feeling of being in a forest, near to a beach and closer to the mountains which makes Tayrona Park really special and a must-visit place when in Colombia. Next day, I bid goodbye to Tayrona Park and took a bus to my next destination.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
- Riohacha to Camarones in a public transport (Camioneta): 5000 cop (cop= Colombian pesos)
- Camarones to Tayrona National Park’s El Zaino entrance: 18000 cop
- Entrance fee to Tayrona National Park for Foreigners: 53000 cop
- 15000 cop insurance(mandatory) for 3 days
- Hammock and Tent at Don Pedro Camp: 25000-30000 cop per night
- Hammock and Tent at Cabo beach: 40000-45000 cop per night
Note: If you bring your own Tent, the price will be cheaper by 10000-15000 cop
- Carry water and food/snacks. Needless to say, these items are expensive inside the park.
- WiFi is chargeable at the campsites.
- Do not forget to carry mobile Powerbank. You can only able to charge the mobile phone at a certain time of day.
- Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, comfortable clothes, Torchlight, swimsuits, Toilet paper and a good hat.
- Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended for the park.
- There’s NO ATM inside the Park.
You made the place so enticing. I would want to have a look at the place now coz of the way you described it.
Great place and you also have great experienced. You stayed there for 9 months. Wow. This is really amazing to read the travelers blogs and sharing their experiences visit another country from their perspective.
Forest, mountains, and beaches sound like a great idea for a vacation.
Oh wow this place looks so amazing! Those beaches looks so beautiful and I would love to swim there!
those beaches look incredible! I would love to visit there someday to experience a different way of living (what a refreshment break… don’t see that often!)
Hi Saurabh,
Colombia is a beautiful country from what I saw, first time I hear of Tyrona national park, had to Google it just to see where in Colombia it is.
Anyways, once COVID-19 is resolved I might go and visit. Thank for implanting that idea into my head:)
Yes, this is really a must visit and now after reading your postI want even more! It looks like you had such a great time here. Cool. – Paolo
Your Colombia series is very interesting and unique. Awesome pictures and a detailed description can assist anyone in visiting the place. You are helping to create an itinerary.
This looks like a wonderful place to visit! and that beach is gorgeous!
What a lovely adventure you had! And your photos are so gorgeous and they tell the whole story, I feel like I was there
Tayrona National Park looks awesome. I haven’t heard about this before. Thanks for letting us tour lovers know about this wonderful place.
I’m glad you ran into people to help get you back to camp safely. It sounds like a wonderful adventure!
The Tayrona National Park looks so beautiful. The landscapes which blend mountains and beaches so harmoniously together look really stunning. Cabo beach looks so pristine and out of the world.
I keep seeing little things here and there about it. It’s nice to read some of the inside scoop. Makes me even more curious to go and see it.
These pictures are amazing! I will need to put this on my bucket list! Should travel ever re-open!!!!
Beautiful photos! These beaches are gorgeous. Although I know you said it can get crowded, it looks so peaceful.
Okay our state parks in WI look nothing like this. I think I’m in love!
Ah, I can’t wait until we get to travel to amazing places like this again! Patiently waiting for the COVID vaccine to be available in Canada for me to take. 🙂
lately, because of Covid, I am all about traveling outdoors and exploring national parks. This one looks really pretty. I hope to get to Columbia one day and visit here.
What a seriously stunning place to camp! It must also have been really nice to have everything set up for you, so you didn’t have to carry in a tent and set it up on that first night when you were tired. Cabo beach (well, actually, all the beaches) look incredible!
How cold was that water to swim in?
Hi Josy, I went in the month of March and the water was not too cold.
Oh my! Those beaches look like heaven! I’m so glad you got to see some pink Flamingos- they are gorgeous creatures.
Oh my! Those beaches look like heaven! I’m so glad you were able to see the pink Flamingos- they are beautiful and fascinating creatures.
Looks like such a beautiful place! Looks like you had fun too!
Tayrona National Park looks like such a lovely place to spend a few days. I would love to spend an afternoon relaxing on any one of those beaches, especially Cabo Beach,. I have made the mistake of trying to head back to my campsite after dark, and it was not a great experience! I’m glad you mentioned the importance of getting back before dark, it can be a little scary!
We really regret not checking out Tayrona National Park when we went to Santa Marta. We were there for several days and got really caught up in the city itself. But with that said, when we return Tayrona is definitely on the list. I really wanted to explore the ruins and find the native tribes but those beaches like Cabo beach looks so beautiful!