Yulia Saf 
During the time I was living in Medellin, the second biggest city in Colombia, I kept hearing how awesome Tayrona National Park was and how it was the best experience in the country for my fellow travelers.
UPDATE: Here you can check out our new post about all the Not-to-miss Things to do in Medellin, with prices!
Naturally, I wanted to go see it with my own eyes! I included it in my Colombian bucket list and started to plan the trip.
If you were ever curious as to what is special about the park, or better, you are also planning your adventure to Tayrona, keep reading as there is some useful info for you in this post!
UPDATE: All travelers (from all countries) visiting natural parks and nature and wildlife sanctuaries in Colombia are now required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate that provides proof of vaccination or a valid waiver. You can find more information about this on the website of the Colombian Ministry of Health.
Where exactly is Tayrona located?
Tayrona National Park is located on the Caribbean coast, a 1-hour bus ride from the city of Santa Marta.
Why is it so famous?
The national park is a treasure for those interested in nature and its fascinating wildlife.
Even if you are not a big fan of animals, you will still love the park! Tayrona is also a great gateway for those who simply want to relax on some of the loveliest South American coast lines, have a digital detox and get closer to nature. And it is just a fun adventure by itself!
I read some articles before going, and, while I found them really useful, some of the info in them is a bit outdated.
That is why I decided to wrap up my own experience and write a more up-to-date post.
Here are some practical things that you should know before visiting Tayrona National Park:
Entrance price to the park
The entrance fee is 56,000 COP ($17.50 USD) for foreigners. It is quite pricey by Colombian standards which is why it makes sense to stay longer than 1-2 days. There is also a mandatory insurance fee that you have to pay when you enter the park, which is 2,500 COP per day (less than $1 USD)
PRO TIP: Do not forget to take your student card and a copy of your passport if you are under 25 years old! If you are a student, the entrance will be just 8,500 COP for you (a bit more than US $2.50). Good savings, huh?
Don’t forget your passport!
I do not know what would have happened if I had left my passport in my hotel in Santa Marta (which is what I usually do if I go on a hike). Fortunately, I read a notice before we went. The cashier requires your passport at the entrance to the park when you buy your ticket. Do not forget it, please!
What about the food?
Remember, when in the park, any civilization is quite remote so you only have 3 options for food:
- Bring it yourself for however many days you will be staying
- Eat from local cafes that are there in each camp
- Combine the above 2 options.
If you are traveling on a budget, you can bring your own food in your backpack.
Remember, though, you will have to carry it!
You can also eat in one of those camp cafes. All other blogs I read said that it was very pricey to eat there.
However, either that was many years ago and the prices are outdated or the guys were on a very low budget because I found the prices to be quite affordable.
I will let you decide if it is affordable or pricey by listing the prices here that I found when I visited in January 2016:
- 5,000 – 8,000 COP for breakfast (~$2 USD),
- 15,000 – 22,000 for dinner ($5-$7 USD),
- 5,000 – 6,000 for beer.
Update: 12,000 – 14,000 COP for breakfast (~$4 USD)
PRO TIP: For those who are staying longer than a couple of days, there is no need to carry 5-10 liters of water/bread all the way from Santa Marta because you can buy canned food right at the entrance to the park (10% more expensive than in Santa Marta).
Oh, and do not take alcohol with you! You can drink it inside the park, but you can only buy it in one of the cafes inside. You will not be allowed to enter the park with your own beer. There are security staff who will be checking your bag at the entrance.
What to bring to Tayrona park:
Packing smart is very important!
You don’t want to be eaten by mosquitoes and get a sunburn, do you?
But you also don’t want to overpack and bring unnecessary things that will kill your back afterwards.
Here are the things that you should definitely pack in your backpack:
- Sunblock
- Water (you might buy some later, but you need at least 1 liter to get to the place)
- mosquito repellent
- sunglasses
- swim suit
- long sleeved shirt
- canned food
- a torch/flashlight
- a camera!
Also, good shoes(any sneakers will do) and flip-flops for using the communal showers.
Oh, and in case you are wondering, no, there is no Internet in Tayrona National Park, so just relax! 🙂
“I surely can swim in Tayrona park, right?”
No, my friend, even if I told you to bring a swim suit, you can’t really swim in Tayrona National Park as the Carribean Sea is rough there!
I understand you, you went all the way and you really want to swim in that turquoise water, I hear you. But please keep in mind that there is a strong rip tide, extremely dangerous under-currents and many people have died there.
There is one place in the park where you can swim, however, called La Piscina. But please keep in mind that it can get quite crowded during the high season. The weather is always pretty good on the Caribbean coast, but it tends to be the busiest in January and February.
If you are looking for a Colombia “beach and sea” destination, I recommend that you fly over to San Andres where you will find your paradise there!
How to get to Tayrona National park from Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the closest city to the National Park.
There is an airport in Santa Marta or you can also get there by bus. VivaColombia is really affordable, especially if you book it in advance, thus, I would suggest flying.
If you prefer, the bus to/from Santa Marta is 7,000 COP ($2.27 USD) and it will only take one hour to get there. On returning to Santa Marta, if you get off at the Mercado you can get another bus to Taganga for 1,600 COP (0.50 cents).
Once inside the park, there is an optional shuttle bus for 3,000 COP ($1 USD) that will take you to the starting point of the hike.
You do not have to take the bus, you can walk to the starting point, but I recommend taking it. There is nothing spectacular on the road and you will save about an hour of your time!
Now, the map is not exactly accurate, but I could not find anything on the internet, so I made one myself (you are welcome!)!
It aims to give a general understanding of where things are geographically located and how long it will take to go from one place to another.
I have also heard that there are boats that can take you to the park (to the El Cabo San Juan entrance) from Taganga (located 20 minutes from Santa Marta by bus).
Note: If you are going from Cartagena to Tayrona (like me), you can either take a flight (recommended) or go by bus (approximately 5-6 hours).
| 💵 Entrance fee: | 57 500 cop (~$13) |
| 👙 What to wear: | Comfortable clothes and swimwear |
| 🏠 Where to stay: | Hotels, tents and Hammocks |
| ☀️Best time to go: | September – November |
| 📅 How many days: | 2-3 |
Where to stay in Tayrona park – a hammock, a tent or a hotel room?
And now, the big question is – where do you stay once you get there?
The park is very big and pretty hard to reach, so it does not make sense to visit for only a day. I stayed for 2 days, but I could have easily stayed longer.
Your sleeping options are a hammock in the common room, a tent (rented or your own) or a hotel.
UPDATE: I have written an extensive article with updated information on where to stay inside the park, as well as some good accommodations near it: Where To Stay In Tayrona National Park, Colombia
Let’s talk about each sleeping choice in a little more detail.
1) A Hammock
Hammocks, such a romantic way to stay in the park – lazily sipping your beer in a hammock under a palm tree, waking up to the sound of waves…
If this is how you imagine it, let me change your mind a bit.
Let’s start with the fact that all the hammocks are located in one big communal room (NOT in front of the sea) separated from the outside by a mosquito net. Some of them had not been washed for a long time (if ever).
Even if I really wanted to try out the hammock option, I reconsidered when I saw how the hammock looked.
So, I decided to change my mind and opt for a tent.
PRICE: 10,000 – 13,000 COP ($3.50 – $4.50 USD)
Update: Hammocks in San Juan now cost 40,000 COP (around $13 USD) for one night.
2) A Tent
I decided to go for a rented tent (bring yours if you have one) and had no regrets!
Hammocks and tents are located in the campsite and have toilets and showers nearby. Facilities are basic, but enough.
Note that the shower is open only during specific hours and I think it only had cold water, brr!
Answering your question, there are no hostels (for now) in Tayrona park.
Note: If you want to stay in the campsite, I strongly advise you to arrive as early as possible, first of all because the sun is strong and it will be unbearably hot, and secondly, chances are, by 3 pm, there will be no free spots available for you.
Where to stay: Camping sites where you can stay: Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan (take a look at the map above). I stayed in Arrecifes and I quite liked it, but I have heard that San Juan is nice too, just that it’s a bit more crowded.
PRICE: 40,000 – 60,000 COP ($11.50 -$17.30 USD) for 2 people
3) A Hotel
If you are not feeling like a great adventure with tents etc., no worries, I totally understand you!
Here are Tayrona National Park hotel options:
There are a couple of VERY expensive Tayrona National Park Eco hubs inside the park, but to be honest I find them a bit overpriced for what they offer. (from US $150 a day)
If you are searching for an affordable great hotel right on the beach that you have just to yourself, I know a great solution for you!
Sometimes we just need to relax and enjoy, and if that is what you want, I have a perfect place in mind for you!
Tayrona Tented Lodge is a small hotel consisting of 6-7 bungalows. I had to book it in advance and could only get it for 1 night (I would gladly have stayed much longer).
This place was my personal paradise!
Technically, it is not in the park (only the eco hubs are inside, but these are located right at the entrance).
Tayrona Tented Lodge is a fantastic place to be, to just relax, read your book on that hammock (yes, near the beach!) and simply enjoy the moment; you will always have a chance to come back to your busy “real” life!
It is perfect for both romantic getaways (even a honeymoon!) and a family vacation. When I was there, I met some guys from the UK who wanted to come back with all their close friends one day and rent all 7 bungalows.
I think that is a great idea because the area has some of the best beaches in Columbia. The location is so perfect, you have all the beaches to yourself! You just forget about all the world’s problems and immerse yourself in nature.
And oh yes, unlike Tayrona Park, you can swim in the Carribean Sea!
How to get there: It is just a 20-minute ride from the main entrance of Tayrona National Park. All the information can be found on their official website.
PRICE: Ecohubs start at US $200, Tayrona Tented Lodge from US $55 for 2 people
Check the rates for Tayrona Tented Lodge here!
Watch the video below. Even if it is in Spanish, it will give you a better understanding about the place:
Summary:
Tayrona National Park is a great place to visit if you are a nature lover. It is without a doubt one of the best national parks in Colombia.
In this post I gave you recommendations on how to get there, what you should definitely take with you and what is better to leave at home.
We talked about different accommodation options and their prices.
I hope it was helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions, I will gladly answer!
Pin it for later!
What an interesting and complete add
About Park of Tayrona. You were very detail
Nothing left. I am very thankful.
Here I am planing to visit the Park with my brothers
Ages 80 and 70 like me.
Do you have any suggestions please.
We are not hiking or walking long distances, but we will like a Hotel and enjoy the views and some water walking.
Great post! I have been looking for accomodation, finally no hammock in the park haha. I am also planning to go by plane from Cartagena but it seems like it has to stop by in Medellin which will take at least 4 hour. Do you find the bus comfy and safe? Thx.
Hi Ada!
haha, yeah, hammock might not be the most comfortable option for some of us here 🙂 We took a collcetivo bus and even though it was fine (the main thing is that it was looooong), i think if you can manage to find a direct flight, it would be better
You should have been there in 1973.
Oh, I bet it would be very interesting!!
Hey, Nice post. Is it per day entrance fee (56,000 cop) or one can stay any number of days by paying one-time entrance fee? Thanks
You pay the entrance once! That’s why I recommend spending more than 1-2 days in the park 🙂
Hi Yulia,
Thanks for such an informative and comprehensive article, I found it really useful for my visit this week! I had an amazing time.
Just to update you that for Cabo San Juan, there are people working at the entrance to the park who will make same day reservations for tents and hammocks (I don’t know about the other campsites). I didn’t find this out until I got to Cabo San Juan and everything was sold out! Luckily I was persistent and got a tent on the third time I went to bother the people at reception. Hopefully this will help future readers.
Thanks again!
Hello,
before i begin, what an amazing review you have given! I have been reading lots of blogs but this by far is the best, you answered all of my questions!
After reading the comments, i see someone said that the park closes in February. Is there any way I can find out exact dates the park closes in 2020?
thanks again!
Hello,
Thank you, I’m really happy you found this blog post helpful!
The dates when the Park willl be closed in 2020 are 1 to 15th February, in June from 1 to 15 and from the 19th of October to 2nd of November!
Does Tairona Park close in February for maintenance? I seem to have read this in a guide book. Thanks for your reply.
Hello Marie,
Yes, it will be closed from 1 to 15th February, in June from 1 to 15 and from the 19th of October to 2nd of November.
Hi,
I’m just wondering if I should bring long pants to hike in/out of Tayrona.
Thanks,
Matt
Hey Matt,
It’s usually pretty warm, but you can bring a pair of long pants just in case!
Hello,
I am looking to go to Tayrona National Park for 2 days and I would like to stay at the Tented Lodge that you have been talking about! Since this lodge is outside the park, does this mean that I have to pay the park entrance fee more than once, for each day I re-enter the park?
Thanks,
Zoe
Hello,
I didn’t, but that was a while ago, this is the info I found for you “The Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona can be entered at several points, but wherever you enter, you’ll need to pay the entrance fee (foreigners/Colombians COP$54,500/23,000). This fee is valid for as long as you care to stay inside the park, and you can also leave the park and re-enter at another entrance until 5pm on the day of purchase.”
Hope this helps!
Hello,
how do you get to the park from the Tayrona tented lodge? are there nature tours for families with young children (8yrs)?
thanks
dan
Hi, Dan!
There is a bus that you can take to the park or you can take a taxi. Alternatively, you can ask the hotel staff to arrange something and drop you off there, I’m sure they will be happy to do it!
Tayrona Tented Lodge also a great place for a family vacation and I’m sure they can suggest some child-friendly tours as well. For starters, I have found this tour in the park that is child-friendly, but you can also explore the place by yourself. There are buses that can take you to several spots in the park in case you get tired as well.
Have a great vacation in Tayrona, it’s a great National Park! 🙂
I’m assuming you were meaning Taganga and not Tarranga? I’m interested in taking this boat trip and then staying in a hostel just outside the parque.
Thank you for the correction, Ed! It is, indeed, Taganga 🙂
If you need any hostel recommendations near the park, you can find my list of options in this post!
Have a great time in Tayrona!
Hi!! I just wantes to telll you thanks for that wonderful review of the park always makes me really happy when someone talks about my country so good and enjoy their time in there, is a beautiful country for sure and i miss it, i live in USA atm and planning to go for vacations and your post and tour popped up and now i want to travel now!! I cant wait thank you again you are wonderful 🙂
You are welcome, your country is gorgeous! 🙂
HI great article lots of useful info! Me and my friends want to check ithe out we just have one question. Is there a kitchen at the camp sites or do you need to cook over a fire?
Hi!
Unfortunately, there are no kitchens and no fires either at the campsites. I recommend bringing canned food or food that doesn’t require any cooking! 🙂
Hey,
Just wondering why you recommend flying from Cartagena? Beautiful locations like this, as well as millions of people of course, are hugely at risk from the various devastating effects of climate change. It really depresses me how often travelling blogs purportedly about celebrating the beauty of our world give zero regard to our role in destroying it. 5-6 hours on a bus feels like a small price to pay.
Hi Amy,
I recommend flying because I took the bus and it was a very uncomfortable ride to say the least.
While you are absolutely right and we all should be more conscious to our choices, I want to give my readers full information about transportation options and it is up to them to decide which one to use. I am going to change the text accordingly, thanks for your comment!
Your information is great! We want to come from Cartagena for 2 nights but will have only one full day. I want the experience of walking through the jungle and seeing the great beaches, but while we’re good walkers, we’re not climbers and will need to have a bed at night (we are 65/75)! I was thinking about splurging at ecohabs one night to hear the jungle and walk early in the morning. Not sure where to spend the other night. What are your suggestions about making this a memorable, but too brief, visit?
I think that’s awesome that you are going to explore Tayrona! 🙂
About your question – I have a dedicated article where you can find many hotel recommendations that are close to the park (not actually in the park – there are only hammocks, camps and ecohabs inside the park).
For example Tayrona Tented Lodge (in Guachaca – it’s where I stayed for one night as well), Hotel Tayrona Paradise (in Los Naranjos), or Mercure Santa Marta Emile (in Santa Marta).
I hope you will find something fit for your needs here! 🙂
Hello! Is it possible to store your bags it the entrance of the park while you go in and explore? We are staying at the eco legend but don’t want to have to go there first (past the park) just to drop off bags. Is this possible to store at the entrance? Thanks!!
Hi, Rachel!
I left my luggage at the accommodation, so I didn’t search for any luggage storage at the entrance of the park, but I heard that El Viajero or Masaya hostels in Santa Marta can keep your luggage free of charge. Maybe it can be a good solution! 🙂
Hope this helps,
Yulia
I visited Tayrona just over a week ago. It’s beautiful, I stayed for 2 nights/3 days, and even though you’ll hear that’s too long- it’s really not!
I stayed in a tent, over at camping Don Pedro which was fine! No pillows or bed sheets, but nothing your micro fiber towel and jumper won’t fix! Facilities such as food, showers and toilets were all fine, pretty clean and basic- I have zero complaints!
The only thing I’d add is you need to pay insurance to enter the park, and me and my friend were charged $117,000 pesos after this other charge (cant remember the insurance fee-sorry!). We had heard there are no cash machines so we thought between us we had enough- until the costs to get in!
However, there is a place to eat by the beach close to don pedro campsite which accepted credit cards!
Visit the park, its amazing! Just take enough cash and go knowing your in the jungle! Also, my campsite had wifi for $5,000- we chose not to connect as we wanted to enjoy the freedom (and had no money haha)!
Enjoy!
Hi, Frankie!
Thank you for the precious information – I updated the article about the mandatory insurance fee, which I found is 2.500 COP per day.
I’m glad you enjoyed your time, Tayrona is such a wonderful destination! 🙂
How do you get from the eco lodge to Tayrona? Was it 20 minutes walking or by bus? Thanks!
Hi, Mary! 🙂
Tayrona Tented Lodge is located 10km away from Zaino, the main entrance of Tayrona park. It is 20 minutes by bus to get there and you can take it from the main road. The price is around 8.000 COP (2.75 US$).
Thanks for the info! We’re going to take your advice and stay in a tent in Arrecifes!! Now it’s a requirement to have your yellow fever vaccine, once we’re set we’ll head there from Cartagena!
Salma and all,
Can anyone else confirm that a yellow fever vaccine certificate proof is REQUIRED to enter the park?? Haven’t read anywhere else that it’s required, just a recommendation..?
Thanks!
Christian
The park’s website lists it in Spanish as “recommended”: http://www.parquetayrona.com.co/contenidos/parque-tayrona
We were told by officials at the airport that we needed it. However, when we went to the park they did not as for the proof of vaccination..
You can also get it for free in Cartagena if you take your foreign passport. I see it as a good precaution.
Good luck!
Hi, Salma!
Thank you for the information, I have updated the post! 🙂 Have fun in Colombia!
What if I want to do a suprise marriage Proposal is there some works who can help me set it up?
I am sorry I have no idea, I was there as a tourist and shared my experience. Maybe someone else here could recommend something?
Hey Yuliya!
This is a great guide!! Thank you for this, uber helpful! Do you think I need a second day in the park? What did you visit in the park on the second day? I feel like you saw everything or majority of everything on the first day. I ask this question because I was thinking to do the park for the day(Get there very early) and returning back to santa marta and then do a day trip to minca the following day. What do you think?
Hello Sharmin,
I think if you really want to you can do it in one day, but in my opinion it would be missing on a lot of things, I would stay at least ovenight there to feel the atmosphere and have no rush
Hmmm interesting, I think you are right. Is this doable… can I do Tayrona park for the day, stay overnight at your place you recommended and then the next morning, go directly to minca that morning? Is that possible and do you know the best way of getting there from Tayrona?
Just returned from the park to Santa Marta. Left SM about 10AM – arranged taxi trip for 4 to park entrance – 90,000 pesos. 3 gringos and one colombian entrance fee about 200,000 pesos. Nice walk to the beaches – about 2 hrs to cabo san juan. – horses back – amazing sure footed animals – about 40,000 each. We had arranged to meet a driver for trip home to SM but he was delayed but left word with another waiting driver – many options – helps to have a colombian along who is good at negotiating. (110000 pesos) Very exciting drive – single laned road becomes multi laned whenever there is a break in the oncoming traffic. And motor cycles make even more lanes appear. No mosquitoes this visit. Saw an alligator and heard the eerie cry of monkeys on the way out. Got back to SM about 8pm. An exhausting but worthwhile trip – My wife and I are 65 and are traveling with our daughter and her colombian boyfriend.
Wow, thank you so much for such a detailed comment, I am sure it will be useful for all the readers here!
What time of year did you take a flight? It doesn’t seem that Viva offers direct flights to Santa Marta in December/Jan.
I did not take a flight, I went by bus
Hey! Thanks for the great information.
If you stay in the tented lodge, do you still see all the wildlife at night and the sunrise over the beach?
Also, if we are doing a 2 night stay, would it make sense to stay in the tented lodge, or will we spend a lot of time backtracking to the lodge each night?
Thank you!
Hello Lauren,
the Tented lodge is right on the beach, it is not in the jungle so I do not remember a lot of wild life.
Unless you’d hire a special transportation, it would take you too long to get there every night in my opinion.
Hammocks in San Juan now cost $40,000 for one night! Yikes! Breakfast is $12-14,000 and was not impressive. Vegetarian rice for dinner was $15,000 and was ok, slice of banana cake for $3,000 Didn’t get bitten by mosquitos at all, I wore cheap repellent I bought in Santa Marta. I slept in the hammock in shorts and t-shirt, I was a little chilly. Beautiful park though, definitely go! Bus to/from Santa Marta is $7,000. On returning to Santa Marta, if you get off at the Mercado you can get another bus to Taganga for $1,600.
Thank you for the precious information, Jesse! I updated the article 🙂
We have 10 days in Colombia. Wish it could be longer but it’s all we have! Trying to balance seeing different areas with constantly being on the move! Is Tayrona worth it if we can only stay the day? We would be coming from Cartagena. I guess we would stay in Santa Marta and get an early start in the morning, and return to Santa Marta that night. Other option is to stay longer in Cartagena and do an island day. How bad are the insects/ Mosquitos in Tayrona? My son seems to be a magnet! Thank you for this info!!
Jennifer
Not sure if it is wort it to go all the way from Cartagena to spend just one day in the park, it is a very tiring trip. I would suggest to stay overnight in the park.
Yes, i remember there were mosquitoes there – there are some great sun creams+ anti mosquito cream (2 in 1) nowadays, so I would recommend buying them before!
Hi Yiulia, many thanks for all the info, very useful and inspiring!
I’m planning to stay one day and one night in the park. Then on the following morning I’ll have to catch a flight from Santa Marta at 12.35.
If I sleep in Cabo San Juan, will I make it to the airport, let’s say, by 11AM? Can I get out of the park early in the morning, by boat or bus?
I have no idea, sorry. I would not risk it though
Hi! great blog! We will be flying to santa marta is there a bus from the airport straight to the park if not where is the pick up point for the public bus? Also we will be backpacking… I presume its not ideal to bring your big bag pack with you do you have any recommendations where to leave our larger backpack whilst we stay at the park?
Hello, Megan!
Yes, it’s not ideal to have a big backpack with you so I recommend you leave it at your Santa Marta hotel or hostel. They’re used to this so they will take care of it.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any direct buses that go from the airport to the park, but you can take a bus from the airport to the city center and then a small bus to the park.
Hope this helps!
Have fun!
Hello, thanks for the article! How do you get from the Tayrona Tented Lodge to the park and vice versa?
Here is the info from the post above:
How to get: It is just 20 minutes ride from the main entrance to Tayrona National Park. All the information can be found on their official website.
we have taken a bus and then walked, but the walk was quite long so i do not recommend it, better take a taxi
You did a knock out job here, BRAVO! Thorough, concise, informative, entertaining, and just GOOD!!
happy it was useful! 🙂
Hi! do you know if we need to make reservations in advance?
No, no need for that
Hi!
Do the rented tents come with sleeping bags included or is there an additional cost to rent these also?
Cheers
Jamie
it is an additional cost to rent a sleeping bag
This is a great post! I have also noticed that many of the thing I’ve read are very out of date. There have been a few posts that mentioned needing a yellow fever vaccine to enter the park. Were you required to show proof of vaccination upon entrance to the park?
While it might be required on the entrance and I generally do recommend doing the yellow fever vaccination, we were not asked to show the proof of it. But dont forget your passport! 🙂
Is Tyrona N.P. really infested by mosquitos and when is the worst mosquito infestation season ?
I am the person that mosquitos love very much and even in my home town of the Italian Adriatic Riviera I am always badly bitten by mosquitos in August. Please let me know.
hi! love your site 🙂 do you have any input on getting from Cartagena to Tayrona Tented Lodge? We’re trying to decide between bus/rental car or taxi as we want to make the most of our time and not take forever to get there.
Hey Emily, thanks!:)
We got to the Tented Lodge after visiting the National Park, i think we took that same bus that was going from Cartagena to the park and further. It was a 5-10 minutes drive to the place where the bus dropped us off, but I remember we had to walk quite a lot along the beach afterwords (like 15-20 mins?).
You can take a taxi, or if you want to safe some money, you could also take a bus to the park and then take a taxi to the hotel. Or ask the hotel to pick you up from the park?
I am sure they can arrange that!
Hello! I would like to know if any vaccines are required to visit that national park?
Hi,
I would advise you to have the yellow fever vaccination! Although when I went, a couple of years ago, I wasn’t asked for proof, and on their website is still listed as “recommended”, I heard they started asking people for proof of this vaccine, so better safe than sorry! 🙂
We are traveling from California. I have been researching online and the tours are like 150.00 per person USD. You are saying that we can just follow your instructions without a tour, correct?
Yes, that is basically what this post is all about, you can totally do it by yourself! 😉
The place is not only beautiful but seems to be quite affordable.What about insects, snakes and others from Animal Kingdom trying to get into your tent? Are there any?
As you are in the middle of mother nature, there are insects of course. but the problem was easily solved by zipping the tent when leaving.
I dont know anything about snakes. i doubt that they would come to a populated by humans camp.
It was all good, enjoy your trip! 🙂
How much money in total did this trip cost you?
can we swim in the ocean?
Hi there! Your post is wonderful! I am looking for a little advice. We have booked a hostel in Santa Marta for 3 days. The hostel is super nice and we love it. For this reason, my boyfriend wants to return to the hostel in Santa Marta each night. Do you think this is doable or should I try to convince him to stay in the vicinity of the park? We plan on returning to the park each day and we don’t mind the hour bus ride or hike.
Hey Anna!
I would definitely stay somewhere around or in the park, I see no reason spending time on transportation each day, but it is up to you of course.
Hi Jeff,
All the costs of the local expenses I made are set in the post! Think which activities you want to do and do the math for your trip.