Tours & tickets

Playa Brava, Santa Marta

If you are short of time but don’t want to leave Santa Marta without visiting its main destination, don’t worry, our tour in Tayrona Park is what you need! With this day trip to Tayrona Park, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to all of the places you need to know: Cabo San Juan, Arrecifes, and crystal-clear beaches among others. Have a traditional lunch by the sea (not included) and spend the rest of the day relaxing near the beach. You can choose a private option that includes transportation forth and back to your lodgings, or a shared option in which you can get to the park on public transportation. With the private option one of our professional drivers and an experienced guide will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Marta and safely drive you for less than an hour to get to the Park. We suggest you start this trip before 8 a.m. so you don’t get stuck in traffic on the way back. If you choose the shared option, you can take a public transportation in El Rodadero, at 7:15 am that will take you to the entrance of the park. There, the tour guide will be waiting for you. From the entrance you will start hiking deep in the woods along the marked trails until you get to the first beach: Arrecifes (reefs). This is the biggest beach in the park and one of the campsites but, as it is not possible to swim in its waters due to the strong sea currents, you will only stay there for a couple of minutes to have a break. Ready again, you will keep walking down and up the natural paths with its incredible natural Crystal-clear beaches. These are one of the top 25 most beautiful beaches of South America due to its turquoise crystal-clear calm waters. And last but not least you will get to the final destination: Cabo San Juan, known for having a picturesque viewpoint from a kiosk and another campsite. Once in here, you will enjoy a traditional Caribbean lunch by the sea (not included) and you will have the rest of the day to lie under a palm tree’s shade, relax, swim, walk by the seashore, or even talk with some other travelers. Then hike back again to the entrance of the Tayrona Park. From there, our driver will take you back to your hotel in Santa Marta where you can rest.

This is not a conventional tourist hike. It is a personalized experience, guided by a local who knows, lives, and feels Tayrona Park. A journey for those who want to see beyond the postcards: to understand the life that beats in the forest, the tensions that run through it, and the cultural richness that sustains it. Here, nature is not just explored: it is listened to, respected, and learned from. We start from the alternative entrance at Calabazo, where we leave behind the crowded routes and enter a quiet path that reveals the most authentic Tayrona. After a few minutes of walking, we make our first stop at a 360° viewpoint, an elevated point from which you can simultaneously contemplate the immensity of the Caribbean Sea and the majesty of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is a place to breathe deeply, feel the scale of the territory, and understand the connection between mountain, jungle, and ocean. From there, a demanding hike of approximately 3 hours through the tropical rainforest begins. The sound of howler monkeys, birdsong, and the crunch of leaves underfoot accompany every step until we reach a secluded, paradise beach where we will spend the night. Here we stop for lunch, rest, set up our accommodation, and reconnect with our surroundings. With our backpacks lightened, we set off on a trail that leads us to a hidden waterfall, a natural sanctuary where we can refresh ourselves with fresh spring water. This intimate moment with the crystal-clear water is a pause for the body and soul. On our return, the night surprises us with the lull of the sea and a starry sky that invites us to dream. At dawn on the second day, we resume our journey to Cabo San Juan. The hike, which takes about 3 hours, follows ancient trails through the thick forest. On the way, we will pass through Pueblito, an ancient Tayrona settlement steeped in history and spirituality. However, due to decisions made by the indigenous communities, access may vary: if it is open, we will visit its archaeological remains; if not, we will learn about its history while respecting the autonomy of its guardians. Before reaching Cabo San Juan, we will stop at two nudist beaches, where tranquility, clear waters, and silence reign. It is an ideal place to reconnect with yourself and enjoy the Caribbean without filters. Then, we continue to Cabo San Juan, where we have lunch and rest. The journey continues along the coastal route, visiting La Piscina, Arenilla, Arrecifes, and Cañaveral, with time for refreshing swims. We end with the 9 stones trail, a symbolic farewell to the territory, which invites us to reflect on our relationship with the land. We end the route by leaving the Zaino sector before 5:00 p.m., with our hearts full of lessons learned, landscapes, and deep memories that only the real Tayrona can offer.