From Wikitravel

The popular Tayrona Park lies at the Caribbean coast near Santa Marta in Colombia. It has some of South Americas loveliest coastline. This little delightful spot is located about 30 minutes from the city of Rodadero, with beautiful beaches, hammocks to rent for the night, food, water and surf (be careful though, there is a strong riptide - experienced surfers only!). Additionally, you can get a guide to take you to a native village in the nearby mountains.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

[edit] Landscape

[edit] Flora and fauna

The park boasts fascinating wildlife including black howler and titi monkeys, red woodpeckers, iguanas, jaguars (which are rarely seen as they hunt at night), variety of lizards, tropical marine life as well as the odd pet parrots kept at the restaurant at Arrecifes.

[edit] Climate

During the rainy season it gets wetter

[edit] Main Places

Cañaveral

Cañaveral is the only place which can be reached by car. Camping is possible. Nearby Aviatur offers pricey Ecocabanas for C$440,000 - C$600,000.

Arrecifes

Arrecifes has 3 places which offer accommodations: At the pricey end Aviatur has Ecocabanas for C$300,000 but also allows camping. El Paraiso offers cabanas for C$100,000 and hammocks for C$12,000. Camping is also possible. A short walk further brings you to a place with reggae music that offers hammocks and camping. All three places offer food and sanitary services.

La Piscina

La Piscina is mostly a place to swim and hang out. It has no accommodations.

El Cabo

El Cabo is basically just one place. You can either stay in hammocks (between C$15,000 and C$20,000) or in 2 person tents (which can be rented there for a total of C$50,000), food is available at the restaurant.

[edit] Get in

From Santa Marta take the bus from the corner of Calle 11 with Carrera 11. It leaves when it is full and costs C$4,000. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the park entrance, it is about one hour. From the park entrance it is another 4 kilometres to Cañaveral. You can either walk, take a van for C$2,000 or try to hitch a ride.

A taxi from Santa Marta might be an alternative for groups of 3 or 4 persons.

With a large number of people it might work out cheaper to rent a boat from Santa Marta or Taganga. You get dropped off at one of the park's beaches and this way you avoid the entrance fee.

There are a few camping areas in front of the park entrance that charge approximately C$3,000 per tent. This is an alternative in case you cannot get into the park the same day of your arrival.

[edit] Fees/Permits

The entrance fee is C$31.000 for foreigners and C$9.000 for Colombian citizens, children from the age of 5 pay C$5000. Bags and personal belongings are checked at the park entrances.

Take lots of food and water with you, it's incredibly expensive inside the park (compared to col. standards). For example a can of coke is C$2500, beer C$3000 and a 5 liter bottle is C$6000.

Officially a yellow fever certificate showing vaccination at least 10 days earlier is required and sometimes it is enforced. The vaccination is free in clinics in Santa Marta.

[edit] Get around

A jeep / vehicle can be caught from El Zaino entrance which will take you to the start of the walk / hiking trail. Mules / Donkeys can be hired to transport you and your lugagge to Arrecifes, but are mostly used for transporting groceries (fruit, food, drink and water) to the local restaurants in the park. The walk / hike to Arrecifes is about 45mins - 1 hour, depending on how much you stop to observe the local fauna and flora. It is recommended that hiking boots / trainers are worn for the duration of this walk, as it can get really muddy and slippery during the rainy season.

The walk / hike from Arrecifes to La Piscina is about 15 - 20 mins, the majority of the walk is along the beach and sea edge with some palm forested areas. The walk / hike from La Piscina to El Cabo is another 5 - 10 mins, but well worth it once you arrive.

[edit][add listing] See

A 60 minute uphill walk from El Cabo is El Pueblito. An archaeological site similar to Ciudad Perdida only much smaller in size. (11°19'0.92"N, 73°58'43.38"W)

[edit][add listing] Do

From Arrecifes (11°18'51.23"N, 73°56'58.24"W), there is a 15 minute walk to the lagoon known as La Piscina (11°19'26.82"N, 73°57'33.01"W). A reef in front of the coast forms a natural swimming pool. It is safe to swim here.

Snorkeling at El Cabo is also a great pastime, provided the visibility is good. A variety of marine life including tropical fish can be seen nearer the rocks and on the reef further out into the ocean. It is recommended to bring one's own snorkeling gear.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Travelers can get food from the different native or local restaurants present in Arrecife, El Cabo and La Piscina. There is a variety of sea food, such as the tropical fish plate with rice and salad. Seafood dishes are also usually served with pataconés (fried plantain). Similar to bananas, plantains are usually firmer and not as sweet, with a neutral flavour like a potato. They are usually cut, fried and smashed into small pancake shapes, when they are fried again and served with food or as a snack on their own.

The local restaurants have a varied menu which includes breakfasts (with scrambled egg as the basis) seafood, meat (particularly steak and chicken), chips (papas fritas) and pastas. It is advisable to get in early, to avoid the disappoinment of being told the restaurant is out of the meal you requested. Meals are ordered and paid for before receipt.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The restaurant at Arrecifes sells delicious freshly squeezed juices. Try a fruit juice mix of 'lulo' (a fleshy yellow fruit indigenous to the Carribbean coast)and banana or maracuya (a local brand of grenadilla or passion fruit). hi mia!

[edit][add listing] Sleep

At Cañaveral there are the famous Ecohabs [1], luxury accommodation in small or big Huts from C$440,000/night/double occupation including taxes and breakfast.

From Cañaveral it's a 45 minute walk to Arrecifes. Here are some restaurants and places to sleep: the Aviatur place and two or three independently run.

A hammock costs C$6,000 per night and a cabaña for 2 costs C$100,000 (Finca Paraiso) or C$300,000 (Aviatur).

At the Aviatur camp site, price is C$11,000 p.P. (small kids free), renting a tent incl. 2 mats is C$15,000.

Another 30 minute walk is El Cabo. One of the most popular spots to stay the night. There are hammocks for rent (C$6.000 - C$12000, depending on whether its tourist season) and a camping area. There is also a restaurant, serving expensive but safe and tasty food. There is only electricity few hours a day and the bathrooms are basic. At night it might get busy which takes away the place charm, but at daytime you find most beaches almost deserted.

[edit] Stay safe

It is prohibited to swim in the sea near Arrecifes due to the danger of strong riptides.

[edit] Get out

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