I had never heard of Tayrona prior to booking and planning our trip to Colombia. While doing researching for this trip I kept seeing picture after picture that showed how incredible this place was. And indeed it was beautiful and a memorable experience.
Tayrona is located about 30-45 minutes by car from the Santa Marta city center. Its diverse and varying terrains makes it for an incredible destination for hiking. And better yet, all the hard work is rewarded with miles of rich nature and beautiful beaches.
Though we did plenty of research, there was some scrabbling to get ready to make it there once we arrived to Santa Marta. Honestly we sort of just showed up and hoped for the best. I don’t necessarily recommend this approach, but the fact is once you’re in Santa Marta it’s somewhat easy to figure out your options. After all Santa Marta is best known as a home base for visitors who are looking to make their way to Tayrona, so if you ask around you are bound to find someone who can help you.
We woke up bright and early the morning to have a hearty breakfast and head out. You’d want to be at the park’s entrance as early as possible if you’re hoping to do the hike to Cabo San Juan. The park allows a limited number of visitors per day, so the earlier you get there, the better. 
After you enter the park you will watch a short video and talk about the ecology and history of the region. It’s required before you buy tickets. And from there you will take a mini van for a 5-minute ride to the beginning of the trail, Sendero de Arrecife.
Our first stop during the hike was a hill just with a breathtaking view of Playa Cañaveral. I had never seen anything like it. That and the sound of the waves crashing into the rocks were so inspiring. My heart was full.
We continued our walk for another 20 minutes until our next stop, which was near the camping site. The park has a few places where you can grab a bite or a beverage, so plan accordingly. We had refreshing passion fruit juice and a coconut lemonade.
From there we went on to La Piscina beach. The calm waters here are ideal for swimming. Take a moment to sit on the sand and take in the sight. It really is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.
By this point we had been hiking well over an hour, but luckily Cabo San Juan was just about 15-20 minutes from La Piscina. It’s hot and humid and the hiking can be exhausting, but It’s so worth that last push! The beach is absolutely beautiful! I couldn’t believe my eyes. As soon as we got there I was already sad about leaving.
There’s a restaurant at Cabo San Juan, but it was crowded and we didn’t want to spend our time waiting in line for a table… I have New York City to do all the waiting in line I want! To satiate the hunger, we bought some snacks and beers from a vendor at the beach.
At some point make your way up to the observatory to appreciate the beach from and appreciate the caribbean sea in all its splendor.
Before we knew it was time to head back! A big chunk of our time was spent waiting in line to get in. That was a bummer! But honestly, even an hour at this beach is worth the effort to get there.
Before wrapping up, I want to leave you with a few tips to best prepare for a visit to Tayrona:
- Dress comfortably. It gets hot and humid so be ready with athletic shoes and light clothing.
- Pack light and smart: must of your weight should be from water and snacks. Bring at least three liters of water. There are places to get water and snacks inside the park, but they are few and far in between so it’s best to be prepared.
- It practically goes without saying, but you will need plenty sunscreen and mosquito repellant. A pair of good sunglasses and a hat would come in handy as well.
- Arrive very, very early, especially during high season and plan how you are getting there and back ahead of time.
- Hiking Tayrona is of moderate intensity, so again, plan accordingly dressing comfortably and bringing enough water.
Visiting Tayrona was one of the best experiences of my life. I felt away from everyday distractions. There was only nature, good conversation and the path ahead of us.
Have you been? How was it? Please share in the comment below. And if you are planning to go, please let me know if you have any questions.
Hasta pronto,
Paloma
Paloma Veloz 
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