Is Tayrona National Park Worth It? (Full day exploring the park in 2023)

Within an hour of Santa Marta, Colombia, Tayrona National Park is home to beaches and wildlife. But, while it gets high praise from locals and tourists, is Tayrona National Natural Park worth it?

In this video, we take a day trip to Tayrona National Park to find out if it's worth taking a bus, a long hike, and then a boat trip out of there.

For us, budget traveling is essential, and we aren't sure if Tayrona National Park fits the mold. However, let us know what you think!

Before you go, we highly recommend taking a scuba diving trip while in the Tayrona National Natural Park area. We personally recommend going with Caribean Pro Dive in Santa Marta.

They have fantastic customer service and budget-friendly pricing.

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How To Spend Two Days in Medellin, Colombia:

00:00 Intro
00:40 How to get there
03:14 Hiking & Important Info
06:53 Cabo San Juan
07:14 Scuba Diving
07:52 Is it worth it??

[thetravelingstewarts]

Good to know about the Passport! Thanks for all of the great info!

[delfina]

The insurance is something that is mandated by the government to all national parks. The insurance is like a medical insurance in case something happens to you such a coconut hit you, you got bit by an animal, you got a heart attack, etc... there are professionals there that can provide medical assistance. Yeah, I am sure the process is stupid and does not make any sense, but when we travel we have to adopt to other cultures and how people do things. In the USA we can be very spoiled. I am Colombian and grew up in the USA, and even moi can find myself being irritated when things don't function as smoothly, but that is part of the adventure of travel: adjusting to how others do things and to their culture. We have to be respectful (and I am not saying that the people doing this video are not) of wherever we go and realize we are in their territory and country, and we are the ones who need to adapt

[ibn]

Thank you so much for this! It was exactly what we needed to know! Super helpful❤

[chrisf]

I think your complaints are valid but the move is to stay the night and take the boat back to Taganga the next day. Cabo San Juan has a very cool vibe later in the day when a good portion of the crowd heads out.

Also your complaints about the ingress into the park aren't typical. Looks like you had some confusion but I had no issues like that. The insurance is if you happen to need medical care during your visit.

[leonoraverveld]

The hike is the best part! Please go to Tayrona, stay the night if you can. It's wonderful. If you have any appreciation for nature and wildlife, this will be a wonderful experience. We saw countless lizzards, monkeys and fish in addition to beautiful, untouched jungle. We went through the Calabazo entrance, which is amazing for people who love to hike.

[jilld]

We just spent the most enjoyable day with the best tour guide on the hike to the beach! It is a rainforest so it is going to be muddy in some places. Our tour guide was so passionate about the beauty and very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna! We had lunch at one of the vendors near the beach, and enjoyed Piscina Beach before the hike back. It was a great adventure! I think the guide made all the difference! We loved it!

[enriquegalindo]

I love Tayrona Park ! But definitely is not a place for 1 day. It is good if you go prepare to stay at least 2 days and enjoy the beach and relax 🧘🏼.

[estelaashunto]

I met a guy that is from Tyrona and he told me that for him didn't make any sense to walk for 5 hours back and for just to find that is just the beach. You can stay at Tyrona beach area without going to Tyrona park. So you are right, I have not been there but I am not interested in making a long trip just to enjoy 2 hours of the beach. Thank you for sharing. Your video is very helpful.

[thepipschef]

You guys complain alot, it's supposed to be an adventure..so its more fun if you guys didn't complain alot and played with each other on the road..

[brjojojo]

I do have a little place where i receive guests ... and listening to your words aboutg the health cover .. made me remind that i was thinking the same until one of our guest actually fell down in the park, she got little bit distracted and give a bad step and fell few meters down a little hill .. now that was in the middle of the 2 hours walk and actually hurt herself badly ... good thing is that as she paid the insurance then 2 nurses came to look for her and took her on an ambulance to the closest * Centro de salud * then they took she and her friend back to the park and left her at the first beach canaveral and then few hours later put them on the main road . The girl didnt had to pay for any of the procedures that they did and she actually found very helpful to be rescued by the emergency team ... so who is gonna even imagine that accidents can happen ... :p so now im team insurance on the Tayrona Park

[legallucy]

I personally appreciate the unadulterated photos and videos. It makes it easier for me to form an idea ore nether or not I want to go, compared to picture perfect google image photos.

[jsheikh]

Am doing this walk tomorrow & found this video really useful to help me know what to expect - thank you so much! Much appreciated 😊

[SepulchreBrit]

Thanks for the video. I’m flying to Santa Marta tomorrow and considered this national park. Looks like Costa Rica’s similar parks and much less hiking and bureaucracy. It’s a beach after all; not a life goal. Enjoyed the unadulterated views

[bodyofanextravertpodcast]

My friends and I are going this week, thank you so much for your honest opinions. Lol it's too late for us to back out but we're staying the night so hopefully it makes the experience better altogether.

[JohnSmith-pkst]

I knew you were screwed in the first couple of minutes of the video. First, go in February or March, when it isn't rainy season. Second, book a tour. It will be $25-30 USD all inclusive. The day before you send a scan of your passport to the tour company; early morning you are picked up at your hotel in a bus and dropped off at the main entrance. You wait at the restaurant for 20 minutes or so while the tour company retrieves your tickets (no vaccinations needed and they deal with all of the insurance and other stuff) and you are off on your hike. It shouldn't take you more than 2 hours, so by 10:30am you are at Cabo San Juan, and you can relax until around 2pm. IF you don't feel like hiking the entire way back, you can take a horse 2/3 of the way for around $12 USD. The bus then drops you off back at your hotel. I've done the math and it costs exactly the same to go on your own as it does through a tour. Your experience would have been infinitely better; Tayrona is universally considered to be amazing for a reason...

[jessikacardozo]

I appreciate this video so much!!!! I’m trying to plan my december trip to colombia and have researching all these different beaches in the cartagena, baranquilla, santa marta and tayrona área. Were there any “hidden” beaches you guys liked? Or even discovered beaches that were really nice??

[davidtimney]

I was there about 8 years ago. Not many people. I guess it’s been discovered.
Playa Blanca was much more cool. Spend a few nights there. All the people go back to Cartagena
at the end of the day. you than have the place to yourself.

[huskie]

We want to visit in June. From this video it looks like we are going to want to spend the night. Do you know that price? What kinda wildlife did u see? Is there more hiking trails to secluded beaches or jungle areas?

[explorinwithlaurin]

Appreciate the honest review! It seems nice but a lot of work to get there!

[WillBolt-ofrv]

Didnt make it thru the vid..too much complaining.