What to expect when visiting Tayrona
Tayrona National Park is a magical paradise on Colombia’s north coast. With lush jungles and breathtaking beaches, it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Its beauty is unparalleled in Colombia, some would say even in Latin America.
Despite the number of tourists visiting Tayrona, many areas remain off-limits, and the park is able to maintain its untouched glory. But don’t worry, there’s still a huge part of it you can explore while hiking, diving, snorkelling and camping. Tayrona National Park is an adventurer’s dream!
Access points
Tayrona National Park covers 225 km² and has many access points. Most visitors enter via El Zaino or Calabazo, since they are relatively easy to reach from other major destinations in Colombia.
Given its proximity to Santa Marta, most visitors chose to hop on a bus from here, but many travellers also go straight to the park from Barranquilla. Instead of spending the night in Santa Marta, you overnight in one of the most unique places to stay in Colombia in or near Tayrona Park. A guaranteed unforgettable stay.
When is Tayrona National Park closed?
It’s important to know that Tayrona National Park is closed for a proportion of February, June and October every year.
The indigenous communities living in Tayrona request this so that they can physically and spiritually clean the area, allowing the plants and wildlife to return.
In 2024, Tayrona National Park will be closed on:
- 1-15 February
- 1-15 June
- 19 October – 2 November
The last time we checked, the same closure schedule applies for the year 2024. However, these dates can still vary slightly every year, so make sure to check out Parque Tayrona for the latest information.
Entrance into Tayrona
A ticket for Tayrona can be bought with either cash or card (card is accepted only at El Zaino and Calabazo). The price for foreigners during the low season is 74,000 COP ($17.60) or 87,000 COP ($21) in the high season – December to January, during the Easter holiday and mid-June to July.
Also consider that insurance is mandatory, which is sold at the park entrance, for 6,000 COP ($1.40) per day. This has to be paid in cash.
Looking for more info about Tayrona National Park and the different entrances? Check out this route post from Santa Marta to Tayrona where we go into more detail.
3 ways to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 112 kilometers (70 miles) from Barranquilla to Tayrona by bus (1 hour to 1 day 3 hours), minivan (2 hours) and private Transport (2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour to 1 day 3 hours and the quickest way is by bus. The lowest priced tickets start from 26,000 COP ($6.20) for the bus.Where to stay in Tayrona?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Tayrona.
Barranquilla to Tayrona by Bus
A simple and budget-friendly way to go from Barranquilla to Tayrona is to take any bus to Guajira region (Palomino and Riohacha) and ask the driver to drop you off at the park entrance in El Zaino.
You can book the tickets online to Palomino or Riohacha, but we recommend asking the bus driver in advance to make sure that they will stop at the park entrance.
If the buses won’t stop at the park entrance, you can just buy a ticket to Santa Marta and from there find another bus headed to Palomino or Guajira which run frequently.
Here’s some more information on getting the bus from Santa Marta to Tayrona.
If you’d prefer a private transfer, you can also book one through BookAway, which offers nice cars with professional drivers.
Getting around inside Tayrona
Once inside the park, getting around is mainly done by walking, but horse riding and a small bus exist at the El Zaino entrance. We recommend taking the bus because it skips 30-minutes of walking along a road, and it takes you straight to the start of the trail – that’s where the fun begins.
The bus from El Zaino to the Cañaveral area, a 10-minute ride, will cost 5,000 COP ($1.20).
Bus options from Barranquilla to Tayrona National Park
Barranquilla to Tayrona by Minivan
From Barranquilla to Tayrona, minivans take 3 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic and stops along the way. Travelers prefer this option because the driver can pick you up from any hotel in Barranquilla and drop you off at most hotels or entrances in Tayrona.
Tickets for Marsol Transportes can be booked via WhatsApp or phone call (+57 3197601810) and Tickets for Caribe Vans can be booked via WhatsApp or phone call (+57 300 5438797).
Minivan options from Barranquilla to Tayrona National Park
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
Barranquilla to Tayrona by Private Transport
A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Barranquilla to Tayrona.
Rates start from 469,000 COP ($110) for a 2-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about per person. Travel time is around 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.
Private Transport options from Barranquilla to Tayrona National Park
Frequently Asked Questions about Barranquilla to Tayrona
What is the distance from Barranquilla to Tayrona?
The distance from Barranquilla to Tayrona is 112 kilometers (70 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona?
The fastest way to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona is by bus and takes 1 hour.
What is the cheapest way to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona?
The cheapest way to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona is by bus with ticket costs starting from 26,000 COP ($6.20).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Barranquilla to Tayrona. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
