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How to get from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park offers some of the best beaches, breath-taking hikes and unparalleled sights in Colombia and according to many, even South America.
Here you’ll find activities like snorkelling, horse riding, camping, bird and animal watching, visiting archeological sites and why not, nude bathing. If you want to enjoy the park at its’ best, we recommend staying a night or two in the park. In and around Tayrona National Park, you’ll find some of Colombia’s best places to stay.
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 other popular choices are to leave from Barranquilla and Cartagena too.
2 ways to get from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park
When travelling the 240 km from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park, you have 2 options: a 5-hour minivan ride to the El Zaino entrance at Tayrona Park, or a 5.5-hour bus journey, but you may have to transfer in Santa Marta. Rates range from 37,000 COP ($9.00) to 88,000 COP ($22.00).
The minivan is the easiest way to reach Tayrona National Park from Cartagena.
TIP: Before you make your way from Cartagena to Tayrona national park, we highly recommend taking a boat from Cartagena to Isla Grande. On this paradise island you find some gorgeous white-sand beaches with turquiose water. It’s the perfect gewatay from the city live in Cartagena.
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 2022, Tayrona National Park will be closed:
- 1-15 February
- 1-15 June
- 19 October – 2 November
The dates 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 low season is 57,500 COP ($14.50) or 66,500 COP ($16.50) in high season – December to January, during Easter holiday and mid-June to July.
Also take into consideration that insurance is mandatory, which is sold at the park entrance, for 5,000 COP ($1.20) per day. This has to be paid in cash.
Looking for more info about Taryona National Park and the different entrances? Check out this route post from Santa Marta to Tayrona where we go into more detail.
Cartagena to Tayrona National Park by Minivan
From Cartagena to Tayrona, minivans take 4.5 to 5 hours depending on traffic and stops along the way. Travelers prefer this option because the agency provides door-to-door service.
Tickets for Marsol Transportes, the company who run the minivans, can be booked online or via WhatsApp (+57 3197601810).
We recommend avoiding the minivan that stops in Barranquilla, as this will add time onto your journey.
Cartagena to Tayrona National Park by Bus
You’ll first need to head to Cartagena’s bus terminal, found outside the city and catch the daily bus from Cartagena to Riohacha, asking the driver to stop at Tayrona’s entrance.
If you miss the previous option, you can easily take a bus to Santa Marta which runs more frequently, and from the bus terminal there find another bus that heads to Palomino or Riohacha and ask the driver to stop at the park entrance.
You can find out more about the bus from Santa Marta to Tayrona here.
Cartagena to Tayrona National Park by Taxi
Since the trip can be made with a cheaper shared minivan, not many people take taxis, but depending on season and operator, you can expect to pay from 550,000 COP ($140.00) to 730,000 COP ($185.00).
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).
Our favourite places to stay in Tayrona
Tayrona National Park offers some of the best beaches in Colombia. There aren’t many places in the world where you can stay in the jungle and be close to amazing beaches.
The majority of accommodations are situated just outside of Tayrona National Park, making it easy to visit there. It’s a popular spot in Colombia, so make sure to book in advance or you’ll miss out on the best.
Check out our favourite accommodations to see if they’re still available:
Senda Watapuy - Treating Yourself
This is one hotel you’ll never forget. Senda hotels really know how to offer you the most luxurious and memorable stay possible.
The cabanas are a dream. Some of them even have their own private infinity pool! If these are not available anymore, nothing to worry about, the main pool is pretty incredible too. Not many people can say that they’ve stayed in such a beautiful place.
- Jungle-style retreat
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Bamboo cabanas with infinity pools
- Exceptional breakfast included
Double rooms cost $80+ per night
Senda Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos - Treating Yourself
This place books up fast! Once you see the pictures, you’ll realise why. It feels like you’re staying in your own private villa, due to the small number of rooms.
The views can’t get much better than this. One way you’re overlooking the turquoise sea, and behind you is a huge lake. The rooms are luxurious and spacious, also offering great views of the landscape.
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Incredible views
- Beach-style luxury rooms
- Delicious breakfast included
Double rooms cost $80+ per night
Senda Koguiwa - Mid Range
Senda Koguiwa is the kind of place we all dream about staying in. Staying here is the ultimate jungle retreat.
You will be surrounded by nothing but jungle, whilst sleeping in luxury thatched-roofed huts. Take a refreshing dip in their outdoor swimming pool, or visit their own lake and see the ducks.
Finish the day off with dinner at their delicious onsite restaurant. Things can’t get more perfect than this!
- Incredible value
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Luxury hut-style rooms
- Delicious breakfast included
Double rooms cost between $40-$80 per night
La Casablanca Tayrona House - Budget Friendly
Staying near Tayrona National Park doesn’t have to be expensive. La Casablanca is a budget-friendly option, but with all of the amenities of a mid-range hotel. It has a pool, spacious rooms, plenty of places to hang out and a great location.
The owner Juan will make your stay one that you won’t forget. That, coupled with the stunning surroundings of the hotel, will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated after your stay.
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Close to Tayrona National Park
- Amazing owner
- Delicious breakfast included
Double rooms cost between $20-$40 per night
Tayrona Travel Guides
Visiting Tayrona National Park | Enjoy Colombia’s best beaches
Most popular routes in Colombia
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.
Hola buenos días , quería consultar si sabías si estando en baru se puede ir directamente al parque nacional tayrona o si o si hay que tomarlo el transporte desde cartagenera . Gracias .
Hi Pato, you’ll need to go to Cartagena first, as there is no direct transportation from Baru to Tayrona National Park.
From Cartagena, BookAway offers private transfers to Tayrona. Or, you can travel by bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta, then another bus to Tayrona National Park.
PD: Esta respuesta está escrita en inglés para que sea útil para los viajeros de todo el mundo. Recomiendo usar Google Translate para traducir esta respuesta al español.
Hallo, am 04.012023 Komme ich mit Freundin per Segelboot von Panama über San Blas nach Cartagena. Unser Motorrad wird per Flieger von PTY nach Bogota geliefert. Ja die Panamericana soll noch weiter bis Ushuaia befahren werden…
Nun könnten wir einfach weiterfliegen. Aber ich würde gern zwei Nächte in Cartagena bleiben. Danach chillen im Tayronna Park. Macht das Sinn, weil muss ja letztlich nach Bogota. Oder lieber nur zur Isla Grande?
Hi Marco, that sounds like a great adventure to start the new year. You could stay in Cartagena and make a day trip to Isla Grande. Then after two days, you can travel from Cartagena to Tayrona Park to explore the park. From Tayrona, you can travel back to Santa Marta and take one of the many flights departing to Bogota every day. Hope that trip itinerary makes sense! Have a fantastic trip!
PS: Diese Antwort ist auf Englisch verfasst, um sie für Reisende aus allen Ländern hilfreich zu machen. Wir empfehlen die Verwendung von Google Translate, um diese Antwort ins Deutsche zu übersetzen.