Tayrona and the Sierra Nevada, Colombia

Colombia

A Caribbean beach, 42 km from permanent snow

Tayrona National Park is known for its jungle-backed beaches and warm sea. Look behind the coast and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rises to about 5,700 meters. Above 5,000 meters the snow stays all year, and it is the highest coastal mountain range on Earth.

Climb from the sea and you pass dry scrub, rainforest, cloud forest, cold moorland, and finally snow, all on one mountain.

People live up there too. Four Indigenous peoples, the Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo, call the Sierra Nevada home. They describe themselves as the guardians of the heart of the world.

42 kmfrom the Caribbean coast to the snow line area

5,700 mapproximate height of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

4Indigenous peoples: Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo

From our Letsa Atlas Short · Watch on YouTube

Practical guide

Plan your Tayrona visit

Heads up: in 2026 the park closes for three two-week periods (Feb 1–15, Jun 1–15 and Oct 19–Nov 2). The dates follow the Indigenous spiritual calendar and repeat each year, so check them before you go flights.

When to go

Driest months: December to March, plus June and July. Best weather, biggest crowds.
Quieter and still pleasant: April, May and August.
September to November tends to be very rainy.

Getting there

The main El Zaino entrance is about 32 km from Santa Marta.
Public buses leave from Santa Marta's Mercado Público about every 15 minutes. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours, around 10,000 COP.
You can also reach Cabo San Juan by boat from Taganga or El Rodadero, weather permitting.

Hours and costs (2026)

El Zaino and Calabazo: 8:00 to 17:00. Arrive before 9:00, because tickets stop once daily capacity is reached.
Foreign visitors: 81,000 COP in low season, 96,500 COP in high season.
Mandatory daily medical insurance: about 6,000 COP.

On the trail

From El Zaino a shuttle covers about 4.5 km to the trail start, then the walk to Cabo San Juan is about 6 km and mostly flat.
Bring your original passport, cash (there are no ATMs in the park) and a refillable bottle. Single-use plastics are banned.
Swimming is banned at some beaches, including Arrecifes and Cañaveral. A red flag means no entry to the water.
Do not photograph Indigenous people without their consent.

Entering Colombia from Canada

Canadian passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa. The passport has to be valid for the whole stay. Colombia also requires the free Check-Mig form, filled in online between 72 hours and 1 hour before your flight. Carry a copy of your onward ticket, since officers sometimes ask for one.

Prices, hours and entry rules change. We checked them on November 1, 2026. Confirm with Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia and Migración Colombia before you travel.

Where to stay

Which base fits which trip

Santa Marta historic center

Best for a first visit. Walkable streets, restaurants and the marina. The Zaino entrance is roughly 45 minutes away by private vehicle.

Taganga

A small fishing bay about 5 km north of the center. It suits budget travelers and divers, and boats run from here to nearby coves and the park.

El Rodadero and Playa Salguero

Santa Marta's busiest beach district, with apartment towers. Good for families on a beach holiday, but on the far side of town from Tayrona.

Bello Horizonte and Pozos Colorados

Quieter, more upscale stays near the airport. Comfortable for longer trips, and farther from the park.

Inside Tayrona

Eco-lodges, cabins and campsites at the beaches. Rooms are basic and nights are hot and buggy, but you wake up already on the trail.

Quick answers

Tayrona FAQ

Is Tayrona open right now?

Not until the current closure ends. In 2026 the park is closed from October 19 to November 2, then reopens. Check the official channels for the exact reopening day.

Can I do Tayrona in one day?

You can reach the nearer beaches from Santa Marta in a day. Cabo San Juan is a long round trip of roughly 10 km each way including the shuttle stretch, so many people stay a night inside.

Is the Sierra Nevada part of the same trip?

Tayrona is the coastal edge of the Sierra Nevada. The high mountains are the homeland of four Indigenous peoples, and access there is restricted, so ask official sources or licensed local operators before planning anything beyond the park.

Should I bring cash?

Yes. There are no ATMs inside the park, so withdraw enough before you go in.

Do I need vaccines?

A yellow fever vaccine is recommended at least 10 days before the trip. It is mandatory only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.

Tayrona and the Sierra Nevada