Yulia 
Tayrona National Park (Parque Nacional Tayrona) is one of the best experiences in Colombia and if you are an adventure and hiking lover, you definitely cannot miss it during your vacation!
In case you have decided to go to Tayrona National Park soon, congrats! Now you might be wondering about the hotel options available in the park. In which case – no worries, I got you covered!
In this article, you can read the complete guide for staying inside Tayrona National Park, as well as in the surrounding areas such as Guachaca, Los Naranjos, and Santa Marta. All of these incredible places are visited by travelers all year long, so I recommend booking in advance to secure a spot in your favorite accommodation option!
Well, enough for now. Let’s begin with all the interesting information!
NOTE: All travelers visiting natural parks or nature and wildlife sanctuaries in Colombia are technically required to get the Yellow Fever vaccination although in practice, they don’t often actually check your certificate. You can check more information about this on the website of Tayrona Park.
Contents
Quick Picks for Your Stay…
Ready to book your hotel? Here are the best of the best hotels around the park by price:
- Best luxury hotel: The Eco-Habs
- Best mid-range hotel: Yay Sustainable
- Best budget hotel: Hotel Tayrona Paradise
1. Staying inside the park
There are currently three options for staying overnight inside Tayrona National Park:
- renting a hummock
- staying in a campsite with a rented tent or your own tent
- renting an Eco-Hab
NOTE: If you are looking for a nice hotel, there are some great options that I am going to talk about as well, but they are a bit outside of the park, so you will need to take a taxi/arranged hotel transportation from the park (it should be 10 mins or so). Check section 2 if you want to know more about that.
Below is a useful map with all the options you have for staying inside the National Park. And yes, there is even a place where you can swim in the park now!
But first, if you want to find out more about the park such as when is the best time to go, why is this place so famous and what should be on your packing list, I suggest you read my complete guide to Tayrona National Park!
Let’s talk about each of the Tayrona National Park hotel options so that you have a better idea about what to choose:
1.1. Renting a hummock
There is the possibility to rent hummocks, which are located in the park’s campsites, but unless you are traveling on a very tight budget, I’d recommend you to choose any of the other options below.
Tayrona National Park hummocks might seem like a romantic solution for your stay. But let me tell you right from the start that the hummocks are usually located in one big communal room in the campsites, they’re very crowded and close to each other and sometimes even in poor condition, especially at Cabo San Juan.
For example, the space is so limited that if someone decides to go to the toilet during the night, he/she will probably touch your hummock and wake you up. I read the opinions of many disappointed tourists that changed their minds regarding the hummocks. I, myself, wanted to rent a hummock but when I saw the conditions, I changed my mind and paid a bit extra for the tent, and I had no regrets!
If you still want to go for the hammock, please note that everything works on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to arrive early at the campsite and pay for your hammock. The only exception is at Playa Brava, where you can book your hammock in advance by writing an email to this address: pbravatayrona@gmail.com or contact them via Whatsapp +57 315 230 0818.
PRICE: 40.000 COP (around US$8) per person per night
1.2. Staying in a tent at a campsite
If you want to experience nature while you are in the park, then staying at a campsite might be a good option for you. If you decide to do some Tayrona National Park camping, you can either rent a tent and a sleeping bag from the staff while you are there, or you can bring your own tent in case you don’t mind carrying it with you every day.
Again, reserving your spot in advance is impossible (with only one exception, which I will talk about in a second), and securing your place works on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is why I recommend, if possible, arriving at the campsite as soon as possible and/or choosing a less crowded camping area (Cabo San Juan is the most popular one, for example). Chances are that you won’t find any free spots if you arrive after lunch.
The exception: As far as I know, only at Playa Brava can you book your place in advance. They have hammocks, tents, and even cabins there. The way to do it is to send an email to this address: pbravatayrona@gmail.com with your request and questions. They are usually quick, but they will reply in Spanish.
NOTE: You are not allowed to camp in the wild at Tayrona National Park. Making a fire is also strictly prohibited.
Here are all the camping areas in the park:
A. Cabo San Juan (the most popular one)
B. Arrecife (where I stayed)
C. Playa Brava
D. Cañaveral
E. Los Castilletes
F. Bahia Concha
Below I have included find some general info for each of the areas:
A. Cabo San Juan
This is known as the most famous, beautiful, and crowded area for camping in Tayrona National Park.
HOW TO GET THERE: You can take a boat from Taganga to Cabo San Juan Tayrona. It will take 2 hours to get there and cost 150.000 COP (around US$30) per person. The other option is to enter the park using Zaino Entrance and walk for 2 hours until you reach the campsite (that’s the most common option, and that’s how I reached it, too).
PRICE: It is 30.000 COP (US$6) per person per night if you come with your own tent and 100.000 COP (around US$20) for a 2 person tent per night if you want to rent a tent from them.
B. Arrecifes
Arrecifes is less crowded than Cabo San Juan, and there are 2 camps there: Yuluka and Don Pedro. La Piscina, is the fabulous beach inside the park where you can swim, find surfing waves and beautiful palm trees, it is only 20 minutes away walking from Arrecifes.
HOW TO GET THERE: Enter the park using Zaino Entrance and walk for 50 minutes until you reach the campsite.
PRICE: 15.000 COP (around US$3) per person in Yuluka and 25.000 COP (US$5) in Don Pedro. Please note that you cannot rent a tent in the second camp (Don Pedro), so you would need to bring your own.
C. Playa Brava
If what you are looking for is staying in a quiet place to relax and catch some sun, Playa Brava is the perfect option for you!
Beautiful, raw and secluded, Playa Brava is the perfect option if you don’t want a crowded place full of tourists! The only downside is that you will have to hike a little mountain before getting to the beach, which will take longer than the other spots. This means this option is for people who plan to stay more than 1 night in the park – otherwise, you won’t have much time.
HOW TO GET THERE: Enter the park using the Calabazo entrance and then hike for 3 hours until you reach Playa Brava to catch some surfing waves or just chill by the palm trees.
PRICE: 25.000 COP (US$5) per person per night for a tent
D. Cañaveral
Close to the main entrance of the park, but not that close to the beach. The eco-habs are also located in this area (more on this below).
HOW TO GET THERE: Enter the park using Zaino Park Entrance and walk for 10 minutes until you reach Cañaveral Tayrona.
PRICE: 30.000 COP (US$6) per tent per night
E. Los Castilletes
I didn’t read a lot of good reviews about the Los Castilletes beach area, so I can’t really recommend this option. It is located very close to the park entrance, which is a disadvantage because you will have to walk back to the campsite at the end of the day (there is not much to do near the park gate, all the things are located inside). Overall, I think it is better to stay further in the park.
HOW TO GET THERE: Enter the park using Zaino Entrance and walk for 4 km until you reach the campsite. The second option would be to take a shuttle from the park entrance for 3.000 COP (US$0.60) and get down to Los Castilletes beach area.
PRICE: 20.000 COP (US$4) per person per night if you bring your own tent and about 30.000 COP (US$6) per 2 person tent per night if you want to rent it on the spot.
F. Bahia Concha
Located right after Taganga, in a completely different National Park area, Bahia Concha is the closest beach to Santa Marta. I think this is a good option only if you want to enjoy a calm, relaxing day on the beach and then proceed the next day to the main part of the park for some hiking.
HOW TO GET THERE: You can take a taxi from Santa Marta. It will be more or less 30.000 COP (US$6) one-way.
PRICE: Because it is a bit separate from the rest, you will only have to pay 5.000 COP (~US$1) for the entrance to the park and 25.000 COP (US$5) for your spot.
1.3. Staying in an Eco-hab
Still want to feel adventurous but don’t like to camp? The eco-habs are the luxury option for adventurers!
The eco-habs in Tayrona are the most comfortable (and, thus, expensive) option for spending the night inside the park. The 14 “eco-habs” are wooden bungalows located in the same area on Cañaveral beach that can fit up to 3 or 4 people. From there, you can easily access the East and the West of the park for further exploration and to La Piscinita, the swimmable beach in the park. They have a spa, a restaurant, and shuttle cabs that can take you from Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tanganga, or the airport to the eco-habs inside the park. You can find more details and check the up-to-date rates on their website.
PRICE: from 80.0000 COP (US$160) per night
2. Where to stay close to the park – hotels near Tayrona National Park
Staying somewhere around the National Park is a great solution in case you want the comfort of a hotel room but are not willing to pay for the eco-habs in the park. The most popular and convenient to stay close to the park are Guachaca and Los Naranjos, as well as some other places that you can find below.
Santa Marta is a popular place to stay before or after your trip to Tayrona National Park (it is a bit less than an hour away by car/bus).
NOTE: If you are spending the night outside the National Park, you will have to pay the entrance fee each day you return. The entrance fee for foreigners is from 54.500 COP (~US$11) to 64.500 COP (~ US$13), depending on the season.
I made a selection of hotels near Tayrona National Park with great reviews for each city and sorted them out by prices:
2.1 Guachaca – the closest town to the park
Guachaca is a charming town close to the beach, located only 12 km from Tayrona National Park (15 minutes by car). It is a great place to stay if you are looking to try delicious local food as well!
Below you can find my handpicked recommendations for Guachaca. All of them have fabulous reviews and various facilities!
Luxury (US$110 and up)
- Playa Pikua Ecolodge is a beautiful hotel on a private beach in the Caribbean sea, located only 10 minutes away by car from Tayrona National Park. This is one of the best luxury hotels in Tayrona. It provides an airport shuttle, a beautiful terrace, free private parking and bathroom for each unit, and even grocery delivery for breakfast and packed lunches! It is also fit for families traveling to the area, as they have some unique family rooms with Caribbean sea views!
Middle-priced (from US$80 to US$110)
- Yay Sustainable is a simple and pleasant hostel option for anyone traveling on a tight budget. They have different types of rooms (double, queen, deluxe, chalet, family rooms, etc.) that you can choose from, and a delicious continental breakfast will await you each morning; plus, it has free private parking!
- Senderos del Mar is another excellent hotel with family rooms and a beach on the Caribbean Coast where you can relax. Various facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi, a garden and room service!
Budget (up to US$80)
- Costeño Beach – A great hostel located only 5 km from Tayrona National Park. They provide beautiful rooms located within meters of the ocean and the property is constructed with the finest local wood and with local artisans!
- Tayrona Tented Lodge is the hotel where I stayed for one night. It is a small hotel near the beach consisting of 6-7 bungalows close to the Tayrona National Park entrance (around 20 minutes by car). Make sure to book it as much in advance as possible – I could only get it for 1 night because it was already booked! You can read more about my experience there in my Ultimate Guide to Tayrona National Park, Colombia.
2.2 Los Naranjos – best area for surf lovers
Los Naranjos is located less than 5km from the Tayrona Park main entrance, so it is also a popular option among travelers. Here is what I am recommending for each category of budget:
Luxury (US$110 and up)
- Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos – In case you want to stay in one of the best luxury hotels in Tayrona with a private beach on the Caribbean Coast and excellent service, this one’s for you! At Casa Tayrona, you can enjoy some relaxation on the outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace, delicious food at the on-site restaurant, and more. Plus, it is only 5 minutes away by car (the hotel offers free private parking!) from Tayrona Park main entrance!
- Villa Maria Tayrona, a Kali Hotels – 4-star accommodation on a private beach area. This is a gorgeous option for anyone who wants to feel spoiled during their stay, as they have beautiful air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and more. Plus an airport shuttle that you can use and free private parking!
Middle-priced (from US$60 to US$110)
- Playa Los Angeles – Excellent accommodation option in Los Naranjos with direct access to the beach and beautiful rooms and hammocks. This lodge is the ideal spot for some relaxing vacation days full of delicious food and a gorgeous surrounding landscape!
- Senda Koguiwa – Located close to Tayrona National Park entrance in El Zaino, this location has a restaurant on site and comfortable rooms surrounded by palm trees! In case you rent a car, there is free private parking on-site!
Budget (up to US$60)
- Hotel Tayrona Paradise – Comfortable inn surrounded by lush nature in El Zaino, Tayrona Paradise Hotel is an excellent place to stay in. Free WiFi, free private parking, an airport shuttle, cozy rooms, and friendly staff are advantages of staying here!
- Posada Villa Margarita – Located only 5km from the park entrance, this awesome bed & breakfast near Tayrona offers excellent value for money! Some of the reasons why I recommend you stay here include the on-site restaurant, free breakfast each morning, ah-mazing views of the sea, and more!
Book your hotel in Los Naranjos
2.3 Santa Marta – top area to stay before visiting the park
You can stay in Santa Marta before or after you start your Tayrona adventure.
Here are my recommendations from boutique hotels to middle-priced and budget hotels in Santa Marta:
Luxury (US$120 and up)
- Hotel Boutique Don Pepe – One of the best boutique hotels in Tayrona that provides world-class service and a relaxing stay! This fantastic accommodation is located in Santa Marta, only 150m from the beach, and it awaits you with free WiFi, a restaurant, free private parking, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool, a private bathroom, and more!
- Hotel Suite Boutique El Cactus – This is one of the best boutique hotel accommodations in Santa Marta that will make you feel like a queen/king during your stay! The best things about this hotel are the indoor pool, beautiful rooms, free WiFi, free private parking, and an airport shuttle!
Middle-priced (from US$80 to US$120)
- Alko Hotel Cotona – A 4-star quality hotel for a great price! I am sure that you will have a wonderful, relaxing stay at this hotel in Santa Marta, and you will be more than happy to enjoy your evenings on the terrace near the outdoor swimming pool, delicious breakfast served each morning, and the great location of this place!
- Mercure Santa Marta Emile – My second recommendation for middle-priced accommodation in the city is this gorgeous hotel that awaits you with a fantastic outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, free WiFi, a fitness center, and even a bar. What more can you wish for?
Budget (up to US$80)
- Hotel Boutique Jardín Del Duque is one of the best boutique hotels where you can also find some budget rooms. This one is located right in the city’s historical center, and it provides an airport shuttle, free WiFi, bathrooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and excellent quality for money.
- Hotel Boutique Casa Mia – Another fantastic option for people traveling to Santa Marta on a budget, this hotel is perfect for those who wish to stay in excellent, clean rooms with free WiFi, air-conditioning, private bathrooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and more!
Book your hotel in Santa Marta
2.4 Other good areas to stay around Santa Marta
Some other areas located close to Tayrona National Park are Taganga, Buritaca, Palomino, Minca, and Calabazo. Below you can find mixed recommendations in each of these places:
Luxury (110 US$ and up)
- La Mar de Bien – Beautiful beachfront accommodation in Buritaca with an outdoor swimming pool and lovely décor. Each room has a private bathroom, a fan, and a wardrobe, and the food is simply delicious!
- Aite Hotel – Amazing hotel located in Palomino! This is one of the best hotels in Palomino, located only 200m away from a private beach and with an outdoor swimming pool. The rooms are comfortable and clean, and you can even choose to stay in a beach bungalow, either with free WiFi!
- Sierra Alta Finca Boutique – Want to stay in one of the best boutique hotels? This excellent accommodation is located in Minca. It offers romantic rooms, a great garden perfect for relaxation, a terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, and even an on-site restaurant where you can eat delicious dishes!
Middle-priced (from 60 to 110 US$)
- Makao – Another excellent hotel choice in Palomino, this hotel awaits you with gorgeous, bright rooms, free private parking, free WiFi, and an excellent on-site restaurant that serves local dishes!
- Casa Chapolin – Located in Palomino, Casa Chapolin awaits you with beautiful rooms, a fitness center, BBQ facilities, and a shared lounge where you can relax and unwind after a day of exploring Tayrona National Park!
- Loma Nevada Minca Hostel – Here is another recommendation in Minca, not far from Tayrona! This excellent hostel is the perfect place if you want great service at a reasonable price. Each morning you can enjoy an American or vegan breakfast next to the outdoor swimming pool!
Budget (up to US$60)
- Casa Bella Mya is an adorable pink guest house in the center of Taganga. It offers different types of rooms, a shared kitchen, and a lovely sun terrace. This accommodation provides car hire, free private parking, and an airport shuttle!
- Hotel Cactus Taganga – This one is one of the best hotels in Taganga and a fantastic choice for everyone traveling on a tight budget! This hotel is on top of a small hill, so it naturally offers a breathtaking view! The beach is also very close, only 2 minutes away on foot.
- La Casablanca Tayrona House – This lovely guest house is located in Calabazo, close to Tayrona (10 minutes to one of the entrances to the park). If you choose to stay here, you will enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, a terrace, free private parking, and a private bathroom for each room!
| 🏕️ Best camping: | Cabo San Juan |
| 🌳 Best stay inside Tayrona NP: | The eco-habs |
| 📍 Best nearest city: | Guachaca |
| 🛎️ Best luxury hotel: | Hotel Boutique Don Pepe |
| 💵 Mid-range hotel: | Yay Sustainable |
| 👛 Best budget hotel: | Hotel Tayrona Paradise |
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FAQs about hotels in Tayrona National Park
🏕️ What is the best camping in Tayrona?
One of the best camping sites to stay while in Tayrona is Cabo San Juan, where you will find the best camping options!
📍 Where should I stay near Tayrona National Park?
The best place to stay near Tayrona Park is Guachaca! You will find incredible hotels, and beautiful beaches!
📅 How many days are enough to stay in Tayrona National Park?
You can stay one night but I believe it will be a rush experience so I recommend 2 to 3 days to experience all of Tayrona; from its incredible beaches to its incredible hiking trails!
👙 What should I wear when visiting Tayrona?
Since you will be walking, I recommend packing comfortable and light clothes, sneakers, and of course, swimwear to enjoy the beautiful beaches!
🥾 What is the best Tayrona hike?
The best place to hike in Parque Tayrona has to be the El Zaino Tayrona – Cabo San Juan; a tail that takes 3 hours to complete!
Conclusion
These were all my recommendations for staying inside and close to Tayrona National Park! In this article, we reviewed the available options for staying right inside the park – hummocks, tents in campsites, and eco-habs, as well as the possibilities of staying in some surrounding areas near the park – Guachaca, Los Naranjos, and Santa Marta.
I hope this article will help you decide which is the best option for you, considering your expectations and budget!
If you still have doubts about what is the top accommodation option for your stay, here are my top 2 choices:
- Yay Sustainable – this is one of my fav hotels where you will find beaches that will blow your mind!
- Senda Koguiwa – want to still find beaches that will want you to extend your stay? This is the accommodation for you!
Oh! One last thing, please do not forget to book your favorite accommodation option in advance to secure a spot near the best beaches! And of course, if you have further questions feel free to leave them in the comments. I am happy to help!
Have a great adventure in Tayrona National Park!
Yulia
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