Tayrona Park hike to Cabo San Juan from Santa Marta

Four hours of hiking through jungle to reach turquoise beaches and a clifftop viewpoint

A guided day hike through Tayrona National Park from Santa Marta reaches Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan, two of the park's main beaches, with a professional guide, park entry and insurance included. You choose between a private option with hotel pickup and drop-off, or a shared departure from Rodadero at 7:15 am. The hike covers marked trails through the forest, with a break at Arrecifes before reaching Cabo San Juan's kiosk viewpoint, where you have the afternoon free to swim, rest and eat lunch on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tayrona Park hike and beach visit

• Pick up from hotel or take public transport
• Hike to Arrecifes beach and rest briefly
• Continue hiking along crystal-clear beaches
• Arrive at Cabo San Juan and enjoy lunch
• Relax, swim, and explore the beach area
• Hike back to park entrance
• Return to hotel in Santa Marta

The experience

The hike starts early to beat the traffic back to Santa Marta. On the private option, your driver and guide pick you up from your hotel before 8 am and drive less than an hour to the park entrance. If you book the shared tour, you make your own way to Hotel Playa Blanca in Rodadero by 7:15 am, where the guide meets you for the drive in. Either way, you enter the park with your guide and begin walking the marked forest trails.

The first beach, Arrecifes, sits about an hour into the hike. It's the largest beach in the park and has a campsite, but strong currents make swimming unsafe, so you stop only briefly before continuing. The trail climbs and descends through natural paths, passing crystal-clear turquoise water that ranks among South America's top 25 beaches. The final destination is Cabo San Juan, where a kiosk sits on a picturesque viewpoint above another campsite. From there, you have the rest of the day to yourself: swim in the calm water, lie under the palms, walk the shore or talk with other travelers. Lunch is available nearby but not included in the tour price.

After you've had your fill, you hike back to the park entrance. Your guide leads the way out, and on the private option your driver takes you back to your hotel in Santa Marta. The whole day runs 8 to 10 hours from start to finish. All Risk Insurance and park entry are included. The guide speaks English or Spanish.

What’s included

• All Risk Insurance.
• Tayrona National Park entrance fee.
• a professional guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off on the private option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish08:00

Guide in English or Spanish07:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (4 to 75 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gran Colombia Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the private option for hotel pickup and return transport, or the shared option if you're comfortable using public transportation to meet the group at the park entrance.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How long is the actual hiking on this tour?

The hike covers four hours total: roughly an hour to Arrecifes, another hour or so to Cabo San Juan, and the same route back to the park entrance. You set your own pace and can rest as long as you want at each beach.

What's the difference between the private and shared tour options?

The private option includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Santa Marta, plus a driver and guide. The shared option requires you to reach Hotel Playa Blanca in Rodadero by 7:15 am on your own. The guide meets you there and you travel to the park together. Both include the same guide, park entry and insurance.

Can I swim at both beaches on the tour?

Arrecifes has strong currents that make swimming unsafe, so you only stop there briefly. Cabo San Juan has calm, clear water where you can swim freely, and you have several hours there to do it.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included, but traditional Caribbean food is available for purchase at Cabo San Juan by the sea, where you have the afternoon free.

When is Tayrona Park closed?

The park closes for environmental and cultural protection on February 1–15, June 1–15, and October 19–November 2 each year. Check the dates before booking.