Tayrona National Natural Park covers approximately 150 square kilometers of land and 30 square kilometers of maritime territory along Colombia's northern Caribbean coast in the Magdalena Department. Situated 34 kilometers from the city center of Santa Marta, this protected area spans diverse geography ranging from arid sea level up to 900 meters in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. Visitors access the park's coastal boundary starting near Taganga, stretching northeast along the coastline to the Piedras River.
The coastal zone of the park features distinct shoreline locations such as Castilletes Beach, The Pool, and the San Juan Out. Off the shoreline, Tayrona harbors protected coral reefs—one of only three national parks in the Colombian Caribbean to contain them. These waters support 110 species of corals and 401 species of sea and river fish. The park's tropical marine environment offers protected sites suitable for recreational scuba diving, featuring shallow spots for training alongside deeper zones with currents suited for drift diving.
Beyond the water, Tayrona provides eco-tourism facilities with paths built for walking, including the Los Naranjos Path. The surrounding terrestrial environment holds extraordinary biodiversity, sheltering 108 mammal species such as mantled howler monkeys, oncillas, deer, and over 70 bat species, alongside 300 bird species like the military macaw. Visitors can also explore cultural history at the Archaeologic Museum of Chairama, located at the Cañaveral Site near the mouth of the Piedras River, which documents ancient human settlements that existed up to the 16th century.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Road | Located 34 kilometres (21 mi) from Santa Marta city centre, accessible via the North Highway. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- The El Pueblito hike has been closed since 2019 due to the wishes of indigenous residents.
- The park provides eco-tourism facilities and established walking paths.
- Offshore diving includes shallow training areas and deeper zones with currents for drift diving.