Tayrona National Park with family or friends: planning the day from El Rodadero

Tayrona National Park is the big plan of the trip: jungle, beaches and mountains on the coast of the Sierra Nevada. From El Rodadero you can do it in a day and come back to sleep at the hotel, which many families prefer to spending the night inside the park.

Before you book: check the closures

The park closes temporarily several times a year so nature can rest, and when the environmental authority decides so. In 2026 the scheduled closures were June 1–15 and October 19–November 2, and in February there was a safety closure that was lifted in March. Dates change every year: always confirm on the official website of Colombia's National Natural Parks before setting your dates.

Getting there from the hotel

The most-used entrance is El Zaino, about 42 km from the hotel along the Troncal del Caribe highway: 48 minutes to 1 hour 10 by car depending on traffic. Some beaches can also be reached by sea. For a group, the most comfortable option is a tour that takes care of transport.

Two ways to do it with the hotel

With the Bahía Concha VIP tour you go by land to one of the park's beaches close to Santa Marta; it takes about 8 hours with round-trip transfer. With the Playa Cristal tour you travel by sea and the day lasts about 12 hours. To sort everything at once, the Tayrona Family Adventure plan includes 3 nights at the hotel and a tour of your choice, with advice before the trip.

How to choose between the two tours

If you're traveling with young kids or it's your first time in Tayrona, the Bahía Concha tour by land is usually easier: fewer hours and no long boat ride. If the group is teenagers or adults who love the sea, the Playa Cristal day by boat is a fuller experience, though longer. Tell us the ages in your group and we'll recommend the best fit. Both tours return to Santa Marta the same day.

Tips for traveling with kids

Leave early and bring comfortable shoes, water, biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent. There are walking stretches inside the park: plan around the little ones' pace and choose a beach near the entrance if they don't want to walk much. Follow the rangers' instructions and respect no-swimming areas. Entry fees and requirements change: check them on the official website.

A long day: plan the next one

Tayrona is tiring. After this plan, keep the next day easy, like El Rodadero beach a block and a half from the hotel. And if your dates fall during a park closure, the Minca plan is a good nature alternative.

Where to stay

Coming back from Tayrona to an air-conditioned room and a shower is part of the plan. At Taybo Beach we have triple and quadruple rooms for families and groups, a block and a half from El Rodadero beach. With direct booking we help you match the tour to your dates.