⚠️ Minimum 4 pax to start the tour.
This trek will take you from the Calabazo village (Tayrona Park entrance) to Cabo San Juan beach, with a guided visit to Tayku village— a unique hiking experience in Tayrona Park.
On the trail, you’ll cross tropical rainforest inhabited by monkeys and exotic birds, discover the traditions of the Kogui community, and enjoy Santa Marta’s best beaches.
Tayku is the name of the Indigenous settlement, a name given by the Kogui, one of the four Indigenous communities that live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
It’s linked to the stones used to build its terraces and to some rock carvings that have been found. They seem to tell a story to those who visit this place, as if they were speaking to us.
Are you ready for a physically challenging but rewarding trek? Ideal for lovers of adventure, culture, and nature.
6:00 am: Departure from Santa Marta
We’ll pick you up early at your accommodation in Santa Marta. After a comfortable 45-minute drive, we arrive at the Calabazo sector, the third entrance to Tayrona Park. Here we’ll check in and have a typical breakfast to fuel up before starting the hike.
7:30 am: Hike to Tayku Village
We’ll start the trek along a trail through rural farmland surrounded by jungle, heading to the Kogui village of Tayku, an Indigenous settlement hidden in the mountains. The hike is about 2 hours uphill (5.5 km), through the lush vegetation of Tayrona Park’s tropical ecosystem.
Along the way, we’ll enjoy the shade of the trees and make stops so you can hydrate, take in the views, and listen to the sounds of nature (it’s common to spot howler monkeys or colorful birds on the route!). The guide will share interesting ecological and historical facts, making the walk even more enjoyable.
9:30 am: Visit to Tayku Indigenous village
When we arrive at Tayku Village, we’re welcomed by a sacred place full of mystique. We’ll have a cultural encounter with members of the Kogui community, descendants of the ancient Tayrona, who keep their traditions alive. A Mamo (Kogui spiritual leader) will welcome us, and we’ll spend about 1 hour with the community, learning about their way of life and worldview.
This community has traditional thatched-roof huts and stone terraces that take us back in time.
10:30 am: Trek to Tayrona Park’s Caribbean coast
After saying goodbye to our Kogui hosts, we begin the descent from the village to the sea. This section takes about 2 hours (5 km) along a jungle-and-rock trail that leads to Boca del Saco, an almost untouched beach famous for being Tayrona National Park’s nude beach.
From Boca del Saco we walk about 20 minutes (1.2 km) to Cabo San Juan del Guía, perhaps the most beautiful beach in Tayrona Park. As we get closer, we can already see the turquoise waters and the iconic peninsula with its lookout and rustic cabin on the rocks.
1:00 pm: Typical lunch in Cabo San Juan
Once in Cabo San Juan, a typical Caribbean-coast lunch will be waiting for us at a local beachfront restaurant (options like fresh fish, chicken, or vegetarian, depending on availability). We’ll eat with an unbeatable view of the cape, surrounded by palm trees and white sand. Caribbean flavor and the scenery will make this lunch unforgettable!
1:30 pm: Free time on Tayrona’s beaches
You’ll have free time to enjoy this tropical paradise at your own pace. You can swim in Cabo San Juan’s crystal-clear waters (protected by twin bays that form natural pools), relax on the beach, sunbathe, or even take a short walk up to the hilltop viewpoint for a spectacular panoramic view.
3:30 pm: Return to the starting point
After enjoying the beach, we’ll head back, a hike of about 2 hours from Cabo San Juan to the Cañaveral sector (passing beaches like La Piscina and Arrecifes) to exit through Tayrona Park’s main entrance, El Zaino sector, where our transport will pick us up at 5:30 pm.
6:30 pm: Arrival in Santa Marta
We’ll be back at your accommodation in Santa Marta by late afternoon, full of memories and emotions from this incredible journey. End of the adventure.
