How To Get From Santa Marta To Tayrona

Before diving into the details, here’s a small piece of advice: It’s best to stay near the Tayrona Park entrance and start early the following day. This way, you can avoid the crowds and the heat. If possible, spend one or two nights there!

TOM’S TIP

Did you check out our fantastic travel guides on Tayrona and Santa Marta?

Best Ways To Travel From Santa Marta To Tayrona

Here are your 3 options.

1# Take the public bus from Santa Marta – Tayrona

There are two places where you can take the bus from Santa Marta to Tayrona:

• At the central bus station – Outside the city
• At the Mercado Publico (Market) | Calle 11 con Carrera 11 — it’s a city bus with no trunk for your luggage.

Bus Santa Marta – Tayrona: 1 hour | Price: Around 15 000 COP

2# Take a boat to Tayrona

It depends on where you want to go.

Let’s start with the most famous beach: Cabo San Juan.

You can take a taxi from Santa Marta to Taganga (about 20 minutes).

Once you’re in Taganga, you have to find a boat to Tayrona National Natural Park

• Ask one of the boat companies on the dock. I recommend “Chez Boaz”.
• The last boats leave before 9h30
• The sea is rough from October to March. This boat ride is scary for people who are not used to it
• Boats leave from Cabo San Juan around 4 pm
• You’ll have to pay for the entrance park.
• The boat ride lasts 1h and costs about 120,000 COP

The boat Taganga – Tayrona is the fastest way to get to Cabo San Juan in Tayrona.

Another solution is to take a boat tour to Playa Cinto (my favorite beach near Santa Marta).

It’s the perfect day trip if you want to visit several beaches and chill out.

Santa Marta: The most beautiful Tayrona Park beaches by boat 1d

Sail along the Colombian Caribbean coast looking for the secret beaches of Tayrona National Park.

View this tour

3# Private transports from Santa Marta

Another easy way to travel to Tayrona from Santa Marta is to contact a private transport

• Taxi in Santa Marta | Around 150 000 COP | 45 min