Camping in Tayrona National Park

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Camping in Tayrona National Park can be done at campsites in various locations on or near the beaches in the park. For example, you can camp or sleep in a hammock at the popular Cabo San Juan beach, the quieter Playa Arrecife or near the Zaino entrance at Cañaveral or Castilletes. Prefer to camp off the beaten track? Then book a tent at the isolated Playa Brava beach, reached via the Calabazo entrance. “Wild” camping is not allowed; you must use one of the campsites in Tayrona National Park. In some places you can bring your own tent and only use the facilities, or rent a tent or sleep in a hammock. Here are tips for camping and sleeping in a hammock at campsites in Tayrona National Park.

ToColombia tips

Tip #1
Come early and reserve your tent or hammock at the Zaino entrance; it’s first come first served. You can’t reserve your spot online, except for Playa Arrecifes and Playa Brava.

Tip #2
Before visiting Tayrona National Park, book a night in a hostel or hotel near the park (El Zaino) or Calabazo so you can be at the entrance early the next day to reserve your campsite. Due to the heat and high humidity, it is recommended that you hike as lightly as possible and leave your large backpack in the hostel. Continue reading here for more information on camping in Tayrona National Park.

Below is a list of campsites in the park.

campsites – ZAINO INGANG

Cañaveral

  • Location: the campground is a 10-minute walk from where the shuttle drops you off, at the beginning of the hiking trail
  • Swimming is not allowed
  • From here you can do the 9 piedras hike. This is a trail which most visitors skip, as they usually walk straight through to Playa Arrecife and Boca San Juan. When we visited the park in Sept. 2023, the 9 piedras hike was closed due to maintenance.
  • Prices from COP40,000 (10€) for a tent

 

Castilletes

  • Location: near where the shuttle drops you off, on the right side
  • Swimming is not allowed
  • Prices from COP40,000/€10 for a tent on a large finca. There are also a few private rooms.

Playa Arrecife

  • Location: Arrecife is in the middle of the park about 50 min. hike from Cañaveral (the start of the trail) and 50 min. from Cabo San Juan
  • Swimming is not allowed at Playa Arrecife, but you can swim at Playa la Piscina, a 20-minute walk away.
  • Tip: Camping at Playa Arrecife is a good alternative to camping at Cabo San Juan. This is as “back to basics” as Cabo San Juan, but a lot quieter and less rush to get a hammock in time. Prices are a bit lower than at the popular Cabo San Juan. Just keep in mind that you are camping in the jungle and not at the beach
  • Prices: from COP15,000/€4 for a hammock and from COP40,000/€10 for a tent. There are several campsites such as camping y cabanas Don Pedro, where you can book a hammock, tent, room or cabaña. Camping Tequendama Playa Arrecifes is on a spacious site, with plenty of space between tents for plenty of privacy. Facilities of this campground: hammocks, tents up to 4 people, toilets, showers, restaurant, laundry service, mosquito nets, safety deposit boxes, phone charging stations and wifi in common areas.
  • How do you book a hammock or tent?
    At the Zaino entrance (you can’t do this from the Calabazo entrance). Since Arrecife is a lot quieter than Cabo San Juan, you can probably still get a spot on site outside of busy periods as well.
  • Online via Camping Tequendama Playa Arrecifes. You can book online a 2-person tent from 35€ per night or a hammock (with mosquito net) for 15€ pp.

      Cabo San Juan del Guía

      • Campsite near the most beautiful and busiest beach in Tayrona
      • Location: 2-hour walk from the El Zaino entrance
      • Prices may change and depend on the season and spot. The hammocks at the most beautiful spot near the watchtower (mirador) are the most expensive and the most quickly fully booked. For COP50,000/€12.50 book a hammock and for COP70,000-€17.50 book a hammock at the Mirador. Keep in mind that it can be quite windy at the Mirador! For COP100,000/25 you will spend the night in a tent. You pay COP30,000/€7.50 if you bring your own tent. There are also 2 cabañas for rent for COP200,000/50€. Update January 2024: The sleeping area with hammocks at the Mirador is currently closed and the cabañas are not available.

      • Facilities: toilets, showers, restaurant, store, phone charging points, lockers, 24h electricity, snorkeling/masks available. A simple breakfast starts at COP8000/€2 and prices for lunch and dinner start at COP18,000/€4.50.
      • How do you book this campground?
        Book a hammock or tent at the Zaino entrance. The hammocks and tents are on the most beautiful beach in Tayrona, but this also means that most people flock to this and you have to rush for a spot. To get a spot, you need to be at the entrance early. This is not possible from the Calabazo entrance. The tents and hammocks cannot be booked online. However, you can contact for information via WhatsApp with the operator, number +573112589907. You can also contact them through the Instagram page of Cabosanjuandelguia. Booking in advance is tricky because it can only be done 1 day in advance and the reservation is only guaranteed with a 50% deposit through a Colombian bank account. Therefore, make sure you get to the entrance on time to make your reservation for Cabo San Juan.

       

      campsite – CALABAZO entrance

      Playa Brava

      • Location: approx. 3h walk from the Calabazo entrance
      • Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke is in an isolated location, which makes the experience of staying overnight in this accommodation extra special.
      • Swimming is allowed, but only if the sea is calm
      • Prices: you can rent a hammock or bring your own tent for COP25,000/€6. The price for a 2-person “safari tent” is around 60€ per night.
      • Facilities: restaurant, wifi in common areas (at limited hours of the day)
      • How do you book your tent or hammock?
        You can make a reservation online at Ecolodge Playa Brava Teyumakke

      Continue reading here for more information about Tayrona National park; beaches and hiking trails in Tayrona National Park, what is the best travel period, how much does an entrance ticket and other practical information for your visit to Tayrona National Park. Are you going on a tour of Colombia’s north coast? Then read here about the roundtrip which we made from Barranquilla to Santa Marta.