Beach in Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

By Lorraine Caputo

The main reason people come to Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona is to do a major chill, just swaying in a hammock in the midst of the jungle at the side of the sea. To stretch your legs, hike the Nueve Piedras trail at Cañaveral and visit the archaeological Museo Chairama, or climb up to the incredible ruins of El Pueblito. A longer trek is from Calabozo to Cañaveral. Snorkeling can be quite rewarding at La Piscina, a large natural sea pool. For skinny dippers, a special Playa Nudista beyond Cabo San Juan del Guía has been set aside for you. Other less-visited beaches are Bahía Concha and Bahía Neguanje, both easily accessible from Santa Marta. Zones of the park allow scuba diving and fishing; tour operators in Santa Marta and Taganga offer these excursions.