>This 3-day Mindful Hiking Adventure is a chance to slow down, awaken your senses and experience the indigenous wisdom of the Kogi people in one of the beautiful places in the world.
Tayrona National Park is the crown jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Here, the jungle meets the sea, creating a breathtaking landscape of golden beaches, turquoise waters and huge mountains covered in lush green forests.
Guardianship of the sacred lands of Tayrona National Park is under the care of Colombia’s national parks organization and the 4 local tribes that descend from the Tayrona People: the Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogi and Wiwa.
The national park is closed 3 times a year for 2 weeks in February, June and October so the tribes can conduct a spiritual purification of the land.
There are 3 indigenous Kogi villages in the national park and on this 3-day trek you get to stay in one of their villages and learn about the local indigenous history, culture and ecology through experiential learning with Kogi teachers.
The Kogi villages near Arrecifes beach and El Pueblito are not open to tourism. However, working with local partners we have developed this 3-day trek where you spend a day and sleep in the Kogi’s Teykú village.
During a day of workshops with Kogi teachers, you will be led through a spiritual purification ritual and you will learn about the indigenous wisdom of the land and how they use sacred plants for food, medicine and their famous mochillas.
Tayrona National Park is the ideal place in Colombia to unplug, recharge and awaken your senses. This ecotherapy trek will explore how nature connection and land-based learning can help rewild humanity and reverse the coming climate change breakdown.
This 3-day trek passing involves camping at Cabo San Juan, perhaps the most beautiful beach in Colombia and form there you continue on to Colinas de Calabazo as well as lesser-known gems like the Teyumakke waterfall and Playa Brava, which are much less crowded.
Learn, explore and trek with guides that educate you about the wildlife (monkeys, anteaters, toucans, parrots, sloths) in their natural habitat.
You may even see jaguar tracks on the trials or in the sand when you are visiting the wilder parks of the national park where most of tourists don’t go (sightings are very rare as they are nocturnal).
Day 1: Jungle Hike to Arrecifes, La Piscina And Cabo San Juan
Morning: Start early with a shuttle bus from Santa Marta to the El Zaino entrance of Tayrona. Begin your trek along well-marked trails, winding through dense rainforest filled with howler monkeys, blue morpho butterflies, and tropical birds.
Midday: Arrive at Arrecifes Beach for a rest and visit La Piscina for a swim. Continue hiking past palm-shaded coves and freshwater lagoons until you reach Cabo San Juan, Tayrona’s postcard-perfect beach.
Evening: Swim, relax, or hike to the mirador above Cabo San Juan for the sunset. Sleep in a hammock, tent or eco-cabin by the sea, falling asleep to crashing waves.
Day 2: Cabo San Juan to Playa Brava And The Teyumakke Waterfall
Morning: After breakfast, leave the crowds behind and head on the less-traveled high mountain trail toward Playa Brava. The route is steeper and more rugged, but quieter and rich in biodiversity.
Afternoon: Arrive at Playa Brava, a remote beach surrounded by jungle cliffs and coconut trees. Enjoy lunch, then relax or take a dip and in the late afternoon you will do a short hike to the Teyumakke Waterfall.
Evening: Stay in a rustic ecolodge, tent or hammock hut steps from the sandy beach. This is a peaceful spot to reflect, journal, or stargaze without light pollution.
Day 3: Colinas De Calabazo And Staying In The Kogi’s Teykú Village
Morning: Begin your final hike inland to Colinas De Calabazo through shaded forest trails to visit the Kogi’s Teykú village where you will learn about their spiritual connection to the land and their battle to protect the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta from intensive natural resource development.
Afternoon: During the afternoon in the Kogi’s Teykú village, you will be led through a 3-hour learning immersion with Kogi teachers where you will learn about their traditional indigenous spirituality and how they use sacred plants for food, medicine and mochillas.
Evening: In the evening, we will have a group dinner in the village and you’ll see how Kogi people live off-the-grid without electricity or wifi. You will stay in a Kogi hut in a hammock or basic bed depending on your preferences.
The next morning, you will have a chance to have breakfast with the Kogi families and then we will return to Santa Marta by shuttle bus before noon.
Book A Unique Ecotourism Experience In Tayrona National Park
This Mindful Hiking Adventure in Tayrona National Park is unlike any other experience national park with it’s strong focus on conservation, mindfulness, sustainability and indigenous wisdom.
You will stay in eco-friendly lodges and tents that blend into the environment, support local indigenous communities rooted in this land, and enjoy locally sourced food.
While most people do the 4-5 day trek to La Ciudad Perdida (which we also highly recommend) to experience an ancient archeological site, you can also experience indigenous archeological sites and sacred places throughout Tayrona National Park with your trekking guides on this multi-day trekking adventure.
Please contact us to book your 3-day-and-night Mindful Hiking Adventure in Tayrona National Park.
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Added By Kyle Pearce
I started Nature Retreats to spotlight ecolodges, retreat centers and ecotourism projects following sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities and protect fragile biodiversity.
I have been running mindful hiking retreats for the last 7 years that integrate mindful awareness, experiential learning and community building practices.
Pedro Carvalheiro
in the last weekAfter spending several months traveling across Colombia, I repeatedly heard about Tayrona National Park as one of the country’s must-see natural destinations. With great excitement, I made my way there after a few days in Santa Marta — but what I found left me conflicted and disappointed. The first red flag was the steep daily entrance fee coupled with a mandatory insurance payment. This is particularly frustrating for international travelers who already have comprehensive travel insurance. The system appears heavily geared toward monetizing foreign visitors, especially those from wealthier countries like the U.S. or Europe. Sadly, this often prices out travelers from Central and South America, who earn significantly less and are arguably the ones who should be most empowered to explore regional natural heritage. Even before stepping onto a trail, visitors are required to wear multiple wristbands — one for the entrance fee, another for the insurance, and sometimes others depending on your plans. These unnecessary plastic markers contradict the park’s supposed environmental mission and add to the feeling of over-management and under-preservation. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect is the option to ride horses through the park. While some may see this as a convenience, the impact is obvious: strong odors from feces along the trails, degraded paths, and the stress that large animals introduce into a fragile ecosystem. The presence of domestic cats and dogs within the park boundaries further threatens native wildlife, which was already scarce during my visit. Despite the natural beauty of the beaches — which is undeniable — the park was overcrowded from start to finish. Trails, campsites, and facilities were all overwhelmed with people. Even though the park was not at full capacity, I waited over an hour to take a shower. Trash bins were rare, hygiene was poor, and the infrastructure fell short in every way. Food and supplies are another major issue. There are no basic markets inside the park, and visitors are left with no choice but to buy from overpriced restaurants that only accept cash — a major inconvenience and another indicator of poor planning. It pains me to leave a one-star review for a natural space, because nature itself is not the problem — the management is. I understand that Colombians are proud of Tayrona, and with reason. But perhaps the pride stems from what the park used to be, not what it has become. If you choose to visit, I urge you to do so with a critical eye. Beautiful beaches alone cannot justify the commodification of nature and the environmental and social compromises being made in the name of tourism. Tayrona deserves better — and so do its visitors.
Jennifer Brennan
4 months agoHighly recommended. This is such a beautiful piece of heaven. Forests are full of wild life. Beaches are clean and clear, beautiful to swim in. Horse riding, kayaking, walking, trail climbing, native residents gathering coconuts, there is so much to see and do.
Rozina McHugh
4 months agoAmazing! I am speechless at how beautiful it was.. we did the easy route and it was still challenging. But so worth it!! There’s food and drink vendors everywhere. Loads of restaurants and shops - all cash. You can pay entry fee on card at the entrance where the easier route starts
Rovi Bartolo
2 months agoBeautiful and long hike. Be prepared for all the stairs! Saw lots of monkeys that got really close! The beaches were absolutely beautiful. Only complaint is how crowded it got at the beaches.
Angel Suarez
a month agoThis is a must visit. The trails provide an amazing experience of the local flora and fauna. Your walking exercise is awarded with beautiful beaches. I might say that Arrecife and La piscina are less crowded than Cabo San Juan, which was our preference. Take enough water for the whole day and a good hat