1. Scenic Jungle Hike Your journey begins with a guided hike through Tayrona’s lush jungle trails. Surrounded by tropical birds, butterflies, and the sounds of nature, you’ll walk at a pace tailored to your group. Along the way, your private bilingual guide shares insights about the park’s ecology and cultural history.
2. Arrecifes Beach The first major stop is Arrecifes, a dramatic beach known for its untamed beauty. While swimming here is not permitted due to strong currents, the powerful waves and vast golden sands make it one of Tayrona’s most impressive coastal landscapes—perfect for photos and a short rest.
3. La Piscina Beach Continue the hike to La Piscina, a calm, reef-protected bay with turquoise waters. This is the perfect spot for a refreshing swim, snorkeling, or simply relaxing beneath the palms. Its gentle waves make it a favorite among visitors seeking a peaceful break from the trail.
4. Lunch by the Sea Enjoy a freshly prepared local lunch at a beachside restaurant. You may choose to dine at La Piscina or at Cabo San Juan, both offering delicious food with spectacular ocean views.
5. Cabo San Juan Beach The highlight of the tour is Cabo San Juan, Tayrona’s iconic double-bay beach framed by palm-fringed hills and soft white sand. Spend time swimming in the crystal-clear waters, sunbathing on the shore, or exploring the area. A beachfront restaurant offers a delicious local lunch with spectacular sea views.
6. Return Journey In the afternoon, begin your return through the jungle trails. For those who prefer a more relaxed option, horseback rentals are available at additional cost. Your guide ensures a smooth, comfortable return, making this a day of both adventure and ease.
Loved my tour with Martin and Iguana tours. He is a very well organized and trust worthy guide. We had complete trust in his ability. He was flexible and very interested in our input about what we wanted to do. He is also a great story teller and has great anecdotes and a good understanding of the area. His English is excellent!
Alexis and the driver are very nice, heart warming people. The guidance was very helpful and we had an excellent time trekking in the park, swimming in crystal clear waters. Lunch was not included, but Alexis arranged we eat fresh fish in a authentic restaurant by the beach. On the way back we decided to return on horse back and we loved it! I absolutely recommend this tour!
Very good tour with Luz Marina as our guide. We didn’t have to wait in line to enter the park. Luz Marina was very knowledgeable about the area and didn’t overwhelm with information. She also made sure we had time for ourselves. Great views!
We had a great day on this private tour. Martin is a great guide and very resourceful person. He picked us up from the hotel. He gave us a nice overview of Santa Marta area on our way to Tayrona National Park. Guided hike was amazing. Saw several monkeys as well as local flora. Tayrona national park itself is beautiful. We had a great time swimming in crystal clear ocean. Lunch options were great including flavorful vegetarian dishes. After lunch break, climbed a few steps to mirador to get a great view of Caribbean Sea. We had decided to go back to Santa Marta by boat to see different side of Tayrona National park! Martin had made arrangements for the boat ride back. Boat ride was somewhat choppy but very rewarding in terms of amazing views!!
Had a great day with Alexis! Everything from pick up at our hotel to admission to the park to the hike itself was smooth and easy. The hike was breathtaking and the beaches were stunning. Definitely recommend!
Overall, the tour was great, but watch our for additional costs! I booked it the day prior and I was so happy they could accommodate me and another guest. When booking they require you add your location and our Airbnb wasn't on the list of addresses since it is a home and note a hotel. The tour operator told me this was going to be an extra 50 000 cop because it was outside of the standard pickup zone. When we got picked up the next morning our guide Alexis said this was the easiest pickup location he ever had since our Airbnb was located 3 minutes from his home and was on the way to Tayrona. I told him they wanted to charge me extra and he wasn't sure why since the driver would have had to pick up him anyways. This to me seemed really off and was Strike #1. In the tour description they say they will provide water as well, when we got in the car there was nothing, which was a bit disappointing since the drive to the park is quite long. When we arrived at the park Alexis said we could buy our own water there out of pocket. Really? Our $175 pp fee doesn't cover a bottle of water? Strike # 2. The first stop is La Piscina beach and you will need to place your lunch order well in advance so they have time to prepare it. Alexis showed us the menu and told us we could pick anything. I asked what he recommended and he said he enjoyed a particular fish meal and I said I would go with his recommendation. The other guest also chose a different recommendation Alexis made. Fast forward to a couple hours later we finished up our lunch, went for a swim, and then Alexis came up to me and said I owe him money for the bill. I asked him why since it said it was included in the description of the tour and he told me I ordered something too expensive and that I owed him 43 000 COP! This was Strike #3. Although I had a great time visiting the national park I left feeling a little bit scammed. I have higher expectations for such an expensive tour.
Great hike through beautiful jungle to beautiful beaches. Our guide was fantastic as he provided an historical perspective of the National Park and surrounding environs. He pointed out plants and fauna as well as very interesting medicinal uses for some. We got to see monkeys and a variety of bird species. Plus, we got to see indigenous peoples and learn about their history and ongoing efforts to preserve their culture and way of life.
I highly recommend Iguanas Tours if you want a more personalized exploration of Tayrona Park and Cabo San Juan. I found them on Trip Advisor and booked the tour through the Iguanas Tours website. We were able to contact Martin beforehand with our questions and were able to confirm our two pick-up locations. Alexis was our English-speaking guide since Martin was not available that day. He was fabulous! We started the tour early to beat the crowds, which was worth it! Alexis got us into the park quickly before the larger groups began arriving. As we walked along the trail listening to the howler monkeys, he told us different facts about Tayrona and the Kogi people - the indigenous people who live in the area. We made the hot trek to Cabo San Juan and immediately got into the ocean to cool off. Compared to the water around Santa Marta, this part of the coast has clean sandy beaches and turquoise blue water. We made our way back to a smaller beach and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Then, we lounged in the water before returning to the trail and spotting a few Capuchin monkeys! I highly recommend this company for an unforgettable experience! Cheers
Alexis was my tour guide and he was fantastic! Not only was he deeply knowledgeable about everything to do with Tayrona and Santa Marta, he was also incredibly helpful in efficiently navigating me through the trek. I recommend this tour 100%!
Martin was the perfect tour guide. He picked us up at our hotel and managed every aspect of the trip. When we got to the park we realized how important it was to have a guide. He knew the ins and outs of the park entry process and made it seamless. Just getting into the park was worth the price of admission. Martin was friendly, knowledgeable, flexible, and chill. The park was a little busy but that was out of our control. Great views and nice beaches. Easy hike. I'd recommend good sandals. Would highly recommend this trip and Martin as a guide.
This day tour to Tayrona was incredible. Our guide, Martin, was knowledgeable and flexible and was able to get us into the park immediately upon arrival so we didn’t have to wait in the very long line to enter the park. The beaches were absolutely stunning and the lunch was excellent. Once we reached Cabo San Juan we relaxed on the beach and swam in the ocean. Martin also shared a lot of information about the history of Tayrona and its indigenous populations. I would do this tour again if we return to Santa Marta. Recommend starting as early in the day as possible as you can better avoids the crowds.
The tour was perfect. Our guide was very helpful and able to answer all our questions (also topics besides the national park). Even if you have to walk about 14 km for the tour, it's definitely worth it.
Our tour guide Martin had excellent knowledge and information about Tayrona Park and the trek to Cabo San Juan. He took care of all transportation, fees and lunch. We were well looked after and entertained the whole day.
Martin was our guide. He was excellent and very knowledgeable about the route, the hike is gorgeous, it can be demanding because of the heat and humidity but definitely worth it. Martin also recommended us a place for dinner later in Santa Marta. It was delicious! I highly recommend using this service.
Martin was an excellent guide. He spoke every good English, was very knowledgeable of the area and is a very good driver. He was helpful with dinner recommendations and provided contacts at our next stop in Medellin.
Best tour and guide ever. Everything went smooth and were on time and I can’t express how happy I am after such an amazing tour
My wife and I wanted to spend the day on a special spot to celebrate our anniversary. Martin organised everything (logistics, meal, activities, etc) so we could relax and enjoy the day. He’s very professional and at the same time has a good knowledge of local culture, so it is a great guide to rely on. Our rate is 5 over 5 points because he worths it. Full satisfaction on his service, I’ll recommend to all my friends that plan to visit the beauties of Colombia.
Trekking in the jungle with ocean view. Suitable clothing with comfortable shoes. Refreshments along the way friendly and prepared guide Alexis
Spectacular tour to the tayrona with Martin. I highly recommend performing the crystal beach experience with night on beach belt if you want to feel in paradise! Really unforgettable experience with all my family. Do not hesitate. Thank you so much!
The visit to Tayrona Park was simply magical! Thanks to Martin, we were able to discover this exceptional place in the best conditions. The landscapes are breathtaking: lush jungle, wild beaches, shaded trails... every step was a wonder. Martin made this day even more special: caring, passionate, always available, he guided us at our own pace and allowed us to fully appreciate all the beauty of the park. An unforgettable experience from start to finish. I recommend Martin with my eyes closed — with him, it’s always a perfect day!
Thank you to Alexis and the Iguanas Tours team for the unforgettable experience. Alexis, our guide, is a real gentleman. In addition to being flexible, friendly and patient, he taught us a lot about Tayrona Park and the indigenous communities of the region. Alexis, our guide, is a true gentleman—flexible, kind, patient, and taught us so much about Parque Tayrona and the indigenous communities of the region!
Very good service, everything excellent and with great confidence. They fulfilled everything that was promised, on time and in a very good way. Without a doubt I would choose them again.
Recommended 200% is the most wonderful experience... Martín arrived very punctual to pick us up at the hotel, he is an extremely nice person, good talker, speaks perfect Spanish, also knows the area very well. It has the best recommendations to eat, to make plans, knows where to take you so you have better views of the place... The photos that remain are spectacular.
German / English: Martin is a fantastic guide. He picked us up on time at the hotel and then we started. We did two tours. The first one was put together for us. First Minca and the visit of the cocoa farm "La Candelaria" with very entertaining guide! Afterwards we visited the coffee farm "La Victoria", whose visit is also highly recommended! It is operated with historical machines, which are operated completely sustainably by a system of steam. Electricity is even produced as a by-product. Very impressive! Afterwards we wanted to visit the "Pozo Azul", but since it was a holiday, we said on our own, we don't want to go anymore, as it was too crowded for us. The second trip went to the dream beach "El Cinto". Paradise!!! Plus Martin, who is sympathetic and sometimes slightly vexed. He likes to share his vast knowledge of the area and Colombia in general. Be sure to book with him if you are not into mass events. The extra charge is worth it!! We did 2 tours with Martin. He is a very entertaining guide, who picked us up at our hotel at the arranged time. The first tour was customized for us: Hiking above Minca to "La Candelaria", cocoa farm. They have a very funny guide there and we liked it a lot. Then we visited "La Victoria", a coffee farm with an ancient impressive steam system to run the machinery and with steam-produced power as a by-product! That's what we call sustainable! Speaking of the coffee...delicious!! The planned visit of "Pozo Azul" was cancelled by us, because it was very crowded right at the road, due to a festive holiday and we did not want the crowds ;D So, please book with Martin if you prefer privacy, a sympathetic, slightly spaced out guide with a huge knowledge about the surroundings and Colombia in general.
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