Tayrona Park - Cabo San Juan

Posted By : 209vasilikim
I don't usually leave negative comments, but what happened here was unbelievable, so I feel it's important to share my experience. I booked a tour through the hostel I stayed at in Santa Marta (Viajero), along with another girl from the same hostel. We spent the day at Cabo San Juan beach, and after lunch, our tour guide (Eduardo) asked if we wanted to hike back to the entrance or ride horses. We chose for the horses, and Eduardo suggested we head to playa Piscina for the rest of the time, agreeing to meet us there at 2:30 PM to show us where the horses were. Around 2:25 PM, we arrived at the agreed location and waited in the sun until 3:00 PM. At that point, we decided to return to Cabo San Juan to check if everything was okay. When we arrived there, we asked at the restaurant, we were informed that the tour had left "ages ago." Cabo San Juan was the only place with signal, so I texted Eduardo, informing him that we would return with the horses and asking him to wait for us, but they didn't wait. It turns out our tour had passed by our meeting point way earlier before 2:30 PM, but they didn't feel like waiting for us and left without us. When we reached the entrance, I called the tour guide, who casually mentioned that they had left. I was of course irritated and I responded back to him and then he just hung up and never answered the phone again. We had to pay for a bus and a taxi back to Santa Marta, as it was getting late, and we were never compensated for anything. Additionally, the tour guide kept the change from my meal, which he was supposed to give back to me after lunch. We have never lived something like this, so irresponsible to leave two people behind because he decided to form the plan while eating and didn't remember when he suggested to us.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-05

Posted By : lizethh2024
It was my parents first time meeting the ocean and they were amazed by everything they saw. My dad was playing like a kid in the ocean and the guides made the experience even better, because they were there for us through the whole trip! I truly recommend this agency!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-11

Posted By : klaz2023
I was aware that the tour would be in Spanish which is fine. I speak basic Spanish and was just interested in doing the hike and seeing the beaches, it didn’t bother me that I wouldn’t be able to understand the guide’s background on Tayrona Park. However, because I and others on the tour did not speak Spanish, the instructions about how long we had in each place, where to go, where to meet and when were terrible! Communication was poor and the tour guides did not really care about getting important information across to us and it made the tour stressful. Instead of the guides checking with us after giving instructions in Spanish as to where to meet when, we always had to go up to them and confirm details, which were still unclear. Lunch was also highly disorganised. We felt more like an annoyance as English speaking participants, than paying customers to be looked after.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-19

Posted By : Salma_S
Lovely rather demanding trek in the jungle, prepare with loads of deet spray and good shoes, and loads of water. Cabo San Juan is one of the most beautiful beach I’ve seen in Colombia.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-03-24

Posted By : marianafr98
It's a long walk, not for everybody but is a great experience, the nature you get to see is beautiful. Although it's worthier to spend the night at the park to get the chance to see more beaches, as this is just one day. The tour allows you to stay if you want to.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-10-09

Posted By : larakS883XD
Dear Travelers, I explicitly advise you to take this tour with a different agency. Unfortunately Travesia does not accept accedited confirmations of the Colombian Government. They are responsible for the transfer of the payment to the national park. Although they had stated a discount for people who live in Colombia, they don't stick to their words. Diplomats pay the extra charge of 40 mil. Pesos, although they show their service passports and their accreditation of the Colombian government. Comments of doubts about the diplomatic mission are very disrespectful and very grave. In the group I have travelled in it happened more than once that they charged more than they had announced (not only to people in the diplomatic service). It seems to be an issue issue, at least with one of the guides, i.e. the one we have travelled with whose name was Diego. I consider this a very grave behavior. I cannot recommend the tour because from my viewpoint they did not stick to basic rules of a trustful transaction. The least that is to be solved is the issue that there has to be more knowledge of the documents that the Colombian government is leveraging as well as international Diplomatic passports I hope this improves for the sake of this beautiful country and the park in particular.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-08-21

Posted By : Bartolomeo d
mucho ruido y pocas nueces - 'much ado about nothing'. long strenuous walk. unaccetable beaches in grey green oceanic breakers with the exception of Cabo San Juan and some others which allow for pathetic swimming. This one infested with youthful nostalgia but looks more like a cauldron which constitutes the pinnacle of a cult itinerary. You get there by horse or walking.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-08-02

Posted By : ElizabethR_Traveler
Good day trip from Santa Marta. Be prepared that the tour is all in Spanish. Guides are helpful, but the information about Tayrona park is only on the way on the bus. Once you get to the park, it is a long hot walk to the beach, but the Cabo San Juan beach is 100% worth it! Recommend!
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-07-19

Posted By : juancarlosm302
We came to Santa Marta, Colombia to hike the [La Cuidad Perdía], however a mudslide shut the park down for five days and we had to find options. We decided in the Cabo San Juan, it is basically a 5.5 mile hike though a wonderful wooded/forest with plenty of stops along the way. The beaches are beautiful and the walk is taxing. Definitely ready for the beach. There are two beaches that are on the way and so you could easily decide to stay at either beach and not walk as far. The park has a lot to offer. My only advise is to have small change in pesos to buy your fruits and juices. The restaurants were nice and inexpensive. Have fun!
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-06-30

Posted By : Mario_Q
Terrible experience. Guide did not share with our group prior to the activity even though we asked so we went in flip flops (bad idea). The guide was never with us, she just left us behind. We had to wait for + 1 hour for some reason so she could buy the tickets. Go by yourself, don't but this tour.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-01-03