Along with visiting Cartagena, the beautiful port city of Columbia, a destination that you might not have considered due to its remoteness is the Parque Nacional Tayrona, one of Columbia’s best and most beautiful national parks.
This is not a trip for the average tourist. It will require an adventuresome spirit and the ability to be flexible about travel arrangements because out here in the jungle, things don’t always work on a guaranteed schedule.
Your base of operations will be Santa Marta, which is a town that has plenty of hotels and accommodation to suit your needs. From here you can hire guides, find out the local backpacking trails, and schedule your Park exploration. Or if scuba diving and snorkelling is your cup of tea, the beaches within Tayrona are probably some of Columbia’s most beautiful. You will need to bring your own gear from Santa Marta as there is no place to rent equipment within the park.
But there are also plenty of ruins from the indigenous tribes of yore, and a veritable tapestry of wildlife and geographical wonders to capture your eye. The park ranges from arid, dry hills to sandy beaches to lush, tropical jungle.
Santa Marta is a tourist destination, and there are plenty of buses to take you out into the park, or you can catch a jeep ride or a boat. You can ask at the local tourist office or your hotel to find more information on the easiest way to get around the park.
This adventure in South America is something that will likely have you looking back in both awe and amazement for years.