Tayrona National Park closes from 19 October to 2 November
Published on 10/21/2026 at 21:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSClosure and conservation facts
- Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia closed the park from 19 October to 2 November 2026 under Respira Tayrona.
- Nabbatashi links the closure to cultural practices, water protection and ecological monitoring before 3 November 2026.
- Tayrona National Park covers 19,309.4 hectares across marine and terrestrial areas.
A temporary closure at Tayrona National Park (Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona) in Santa Marta runs from 19 October to 2 November 2026. The measure suspends visitor entry and ecotourism services while conservation work and Indigenous cultural practices take place.
Tayrona National Park closes for Respira Tayrona
Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia announced the closure as the final scheduled pause of 2026 under the Respira Tayrona strategy. The park will resume ecotourism activities on 3 November 2026, after the restriction ends.
The programme is agreed between the national parks authority and the Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa and Kankuamo peoples. It sets three annual closure periods in February, June and October-November, recognising ecological cycles and the cultural relationship between the communities and their ancestral territory. Official closure notice
The October pause coincides with Nabbatashi, a period associated with renewal, spiritual cleansing and care for the ancestral territory. During the closure, Indigenous communities carry out traditional practices and pagamentos at sacred sites, while park staff monitor fauna and flora and undertake prevention, control and conservation work.
The closure protects Tayrona’s water and coastal ecosystems
The authority says the October period also coincides with heavier rainfall. Protecting streams and small watersheds is therefore part of the conservation work, because these water systems support nearby rural communities and ecotourism infrastructure.
The protected area covers 19,309.4 hectares across marine and terrestrial zones. Its landscapes include beaches, mangroves, coastal lagoons, coral formations, seagrass meadows and rocky coastline, alongside thorn scrub, dry forest, humid forest and cloud forest. Report on the temporary closure
This range of habitats gives the closure a direct connection with the visitor experience. The same area that offers coastal trails, beaches and camping also contains freshwater systems, marine environments and sacred places that are being monitored or protected while public access is suspended.
Santa Marta is the reference point for access
The park lies on Colombia’s Caribbean coast in the Santa Marta area. Official information identifies Calabazo, Zaino, Palangana and Bahia Concha as visitor sectors, with access by land or sea. These sector names remain useful for planning a later visit, but they do not override the closure dates.
After 3 November 2026, the authority says visitors can return for hiking, ecotourism and camping. Travellers with plans between 19 October and 2 November should remove the park from those itineraries and check the official access information before travelling.
Visiting Tayrona National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The temporary closure covers Tayrona National Park from 19 October to 2 November 2026, with ecotourism activities scheduled to resume on 3 November 2026.
- No visitors may enter and no ecotourism services operate during the closure, which affects the park’s trails, beaches and visitor sectors.
- After reopening, the named sectors include Calabazo, Zaino, Palangana and Bahia Concha, with land and sea access from the Santa Marta area.
- The protected landscape combines marine habitats with dry, humid and cloud forest, so visits involve natural terrain, coastal routes and changing conditions.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Tayrona National Park on social platforms
These links open searches for Tayrona National Park on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Tayrona National Park
When does the closure take place at Tayrona National Park?
The closure runs from 19 October to 2 November 2026, and ecotourism activities are scheduled to resume on 3 November 2026.
What happens at Tayrona National Park during the closure?
Visitor entry and ecotourism services are suspended while conservation monitoring and Indigenous cultural practices take place.
Where is Tayrona National Park and how do you get there?
The park is on Colombia’s Caribbean coast in the Santa Marta area, with named visitor sectors and access by land or sea.
