LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL NATURAL PARK

WARNING! DUE TO THE RECENT ACTIVITY OF NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO THE PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 31 MARCH. HOWEVER, THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE PARK (NEVADO DEL RUIZ) SO FOR ACCESS TO THE SOUTHERN PARTS CHECK FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GROUND

ABOUT

Los Nevados is a national park located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Tolima. The park includes several thermal levels with the Andean forests, páramo, permanent snow and glaciers. It also includes the watersheds of some rivers, such as Otún, Totarito, Molinos, Azufrado, Lagunillas, Campoalegre and Guali, among others. The highest peak of the park - an active volcano of Nevado del Ruiz (5,321m) lies in the northern part of the park and is accessible from Manizales. This part is run by “Concesion Nevados”, which in fact is the Aviatur travel agency. In reality, it means that the park is privatised and their main objective is to make as much profit out of it as possible.
The southern part (accessible from Salento or Ibague) is less frequented and much more interesting. With the second-highest peak of the park - Nevado del Tolima (5,216m) it offers more routes, less crowds and a genuine feeling of remoteness. However, large sections of the trails here are in disrepair and one should take care when venturing into the higher parts of the mountains.

Read more: Getting there

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LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

WARNING! DUE TO THE RECENT ACTIVITY OF NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO THE PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 31 MARCH. HOWEVER, THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE PARK (NEVADO DEL RUIZ) SO FOR ACCESS TO THE SOUTHERN PARTS CHECK FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GROUND

1. About Los Nevados

2. Getting there and away

3. Accommodation

4. Trekking

5. Nevado del Tolima

6. Other info

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ABOUT THIS SITE

ABOUT THIS SITE

When I first set off for Colombia in February 2011 I found that there is not much information about climbing and trekking in Colombia on internet. Or maybe there is but to find out anything you need to visit at least 15 websites and many of them are in Spanish only. There doesn’t seem to be any guidebook either that would cover all those locations. So, after visiting all the climbing and trekking spots listed on this blog, I decided to put all the information collected along the road together and share it with others travellers. If you are not a climber you should still find lots of useful info about some popular places in Colombia. And, if you don’t feel confident enough about trekking independently or want to give rock climbing a try, I also provided information about guide services wherever they are available.

If you find this blog useful in any way PLEASE COMMENT and feel free to buy me a beer (DONATE BUTTON on the right) so I can bring you more up-to-date content about this wonderful place - Colombia.

GOOD LUCK!

Marcin

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY

1. About Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

2. Getting there and away

3. Accommodation

4. Southern Cocuy

5. Northern Cocuy

6. Pan de Azúcar

7. Trekking

8. Other info

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2012 Climbing season cont'd

Another day = another climbing day. And at a new place too. This time in Kalamarka, Slovakia. I love the Slovak countryside more and more. And I can't believe so few tourists visit the country. Not to mention climbers. They've got everything - from sport climbing to traditional climbing in Tatras and ice climbing on the waterfalls of Slovak Paradise. Shame.

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PAN DE AZÚCAR - NORMAL ROUTE

PAN DE AZÚCAR - NORMAL ROUTE


To get to the base of Pan de Azúcar (and Púlpito del Diablo) follow the trail from Cabañas del Púlpito (the southern access) that passes Finca Hermanos Herrera. It is a wide, well visible horse trail up to Laguna Pintada. From there the path turns left to what is marked as "Hotelito - Púlpito" and gradually becomes a steeper ascent all the way to Campamento Lagunillas - the base camp for Pan de Azúcar. It is a great place for camping with great views, plenty of water and good protection from the wind. From there walk up north to the rocky plateau and follow the cairns (piles of stones) to the border of the glacier. If you are planning to climb Púlpito del Diablo it might be a good idea to set up a camp here. There is water during the day from the melting glacier and some big boulders to give your tent protection from the wind. From the border of the glacier take the route that goes between Púlpito del Diablo and another rock formation on the right. There is a big crevasse next to it so stay well away from it, walk around it and, having the rocks on your right walk towards the final ridge of Pan de Azúcar. Once there stay on the right side of the ridge as there are some cornices there.

Cabañas del Púlpito - Campamento Lagunillas 4.5h
Campamento Lagunillas - border of the glacier 2h
border of the glacier - Pan de Azúcar summit 1.5h

Turn left for Hotelito - Pulpito

The path to Campamento Lagunillas near Hotelito

Campamento Lagunillas with the approach route marked

The bottom of the plateau

The cairns on the plateau

A view of Púlpito del Diablo and Pan de Azúcar

Hiding in a crack from wind

The glacier route

Crevasse near the rock formation

Púlpito del Diablo

Near the final ridge

On the ridge

The summit and a final steeper section leading up

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF EL COCUY ON FLICKR

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 2

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 2

NORTH

ERN COCUY

In this part of the massif you will find the highest mountains of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: Ritacuba Blanco and Ritacuba Negro as well as La Aguja and Picos Sin Nombre. It is a 2-day trek from Cabañas de Kanwara to Laguna El Avellanal  - the base camp for the East Faces of the Ritacubas. The base camp - Las Playitas - for the "normal routes" is located in the western part of the mountains, 3 hours from Cabañas de Kanwara.


A good topographic map can be found HERE






RITACUBA BLANCO (Ritak U’wa Blanco)
elevation: 5,410m / 17,749ft

NORMAL ROUTE

The normal route (access from the west) is a relatively easy, non-technical climb, though basic glacier travel gear is required. It takes 4-5 hours to reach the summit from the base camp (follow the rocky paths and then moraine to access the glacier) and another 2-3 hours back.
Here is a Summitpost page with more detailed description of the route and some photos.

EAST FACE

 (access from Laguna El Avellanal)

“El Llano en Llamas” 5.10c / A2 (Daniel Anker)


It is the northernmost route on the East Face of Ritacuba Blanco (Route number 1* on the photo)

* There are a at least 2 variants of this route - “Blancanitos” and “Hermano Sol, Hermana Luna”



“Tierra de Condores” 5.12, 800m (Fernando Gonzalez Rubio, Ivan Calderon, Simon Kehrer, Helmut Gargitter, February 2010)

Route number 4 on the photo

“Viviendo Entre Tinieblas” 5.10 / A2+, 800m (Fernando Gonzalez-Rubio, Matteo Mazzieri, Hernan Wilke, 14 January 2003)

This is one of the most representative Big Wall climbs in Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
Route number 2 on the photo


RITACUBA NEGRO (Ritak U’wa Negro)

Elevation: 5,290m / 17,355ft

NORMAL ROUTE (access from the west)



The normal route passes a very thin and exposed ridge with cornices and drops up to 500 metres. Some snow/ice sections may have up to 70% inclinations

Here is a Summitpost page describing the route
 and a Video of the most difficult part of the route


EAST FACE (access from Laguna El Avellanal)

“Avellanal Estéreo” 450m, (Ricardo López, Fidel Pinzón, Henry García, 12 January 2009)

Very detailed description (in Spanish) with photos on Henry García’s blog

Photo of the route here

“Arista Nororiental” (The Northeast Ridge) 5.9, 600m (Juan Pablo Ruiz, Marcelo Arbeláez, 1978)

16 pitches with a couple of sections of an easy A1 artificial climbing. Good ledge around the 8th pitch for a bivouac (portaledge not necessary)
Description of the route
 here
Photos of the route, 
approach, and the first four pitches of the route.

LA AGUJA

Elevation: 5,000m / 16,404ft



East Ridge route
Access: on the way to Laguna El Avellanal turn left before Laguna de la Isla
see a map here
Good description (in Spanish) with photos on Henry García's blog

PICO SIN NOMBRE
Elevation: Elevation: 5,000m / 16,404ft



Access: from Laguna El Avellanal
Good photo of part of the route here
Check out Henry Garcia's blog for photos and detailed description

Read more: Pan de Azúcar

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ABOUT

ABOUT THIS SITE

ABOUT COLOMBIA

1. The Andes

2. Caribbean Region

3. Pacific Coast

4. Amazonia and Los Llanos


See: COLOMBIA IN PICTURES ON FLICKR

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: ACCOMMODATION

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: ACCOMMODATION

There are several accommodation options in both towns - El Cocuy and Güicán as well as higher up closer to the park entrance. Where you stay will depend on your climbing/hiking plans. El Cocuy is the access town for climbers visiting the peaks in the southern part of the park (Pan de Azúcar, Púlpito del Diablo, El Cóncavo, Concavito) and for hikers doing the counter-clockwise 6-day circuit. Güicán, on the other hand, is the best place to start the clockwise trek and for an approach to the highest peaks of the range: Ritacuba Blanco and Negro. In most hostels and haciendas food is served and guides and mules/horses can be hired. For acclimatization, staying in one of the places higher up is recommended and if you’re on a budget you can also pitch your tent there for a small fee. Camping in the park is free and allowed in places marked on the map (apart from Hotelito below Pan de Azúcar where revegetation is in process)

EL COCUY


See the map of the town
 here

Hostal La Tranquilidad

Hostal La Tranquilidad
Note: I’m not 100% sure about the name of the hostel as it was newly opened when we stayed there. Very nice place though. Highly recommended.
 Owned by a climber from Bogota; has a communal kitchen, showers, gear hire (good prices if you stay there)

Calle 6 No 3-28
Ramiro Uriel Mora 314 2407602

from $20,000pp




La Posada del Molino

Carrera 3a No. 7-51
(8) 7890377, 3123529121, 3104945076

email: juancho1635@latinamail.com

from $20,000pp
website: http://elcocuycasamuseo.blogspot.com/



Hotel Villa Real

Calle 7 No 4-50
(8) 789 0038 / 311 4756495 / 311 8102808

email: hotelvillareal@hotmail.com



Hotel Casa Muñoz
Carrera 5 No 7-28 (on the main square)

(8) 789 0328 / (8) 789 0028 / 313 8291073 / 313 3321980

email: hotelcasamunoz@gmail.com


website: hotelcasamunoz.com


GÜICÁN

Cabaña Hotel El Edén

Transversal 2 No 9-58 Urbanización Villa Nevada (10 minute walk from the center)
(8) 7897093 / 311 8088334 / 313 2135043

email: luishernando@hotmail.com

see more here

Posada Brisas del Nevado
Carrera 5 No 4-59

313 8964523 / 310 6299001 / 313 8962101 

email: brisasdelnevado@yahoo.com



Hotel El Frailejón
the cheapest place in town, some bad reviews on internet though

Carrera 4 No 3–34 (main square)
312 5860619

IN THE PARK

All of the places (with the exception of Posada Sierra Nevada) mentioned below are marked on the hiking map provided by the Park's office.

NORTH (access from Güicán)

Cabañas Kanwarra
At an altitude 3,950m an ideal place to acclimatize. 3 huts with 5 rooms and a balcony each, a view of the Ritacubas
311 2316004 / 311 2372260 / 316 8354683

email: infokanwar@gmail.com


Posada Sierra Nevada
Slightly higher up than Cabañas Kanwarra
311 2378619
email: 
marcelaensguican@hotmail.com

Hacienda Peña Blanca
310 2324839

SOUTH (access from El Cocuy)



Near Cabañas del Púlpito

Cabañas del Púlpito (formerly Cabañas Guaicani)
Not far from the park entrance, by the IDEAM meteorological station
314 2729524 / 313 3099734 / 3214350342 / 3132185044

email: turismococuy@gmail.com

Miguel Herrera with his daughter

Finca Hermanos Herrera
Campground with toilets and showers located after the park entrance; guides, mules, horses

311 2149255 / 311 8854263









SOUTH - LA CAPILLA (access from El Cocuy)

Hacienda La Esperanza

Hacienda La Esperanza
near the Valle de los Frailejones/Laguna Grande de la Sierra entrance

318 4507960 / 318 4108106
email: haciendalaesperanza@gmail.com








La Capilla Hospedaje

316 3371507

Read more: Southern Cocuy

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: GETTING THERE AND AWAY

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: GETTING THERE AND AWAY

FROM BOGOTÁ TO EL COCUY&GÜICÁN: buses leave from Terminal de Transporte (Calle 22 B, No 69-59) in Bogotá ($40,000/12h) usually at 5.00am, 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Timetables in Colombia aren’t always to be trusted so it’s best to either call the terminal to check or, even better, go there in person and buy tickets in advance (especially in high season when the buses may be full)
Use the terminal’s search engine (but be aware it’s not 100% reliable) to search by destination.

On the lechero truck with the locals

FROM EL COCUY&GÜICÁN TO THE PARK'S ENTRANCE: el lechero (the milk truck) leaves from plaza in Güicán at 5.30am, stops in the main square of El Cocuy at 6am and does a counter-clockwise circuit along the park access road passing near Cabañas del Púlpito, La Capilla and Hacienda Peña Blanca before going back to Güicán. Tell the driver where you’re headed and he will drop you off near your destination. You will have to hike the rest of the way. The journey takes between 1.5 - 2.5 hours depending where you go and costs around $12,000 (depending on the driver’s mood)

Another option is to hire a private transport from one of the towns. There are always a few drivers by the main square offering their services ($80,000 - $100,000 per vehicle)

The entrance near Finca Hermanos Herrera

FROM THE TRAIL TO GÜICÁN&EL COCUY: take the milk truck to Güicán and then el correo (the mail truck) to El Cocuy (leaves at 7am, 11am and 2pm)

Otherwise, you can arrange a vehicle in one of the places by the park access road

Entrance by Hacienda La Esperanza

FROM EL COCUY&GÜICÁN TO BOGOTÁ: buses leave from the main square at 5.00am, 6.00pm and 7:00pm (again: check with the office of the bus company located on the main square)

Read more: Accommodation

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF EL COCUY ON FLICKR

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New climbing season has just began!

After all those cold winter months and with the spring a little shy, the temperatures are rising again. We thought therefore that it was time to finally open a 2012 climbing season. This time it was at a local crag in Jakub, Slovakia. Lots of elephant moves but the strength's still there, I have to say! :)

Jakub, Slovakia

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 1

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 1

SOUTHERN COCUY

Southern part of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is where Pan de Azúcar and Púlpito del Diablo, amongst others, are located. To access this part you need to enter from Cabañas del Púlpito (Cabañas Guaicani on the map), sometimes referred to as Cueva Alta. It takes 1.5 hour from El Cocuy with lechero to get there (see: GETTING THERE for more info). For Púlpito del Diablo, the normal route of Pan de Azúcar and North Ridge of Campanillas Blanco follow the trail to Laguna Pintada and turn left there for what is marked as "Hotelito - Pulpito" and continue to Campamento Lagunilas (4.5h from the entrance). For the East Faces follow the trail at the intersection to Laguna de la Plaza.

A good topographic map can be found HERE

Púlpito del Diablo and Pan de Azúcar

Pico Diamante with the East Face of Pan de Azúcar behind it

PAN DE AZÚCAR
Elevation: 5,120m / 16,797ft

Normal Route (access from Lagunillas)
CLICK HERE for a very detailed description of the route with photos


EAST FACE
Access: from Laguna de la Plaza

“Pared Oriental del Pan de Azúcar” 5.10+, 600m (Agni Morales, Caro Vallejo, April 2005)
A very small image of the topo on Monodedo website (on the left)

"La Sonrisa" 5.10d, 550m (Jairo Bogotá, Rafael Avila)
CLICK HERE for topo and HERE for a route opening report (in Spanish)

 "Matando Bacterias" 5.10, A2, 600m (Monika Bernal, ?

)

Púlpito del Diablo

PÚLPITO DEL DIABLO
Elevation: 5,100m / 16,732ft

There are at least several routes on Púlpito del Diablo but, apart from the "normal route", I could not find any information on them.

Normal route 5.8, 70m
Access: from Lagunillas (see Pan de Azúcar page for detailed description)

First pitch of the normal route

The route is located on the east side of the rock. It follows a crack and then a corner and chimney on the second pitch. Good protection (medium nuts and friends) and belay stations protected by some pitons left by other climbers.

A good photo with a topo HERE and HERE (click "CLICK TO READ", then go to PAGE 47 of 75)

South Face of Campanillas Negro

CAMPANILLAS NEGRO
Elevation: 4,800m / 15,748ft

"Gárgolas" (South Face)
 5.11a / A2, 450m (Luis Pardo, Leyla Cárdenas, Julio Granados, 12 January 2011)

Access: from Laguna Pintada
A good image of the route can be found here

For a detailed topo follow this link (click "CLICK TO READ" and go to page 5 of 9)
To get more info email Club de Escalada Suesca: clubdeescaladasuesca[at]gmail.com

The summit of Campanillas Blanco

Campanillas Blanco seen from Lagunillas

CAMPANILLAS BLANCO
Elevation: 4,900m / 16,076ft

Access: from Lagunillas (below Pan de Azúcar)

Arista Norte (North Ridge) 5.10+, 
500m (Luis Pardo, Leyla Cárdenas, Catalina Noreña)

Click here for an image of the route
To get more info email Club de Escalada Suesca: clubdeescaladasuesca[at]gmail.com

Pared NorOriental (North East Face) 5.10+, 
350m (Andrés Hilarión, Rene Liebert, Iván Macías, 23 January 2010)
Access: from Patio Bolos (Paso "B" on the map)
Photo of the approach and the route.
Story of the route opening on Monodedo website (in Spanish)
To get more info email Club de Escalada Suesca: clubdeescaladasuesca[at]gmail.com

Campanillas Blanco and Pan de Azúcar from Patio Bolos

El Diamante with Pico Toti on the right

PICO TOTI
Elevation: 4,800m / 15,748ft

"Chikara" (East Face) 5.10+ / A1+, 
360m (Luis Ossa, Darwin Bravo, Alex Torres, 01 January 2010)
Access: from Laguna de la Plaza
For a detailed topo follow this link (click "CLICK TO READ" and go to page 5 of 9)

Pico Diamante

PICO DIAMANTE
Elevation: 4800m / 15,748ft

EAST FACE
Access: from Laguna de la Plaza
"Licántropos" 5.9 / A1, 400m (Luis Pardo, Diego Gómez, 9 January 2012)
To get more info email Club de Escalada Suesca: clubdeescaladasuesca[at]gmail.com

PORTALES
Elevation: 4800m / 15,748ft

"Gallito de Roca", 5.10b / A0 120m (Diego Cortés, Diego Parra, Mateo Franco)
Access: from Laguna Grande de la Sierra
Photo of the wall HERE and a small one of the route HERE
Report from the route opening (in Spanish) on Monodedo website
Some more description (in Spanish) here

CAÑÓN DEL RÍO CÓNCAVO

This is a very interesting sector that has a lot of potential for opening new routes.
A couple of routes already opened there:

"Las via U'wa" 5.10d, 4 pitches (Hugo Rocha, ?)
"Un miedo de muerte" 5.10b, 4 pitches (Hugo Rocha, ?)
"No other one bites the dust" 5.7 / A0, 300m, 8 pitches (Michael Schachtner, Frank Helbig)
CLICK HERE for the photo of the route

Read more: Northern Cocuy

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TAYRONA: OTHER INFO

TAYRONA: OTHER INFO

ENTRANCE FEE

You will have to pay an entrance fee before you’re allowed to enter the park. You will get a wristband and they will make you put it on your wrist. If you’re arriving by boat a park official will charge the fee. Different prices apply depending on whether you’re a foreigner or a Colombian citizen (a little annoying in my opinion).

Officially, it is forbidden to bring alcohol, plastic and styrofoam to the park (a bit ridiculous if you ask me as beer, soft drinks, etc. are being sold in all restaurants in the park). Your bag might be searched by police at the entrance and inside the park (see below: DANGERS)

El Zaino entrance

The current prices are as follows:

ADULTS:
foreigners $35,000
Colombian residents $18,000
Colombians $13,000

CHILDREN:
5-12 year olds (foreigners&Colombians) $7,000
under 5 and above 65 (foreigners&Colombians) - free

There are no discounts for students

For car entrance fees and prices for all national parks in Colombia download the pricelist here

WHAT TO BRING

CLIMBERS:
Bring your climbing shoes (obviously) and a lot of chalk (there are NO climbing shops on the Caribbean coast).

EVERYBODY:
If you’re on a low budget bring as much food with you as you can as everything here is overpriced. If camping, make sure your tent is waterproof as the almost-nightly rains can be quite intense (even though it’s very near much drier Santa Marta, Tayrona has its own, very humid microclimate). Don’t forget an insect repellent (see: DANGERS below) and sunscreen. Take some comfortable shoes (sandals or trainers) that you can easily rinse&dry after walking on muddy trails.
DO NOT bring your hiking shoes. They will never dry here and will only get destroyed.

MONEY



The nearest ATM is in Santa Marta so make sure you take enough cash with you. You can, however, pay for food and accommodation with most major credit cards at Aviatur restaurants.

PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS

If you’re desperate for internet access there is a free (and rather slow) Wi-Fi near the Aviatur’s Ecohabs reception in Playa Cañaveral. They also have an internet connection at the reception of their Yuluka sector in Arrecifes. No Wi-Fi there but I suppose they would allow you to use their computer if you had some kind of emergency.
If you want to use your mobile phone in Tayrona there is some mobile network coverage (usually close to the campsites)

DANGERS

Lifeguard and a policeman checking out our work

Tayrona is generally a very safe place. There is a high police presence in the park (their uniforms make them look like military though) and they are (as ALL Colombians) very nice. Don’t be surprised if they randomly choose to search your bag though. Just be polite. There are also a couple of lifeguards in Arrecifes.

Warning board in Arrecifes

Swimming is allowed on some of the beaches only; it might not look like it but the riptides are very strong here; if, by chance, you get caught in one do not try to swim back to the shore but instead save your energy by floating and swimming parallel to the shore until you get rescued or swim out of the current.

Malaria - there is no malaria risk on most of the Caribbean coast of Colombia
Yellow fever - it is recommended (but NOT REQUIRED) to have a vaccination against yellow fever in Tayrona (if you plan to travel in South America for longer I would recommend getting a jab anyway - the protection lasts 10 years)
Mosquitoes - quite a lot so make sure you bring a repellent and, when sleeping in hammock, hire one with a mosquito net

 

Sandflies' bites on my legs

Sandflies - these little critters can give you a really hard time; you won’t even notice (till it swells and begins to hurt)
Ticks - just avoid high grass and shrubs and check your body occasionally (I’ve never caught any ticks before in my life and found 8 sucking my blood in Tayrona!)







SEE MORE PHOTOS OF TAYRONA ON FLICKR

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TAYRONA: ACCOMMODATION

TAYRONA: ACCOMMODATION

There is a total of 8 campsites in Tayrona National Park. All of them rent hammocks, some have cabañas (huts), others rent tents (with mattresses and blankets). Anything else you might find on the internet that claims to be in Tayrona is located OUTSIDE the park.

Note: all prices here are for low season; they will be higher during high season (e.g. Easter, June-August,  December-January)

PLAYA CAÑAVERAL

Cabañas in Playa Cañaveral

Ecohabs (Aviatur)
Camping, cabañas, restaurant, spa
PRICES:
camping $11,500pp
Ecohab from $552,000 (with breakfast, accommodates 4)
 







PLAYA ARRECIFES 

Camping Yuluka

Camping Yuluka (Aviatur)
Aviatur’s camping ground, cabañas and a restaurant located right at the entrance of the Arrecifes sector. The most expensive option (not significantly though). Very good (and pricey) food in their restaurant. Showers, lockers.
PRICES:
camping $11,500pp
tent with mattress $20.000pp
hammock $20,000
cabaña from $367,000 (with breakfast, accommodates 5)
To book and/or to check the prices visit their website

Camping Paraiso

Camping Paraiso
Right next to Yuluka. Camping, hammocks, cabañas, showers, shop and a decently priced restaurant. Owned by an old grumpy man named Martin. Place a bit dirty and has a money-grubbing feel.
PRICES:
camping $10,000pp
tent with mattress $50,000 (accommodates 2)
hammock $12,000 - 13,000
cabaña with private bathroom $130,000 (accommodates 2)

Camping “between Paraiso and Bukaru”

Camping “between Paraiso and Bukaru”
No idea what it’s called (or whether it has a name at all). Located right next to Paraiso. Camping and hammocks with a sea view. “Hippies’ hangout”. A bit dirty but cheaper than most other places, some interesting characters stay there. Has a shop, restaurant and showers.
PRICES:
?

Finca Don Pedro

Finca Don Pedro
In my opinion the best place to stay in Arrecifes. The only downside is that it is a 5-minute walk from the beach (walk through the campsite “between Paraiso and Bukaru” and follow a path through the forest and next to banana plantation. On the plus side: clean, less mosquitoes, good restaurant, bakery, very nice owners.
PRICES:
camping $10,000pp
tent with mattress $15,000pp
hammock $?

 

Camping Bukaru

Camping Bukaru
Right next to “between Paraiso and Bukaru”. Nice, clean, friendly. Has showers, shop, restaurant, and luggage storage. Next to it there is a bakery.
PRICES:
camping $10,000pp
hammock $12,000
cabaña $120,000





PLAYA CABO SAN JUAN DEL GUÍA

This is where most tourists head. It is the only beach (right by the campsite) where swimming is allowed. Personally, I would avoid staying there (though it’s definitely worth visiting). Arrecifes has several accommodation options and even though you can’t swim on Playa Arrecifes, only a short walk from there, there are a couple of beaches where you can (Playa La Arenilla and Playa La Piscina).
Cabo San Juan del Guía has only one campsite, often crowded and their restaurant serves lousy food.

The beach in Cabo San Juan del Guía

Camping Cabo San Juan del Guía
Shop, restaurant, showers, lockers.
PRICES:
camping $15,000pp
tent with mattress $25,000pp
hammock (in the hammock hut) $25,000
hammock (at the campsite) $20,000
with your own hammock $15,000
cabaña $50,000pp





CASTILLETES

There is another camping ground in the eastern part of Tayrona. Not many people stay there though as it doesn’t have a beach where you can swim. To get there turn right after about 1km from El Zaino entrance (it is marked by a sign)

Camping Castilletes
camping $12,000pp
tent $30,000
room $30,000 ($40,000 with en suite bathroom)

See their website for more info


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