Coastal Colombia: Cartagena, Tayrona & Santa Marta – 8 Days
Walled Cartagena, mangroves and the jungle beaches of Tayrona.
Tour overview
This 8-day trip explores Colombia's Caribbean coast, with a local leader and a group of up to twelve. You stay six nights in hotels and one in a guesthouse, with breakfast daily and two dinners.
In Cartagena you get your bearings on an orientation walk through the UNESCO-listed walled city, then paddle the mangroves of La Boquilla with a local boatman and finish with a fresh coconut. A street food tour introduces local snacks.
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Heading east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada you visit the Kogui people and join a reforestation project, then hike through Tayrona National Park to the beaches of Cabo San Juan.
After time in Santa Marta you return to Cartagena by public bus. The physical rating is medium, in hot and humid conditions.
Trip highlights
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Cartagena's walled city (Day 1)
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Mangrove canoeing at La Boquilla (Day 2)
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A Kogui community visit (Day 4)
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Tayrona National Park hike (Day 5)
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Santa Marta (Day 6)
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A Cartagena street food tour (Day 7)
Your route
5 stops from Cartagena to Cartagena
- Cartagena Days 1–3
- Guachaca Days 4–5
- Tayrona Day 5
- Santa Marta Day 6
- Cartagena Days 7–8
Why choose this tour
Caribbean coast, jungle and culture in one week. Community and conservation experiences.
Best suited to
- Beach and nature lovers
- Active travellers
- Solo travellers
- First-time visitors to Colombia
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Cartagena, Colombia to Cartagena, Colombia
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Day 1 · Cartagena Cartagena
Welcome to Colombia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · La Boquilla Cartagena
Mangroves by canoe.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Cartagena Cartagena
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Taironaka, Guachaca Guachaca
The Kogui people.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Tayrona National Park, Cabo San Juan Tayrona
Hike in Tayrona.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 6 · Santa Marta Santa Marta
To Santa Marta.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Cartagena Cartagena
Back to Cartagena.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Cartagena Cartagena
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Cartagena (3 nights) Hotel
- Guachaca (1 night) Guesthouse
- Tayrona (1 night) Hotel
- Santa Marta (1 night) Hotel
- Cartagena (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 6 hotel nights and 1 guesthouse night
- Meals 7 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Private transfers and a public bus
- La Boquilla mangrove canoe tour
- Kogui visit and Tayrona park entry
- Cartagena street food tour
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not included 6 lunches and 5 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike heat and humidity
- You want luxury hotels
- You want most meals included
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,165 per person, twin share, tour only. 61 upcoming departures.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for Colombia?
No, UK citizens can visit Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days.
How hard is the Tayrona hike?
Several hours on jungle paths and beaches in hot, humid weather.
Which meals are included?
7 breakfasts and 2 dinners.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.
How many people travel together?
No more than twelve travellers, with a leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary