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Tayrona National Park Facts

Tayrona National Park Facts
Tayrona National Park is a 58 square mile park located in the Magdalena State of Columbia in South America. It was established in 1964 to protect this important region both for its cultural significance and for its ecological environment. Tayrona National Park is located along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and is Columbia's second most popular park. The Tayrona people lived in the region 2000 years ago and evidence of their existence can be found today in ancient ruins within Tayrona National Park's borders. The park is made up of tropical jungle, beaches, and mangrove swamps.
Interesting Tayrona National Park Facts:
Tayrona National Park was created in 1964, to preserve the area's history, beauty, and cultural significance.
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish explorers the region of Tayrona National Park was inhabited by indigenous groups, including the Tayrona people. The Koguis that live in the area now are descendants of the Tayrona people. They still have many of the same traditions that the Tayrona people practiced.
Tayrona National Park includes two ecosystems. This is because of its location between the Caribbean Sea and the mountains.
Tayrona National Park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species including more than 770 plant species and over 100 mammal species. In addition there are more than 300 bird species and more than 1000 marine species found in the area.
Some of the bird species found within Tayrona National Park include the military macaw, montane solitary eagle, lance-tailed manakin, white bellied antbird, and the yellow headed caracara.
Some of the mammal species found within Tayrona National Park including howler monkeys, titi monkeys, jaguars, and squirrels, as well as reptile species including iguanas and other lizards.
There are at least 70 different bat species found in Tayrona National Park.
The temperature within Tayrona National Park ranges from 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. It is a temperate, hot climate and the rainy seasons are from September to November and May to June.
Visitors to Tayrona National Park have to hike for at least 30 minutes to as long as two hours (or rent a horse) to get to the various beaches. They can rent cabins, tents, hammocks, or stay in more luxurious accommodations if they wish.
Highlights within Tayrona National Park include Caribbean Sea lookout points, Pueblito (ancient ruins and village), La Piscina (natural lagoon and beach), and El Cabo (white sand beaches).
There is a coral reef in Tayrona National Park's territory. Only two other national parks in the Columbian Caribbean have coral reefs, including Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Park, and Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park. There are 110 coral species in Tayrona National Park's waters.
Tayrona National Park is roughly one hour from the city of Santa Marta, Columbia.
Tayrona National Park is a popular ecotourism option for tourists.
In 2012 more than 290,000 people visited Tayrona National Park, making it Columbia's second most popular national park for visitors. Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Park is the most popular in Columbia.


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