Tayrona National Park

Day 1: 

After the most amazing avocado toast breakfast at Hija Mia, I head to the airport to catch my flight to the North coast. I arrive at my hotel, Senda Watapuy, at around 330. The hotel is beautiful and is brand new - it only just opened in December. 

It’s HOT but the sun still eludes me as it’s overcast. That doesn’t stop me from enjoying a few margaritas in my private plunge pool at the back of my cabin. Better still, everything can be ordered through an app so you don’t have to move. I give the barman a good little workout that afternoon.

Dinner in the hotel is incredible. It’s one chef cooking for all guests, and it’s an open kitchen so you can watch him at work. I ordered the beef carpaccio to start followed by robalo (snook fish) which was done in a pesto dressing and served with mustard mash and grilled vegetables. Hands down the tastiest meal I’ve had on my trip, and I’d be more than happy if you served it to me in a Michelin restaurant. I’ve not even finished my meal and I’m already thinking about what I’m going to order tomorrow night! 

Day 2: Tayrona National Park 

I wake up early to start my walk. The sun is finally shining and the sun cream gets its first outing. The park entrance is 10 minutes walk from my hotel and I arrive to chaos. As soon as you enter they rattle off lots of instructions to you in Spanish. If you don’t speak the language, you’re fucked. I have to help a few people who clearly don’t know where to go or what to do. 

In total I think I wait in line for about an hour to get through security and buy my ticket, after almost losing my shit at the cashier. There are 8 cash desks. I’m waiting in line and desk number 2 becomes available. I approach and I’m told desk number 1 and 2 are for Colombians only. Not that there’s a sign anywhere! I go back in line and I wait for desk 3, where I’m given a ticket stub and told to pay at cash desk number 2, where I just came from. After paying i’m directed BACK to desk number 3 to get my wrist band. Lord alive how fucking difficult do you want to make this process?! Welcome to South America.

It’s about a 2 hour walk from the entrance to San Cabo beach. On the way, I encounter numerous monkeys casually chilling in the trees. I’m scarred for life after being chased by a monkey in Bali, so I keep my distance. 

Tayrona park has quite a few beaches, most of which you can’t actually swim in due to the strong currents. San Cabo is the main beach where you are able to swim. The beach itself is nice, but nothing spectacular. I have a quick dip in the ocean and walk back to my hotel, which is a far nicer place to relax! At the hotel pool I start chatting to two english girls, Laura and Imogen, who are also holidaying here for 2 weeks. We bond over our shared love of the hotel’s margaritas which are delicious, and very strong. We end up having dinner together that night and agree to meet up again in Cartagena.