Taganga, Tayrona lodging recommendations?

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 22, 2005, 19:10:

Nobody? Nobody knows?

JamieJ says on Jan 22, 2005, 22:32:

I should be visiting there on the 30th of Jan. So if you want to send another email out after that date I will tell you what I know.

Jamie
Engage The Exotic - Colombian Women

Jamie

Atrevido says on Jan 23, 2005, 04:49:

In Taganga we stayed at the Casa Blanca. As you face the beach it's all the way down on the left. Owned by a Swiss the hotel is comfortable and cheap. All rooms face the ocean and have a little bacony with hammock and private bath. We paid $30.000 for the two of us. Ph 095 421-9232. Lots of scuba outfitters down the beach to the right.

For Parque Tayrona get off the B/quilla-Riohacha or Maicao bus at the entrance to Arrecife, all the drivers know it. Getting to the beach involves an easy forty five minute hike. At the beach there are a couple of restaurants that also rent hammocks for about $7.000 or ten minutes down the beach to the left there is basic but comfortable cabaña rental for about $25.000. Everything is pricey for what you get because it's all there is. We brought our own food and only ate at the restaurant once but they served good fried fish.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 23, 2005, 06:29:

Thank you! Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone stayed at or visited the Hotel Ballena azul?

Also, I hear really mixed things about Taganga. Some make it sound like a garbage strewn hell-hole and others like a tropical paradise. Would live to narrow that down a little.

Gator says on Jan 23, 2005, 09:03:

Sr Hollywood The wife and I stayed there two nights about three years ago. Cost, as best as I remember was less than $50 USD. The had a restaurant on site. Run by a man and his wife, eithr swiss or french-I don't remember. Very close to the beach, maybe 60 mtrs. Very clean and friendly. Someone told me it was closed but I don't know this for certain. Here is some contact information, it it is still valid, from a brouchure we saved.



Mail:P.O Box Nº 799, Santa Marta, Colombia SA

ADDRESS OF THE HOTEL:Calle 18 Carrera 1era, Taganga, Santa Marta

TELEPHONE: ++57(5) 4219009-4219005-4219033-4219048, Fax: ++57(5)4219047

E-MAIL: info at hotelballenaazul.com

No real hotels worthwhile in Taganga and, IMHO, one full day would do it as far as tourist type things. Tou would only be about 15 miles closer to the Tayrona park than staying in Santa Marta (not El Rodadero). As far as "real" hotels in Parque Tayrona, nada but you can rent a hammock at some places. No longer any yellow feaver warnings but it is a good idea to have that vac. for that part of Colombia. Most advise a yellow fever vac. if you plan on spending much time below say 800/1000 mtrs.

A bus trip through La Guajira to Rióhacha is not that long and you will see territory very different than most of Colombia

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 23, 2005, 09:18:

Gracias The Ballena azul seems to be open as their website is up to date.

Friend and I both have the Y. Fever vaccine so that's no big worry.

Basically, we're looking to go somewhere with diving and places to hike around and enjoy the beach without dealing with a "luxury resort scene".

Not looking for nightlife, jetskis, cocktail cruises, or any of that.

Gator says on Jan 23, 2005, 14:28:

If That's the Case... than Taganaga and Parque Tayrona would fit the bill. Beaches, Cañaveral is about 40 minutes by car. You can walk to Arrecifes from Cañaveral. SCUBA tours from both Santa Marta and Taganaga. I still recomment the bus rige to Rióhaca. If you can stand the jukeboxes turned up to max volume have a couple cold cervazes at the little "clubs" along the beach

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

litost says on Jan 23, 2005, 21:37:

Mr. Hollywood, I was in the area just a few weeks ago and by what you say to be looking for, I think you'll enjoy Taganga and Parque Tayrona very much. Sure, the town of Taganga itself is nothing to brag about, but the surroundings are incredibly beautiful, you can walk, swim, or take a boat to other nearby beaches and areas to snorkel or diving at very low costs. My friends and I loved going to eat all kinds of different fish at the little restaurant huts along the beach. We (colombians) were amazed to see the amount of foreigners in this small fishing village, in many instances we were the only colombians around, very interesting and unusual in this country. There is a nice laid back disco called El Garage, the colombian-foreigner ratio was split in half the time we went. We stayed at La Casa de Felipe (www.lacasadefelipe.com), it's a place I highly recommend because of the great service, comfort, atmosphere and value. Just looking at the site convinced me we had to go there. I saw the Casa Blanca hotel, and though it does have a nicer view right on the beach, it really didn't seem like a very welcoming place, just my impression though.

Parque Tayrona is AWESOME too, you've been given some good info already. We were camping cuz it was the cheapest option, but I bet you can afford the cabins which looked very comfortable or if not the hammocks are always available. Felt safe the whole time and heard about no problems, just take some time to relax and walk along the paradise beaches in the park, my favorite was the beach at El Cabo, some 30 minutes from the entering point at Arrecifes. The following beaches are nudist FYI.

oldbongo says on Jan 23, 2005, 21:48:

geez...what happened?.. things change...

when the oldgringo went to taganga,
the oldgringo was a kid like you guys, but
knew nothing...there was nothing...no hotel,no gringos
no restaraunt,two boats,a few houses on the hill,
and a pick-up that would come back in three days from santa marta.
sleeping on the beach,frying in the sun,getting dusty,...
what happened?

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 24, 2005, 11:18:

the cabins Litost, thanks for your report.

Do you know if it's possible to just show up and rent the cabins in Tayrona? Or is there a reservation process? Likewise, I'm thinking of just rolling into Taganga and looking around until we find what we like. Casa de Felipe looks terrific on the site.

litost says on Jan 24, 2005, 12:09:

I think that given that the high season is over now, you could just show up and rent the cabins... but to be 100% sure you could go to the Parque Nacional Tayrona office in Santa Marta and reserve in advance, you might even be able to do it from Bogota. I really didn't think much of Santa Marta itself... most of the city is just messy and nothing special, the Rodadero area is nice for a night out or a walk along the beach, but still no big deal. We spent most of our time in the Taganga area and Tayrona.

Casa de Felipe is a wonderful place, can't recommend it enough!